"2565-74" - 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 Thirty Four "Lower the sails and the masts, raise the centerboard" Jon ordered, men there in the darkness instantly doing his bidding there on the slippery wet deck as a fine mist fell from above. We showed no lights. I respected his judgment in such things. Sentis Santa stood at his side, her golden hair faintly visible there in the darkness. Our only light was that which lit our compass. We had done our navigation by means of that computer device An-na had installed on Black Lady. She was below right now. Suffering from sea-sickness. The wind had risen up a bit. Sanda had remained behind on my estate at my direct orders as the Queen of Trelandar. I had written a "will" that covered everything that I could think of "just in case" I didn't come back. I remembered the Lady Lana, others. This time it could be my turn. I hoped that SHE would be merciful when I stood before her and faced her judgment. I had brought both my own PPK and Jack's Smith & Wesson. I had my "force-saber". An-na her blast- er pistol. It was perhaps two or three am in the morning. I knew that many aboard would never see the sun come up again. The "Queen of Trelandar" could be among them. My body given to the fishes. I hoped they would remember me for what I had tried to do. I had not spoken of Darlanis to them. Only of my Sharon. "It's going to be a nasty fight," Jon said to me in the darkness as I stood there beside him. I shared his opinion. I did not look forward to what was to come. There would be many who would never see the dawn. We both might be among them. I had given him my body earlier. I had not douched afterwards. I would carry a "part" of him inside me when we went into battle. "We'll be together," I said. There was nothing more that I could say, or wished to say. His neck chain was snug around my throat. That was the way I wanted it to be. I was his wife now. "Oarsmen to their benches, drop your wenches and grab those oars!" I heard the first officer snap. His words made me smile. We had embarked a number of "hip-swingers" from Thistle to add to our fighting force. Some had been plying their "trade" during the voyage to this place some sixty miles or so south of my home. Jon now pacing his quarterdeck there in the darkness. The Janis was his command. The decisions would be his. I would advise, but I felt it best that he still made the decisions. I wore the black of the Warrioress, of the Lady. My veil concealed my face. We flew the Dularnian flag just to confuse the pirates a bit. I thought it might help a bit in surprising them when they found out that we were no longer their "allies" any longer. I had no way of knowing if they knew about the events that had taken place in the last couple days or not. I hoped that they did not. Our losses would be bad enough as they were. I hoped SHE would be merciful. Look upon what we did with favor. Many souls would be standing before HER before long. Mine perhaps there among them! "We will have the element of surprise," Jon said, putting his hand on my shoulder. My people know what to do," he assured me. He was of the Warriors. Death is no stranger to our castes. I could hear the man at the bow making soundings as we "felt" our way into the area where we had seen the pirates from Black Lady. Jon had suggested that we pretend that it was only a meeting of "allies". He would give the recognition signals. The rest would be up to the pirates. It would even the "odds" against us a bit. The night was cloudy and dark, wet and chilly. A depressing night, quite suitable for what we were planning to do, I thought to myself. The darkness, the rain, matching my own mood. I could feel the Janis moving beneath me. The deck swaying beneath my feet. I had taken a good swig of brandy earlier to warm my stomach, steady my nerves. Lady Tirana had suggested it. She was below somewhere now, perhaps talking softly to those who now followed me. We had Sa-she-ra on board. A couple dozen volun- teers from the senior class from the Academy. I had left Delilah with Sanda and Mara. With the rest of the children. Gayle was in Trella with the Squala. She would be safe there regardless of what happened here. I thought once more of Darlanis, so tall and golden. Like a Viking Goddess from Norse legends. I did not be- lieve as Jon did that she was still alive. I knew Darlanis too well for that. She would have died a Warrioress' Death, her sword in her hand. That was the way she would have wanted it! I wept softly there beneath my veil where none could see the tears. "It will be good to be fighting on the `right' side for a change," Jon said to me, clasping me in his arms. Honor is im- portant to us. It is what separates Man from the beasts of the forest. We have something "more" to fight for. On the other hand we are a far more "dangerous" species than any that has ever inhabited the Earth. We love War, the Arts of Combat. We are not a "peace-loving" race like the Lorr. Perhaps