"2565-53" - читать интересную книгу автора (Warlady 1 - 2565 Ad Book 2)2565 A.D.! A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Jerome B. Bigge Book Two Chapter Ten My thigh was still a bit painful as we trotted along, Lady Tirana beside me, Carl Talen taking the lead, Samson and Delilah trotting alongside, their tongues hanging out from the heat of the day. Carl was armed with a bow, me with the crossbow I had "won" the day before at such cost to my own hide, and Tirana with a long lance that she said brought back memories of another time. Riding behind Lady Tirana and I came Gayle and Sanda, both being armed with bows. All of us but for Gayle also armed with swords. "A bit sore?" Tirana Grayson asked, giving me a smile from behind her veil. There are limits even to the healing compounds of the 26th Century. You don't put a crossbow bolt through your thigh one day and go out riding the next without some discomfort! "I'm getting well aware that this unicorn has a leg on each corner," I smiled back from behind my own veil, bouncing in the saddle as we rode along at the trot. The heat of the sun making me sweat. I thought fondly of something like a 20th Century string bikini. Like the sort I used to once wear around our pool. I suppose the good people of Thistle would have been hor- rified to see their "Lady Lorraine" so attired riding into town! I thought of Darlanis, of her exotic golden costume. There might be "something" to that. She didn't wear a veil or a hat. I sup- posed gold mesh wouldn't be that comfortable to wear, but just suppose I had something made...., I mused to myself, thinking of costumes I'm sure a fine well bred "Lady" like my upright compan- ion wouldn't consider fit for a slave girl to wear, and certainly not for a "Lady" like myself! Tirana being a bit "strait-laced"! "I don't think the Priestesses will go along with your sug- gestion," Tirana had said when I had ventured it to her to find out what her reaction was. She was of the same social class as I was. Held the same attitudes towards those of lower castes that most of the high born Californian aristocrats had here. Surpris- ingly, however, she was not opposed to public schools as long as they were controlled and run by the Priestesses of Lys, saying that it would be "good for the people" to get some "proper educa- tion". I had to smile, however, at some of her other comments, Lady Tirana being much like some people I've met back in the 20th Century. I have no doubt that a "moral education" would be of benefit to all, but I do doubt that it would really make that much of a difference! In Tirana's eyes the major benefit of "public schools" was what could be taught about "proper behavior" and such things, my friend being the sort who worried considera- bly about the shortness of the skirts worn by the young ladies of "today" and their "behavior"! I guess some things never change! After some "discussion" it was agreed that I would take "Delilah" and leave Lady Tirana "Samson", Delilah being a bit more "tame" than Samson and less likely to attack me or my own people! While Delilah did behave much like a well trained dog, I still had my "reservations" about her, knowing the sort of crea- ture she was and what she was capable of. Surprisingly enough, however, I had found that she had taken instantly to Mara and vice versa! Even to allowing Mara to get on her back and ride her around like a pony! Mara giggling with delight, clinging to Delilah's fur while I sweated "bullets" and clung to the hilt of my sword in terror at what Delilah might do even with Lady Tirana right there! Tirana having suggested that perhaps the wolf might sleep in Mara's room, thus insuring the girl's safety from kid- napers, which was now my fear after the attempt on my own life! "We'd better dismount and lead our mounts in," Lady Tirana suggested as we halted and dismounted on the outskirts of This- tle, leashing Samson as I did the same with Delilah. Well aware that the dire wolf outweighed me by nearly a factor of three, Delilah going a bit over three hundred and sixty pounds while Samson ran close to four hundred! If I couldn't control her with my voice, the chain-leash wouldn't do much good either if she de- cided to go charging off after some luckless human or animal! A choke collar might do some good, but we didn't have any of those! "We could be in a lot of `trouble' if one of those...." Carl spoke, regarding me as he flipped the reins over his unicorn's horn, taking the reins from mine. The animals a bit fractious due to the closeness of the gigantic wolves. Sanda nodding to Gayle, the two having been chatting back and forth ever since we had left the estate a