The Captain

CHAPTER 26

“It has been long,” said Julian.

“I should return to Varna,” said Otto. “There is no commission, no captaincy.”

“They must transmit it, they have no choice,” said Julian. “They dare not refuse to grant it.”

“It is time for the harvesting in the fields of the Wolfungs,” said Otto.

“They can manage without you,” said Julian.

“There are lions in the forests, against which I should like to test my mettle,” he said.

“There are fiercer lions within the empire,” said Julian.

“I have not seen them,” said Otto.

“They are not easily detected,” said Julian.

“I am thinking of Varna,” said Otto.

“You are hungry for slave meat,” said Julian.

Otto was silent.

“How is Renata?” asked Julian.

“She is coming along excellently,” said Otto. “Already, at a touch, she is hot and helpless. I am thinking that she would make a lovely gift for someone.”

“It seems,” said Julian, “that it is a particular piece of slave meat for which you hunger, perhaps one that you have never forgotten.”

Otto did not respond. He looked out of the vehicle, at the rugged terrain.

“Perhaps one that you have never even tasted,” suggested Julian, smiling to himself.

“She is a lying, treacherous, meaningless slut,” snarled Otto.

“But surely one who is attractive,” said Julian.

“Yes,” growled Otto. “She is not without her insidious charms.”

“I think she has learned the collar,” said Julian. “And that she is fearful.”

“She should be fearful,” said Otto. “She is a slave.”

“I think it is her desire, even desperately so,” said Julian, “to be found pleasing by her master.”

“She, the treacherous, meretricious chit?” said Otto.

“Yes,” said Julian. “And I think, too, it is her desire to please you.”

“Slaves are often in heat,” said Otto.

“If she truly betrayed you,” said Julian, “I would think you might enjoy making use of her.”

“She is far away, on Varna,” said Otto.

“Stop the vehicle,” said Julian to the driver.

The driver stopped the segmented, treaded vehicle.

They were at the height of the winding path that led to Julian’s holding.

Julian stood up and looked back, over the path, and down to the road far below, lying in the valley.

“The way is clear behind us,” said Julian.

“And I see no cars in the sky,” said Otto, shading his eyes.

“What is the delay?” said Julian, angrily.

“Perhaps they have arrangements to make,” said Otto.

“Yes,” said Julian, “perhaps they have not yet completed their arrangements.”

It was not easy to detect the presence of the holding as it was set in among the granite mountains. Indeed, portions of it were carved from the living rock itself.

“I thank you for the outing,” said Otto.

“You should learn how to operate a vehicle of this sort,” said Julian.

“I would be pleased to do so,” said Otto.

“Your horsemanship is remarkable,” said Julian.

“It is like flying,” said Otto.

“Surely you have ridden before,” said Julian.

“Only here,” said Otto. “We had no horses in the village.”

“Do you think you could do war from the back of a horse?” asked Julian.

“Yes,” said Otto.

They were not on one of the original Telnarian worlds but one, Vellmer, within the first quadrant, not the first provincial quadrant. This holding was one of several owned by the Aurelianii, and one of some five which were designed to afford an occupant a large measure of both security and privacy.

“Why will you not wait at your ancestral home?” had asked Otto, some days ago.

“I do not want to risk it,” had said Julian.

“But will the palace know where you are?” asked Otto.

“Certainly,” said Julian. “They have been informed.”

Julian and Otto now resumed their seats.

In a moment, the codes spoken into the receivers, the gate slid to one side and the vehicle entered the holding.

The gate, which was better than a yard thick, of layered steel, then slid shut behind them.