[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
serums. It being claimed that Priestesses have lived past two hundred years as
have large numbers of the Women. In the case of those living on Mars it is
likely that their "environment" has something to do with a longer life span,
Lorraine claiming here that Mars' lesser gravity than that of the Earth would
naturally increase the span of one's life considerably there. Additionally,
those of Mars no doubt enjoy a "diet" that extends the span of life somewhat
too according to what I am "told" by my Physician, Dr. Salmona Tora.
"Doesn't `tell' us that much," I said, reading the letter.
"At least Tara hasn't `harmed' her," the old woman said.
"Perhaps Tara isn't as `evil' as people thought," I said.
"Or perhaps she has repented her ways," the woman answered.
*****************************************************************
"I `fear' for you," Mara said, Tara sitting there across from her. The
girl had seen Tara's scarred face enough now that the sight of it no longer
bothered her as it might have another.
"I am not a woman who any one should `concern' themselves about," the
Princess answered. "I have lived a life of evil, and now I am paying the
`price' for my sins," she continued on then.
"Where will we `go' when we leave Trella?" Mara asked her.
"I have `friends' in Mexico," the former Princess said.
"Why did you `become' what you became?" Mara asked Tara.
"You saw Darlanis when she came looking for me, didn't you?" Tara
answered. "That damn blonde slut destroyed everything I had to live for. She
took my husband, my marriage, even my child..."
"But you `served' her later as a Warlady," Mara pointed out.
"Thought maybe I could get her killed, get my throne back, but it never
`happened', damn the `bitch's luck'!" the Princess now grinned, her smile
something to give one nightmares. "Backed that `Talen' woman for several
years, but she never `did' any- thing until Lorraine came on the scene," the
scarred Princess ex- plained. "Thought I could push Darlanis into enough wars
that the people would rise up against her too, but it never occurred. Played
around with hypnosis, learned `why' it's `forbidden' too!" The Princess having
for several years "shared" her soul with the demoness from Hell known to
Page 108
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Mankind as "THE QUEEN OF DARKNESS"...
"Why did you `attack' Queen Maris?" Mara then asked Tara.
"Got `trapped', didn't see any other way `out'," Tara spoke. "Damn
Priestesses decided to get into the `act', and here I am. Just a scarred
`horror' now that only frightens anyone who sees."
"I always thought the Priestesses only did `good'," Mara an- swered
back. "I never thought that they ever killed people..."
"They `run' things, and don't ever forget it," Tara smiled. "Anyone who
`crosses their path' doesn't live very long either!" The Princess reaching up,
touching her scarred face in a way that left no doubts then as to the thoughts
passing through her mind.
*****************************************************************
"I raised my daughter to be a `good girl'," Clara San said.
"She took `mercy' upon one who has lived a life of evil," I answered.
"And whatever we feel about it, I think she did what I would hope any daughter
of mine would do," I then concluded now.
"Perhaps in a previous `incarnation' you were a Priestess," the old
woman smiled back, sipping at the glass of wine that I had given her. That we
passed through numerous incarnations was a proven fact in our society,
although Lorraine relates that the concept of reincarnation was known if not
"accepted" in her time. The Priestesses will only say that you have lived
before, but as a rule they will not tell you "who" you were, or "what" you
did. Perhaps it is just as well, if you stop and think about it now...
"I've always `wondered' how Tara `justified' what she did," I answered.
"She always seemed to me to be `driven' by `hate'."
"She did say that Darlanis `ruined' her life," Clara said.
"Darlanis was years ago almost another like Tara," I spoke. "Her
`attacks' on us, her use of a `mad dog' like Tara as her own Warlady leave no
doubts as to the sort of a woman she was then."
"Yet now you are `friends'," the old woman pointed out now.
"Perhaps we all can `change'," I said, giving her a smile.
"Tara's face is badly scarred," the old woman said to me.
"I'm sure she won't appreciate that," I mused in reply.
2569 A.D.!
THE DULARNIAN QUEEN
AN ADVENTURE IN THE SECOND DARK AGE OF MAN
By Jerome B. Bigge
Chapter Forty Four
"I trust you said `good bye' to your mother before coming aboard," I
spoke, Diane Wells nodding as she hobbled across the North Star's deck, the
"boot" fitted to the girl's right leg gen- tly thumping on the planking with
every step that she took now. A gentle warm breeze from the south a delight as
we stood there. The sun shining down brightly from a partly clouded azure sky.
I noticed that Sarnian Queen had steam up, its anchor hove up short now. I
could see the "glitter" of gold on its quarterdeck as the Empress tossed back
her cloak, the golden mesh gleaming brightly. I wondered how well a heavy
steam frigate would do in the middle of the Pacific. I considered its square
rig a bit of a handicap. Prince Serak of the Nevadas had decided to come with
his wife... We would stop and visit a day too with Queen Freydis, who Serak's
own younger brother had just married a few weeks before here.
"I expect we'll have a new Queen of the Wyomings before we get back," my
husband smiled, waving to his father on the dock, a blonde haired woman beside
him raising her own arm in reply then.
"Just as long as we don't have a `new' Queen of Dularn," I smiled back,
lifting my own arm in farewell as the men at the capstan drew the North Star
up to her anchor. The people of Ar- sana crowded on the docks, well aware that
they might never see their Queen or her flagship again should things go
"wrong" now... A steady stream of smoke rising up from the funnel left no
doubt that I had a full head of steam up. The ship was "heavy" due to its
carrying reserve supplies of food and water and spare canvas.
Page 109
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]