"Jean Marie Stine - Future Eves" - читать интересную книгу автора (Stine Jean Marie)

order for the complete annihilation of the two powerless ships.


III.


Thus ended the first foray of the people of Detaxal. And for the next two tels there
was peace upon our globe again. In the laboratory the thirty who had been rescued
from their ships were given thorough examinations both physically and mentally and
we learned all there was to know about them. Hearing of the destruction of their
ships, most of the creatures had become frightened and were quite docile in our
hands. Those that were unruly were used in the dissecting room for the advancement
of Golan knowledge.
After a complete study of them, which yielded little, we lost interest in them
scientifically. Geble, however, found some pleasure in having the poor creatures
around her and kept three of them in her own chambers so she could delve into their
brains as she pleased. The others she doled out to her favorites as she saw fit.
One she gave to me to act as a slave or in what capacity I desired him, but my
interest in him soon waned, especially since I had now come of age and was allowed
to have two consorts of my own, and go about the business of bringing my
daughters into the world.
My slave I called Jon and gave him complete freedom of my house. If only we had
foreseen what was coming we would have annihilated every one of them
immediately! It did please me later to find that Jon was learning our language and
finding a place in my household, making friends with my two shut-in consorts. But
as I have said I paid little attention to him.
So life went on smoothly with scarcely a change after the destruction of the ships of
Detaxal. But that did not mean we were unprepared for more. Geble reasoned that
there would be more ships forthcoming when the Detaxalans found that their first
two did not return. So, although it was sometimes inconvenient, the zones of force
were kept upon our cities.
And Geble was right, for the day came when dozens of flyers descended upon Gola
from Detaxal. But this time the zones of force did not hold them since the zones
were not in operation!
And we were unwarned, for when they descended upon us, our world was sleeping,
confident that our zones were our protection. The first indication that I had of
trouble brewing was when, awakening, I found the ugly form of Jon bending over
me. Surprised, for it was not his habit to arouse me, I started up only to find his
arms about me, embracing me. And how strong he was! For the moment a new
emotion swept me, for the first time I knew the pleasure to be had in the arms of a
strong man, but that emotion was short lived, for I saw in the blue eyes of my slave
that he had recognized the look in my eyes for what it was, and for the moment he
was tender.
Later I was to grow angry when I thought of that expression of his, for his eyes filled
with pity, pity for me! But pity did not stay, instead he grinned and the next instant
he was binding me down to my couch with strong rope. Geble, I learned later, had
been treated as I, as were the members of the council and every other woman in
Gola!
That was what came of allowing our men to meet on common ground with the
creatures from Detaxal, for a weak mind is open to seeds of rebellion and the