[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
dreams, she had Sarakos flayed alive, and she smiled.
The true sun was high overhead when at last they stopped at a crossroads.
We must hurry on, Yanulf was saying.
This horse must rest, Caradoc answered. Car-rying double has nearly
foundered him. He reached up to help Tylara down, then led the horse to the
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JANISSARIES
watering trough that stood next to the stone heap. He bowed to the heap before
allowing the horse to drink.
Tylara bowed as well. Crossroads were sacred to the Guide of the Dead. Then she
turned to Yanulf. Thank you.
Thank him. He pointed at Caradoc.
I have. But we would not have escaped if you had not she stopped herself.
Broken my oath of secrecy? Yanulf said. Yes. Doubtless I will answer for that.
But I spoke truly to the acolytes. Yatar cannot wish his secrets held at such a
cost.
Where are we going? Tylara asked.
Caradoc answered from behind her. This is the east road, he said. Perhaps we
will find the boy Wanax and the Protector. And if not it leads home.
Home. She looked to the east, but Tamaerthon was more than a hundred leagues,
across salt flats and pirate lands. There s someone coming, she said. She
pointed eastward. Two men and a woman were walking up the road. The woman
wore strange-trousered clothing like the men.
PART FOUR:
THE CROSSROADS
1
The planet below did not look like Earth. The polar ice-caps were too large, and
there was much more water, too little land. Despite the vast empty seas because
of them? Rick knew too little to guess there were great deserts ringed by
moun-tain ranges.
From high orbit there was no trace of man at all.
The pilot seemed to be afraid of them. He made them store all the ammunition for
the rocket launchers and mortars in one locker and the guns in another. He made
it clear that the two would be offloaded a considerable distance apart.
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JANISSARIES
The last few hours had been continuous briefings with the pilot insisting that both
Rick and André Parsons attend them all. They were told how to raise surinomaz,
which had a complex ecology and even more complex harvest procedure; how to
use the transceivers to communicate with the traders when they came for the
harvest; endless details, and al-ways an underlying note of warning that the
people of Tran were human and deserved to be well treated.
The landing area had been chosen: far enough from the equator to have an
endurable climate even after the rogue sun came close; far enough from the poles
to be inhabited even during the centuries when the invader was far away; at high
enough al-titude to remain dry when the polar caps melted and raised the sea level
a hundred meters. There were several areas that would do, and Rick had no way
to know which was best. He had pleaded with the pilot to let them spend several
days observing the planet before landing, but that request was re-fused. The pilot
seemed to be in a frantic hurry. Rick wondered why, but there was no
explanation.
They moved to a lower orbit, and the TV screen showed images of the country
below: a few large cities, but mostly a land of villages and fields. Many of the
villages and all of the cities were dominated by massive castles. There were few
roads.
Parsons wanted to land near a city, but Rick chose a village near a major road,
fifteen kilometers from a castle. The orbital photographs showed an army
encamped outside the castle and massive siege towers nearing completion.
If there s a battle we may decide to join it, Rick said. After we get some
political intelligence.
Nearer a city would be better, Parsons said. And if you intend to take that
castle, why land a day s march away?
Rick again protested that they didn t know enough and should land a safe distance
from con-flict. Eventually Parsons stopped arguing.
They landed at dusk, just after the major sun had set but before the distant
secondary was up. When the secondary sun fully rose, it would light the planet
with a blaze like a thousand full moons, mak-ing the night as light as a heavily
clouded day on Earth. When they landed, the tricky light dusk from the sun,
rays of dawn from the secondary made weird images and shadows.
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JANISSARIES
They offloaded the guns first, then the ammuni-tion nearly a kilometer from their
first touchdown spot. Rick was the last to leave. Before he could jump out, the
hatch closed and the ship lifted.
Stop! I m still aboard! he shouted.
I know. The pilot s voice was impassive. The ship moved half a kilometer and
settled to the ground. Rick heard the whine of machinery, but the hatch didn t
open for several minutes. Then the voice said, Now you can get out.
When he jumped to the ground, the ship lifted. Rick watched it rise into the
clouds until it was gone. He hadn t really believed it would leave until then. He
felt completely alone.