we will always be "barbarians". Perhaps that is truly the destiny of Mankind! "Promise me you won't make me a widow," I said softly, mov- ing closer to him. I was scared of what was to come. I often do wish I was like some of the Warrioresses I know. Afraid of noth- ing. Like I used to think of Darlanis until I learned better. I think sometimes it is better if you don't "know" what is coming. "You will remember me at the temple?" he asked. I nodded. We die, but our memories live on in the minds of those we love. "Should we drop anchor, sir?" the first officer asked, a shadow there in the darkness clad in the black of the Warrior. "No," Jon answered. "We will hold position with the oars." It was the best decision under the circumstances. If we failed to surprise the pirates or they already knew of our intentions, then it would be best to have the men ready there at the oars. I knew of the Janis' power. It was the most powerful ramship afloat that I knew of as a "56". Superior to the Empire's 48's or even a bit superior to Darlanis' own 54, Sarnian Lady, now in dry-dock at Trella. Jon was the best captain afloat, I thought. "We wait now," he said to me, turning to me in the darkness. I shivered, the rain soaking through my dress. It was cold out here at sea. A hint of fall, the summer only a treasured memory. It was fortunate that in my pose as a Californian Lady who aided "the other side" that I had a heavy veil over my features. The sight of seeing my Sharon kneeling there before us gagged and chained, the mark of the lash livid on her naked body, would have been too much for even my emotional control. The swarthy brute holding her slave leash telling us about how they had captured both her and Queen Darlanis along with their prize, the Ronda. "This wench is the Imperial Princess!" the man said to Jon there in the captain's cabin where we were all gathered, jerking up Sharon's head, her beautiful azure eyes liquid and wet with her tears. I did not know if she had recognized me or not as she looked up into our faces. The fury was a hot flame that washed over me as I saw what had been done to one once so innocent! "I want three hundred gold crowns for her!", the pirate said, such a ransom being a fortune here in the 26th Century. Obviously those who were now "allied" with Dularn were not above turning a "prof- it" when they thought that they could get away with it! I did not think the man would receive his money. He did not have long to live. My hand caressed the butt of my "force-saber". I felt Jon's hand touch my arm. He understood my feelings, my emotions. "And Darlanis?" Jon asked, his voice level. I dared not speak as I stood there at his side. The rage burned hot inside my body. One of the ship's girls put a glass of whiskey in the pirate's hand, her lovely face wooden as she fought to control her emotions at what she saw there before her. I thought of Dar- lanis, tall and golden, one of the most beautiful women who had ever lived in any era. I did not have much hope that she had survived. She was of the Warrioresses. She would have died with a sword in her hand. She had no doubt given a good account of herself. She would want to be remembered that way, I knew. She was a proud Warrioress, a proud Empress. No one could ever take that away from her. She would live forever in our own memories. "My men were too rough with her, I fear," the brutal pirate captain laughed, watching the slim dark haired slave girl as she served. She was a Dularnian girl, and knew little of our plans. One does not usually inform slaves of the plans of their masters. The pirate laughing, "I'm afraid Darlanis won't live more than couple days or so according to what `THE LADY' tells us with the burning fever that she has now burning in her body." I felt the touch of Lady Tirana as she stood beside me, posing as another traitoress to the Empire. She had sensed the emotions that burned there inside me at the news that Darlanis yet lived! And that Princess Tara was here now aboard one of the pirate vessels! "We have medical facilities," Jon answered. "My Queen will pay highly for Darlanis and her brat." We needed to drag as much information out of the pirate as we could before we made our move on them. I understood that, although Jon had wisely suggested I keep my mouth shut and just observe during these "negotiations". "`THE LADY' wants her to die," the pirate answered, taking a swig of the whiskey there in his glass. "Too bad too to waste a woman like that when we would have been able to sell her to the Emperor of Mexico for maybe another three hundred gold crowns." "I'll buy her off you for that price," Jon ventured, his voice level, as if he was discussing the price of fruit with some peddler there in Thistle. "Take a chance that we can cure her of `whatever' is wrong with her." I was amazed that Jon would make such an offer considering what he actually thought of Darlanis! I did have six hundred gold crowns, but not with me, of course. One does