Arrows strike rebel ships. Troopers and sailors keep their places. Most artillery misses and Charlie reflects that war is ridiculously wasteful. Stones sink ships, burning bolts set them afire and Charlie reflects that war is gruesomely wasteful. Dzenko directs his flagship and two supporting vessels to pass between the royalist craft in order to engage and board Olaghi's propeller-driven aircraft carrier. Charlie and Hector had unwittingly served as spies when they were taken prisoner.
Mishka's squad holds shields above Charlie. Axes cut loose a grapnel. Dzenko's three craft bombard the aircraft carrier with catapults, mangonels, crossbows and longbows. The carrier is too reliant on its air cannon, firing at a much lower rate. Many crew man the treadmill that drives the propeller. Making less use of its sails, the carrier wallows. Golden sunlight shines on wreckage and blood.
Olaghi's fire-fighters douse flames with hand pumps. Cannon withdraw, spiked gangplanks extend from their suddenly widened ports and troops board Dzenko's ship, driving back the rebels. Mishka, at Charlie's insistence, lifts the latter onto his shoulders. When Charlie removes his helmet, his red hair lit by the setting sun makes him instantly recognizable as the Prince of the Prophecy. Thus, his body becomes a banner that rallies the rebels who then attack and capture the aircraft carrier. Charlie spares the captured Olaghi's life, quoting the Prophecy that the false king will flee, unfollowed.
Assessment: yet another rousing battle narrative accompanied by reflections on the reality of war.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
In his enthusiasm for advancing technology on New Lemuria, Olaghi forgot an elementary principe of war: KISS, or Keep It Simple Stupid"! EFFECTIVE weapons that would DO the job was better than using technology that was a little too "high tech" to be workable.
Sean
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