couple hours before. What would have taken me fifteen minutes to drive or less in the 20th Century now took two hours of steady riding on a beast that looked like something out of a fairy tale! I thought fondly a moment of Black Lady, my beloved airplane. How nice it would be to have that! I could fly all over California, visiting here and there. Of course gasoline would be a problem, although I supposed it would be pos- sible to convert the engine to run on alcohol, of which Tirana's still could produce in adequate amounts without any difficulty! "Samson's a good boy," Tirana smiled, crouching down, rub- bing her face against Samson's. The dire wolf licking her face. I tossed back my veil and found to my pleasure that Delilah would do the same with me, her great tongue slurping across my cheek! I saw the woman cringe back, her little girl clinging to her in terror, the woman's hand on her dagger as she half drew it. I saw the fear, the terror in her eyes. Dire wolves are much feared. Delilah walking at my side like some gigantic German Shepherd, which she rather resembled in a way. I felt very safe just then. As "safe" as if I had my .357 Magnum there on my hip! "We do get a certain amount of `respect'," Gayle observed, leading her unicorn as she walked behind me and Lady Tirana. I was about to agree with her when I saw the sheriff of Thistle and half a dozen men, armed with bows and crossbows, approaching us! "Good afternoon, sheriff," I said. He knew of course who I was. Knew of the "power" that I held as the "Lady Lorraine". I don't think he was very happy in having to say what he said next. "I'll have to ask you to keep those tied up," he spoke. De- lilah growled softly at him, just showing her teeth. I saw him step back, go for his sword. That was not a very smart move! I didn't even have time to warn him that Delilah was trained to at- tack anyone who drew a weapon against me! Tirana having warned me to tell my people never to draw a sword in Delilah's presence when she was with me! Suddenly I had a three hundred and sixty odd pound dire wolf surging forward on the other end of my leash! "Delilah! NO!" I snapped, throwing all my weight against the leash as Delilah surged forward, my high heels digging into the dirt of the street. Carl and Sanda grabbing on to the leash, helping me hold that awesome fearsome snarling fang-barring gi- gantic wolf there on the other end of it! Tirana and Gayle hold- ing Samson as he joined in, his vicious snarls terrifying as we fought to hold Delilah from tearing out the sheriff's throat! It was obvious that these wolves of ours needed a lot more training! "They do need a `little work'," Lady Tirana admitted as we securely tied our two dire wolves in one of the stable's stalls where our unicorns would be kept until we needed them for the ride back home. I had apologized to the sweating sheriff of Thistle, who no doubt had a few years scared out of him by facing a snarling Delilah! She was quite obviously "good protection"! "I wouldn't mind having one of Delilah's pups when you breed her to Samson," Gayle smiled, putting her hand on Tirana's arm. That had been how Tirana had trained the beasts, starting with them as puppies when they could be taught to obey their mistress or master whichever the case might be. Darlanis is interested in trying to use such animals in warfare, but Tirana says that she doubts that she will have any success, as the beasts do not have the intelligence to tell "friend" from "foe" and are more likely to dangerously "revert" once they taste the blood of human be- ings! On the other hand I have had enough experience with Deli- lah to have a pretty good idea of what she would do under such conditions, and think that domesticated dire wolves might "work out" if given the proper training. After all, how do the girls of Talon ever manage to handle their great vicious gigantic Tarls? And a dire wolf is a lot "smarter" than some dumb bird!!! "Want to see what they're finding?" Sanda asked Gayle as we walked through Thistle, a group of men under the command of one of the caste of the Builders digging out the foundations of some old 21st Century ruins. The caste of the Builders being one of the three high castes of California, the others being Physicians and the Warriors and Warrioresses, which are two subdivisions of the same basic caste. Warriors and Warrioresses providing both the officers for the military forces and also the police forces. "Nice girl, well bred," Carl observed as the two strolled over to where the work was being done, the workmen sweating in the hot sun. It was dry, the fields burning up. We needed some rain and badly or otherwise the crops would