not carry that sort of money around with them as a rule! "I don't think that `THE LADY' will go along," the pirate answered, setting down his empty glass. "She wanted Darlanis for herself, and now that she can't have her, she probably won't let you have her either." I took a step towards the pirate, and flung back my veil, letting him see my face. The force-saber was in my right hand now, although I had not yet turned it on. The man as he regarded me suddenly to my surprise gasping, going for his sword as he cried out in terror, "YOU'RE LORRAINE DUVAL!!!" My right hand was swift. There was a blurred flash of light and the pirate let out a gurgling cry and started to sink to the deck, his head suddenly falling free of his body, the blood spurting from the severed arteries over the beautiful carpeting! "Messy, Lorraine, messy!" Jon breathed, regarding the head- less twitching corpse there on the deck. I snapped off the force-saber and bending down, tore the cruel gag from my girl's lips, letting her sob against me as I lifted her up and held her in my arms, my tears of joy scalding my cheeks as I stroked her soft golden hair and soothed her terrors with my soft words. "We're in trouble, Lorraine," Jon said to me as I held Shar- on in my arms. I didn't understand why. Sharon telling me that the key to her shackles was in the dead man's pouch attached to his weapons harness. Lady Tirana nodding, her eyes glowing into mine through the netting of her veil. Sharon no doubt knew where they were keeping Darlanis. It would make things easier for us. "Why?" I snapped, freeing Sharon, Lady Tiara tossing her a blanket to throw over herself until we could find her something to wear. In her eyes the look of a terrified animal from what I knew she had been put through. She was just a teenage girl from the 20th Century. One who should have been dating, talking on the telephone, worrying about "history exams", and so forth. She would be safe on the Janis as we fought our way to rescue Empress Darlanis. I prayed our medical facilities were up to the task of saving her life. I had few doubts as to the cause of the fever! "Those aboard this ship are Dularnian and Trelandarian," Jon said to me in sober level tones. "They will see utterly no rea- son why they should risk their lives and perhaps die for the Em- press of California." That thought had never crossed my mind. I knew now why Jon had tried to "bargain" as he had for Darlanis. 2565 A.D.! A TALE OF ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN By Jerome B. Bigge Book Two Chapter Thirty Four "Lower the sails and the masts, raise the centerboard" Jon ordered, men there in the darkness instantly doing his bidding there on the slippery wet deck as a fine mist fell from above. We showed no lights. I respected his judgment in such things. Sentis Santa stood at his side, her golden hair faintly visible there in the darkness. Our only light was that which lit our compass. We had done our navigation by means of that computer device An-na had installed on Black Lady. She was below right now. Suffering from sea-sickness. The wind had risen up a bit. Sanda had remained behind on my estate at my direct orders as the Queen of Trelandar. I had written a "will" that covered everything that I could think of "just in case" I didn't come back. I remembered the Lady Lana, others. This time it could be my turn. I hoped that SHE would be merciful when I stood before her and faced her judgment. I had brought both my own PPK and Jack's Smith & Wesson. I had my "force-saber". An-na her blast- er pistol. It was perhaps two or three am in the morning. I knew that many aboard would never see the sun come up again. The "Queen of Trelandar" could be among them. My body given to the fishes. I hoped they would remember me for what I had tried to do. I had not spoken of Darlanis to them. Only of my Sharon. "It's going to be a nasty fight," Jon said to me in the darkness as I stood there beside him. I shared his opinion. I did not look forward to what was to come. There would be many who would never see the dawn. We both might be among them. I had given him my body earlier. I had not douched afterwards. I would carry a "part" of him inside me when we went into battle. "We'll be together," I said. There was nothing more that I could say, or wished to say. His neck chain was snug around my throat. That was the way I wanted it to be. I was his wife now. "Oarsmen to their benches, drop your wenches and grab those oars!" I heard the first officer snap. His words made me smile. We had embarked a number of "hip-swingers" from Thistle to add to our fighting force. Some had been plying their "trade" during the voyage to this place some sixty miles or so south of my home. Jon now pacing his quarterdeck there in the darkness. The Janis was his command. The decisions would be his. I would advise, but I felt it best that he still made the decisions. I wore the black of the Warrioress, of the Lady. My veil concealed my face. We