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34 - Nine Sci-fi Stories by Poul Anderson by Poul William Anderson · Nine Sci-fi Stories by Poul Anderson

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  Speaker 1: Section thirty four of nine sci fi stories by Paul Andersen.
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  Speaker 1: The Sleepovox recording is in the public domain, which of
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  Speaker 1: the demon sees Chapter ten. He woke up slowly and painfully,
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  Speaker 1: and lay for a long time in a state of
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  Speaker 1: half awareness, remembering only confused fragments of battle and despair.
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  Speaker 1: When he opened his eyes, she saw that the storm
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  Speaker 1: was dying. Lightning was one in the sky, and thunder
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  Speaker 1: mumbled farewell. The wind had fallen. The rain fell slow
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  Speaker 1: and heavy down on him. He saw her bending over him.
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  Speaker 1: The long wet hair tumbled past her face to fall
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  Speaker 1: on his breast. He was wrapped in her cloak, as
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  Speaker 1: she had ripped bandages from her robe for his hurts.
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  Speaker 1: He tried to move and could only stir feebly. She
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  Speaker 1: laid a hand on his cheek. Don't she whispered, Just
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  Speaker 1: lie there corn. His head was on her lap, he
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  Speaker 1: realized dimly. His eyes questioned her. She laughed softly under
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  Speaker 1: the falling rein. Don't you see, she said, didn't you
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  Speaker 1: think of it? Chazan's guesh was put on me as
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  Speaker 1: a child. I was always under his will, even when
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  Speaker 1: he was dead, to strong enough to drive me along
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  Speaker 1: his road. But I love you, Koran. I will always
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  Speaker 1: love you. I love ward with Chazan's will, even as
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  Speaker 1: I tried to kill you, and when I saw you
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  Speaker 1: lying near helpless after such a fight as no man
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  Speaker 1: has ever waged since the Guards walked the earth. I
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  Speaker 1: tried to stab you, and I couldn't. Chazan's gesh was broken.
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  Speaker 1: Her hands stroked his hair. You aren't too badly hurt, Koran.
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  Speaker 1: I'll get you down to the ship. With my witch's powers,
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  Speaker 1: we can win through when he's ante who tried to
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  Speaker 1: stop us, not that I think they will. With their
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  Speaker 1: leaders destroyed, we can get safely to a Cara, She sighed.
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  Speaker 1: I will see that you escape my father's power, Koran.
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  Speaker 1: If you will were into the pirate life, I will
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  Speaker 1: follow you. He shook his head. No, he whispered, No,
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  Speaker 1: I will take service under Crowman. If he will have me,
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  Speaker 1: he will, she vowed saff He needs strong men, and
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  Speaker 1: some day you can be the last graut of the empire.
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  Speaker 1: It wasn't so bad, thought Korn drowsily. Crowman was a
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  Speaker 1: good sort. A highly placed connachurion could gradually ease the
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  Speaker 1: burdens of his people until they had full equality with
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  Speaker 1: a kirah in a united and peaceful domain. The menace
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  Speaker 1: of the Zanthe was ended to be on the safe side.
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  Speaker 1: A kaira had better make than tributary an expedition which
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  Speaker 1: he korn could lead. After that, there would be enough
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  Speaker 1: to keep a man busy, as well as the loveliest
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  Speaker 1: and best of women for wife. He slept, he did
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  Speaker 1: not waken when a mazu led a squad up in
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  Speaker 1: search of him. Crysius laid a finger on her lips,
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  Speaker 1: and a flash of understanding passed between her and the captain.
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  Speaker 1: He nodded, smiling and clasped a hand. With sudden warmth,
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  Speaker 1: they bore the sleeping warrior back through the rain down
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  Speaker 1: to the waiting ship. End of Section thirty four.