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"I find your thought processes `interesting'," Tais smiled.
"The `war' must be `morally just'," I said, seeing her nod.
"A `matter of viewpoint'," Tais "grinned", standing there.
"The Germans were the `aggressors'," I pointed out to her.
"No doubt they did not see it `that way'," Tais answered.
"I think you are `enjoying this'," I said, yawning a bit.
"Do you wish another glass of wine?" the Priestess asked.
"I haven't been `intellectually stimulated' like this for years," I
smiled. Only Janet Rogers had possessed a mind power- ful enough to really
give me a good first class "match" here too! And Tais generated enough "mental
horsepower" to satisfy anyone!!
"As I recall there was a certain `problem' in Trella last winter that
gave you considerable concern," Tais smiled back now. "A certain Scribe who
was a master of the crossbow, who decided to `declare war' upon the
`establishment', and who for a period of two weeks, `succeeded' in a way that
seemed `unbelievable'." It having reached the point that I had a full Legion
in the city itself trying to hunt down this strange terrifying "terrorist"...
"The `Batman'," I answered, recalling the "incident". It had been an
"embarrassment" for the entire government, and for me too. Not even my
overflights low over the city at night had been effective against this
"terrorist" who "hunted" the Warriors and Warrioresses who maintained "law and
order" in my capital city! The man had finally been killed by a prostitute who
with a "cli- ent" spotted him on a roof top, and naked but for the sword in
her hand, killed the black cloaked "Batman" before he could kill again! I'd
given her three hundred gold crowns, issued her the Royal Medal of Trelandar,
our highest award, for her heroism too!
"I found the `incident' of `interest'," Tais smiled in turn.
"I was just about to appeal to you, to Mars for help!" I ex- claimed.
The man had come and gone without any ever seeing him!
"The `example', perhaps `refined' a bit, might be `useful'," Tais mused
thoughtfully, once again there by the window looking out into the darkness.
"An entire city, a nation itself, opposed by one man who came close to making
fools of you all," she added. "One sniper, in `the right time and place', with
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a good rifle and the ability to use it, can `alter' the entire course of
history." And with this "comment" she suddenly disappeared, leaving me sit-
ting there with my thoughts, wondering "what" she'd meant here...
Chapter Twenty Two
"You look `tired' this morning," Queen Maris said to me as I joined her
and the others for breakfast, the Queen of Dularn hav- ing laid a table that
twice our number couldn't have done justice to. I'd spent a long time lying
awake, thinking of what Tais had said to me. Questioning my own beliefs.
Wondering too about that last "comment" she'd made. I am a master shot with a
rifle. Did she wish me to travel back in time with her to assassinate someone?
I did not think so, recalling what she'd said about the insane Scribe who had
so "terrorized" Trella there last winter... Could such "methods" be used
against a more "developed" society?* * This is incidentally the very concept
of "NEO-TERRORISM", which is to "terrorism" what nuclear weapons are to
warfare. (J.B.B.)
"Had a `visit' from Tais," I smiled back, enjoying the looks on their
faces. "Seems we're being `tested' here," I then added. This producing the
"effect" that I'd expected that it would here! That "look" of surprise on
their faces that I'd expected to see!!
"I suspect if it wasn't for Lorraine here," Maris breathed, her eyes
meeting mine, "History would have `duplicated' itself". We're not really
"friends", but I do "respect" Maris Marn a lot! She has a first rate mind, and
the ability to use it effectively!
"My thoughts exactly," Darlanis smiled, grinning at Sharon.
"One of Tara's `lieutenants' is `involved' in this," I said.
"Knew we hadn't `heard' the `last' of that `bitch'!" Darla- nis growled,
the Empress having good cause to hate the Princess after the evil Princess had
once almost killed her back in 2565!!
"What!" Maris gasped, the four of us "staring" in awe. The woman
standing there an attractive brunette, slim, dark eyed, a woman that everyone
here in the room instantly recognized! JANET ROGERS! The ruler of the World
Federation of the 21st Century... The clothing, the sword at her hip leaving
no doubts of this too! The mid thigh height soft black leather skirt, the
provocatively styled halter top of black silk trimmed with a leather
accenting. The thigh top high stylish "strap boots" beautifully accenting her
legs were a "trademark" of the 21st Century like none other!
"I was sent here to help you," Janet Rogers smiled, her eyes meeting
mine as I nodded in awe, knowing that this was indeed no other than JANET
ROGERS!! "Even if I will not be allowed to ever retain the `memories' of what
I learn here in the 26th Century."
"Tais!" I breathed, Janet Rogers giving me a big smile!
"I was told we'd meet again," Janet Rogers said to me.
"I think we can `entertain' ourselves," Maris spoke.
"Lorraine," Janet breathed, now reaching out to me.
"I'll see that you are not disturbed," Maris said.
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"You have my `thanks'," I said, now going to Janet.
"I have missed you," Janet smiled, holding my hands.
"Let me take you somewhere more `private'," I breathed.
"Its been such a long time!" I said, taking her in my arms as soon as I
could shut the door behind us, hugging her to me, so glad to see her once
again even if only perhaps for a few days. Even if Tais would strip from her
the memories of our once again being together! My doubts, my unhappiness with
her gone now for the moment!! I'd been "rude" perhaps to the others,
"hustling" Janet off the way that I did, but she was the closest thing I've
had to really having a "daughter", a woman who shared the same "viewpoints"
that I had! Janet's NEW ORDER being based upon the teachings and philosophy in
part of Ayn Rand, upon my own person- al philosophy here. Upon the "realities"
of the 21st Century...
"I'm afraid there's a lot you wouldn't `like' if you knew," Janet Rogers
said, her dark eyes so much like my own glowing into mine. "Things that I had
to `do' that I didn't like so `doing'." Reaching up, and wiping the tear from
my cheek with a fingertip. A seagull flying by the bedroom window calling out
to another... The chirps of nesting birds there beneath the eaves there above.
What I'd seen there aboard the Gaia for the time being forgotten.
"You were more the `realist' than me," I smiled, hugging her to me
again, holding her, my face in her coal black hair so much like my own.
Recalling that people used to think that we were mother and daughter, so great
was the physical resemblance here!* * We were, of course, as you know if you
looked at the last chap- ter of my book here. Learned the "truth" about Janet
Rogers... That she was really my own daughter, my very own Princess Ann! I was
also shown that the Earth was not as "lifeless" as Tais had thought it was
when we'd orbited it there in the Gaia in 2650 AD.
"All societies have `limitations'," Janet smiled back at me. That was
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