Simon Rack 1 by Laurence James

Author:Laurence James
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: scifi, fantasy, space opera, military sf, other worlds, sf, piccadilly publishing, laurence james, simon rack
Publisher: Piccadilly Publishing

The day passed quietly. That night, after they had been stood down, Simon sat with Bogie as they burnished their swords and explained his plan. He wasted no words.

‘One. We’ve got eight days. Two. At the end of that time all these line folk will be back to their own demesnes and the chance is gone. Three. If we could reach GalSec we could have a star-ship here in a day. Four. Since we had to destruct our ship, there is no way we can get through to GalSec. The only transmitters are so guarded it’s impossible to get at them. Five. That means it’s down to us. We have to reach Morkyn, convince him of the urgency of things and lead an attack on Castle Falcon.’

‘We’ve no chance of getting out. De Poictiers sees to that. So, here we are and here we rest.’

‘Wrong. Tonight, after I’ve seen poor old Jocasta, I’m going to try for a break. You’ll have to stay and look as innocent as you know. I’ll make for the woods and Morkyn.’

‘How much will you tell him?’

‘The truth. That Mescarl leads a cabal of Sol Three lords each of whom has a strong interest in the pheronium supplies to the Federation. That they each have arranged to build up their supplies by pressing peasants into slavery in their mines. Then, the pheronium will be taken to secret hiding-places all over the world. The next shuttle to call at the port will carry back nothing more than a crudely worded ultimatum.’

‘A damned ransom.’

‘Aye. Freedom within the Federation. Acceptance of slavery. A ten-fold price for the ore. And power. Power over not only Sol Three but over the whole Sol System.’

‘Without the pheronium every star-ship will be useless within weeks. Any attempted retribution and all the supplies will be destroyed. God knows there’s little enough of the stuff anyway. And it can’t be synthesized.’

Simon slammed his sword down on his bed. ‘And the only men who know of this are all here in this one place. If they are to be thwarted, we must take this place and hold them. So, tonight I try. I’d go earlier, but Lady Jocasta would raise a fuss if I didn’t go. Then all would be up. She seems to have taken to me as her last chance in life. It will come as a sad blow when I reveal myself.’

Bogie laid his polished blade across that of Simon. ‘Take care. If you are caught, they will watch me with double caution.’ He glanced at the large master—clock in the corner of the bleak barrack-room. ‘Come on Corporal Simeon. Time for a last bite in the refectory. Then you may be off. Perhaps a drop of this awful piss they call small beer to boost your passion former ladyship.’

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.