flew the Dularnian flag just to confuse the pirates a bit. I thought it might help a bit in surprising them when they found out that we were no longer their "allies" any longer. I had no way of knowing if they knew about the events that had taken place in the last couple days or not. I hoped that they did not. Our losses would be bad enough as they were. I hoped SHE would be merciful. Look upon what we did with favor. Many souls would be standing before HER before long. Mine perhaps there among them! "We will have the element of surprise," Jon said, putting his hand on my shoulder. My people know what to do," he assured me. He was of the Warriors. Death is no stranger to our castes. I could hear the man at the bow making soundings as we "felt" our way into the area where we had seen the pirates from Black Lady. Jon had suggested that we pretend that it was only a meeting of "allies". He would give the recognition signals. The rest would be up to the pirates. It would even the "odds" against us a bit. The night was cloudy and dark, wet and chilly. A depressing night, quite suitable for what we were planning to do, I thought to myself. The darkness, the rain, matching my own mood. I could feel the Janis moving beneath me. The deck swaying beneath my feet. I had taken a good swig of brandy earlier to warm my stomach, steady my nerves. Lady Tirana had suggested it. She was below somewhere now, perhaps talking softly to those who now followed me. We had Sa-she-ra on board. A couple dozen volun- teers from the senior class from the Academy. I had left Delilah with Sanda and Mara. With the rest of the children. Gayle was in Trella with the Squala. She would be safe there regardless of what happened here. I thought once more of Darlanis, so tall and golden. Like a Viking Goddess from Norse legends. I did not be- lieve as Jon did that she was still alive. I knew Darlanis too well for that. She would have died a Warrioress' Death, her sword in her hand. That was the way she would have wanted it! I wept softly there beneath my veil where none could see the tears. "It will be good to be fighting on the `right' side for a change," Jon said to me, clasping me in his arms. Honor is im- portant to us. It is what separates Man from the beasts of the forest. We have something "more" to fight for. On the other hand we are a far more "dangerous" species than any that has ever inhabited the Earth. We love War, the Arts of Combat. We are not a "peace-loving" race like the Lorr. Perhaps we will always be "barbarians". Perhaps that is truly the destiny of Mankind! "Promise me you won't make me a widow," I said softly, mov- ing closer to him. I was scared of what was to come. I often do wish I was like some of the Warrioresses I know. Afraid of noth- ing. Like I used to think of Darlanis until I learned better. I think sometimes it is better if you don't "know" what is coming. "You will remember me at the temple?" he asked. I nodded. We die, but our memories live on in the minds of those we love. "Should we drop anchor, sir?" the first officer asked, a shadow there in the darkness clad in the black of the Warrior. "No," Jon answered. "We will hold position with the oars." It was the best decision under the circumstances. If we failed to surprise the pirates or they already knew of our intentions, then it would be best to have the men ready there at the oars. I knew of the Janis' power. It was the most powerful ramship afloat that I knew of as a "56". Superior to the Empire's 48's or even a bit superior to Darlanis' own 54, Sarnian Lady, now in dry-dock at Trella. Jon was the best captain afloat, I thought. "We wait now," he said to me, turning to me in the darkness. I shivered, the rain soaking through my dress. It was cold out here at sea. A hint of fall, the summer only a treasured memory. It was fortunate that in my pose as a Californian Lady who aided "the other side" that I had a heavy veil over my features. The sight of seeing my Sharon kneeling there before us gagged and chained, the mark of the lash livid on her naked body, would have been too much for even my emotional control. The swarthy brute holding her slave leash telling us about how they had captured both her and Queen Darlanis along with their prize, the Ronda. "This wench is the Imperial Princess!" the man said to Jon there in the captain's cabin where we were all gathered, jerking up Sharon's head, her beautiful azure eyes liquid and wet with her tears. I did not know if she had recognized me or not as she looked up into our faces. The fury was a hot flame that washed over me as I saw what had been done to one once so innocent! "I want three hundred gold crowns for her!", the pirate said, such a ransom being a fortune here in the 26th Century. Obviously those who were now "allied" with Dularn were not above turning a "prof- it" when they thought that they could get away with it! I did not think the man would receive his money. He did not have long to live. My hand caressed the butt