Scorched Earth: A Future History of Planet EarthPetrovic, Walter D.
Science
Scorched Earth: A Future History of Planet Earth
Petrovic, Walter D.
Science fiction
Orren and two of his high cardinals left the wall and Boyce waited for
Orren to return.
Before Orren went into the cathedral he told his high cardinals to
watch Boyce from another vantage point in insure that he doesn't attack.
"If he attacks, destroy him!"
The order was plain and simple, but Boyce didn't attack. Even when his
men suggested to him that they charge all of them with surprise.
Boyce didn't want to. He knew that something grave would occur if he
did something. Anyway, he had come too far to let stupidity ruin all
the sacrifices that he and his dead friend had made, in order to regain
the Blue sovereignty.
Orren entered the ArchBishop's office and saw him standing at the
window dressed in a purple robe with a scarlet surplice thrown over it.
He didn't say anything for the first while but he eventually glanced
over at Orren then looked out the window again.
"I wonder what it would be like, to be killed by a relative?" Manguino
asked but not looking for any answer.
Nevertheless, Orren moved closer to him and asked a question in the
same manner. "How did it feel to kill a relative?"
Manguino grinned and slightly turned to the cardinal.
"I've wondered that for ten years!" he said to him and he snickered
under his breath.
Cardinal Orren went over to the window and faced Manguino peering
through the window.
"You don't want to fight him?" Orren stated to him.
Manguino just looked at him and whimpered.
"Where can I go, or what's more, when and how?"
Orren thought for a moment then sighed.
"The old place ... the citadel at Tannisea, but you will have to go
alone and around the southern coast."
"The route to Tannisea is long and dangerous, Orren. Especially is the
southern coastal loop is taken."
Orren touched Manguino's shoulder.
"It's either that or you have to fight Boyce!"
"That's quite a choice!" said Manguino.
"I will take your place while you get along to Tannisea." said Orren.
"I'll send you word when to return. That son of Brook Scullion-Blue
cannot win."
Manguino took a deep breath and looked out the window again when he
heard Boyce's voice calling him out to fight.
"Your time is running out, Manguino. Come fight me or Halls will
crumble, never to rise again!"
Orren looked out of the window, too.
"I told him, an hour." said Orren. "I think that he is trying to
frighten you!"
"He's his father, all over again." Manguino stated to Orren then
leaned his head against the wall by the window.
"Prepare yourself to leave. When I fight him, all will watch and you
will be able to get away."
It was strange that Orren was seemingly guiding the ArchBishop's life.
After all the years that Manguino, as ArchBishop, was the undisputed
ruler of Phoride, he had fallen to a level of mind that very closely
resembled that of an idiot.
Orren has really been the one man, who had been controlling Phoride
since Manguino's marriage and unending fornication with Eckma.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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