be nearly ruined. I knew the Peasants had organized a mass prayer to beseech Lys for rain, although I doubted it would do any good. SHE does not in- terfere much in the affairs of Mankind. We have to do the best that we can. That is all that SHE really expects of any of us. "Better than Phara Holt?" That was the blacksmith's daugh- ter. A pretty girl, a bit "ripe" in the figure. Dark haired. I knew his son had been engaged to her before being called up for service there on the Dularnian front. He and his wife had been more than just a bit upset that their son, high caste, wished to marry a low caste girl like the daughter of a common blacksmith! "You are not really of this world, my Lady, or you would un- derstand how it feels to see your son with a girl like that!" I nodded, glad my veil partially at least concealed my features. I saw nothing wrong in Phara Holt. She was a nice girl. Totally illiterate like nearly all low caste girls, but she would make him a good wife. Be a good mother to his children. She was a busty wench, wide hipped, no doubt the sort that could much "please" a man. I had spoken to her a few times, but otherwise I knew little about the girl except for what Sanda and Carl had told me about her! And that had not been very flattering either! "Gayle is too young to become anyone's wife," I answered. She was in my eyes at least, although Peasant girls are often married off at the age of sixteen and become mothers at nineteen when they then swap their silver neck chains for those of gold. "I wish to speak to the High Priestess when she is avail- able," I said to the Priestess who greeted me there at the door. The temple in Thistle is small, nothing like the one in Sarn, but yet there was the same "peace", the same "quietness" I had found there. The same golden ankh with its candles flickering before it. The paintings on the walls were a familar sight to me now. The pews, the places where one might kneel before Lys and ask her forgiveness for your "sins" reminding me of Catholic churches. I thought I could use a bit of forgiveness. I had not been leading a very good life lately. Especially not after everything here... "I will inform her of your presence," the Priestess smiled, the silver of her ankh gleaming against the whiteness of her gown. Priestesses are celibate and are usually considered to be virgins, although that is not necessarily true as older women do sometimes get the "call" and become Priestesses later on in life. "I'm afraid you're probably pretty disappointed in me," I prayed, kneeling down there before the ankh, the haughty Lady of Thistle and the surrounding area. I had removed my hat, my veil. One prays bareheaded, unveiled. I had not been a good Lorraine. I had not lived the sort of life that SHE wished me to lead. I had been guilty of the sin of "arrogance", of feeling myself su- perior to those of this era because of my 20th Century knowledge. Of treating those around me like ignorant barbarians just because I knew things they didn't. I had not been nice to those who now served me. Who treated me with a respect that I hardly deserved! "And I know what you think about what I `allowed' to happen last night," I whispered, the memories flooding back into my mind as I knelt there before the ankh. The flickering candlelight that reflected off its polished surface was pleasing to the eye. That was a crime that would now "mark" my soul forever, I feared. "You are heavily burdened, Lorraine," I heard a calm sweet voice say to me, felt a hand touch me on the shoulder as I knelt there before the ankh. There were several women of the Peasant Caste there in the temple, whispering their prayers to Lys. They believed in Lys, believed that She would help them. I knew that SHE did not interfere in things as a rule. Yet, for their sakes I too hoped that it would soon rain. That the life-giving waters would fall from the sky. There are no electric pumps in the 26th Century. No awesome systems of irrigation. Man lives closer to "Nature" now than he ever did in the last fifteen hundred years! "I have `sinned'," I answered, my eyes wet with tears as I looked up, kneeling there, seeing her nod. The golden ankh there on her white robed breast leaving no doubt as to who she was. I wanted to kneel down before her, kiss her hand. I knew that she was different than me. Better. This was her last incarnation before she would merge her soul with the glory, the radiance of SHE. There was something of SHE in her, although she did not look like the vision I once had of SHE. SHE is of course what we make of HER. To the Jews of the Old Testament SHE was JEHOVAH. To others "GOD". They call her "LYS" now. But SHE is