Helliconia Summer by Brian W. Aldiss

Author:Brian W. Aldiss
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780441326327
Publisher: Ace
Published: 1983-01-02T02:00:00+00:00

The little year advanced, though seasonal effects were virtually obliterated under the great flood of Freyr's summer. The Church celebrated its special days. Volcanoes erupted. The suns swung over the bent backs of the peasants. King JandolAnganol grew thin from waiting for his bill of divorcement to arrive. He planned another campaign in the Cosgatt, to defeat Darvlish and regain a measure of popularity. He camouflaged his inner anguish with constant nervous activity. Wherever he went, the phagor runt Yuli followed - together with other shades which vanished as the king turned his eagle gaze towards them. JandolAnganol prayed, suffered a flagellation at the hands of his vicar, bathed, dressed, and strode out to the courtyard of the palace where the hoxneys were stabled. He wore a rich keedrant with forms of animals embroidered on it, silk trousers, and high leather boots. Over the keedrant he buckled leather armour trimmed with silver embellishments. His favourite steed, Lapwing, was saddled. He mounted her. Yuli ran up, yipping and calling him Father; JandolAnganol pulled the creature up behind him. They set off at a trot into the hilly parkland behind the palace. Accompanying the king at a respectful distance went a detachment of the First Phagorian Guard - in whom, during these dangerous times, JandolAnganol reposed more trust than ever before. The warm wind was on his cheek. He breathed deep. Everything about was dusted with grey in honour of distant Rustyjonnik. 'It's zzhoodin' today,' called Yuli. 'Yes, shooting.' In a dell where brassims sent up their leathery branches, a target had been established. Several men in dark clothes were busy making arrangements. They became immobile as the king arrived, testifying to his power to freeze blood by his very majesty. The Phagorian arrived silently and formed a line, blocking the mouth of the dell. Yuli jumped from Lapwing and scampered about, insensitive to occasion. The king remained in his saddle, brow ominous, as if he had power to freeze himself. One of the frozen figures moved forward and saluted the king. He was a small thin man of unusual physiognomy, who wore the harsh sacklike garb of his trade. His name was SlanjivalIptrekira. The name was regarded as rude and funny. Possibly it was this life's handicap which caused SlanjivalIptrekira in middle age to sport a great amount of gingerish, side-whisker, reinforced by a phagor-ear moustache. This lent his otherwise mild aspect a ferocity, as well as creating a countenance with more sideways than vertical dimension. He licked his lips nervously as he endured the hawkish gaze of the sovereign. His unease was occasioned, not by the innuendo of his name, but by the fact that he was Royal Armourer and Chief Ironmaster of the Ironmakers Corps. And by the fact that six matchlocks built under his direction in imitation of a Sibornalese artillery piece were about to be tested. This was his second testing. An earlier six prototypes, tested half a tenner previously, had all failed to work. Hence the licking of the lips.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.