of my "force-saber". I felt Jon's hand touch my arm. He understood my feelings, my emotions. "And Darlanis?" Jon asked, his voice level. I dared not speak as I stood there at his side. The rage burned hot inside my body. One of the ship's girls put a glass of whiskey in the pirate's hand, her lovely face wooden as she fought to control her emotions at what she saw there before her. I thought of Dar- lanis, tall and golden, one of the most beautiful women who had ever lived in any era. I did not have much hope that she had survived. She was of the Warrioresses. She would have died with a sword in her hand. She had no doubt given a good account of herself. She would want to be remembered that way, I knew. She was a proud Warrioress, a proud Empress. No one could ever take that away from her. She would live forever in our own memories. "My men were too rough with her, I fear," the brutal pirate captain laughed, watching the slim dark haired slave girl as she served. She was a Dularnian girl, and knew little of our plans. One does not usually inform slaves of the plans of their masters. The pirate laughing, "I'm afraid Darlanis won't live more than couple days or so according to what `THE LADY' tells us with the burning fever that she has now burning in her body." I felt the touch of Lady Tirana as she stood beside me, posing as another traitoress to the Empire. She had sensed the emotions that burned there inside me at the news that Darlanis yet lived! And that Princess Tara was here now aboard one of the pirate vessels! "We have medical facilities," Jon answered. "My Queen will pay highly for Darlanis and her brat." We needed to drag as much information out of the pirate as we could before we made our move on them. I understood that, although Jon had wisely suggested I keep my mouth shut and just observe during these "negotiations". "`THE LADY' wants her to die," the pirate answered, taking a swig of the whiskey there in his glass. "Too bad too to waste a woman like that when we would have been able to sell her to the Emperor of Mexico for maybe another three hundred gold crowns." "I'll buy her off you for that price," Jon ventured, his voice level, as if he was discussing the price of fruit with some peddler there in Thistle. "Take a chance that we can cure her of `whatever' is wrong with her." I was amazed that Jon would make such an offer considering what he actually thought of Darlanis! I did have six hundred gold crowns, but not with me, of course. One does not carry that sort of money around with them as a rule! "I don't think that `THE LADY' will go along," the pirate answered, setting down his empty glass. "She wanted Darlanis for herself, and now that she can't have her, she probably won't let you have her either." I took a step towards the pirate, and flung back my veil, letting him see my face. The force-saber was in my right hand now, although I had not yet turned it on. The man as he regarded me suddenly to my surprise gasping, going for his sword as he cried out in terror, "YOU'RE LORRAINE DUVAL!!!" My right hand was swift. There was a blurred flash of light and the pirate let out a gurgling cry and started to sink to the deck, his head suddenly falling free of his body, the blood spurting from the severed arteries over the beautiful carpeting! "Messy, Lorraine, messy!" Jon breathed, regarding the head- less twitching corpse there on the deck. I snapped off the force-saber and bending down, tore the cruel gag from my girl's lips, letting her sob against me as I lifted her up and held her in my arms, my tears of joy scalding my cheeks as I stroked her soft golden hair and soothed her terrors with my soft words. "We're in trouble, Lorraine," Jon said to me as I held Shar- on in my arms. I didn't understand why. Sharon telling me that the key to her shackles was in the dead man's pouch attached to his weapons harness. Lady Tirana nodding, her eyes glowing into mine through the netting of her veil. Sharon no doubt knew where they were keeping Darlanis. It would make things easier for us. "Why?" I snapped, freeing Sharon, Lady Tiara tossing her a blanket to throw over herself until we could find her something to wear. In her eyes the look of a terrified animal from what I knew she had been put through. She was just a teenage girl from the 20th Century. One who should have been dating, talking on the telephone, worrying about "history exams", and so forth. She would be safe on the Janis as we fought our way to rescue Empress Darlanis. I prayed our medical facilities were up to the task of saving her life. I had few doubts as to the cause of the fever! "Those aboard this ship are Dularnian and Trelandarian," Jon said to me in sober level tones. "They will see utterly no rea- son why they should risk their lives and perhaps die for the Em- press of California." That thought had never crossed my mind. I knew now why Jon had tried to "bargain" as he had for Darlanis. |
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