still SHE. 2565 A.D.! A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Jerome B. Bigge Book Two Chapter Ten My thigh was still a bit painful as we trotted along, Lady Tirana beside me, Carl Talen taking the lead, Samson and Delilah trotting alongside, their tongues hanging out from the heat of the day. Carl was armed with a bow, me with the crossbow I had "won" the day before at such cost to my own hide, and Tirana with a long lance that she said brought back memories of another time. Riding behind Lady Tirana and I came Gayle and Sanda, both being armed with bows. All of us but for Gayle also armed with swords. "A bit sore?" Tirana Grayson asked, giving me a smile from behind her veil. There are limits even to the healing compounds of the 26th Century. You don't put a crossbow bolt through your thigh one day and go out riding the next without some discomfort! "I'm getting well aware that this unicorn has a leg on each corner," I smiled back from behind my own veil, bouncing in the saddle as we rode along at the trot. The heat of the sun making me sweat. I thought fondly of something like a 20th Century string bikini. Like the sort I used to once wear around our pool. I suppose the good people of Thistle would have been hor- rified to see their "Lady Lorraine" so attired riding into town! I thought of Darlanis, of her exotic golden costume. There might be "something" to that. She didn't wear a veil or a hat. I sup- posed gold mesh wouldn't be that comfortable to wear, but just suppose I had something made...., I mused to myself, thinking of costumes I'm sure a fine well bred "Lady" like my upright compan- ion wouldn't consider fit for a slave girl to wear, and certainly not for a "Lady" like myself! Tirana being a bit "strait-laced"! "I don't think the Priestesses will go along with your sug- gestion," Tirana had said when I had ventured it to her to find out what her reaction was. She was of the same social class as I was. Held the same attitudes towards those of lower castes that most of the high born Californian aristocrats had here. Surpris- ingly, however, she was not opposed to public schools as long as they were controlled and run by the Priestesses of Lys, saying that it would be "good for the people" to get some "proper educa- tion". I had to smile, however, at some of her other comments, Lady Tirana being much like some people I've met back in the 20th Century. I have no doubt that a "moral education" would be of benefit to all, but I do doubt that it would really make that much of a difference! In Tirana's eyes the major benefit of "public schools" was what could be taught about "proper behavior" and such things, my friend being the sort who worried considera- bly about the shortness of the skirts worn by the young ladies of "today" and their "behavior"! I guess some things never change! After some "discussion" it was agreed that I would take "Delilah" and leave Lady Tirana "Samson", Delilah being a bit more "tame" than Samson and less likely to attack me or my own people! While Delilah did behave much like a well trained dog, I still had my "reservations" about her, knowing the sort of crea- ture she was and what she was capable of. Surprisingly enough, however, I had found that she had taken instantly to Mara and vice versa! Even to allowing Mara to get on her back and ride her around like a pony! Mara giggling with delight, clinging to Delilah's fur while I sweated "bullets" and clung to the hilt of my sword in terror at what Delilah might do even with Lady Tirana right there! Tirana having suggested that perhaps the wolf might sleep in Mara's room, thus insuring the girl's safety from kid- napers, which was now my fear after the attempt on my own life! "We'd better dismount and lead our mounts in," Lady Tirana suggested as we halted and dismounted on the outskirts of This- tle, leashing Samson as I did the same with Delilah. Well aware that the dire wolf outweighed me by nearly a factor of three, Delilah going a bit over three hundred and sixty pounds while Samson ran close to four hundred! If I couldn't control her with my voice, the chain-leash wouldn't do much good either if she de- cided to go charging off after some luckless human or animal! A choke collar might do some good, but we didn't have any of those! "We could be in a lot of `trouble' if one of those...." Carl spoke, regarding me as he flipped the reins over his unicorn's horn, taking the reins from mine. The animals a bit fractious due to the closeness of the gigantic wolves. Sanda nodding to Gayle, the two having been chatting back and forth ever since we had left the estate a couple hours before. What would have taken me fifteen minutes