It s really gone.
He fought a moment of terror as he realized the voice had been a woman s. He
turned.
She was a tiny girl, not very pretty in the half-light. She was dressed in coveralls
much like his own. You re human, he said.
You don t sound very sure of that.
I m not very sure of that.
I m human. My name is Gwen Tremaine, and I come from Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara. As in California? On Earth?
Yes. She tried to laugh, but she didn t succeed. Oh, yes, I m from Earth.
We d better get over to the others, Rick said. He moved closer to her and saw
tears in her eyes. Are you all right?
I m scared as hell, she said.
So am I. Uh
I was the pilot s mistress, she said. That s what you wanted to ask, wasn t it? I
got pregnant and didn t want an abortion, so he put me out here. This time she
managed a laugh. Rick thought it sounded horrible. Pretty convenient. I asked
him if this was the traditional way for flying-saucer pilots to get rid of excess
baggage, but he didn t answer.
Jesus! Rick muttered. He led her through the scrub brush it seemed a lot like
the chaparral of the western United States, but there was a strange pungent odor
to it toward the distant lights where Parsons and the guns had been unloaded.
He wanted to say something to comfort her, but he couldn t think of anything.
God Almighty, he thought. She must be as alone as anyone has ever been. Do
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JANISSARIES
you know anything about about why we re here?
Probably more than you, she said. She walked beside him, but several steps
away, as if repelled by him.
If you know more than I do, I d appreciate the information, he said.
We ve got plenty of time. Let me get used to the situation, will you? When he
had me read up on
Tran, he didn t tell me it was because he was leaving me here.
When did he tell you [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
zanotowane.pl doc.pisz.pl pdf.pisz.pl rafalstec.xlx.pl
dreams, she had Sarakos flayed alive, and she smiled.
The true sun was high overhead when at last they stopped at a crossroads.
We must hurry on, Yanulf was saying.
This horse must rest, Caradoc answered. Car-rying double has nearly
foundered him. He reached up to help Tylara down, then led the horse to the
file:///C|/2590%20Sci-Fi%20and%20Fantasy%20...20Pournelle%20-%2001%20-%20Janissaries.html (74 of 184) [12/29/2004 12:13:09 AM]
JANISSARIES
watering trough that stood next to the stone heap. He bowed to the heap before
allowing the horse to drink.
Tylara bowed as well. Crossroads were sacred to the Guide of the Dead. Then she
turned to Yanulf. Thank you.
Thank him. He pointed at Caradoc.
I have. But we would not have escaped if you had not she stopped herself.
Broken my oath of secrecy? Yanulf said. Yes. Doubtless I will answer for that.
But I spoke truly to the acolytes. Yatar cannot wish his secrets held at such a
cost.
Where are we going? Tylara asked.
Caradoc answered from behind her. This is the east road, he said. Perhaps we
will find the boy Wanax and the Protector. And if not it leads home.
Home. She looked to the east, but Tamaerthon was more than a hundred leagues,
across salt flats and pirate lands. There s someone coming, she said. She
pointed eastward. Two men and a woman were walking up the road. The woman
wore strange-trousered clothing like the men.
PART FOUR:
THE CROSSROADS
1
The planet below did not look like Earth. The polar ice-caps were too large, and
there was much more water, too little land. Despite the vast empty seas because
of them? Rick knew too little to guess there were great deserts ringed by
moun-tain ranges.
From high orbit there was no trace of man at all.
The pilot seemed to be afraid of them. He made them store all the ammunition for
the rocket launchers and mortars in one locker and the guns in another. He made
it clear that the two would be offloaded a considerable distance apart.
file:///C|/2590%20Sci-Fi%20and%20Fantasy%20...20Pournelle%20-%2001%20-%20Janissaries.html (75 of 184) [12/29/2004 12:13:09 AM]
JANISSARIES
The last few hours had been continuous briefings with the pilot insisting that both
Rick and André Parsons attend them all. They were told how to raise surinomaz,
which had a complex ecology and even more complex harvest procedure; how to
use the transceivers to communicate with the traders when they came for the
harvest; endless details, and al-ways an underlying note of warning that the
people of Tran were human and deserved to be well treated.
