Elric at the End of Time (Elric of Melnibone) by Michael Moorcock

Author:Michael Moorcock [Moorcock, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780886774103
Amazon: 0886774101
Publisher: DAW
Published: 1995-01-02T08:00:00+00:00

3. Revolt in Hatnor

“SOJAN, SOJAN!” the call rang across the clear Zylorian sky as a small scout-ship veered towards the larger warship, the flagship of Sojan, second-in-command to the War Lord of Hatnor—Nornos Kad.

“Who are you?” Sojan’s lieutenant roared through a megaphone.

“I bring urgent tidings from the court of Nornos Kad—the land is in turmoil!”

“Come alongside,” the man roared.

As the scout-ship drew alongside, an armed man jumped from it and rushed up the ladder to the platform whereon Sojan stood.

“Sojan! While the fleet has been at war, revolution has swept through the land. Nornos Kad has been deposed and a tyrant sits on the throne of Hatnor. There is a price upon your head and upon the heads of all whom you command.

“Flee now, Sojan, while you have the chance. Trewin the Upstart controls the city and half the Empire. The other half is in a state of unrest, unsure whether to support one Emperor or another!”

“I cannot flee while my Emperor rots in chains— tell me, who still cries ‘Loyalty to the Nornis family’?”

“None openly, Sojan. A few are suspected, but

they are still powerful nobles and even Trewin dare not arrest them without cause.”

Sojan’s face became grim and he clenched his hand upon his sword hilt.

“Lun!” he cried. “Order the fleet to turn about and adjust to Speed One!”

A look of surprise crossed his lieutenant’s face. “We’re not running, Sojan?”

“Do as I say!”

“Turn about and adjust to Speed One!” Lun shouted through his megaphone.

At once the great fleet turned gracefully about and adjusted, speed by speed, until it was flying at maxi-mum speed. There were puzzled looks in the eyes of many of Sojan’s captains, but they obeyed his order.

“Tell them to set a course for Poltoon,” he ordered Lun. Lun did so and soon every ship was heading south—to the steaming jungles and burning deserts of the Heat Lands.

“Why do we sail for Poltoon, Sojan?” asked Lun.

But Sojan’s only reply was, “You will see,” and he resumed his earnest conversation with the messenger who had brought him the news.

On the third day they were sailing at No. 1 speed over a vast belt of jungle, seemingly impenetrable. But Sojan’s eyes, less atrophied by civilised living, caught what he had been looking for—a patch of green, lighter than the dark green which predominated.

“STOP!” he roared. “Stop and hover—no one is to drop anchor.”

The flying machines of the Zylorian nations are usually very similar to our airships. The gondola is supported by steel hawsers depending from the main gas-bag. The propeller is adjustable and can be slung

either fore or aft of the ship—it is usually slung aft. They are steered by two methods, a rudder aft plus manipulation of the propeller. A normal sized warship usually mounts five guns—two very powerful ones fore and aft, a smaller one on the captain’s platform and two mounted in a platform on top of the huge gas-bag. The gunners reach this platform by means of ladders from the deck to the platform. This

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