to drive or less in the 20th Century now took two hours of steady riding on a beast that looked like something out of a fairy tale! I thought fondly a moment of Black Lady, my beloved airplane. How nice it would be to have that! I could fly all over California, visiting here and there. Of course gasoline would be a problem, although I supposed it would be pos- sible to convert the engine to run on alcohol, of which Tirana's still could produce in adequate amounts without any difficulty! "Samson's a good boy," Tirana smiled, crouching down, rub- bing her face against Samson's. The dire wolf licking her face. I tossed back my veil and found to my pleasure that Delilah would do the same with me, her great tongue slurping across my cheek! I saw the woman cringe back, her little girl clinging to her in terror, the woman's hand on her dagger as she half drew it. I saw the fear, the terror in her eyes. Dire wolves are much feared. Delilah walking at my side like some gigantic German Shepherd, which she rather resembled in a way. I felt very safe just then. As "safe" as if I had my .357 Magnum there on my hip! "We do get a certain amount of `respect'," Gayle observed, leading her unicorn as she walked behind me and Lady Tirana. I was about to agree with her when I saw the sheriff of Thistle and half a dozen men, armed with bows and crossbows, approaching us! "Good afternoon, sheriff," I said. He knew of course who I was. Knew of the "power" that I held as the "Lady Lorraine". I don't think he was very happy in having to say what he said next. "I'll have to ask you to keep those tied up," he spoke. De- lilah growled softly at him, just showing her teeth. I saw him step back, go for his sword. That was not a very smart move! I didn't even have time to warn him that Delilah was trained to at- tack anyone who drew a weapon against me! Tirana having warned me to tell my people never to draw a sword in Delilah's presence when she was with me! Suddenly I had a three hundred and sixty odd pound dire wolf surging forward on the other end of my leash! "Delilah! NO!" I snapped, throwing all my weight against the leash as Delilah surged forward, my high heels digging into the dirt of the street. Carl and Sanda grabbing on to the leash, helping me hold that awesome fearsome snarling fang-barring gi- gantic wolf there on the other end of it! Tirana and Gayle hold- ing Samson as he joined in, his vicious snarls terrifying as we fought to hold Delilah from tearing out the sheriff's throat! It was obvious that these wolves of ours needed a lot more training! "They do need a `little work'," Lady Tirana admitted as we securely tied our two dire wolves in one of the stable's stalls where our unicorns would be kept until we needed them for the ride back home. I had apologized to the sweating sheriff of Thistle, who no doubt had a few years scared out of him by facing a snarling Delilah! She was quite obviously "good protection"! "I wouldn't mind having one of Delilah's pups when you breed her to Samson," Gayle smiled, putting her hand on Tirana's arm. That had been how Tirana had trained the beasts, starting with them as puppies when they could be taught to obey their mistress or master whichever the case might be. Darlanis is interested in trying to use such animals in warfare, but Tirana says that she doubts that she will have any success, as the beasts do not have the intelligence to tell "friend" from "foe" and are more likely to dangerously "revert" once they taste the blood of human be- ings! On the other hand I have had enough experience with Deli- lah to have a pretty good idea of what she would do under such conditions, and think that domesticated dire wolves might "work out" if given the proper training. After all, how do the girls of Talon ever manage to handle their great vicious gigantic Tarls? And a dire wolf is a lot "smarter" than some dumb bird!!! "Want to see what they're finding?" Sanda asked Gayle as we walked through Thistle, a group of men under the command of one of the caste of the Builders digging out the foundations of some old 21st Century ruins. The caste of the Builders being one of the three high castes of California, the others being Physicians and the Warriors and Warrioresses, which are two subdivisions of the same basic caste. Warriors and Warrioresses providing both the officers for the military forces and also the police forces. "Nice girl, well bred," Carl observed as the two strolled over to where the work was being done, the workmen sweating in the hot sun. It was dry, the fields burning up. We needed some rain and badly or otherwise the crops would be nearly ruined. I knew the Peasants had organized a mass