The landing area had been chosen: far enough from the equator to have an
endurable climate even after the rogue sun came close; far enough from the poles
to be inhabited even during the centuries when the invader was far away; at high
enough al-titude to remain dry when the polar caps melted and raised the sea level
a hundred meters. There were several areas that would do, and Rick had no way
to know which was best. He had pleaded with the pilot to let them spend several
days observing the planet before landing, but that request was re-fused. The pilot
seemed to be in a frantic hurry. Rick wondered why, but there was no
explanation.
They moved to a lower orbit, and the TV screen showed images of the country
below: a few large cities, but mostly a land of villages and fields. Many of the
villages and all of the cities were dominated by massive castles. There were few
roads.
Parsons wanted to land near a city, but Rick chose a village near a major road,
fifteen kilometers from a castle. The orbital photographs showed an army
encamped outside the castle and massive siege towers nearing completion.
If there s a battle we may decide to join it, Rick said. After we get some
political intelligence.
Nearer a city would be better, Parsons said. And if you intend to take that
castle, why land a day s march away?
Rick again protested that they didn t know enough and should land a safe distance
from con-flict. Eventually Parsons stopped arguing.
They landed at dusk, just after the major sun had set but before the distant
secondary was up. When the secondary sun fully rose, it would light the planet
with a blaze like a thousand full moons, mak-ing the night as light as a heavily
clouded day on Earth. When they landed, the tricky light dusk from the sun,
rays of dawn from the secondary made weird images and shadows.
file:///C|/2590%20Sci-Fi%20and%20Fantasy%20...20Pournelle%20-%2001%20-%20Janissaries.html (76 of 184) [12/29/2004 12:13:09 AM]
JANISSARIES
They offloaded the guns first, then the ammuni-tion nearly a kilometer from their
first touchdown spot. Rick was the last to leave. Before he could jump out, the
hatch closed and the ship lifted.
Stop! I m still aboard! he shouted.
I know. The pilot s voice was impassive. The ship moved half a kilometer and
settled to the ground. Rick heard the whine of machinery, but the hatch didn t
open for several minutes. Then the voice said, Now you can get out.
When he jumped to the ground, the ship lifted. Rick watched it rise into the
clouds until it was gone. He hadn t really believed it would leave until then. He
felt completely alone.
It s really gone.
He fought a moment of terror as he realized the voice had been a woman s. He
turned.
She was a tiny girl, not very pretty in the half-light. She was dressed in coveralls
much like his own. You re human, he said.
You don t sound very sure of that.
I m not very sure of that.
I m human. My name is Gwen Tremaine, and I come from Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara. As in California? On Earth?
Yes. She tried to laugh, but she didn t succeed. Oh, yes, I m from Earth.
We d better get over to the others, Rick said. He moved closer to her and saw
tears in her eyes. Are you all right?
I m scared as hell, she said.
So am I. Uh
I was the pilot s mistress, she said. That s what you wanted to ask, wasn t it? I
got pregnant and didn t want an abortion, so he put me out here. This time she
managed a laugh. Rick thought it sounded horrible. Pretty convenient. I asked
him if this was the traditional way for flying-saucer pilots to get rid of excess
baggage, but he didn t answer.
Jesus! Rick muttered. He led her through the scrub brush it seemed a lot like
the chaparral of the western United States, but there was a strange pungent odor
to it toward the distant lights where Parsons and the guns had been unloaded.
He wanted to say something to comfort her, but he couldn t think of anything.
God Almighty, he thought. She must be as alone as anyone has ever been. Do
file:///C|/2590%20Sci-Fi%20and%20Fantasy%20...20Pournelle%20-%2001%20-%20Janissaries.html (77 of 184) [12/29/2004 12:13:09 AM]
JANISSARIES
you know anything about about why we re here?
Probably more than you, she said. She walked beside him, but several steps
away, as if repelled by him.
If you know more than I do, I d appreciate the information, he said.
We ve got plenty of time. Let me get used to the situation, will you? When he
had me read up on
Tran, he didn t tell me it was because he was leaving me here.
When did he tell you [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]