-
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
comfort." He broke into a broad grin.
"Oh, we're quite comfortable," Mark replied politely.
"No, no, if you men are anything like the people of Haven, there is one
important detail."
"I can't imagine what," Ikawa replied. "The training is the best, and for
creature comforts our surroundings are magnificent."
"Not all of them," Allic said. "Varma, get in here--I know you're listening on
the other side of that door!"
The door swung open and the dwarf stepped in. "Only awaiting your command, my
lord."
"Gorm meat. You're eavesdropping again."
"I'm innocent, my lord, honest."
"Enough. Do you think you can arrange a little diversion this evening for our
new friends?"
"Of course, of course." Varma looked mischievously at Ikawa and Mark. "What
Page 46
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
will it be, gentlemen, women or young men?"
"What?" Mark roared.
"Well," Varma replied, "I've heard some conversations between your men. Always
sex, sex, sex. I don't know what you people do back on your Earth, but on
Haven sex is just another form of casual fun.
Everybody does it until they make a life pledge to a single partner. And even
then..." The dwarf chuckled and looked over at Allic, who roared in
appreciation.
"Dozens of women are dying to spend the night with you outlanders," Varma
continued. "They think you might know a new trick or two. But Allic here said
to wait until you'd all settled in. So what will it be, gentlemen? Women, or
perhaps young men, or both?"
"Are you calling me a..."
Ikawa pushed in front of Mark.
"Ah--why don't you just ask some of the girls to stop by tonight," Ikawa said
smoothly. He grabbed
Mark and hustled him out the door.
"Just one woman for each man, then?" Varma asked as they hurried down the
hall.
"More than enough." Ikawa kept a hand on Mark's shoulder until they had turned
into a side corridor.
"Did I say something wrong?" Varma asked, looking at Allic. But his master was
bent double with laughter as the two outlanders disappeared from view.
"That guy," Mark began, "that guy was calling me..."
"Different people, different customs." Ikawa tried to suppress a laugh. "Don't
insult our hosts. They'll catch on to our preferences soon enough."
"Yeah, but I never thought--"
"Don't worry about it," Ikawa said. "We'll tell the men about the party later.
We want their minds on the patrol this afternoon."
"Yeah, but..." Then his thoughts turned back to the patrol. Damn, one-ton dogs
with foot-long fangs--and why did they have to look like Dobermans?
God, give me strength, Mark groaned inwardly.
The rest of the outlanders were listening to a lecture from Pina who stood in
front of a wooden apparatus that held the largest crystal any of them had ever
seen.
That sucker must be at least the size of a basketball, thought Kochanski.
Pina stopped suddenly in the middle of a statement. He nodded as if
acknowledging something, and addressed the Japanese and Americans who were
listening to his lecture. "Allic has just informed me that after talking to
Mark and Ikawa he has decided that you will all go on patrol this afternoon.
The fresh air and a change from boring classes should be well received, neh?"
A satisfied murmur answered him.
He smiled and continued, "Now, however, I want to finish my explanation of how
our crystal cannon or wall crystals work. They are far too large to be moved
about comfortably by an individual and require a much more elaborate aiming
device since we use a tighter beam to insure longer range. They are capable of
holding a far greater charge than your wrist crystals, so you can pour more
and more energy into it, aim, flip the aperture, and fire a blast over a
hundred times more powerful then a standard shot."
"Questions? Yes, Kochanski."
"This is all very impressive, but limited in many aspects, including line of
sight. If we were to introduce gunpowder you would have the advantage of
mortars and rockets in addition to rapid-firing machine guns. Don't you think
that would revolutionize warfare around here?"
Pina shook his head and murmured something to Valdez who walked away. Pina
continued, "This has been discussed since your arrival and we have decided to
delay any development for a while. First, as a sorcerer you never have to
worry about running out of ammunition, you just draw in more Essence.
Page 47
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
Second, your weapons are very finely machined. We can't match such precision
without a major expenditure of resources, and we're not sure it's worth it."
"You're kidding."
Valdez had returned with one of the Americans' .45s and handed the pistol to
Kochanski.
"Please stand and take a few shots at one of the practice dummies."
Kochanski looked at his companions and shrugged. He walked out a few steps and
turned to face the targets. A quick check to insure there was a round in the
chamber, and he nicked the safety off, aimed, and fired.
The shot kicked up dust beside the target and Kochanski lined up again, trying
to correct his aim.
All the others were watching Pina who had moved in back of him and whose eyes
suddenly glowed as
Kochanski squeezed the trigger for his second shot.
Nothing happened. Puzzled, Kochanski cocked the hammer back and tried again.
Nothing. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ] - zanotowane.pl
- doc.pisz.pl
- pdf.pisz.pl
- zambezia2013.opx.pl