prayer to beseech Lys for rain, although I doubted it would do any good. SHE does not in- terfere much in the affairs of Mankind. We have to do the best that we can. That is all that SHE really expects of any of us. "Better than Phara Holt?" That was the blacksmith's daugh- ter. A pretty girl, a bit "ripe" in the figure. Dark haired. I knew his son had been engaged to her before being called up for service there on the Dularnian front. He and his wife had been more than just a bit upset that their son, high caste, wished to marry a low caste girl like the daughter of a common blacksmith! "You are not really of this world, my Lady, or you would un- derstand how it feels to see your son with a girl like that!" I nodded, glad my veil partially at least concealed my features. I saw nothing wrong in Phara Holt. She was a nice girl. Totally illiterate like nearly all low caste girls, but she would make him a good wife. Be a good mother to his children. She was a busty wench, wide hipped, no doubt the sort that could much "please" a man. I had spoken to her a few times, but otherwise I knew little about the girl except for what Sanda and Carl had told me about her! And that had not been very flattering either! "Gayle is too young to become anyone's wife," I answered. She was in my eyes at least, although Peasant girls are often married off at the age of sixteen and become mothers at nineteen when they then swap their silver neck chains for those of gold. "I wish to speak to the High Priestess when she is avail- able," I said to the Priestess who greeted me there at the door. The temple in Thistle is small, nothing like the one in Sarn, but yet there was the same "peace", the same "quietness" I had found there. The same golden ankh with its candles flickering before it. The paintings on the walls were a familar sight to me now. The pews, the places where one might kneel before Lys and ask her forgiveness for your "sins" reminding me of Catholic churches. I thought I could use a bit of forgiveness. I had not been leading a very good life lately. Especially not after everything here... "I will inform her of your presence," the Priestess smiled, the silver of her ankh gleaming against the whiteness of her gown. Priestesses are celibate and are usually considered to be virgins, although that is not necessarily true as older women do sometimes get the "call" and become Priestesses later on in life. "I'm afraid you're probably pretty disappointed in me," I prayed, kneeling down there before the ankh, the haughty Lady of Thistle and the surrounding area. I had removed my hat, my veil. One prays bareheaded, unveiled. I had not been a good Lorraine. I had not lived the sort of life that SHE wished me to lead. I had been guilty of the sin of "arrogance", of feeling myself su- perior to those of this era because of my 20th Century knowledge. Of treating those around me like ignorant barbarians just because I knew things they didn't. I had not been nice to those who now served me. Who treated me with a respect that I hardly deserved! "And I know what you think about what I `allowed' to happen last night," I whispered, the memories flooding back into my mind as I knelt there before the ankh. The flickering candlelight that reflected off its polished surface was pleasing to the eye. That was a crime that would now "mark" my soul forever, I feared. "You are heavily burdened, Lorraine," I heard a calm sweet voice say to me, felt a hand touch me on the shoulder as I knelt there before the ankh. There were several women of the Peasant Caste there in the temple, whispering their prayers to Lys. They believed in Lys, believed that She would help them. I knew that SHE did not interfere in things as a rule. Yet, for their sakes I too hoped that it would soon rain. That the life-giving waters would fall from the sky. There are no electric pumps in the 26th Century. No awesome systems of irrigation. Man lives closer to "Nature" now than he ever did in the last fifteen hundred years! "I have `sinned'," I answered, my eyes wet with tears as I looked up, kneeling there, seeing her nod. The golden ankh there on her white robed breast leaving no doubt as to who she was. I wanted to kneel down before her, kiss her hand. I knew that she was different than me. Better. This was her last incarnation before she would merge her soul with the glory, the radiance of SHE. There was something of SHE in her, although she did not look like the vision I once had of SHE. SHE is of course what we make of HER. To the Jews of the Old Testament SHE was JEHOVAH. To others "GOD". They call her "LYS" now. But SHE is still SHE. |
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