by Drak Bibliophile | Mar 2, 2018 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets
Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 24 Mom and Dad didn’t talk about me. There wasn’t anything really to talk about. I did my schoolwork and played sports without making waves. I wasn’t bad or even mediocre, but I wasn’t right at the...
by Drak Bibliophile | Feb 28, 2018 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets
Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 23 “Han will be going back to the ship with you, Olfetrie,” Jimenez said. “He’ll arrange the transport of the delegation’s baggage here. The delegation is moving to the palace for the...
by Drak Bibliophile | Feb 26, 2018 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets
Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 22 CHAPTER 15 The cabin of the limousine which the Saguntines provided for the officials had room for six; I waited while they entered. Maeve Grimaud sat primly with her back to the driver, facing the three men from the...
by Drak Bibliophile | Feb 23, 2018 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets
Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 21 CHAPTER 14 The captain and I went from the companionway to the bridge: he to his console, me to stand at parade rest in front of Officer Mundy. She sat as usual with her back to the flat-plate display and her attention...
by Drak Bibliophile | Feb 21, 2018 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets
Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 20 Looking at me again, he said, “Anyway, the delegation needs an escort of five spacers when they present their credentials in Saguntum, and I need an officer to command the escort. You’re what I’ve got...
by Drak Bibliophile | Feb 19, 2018 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets
Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 19 CHAPTER 13 My last watch before Saguntum was in the Power Room. Captain Leary believed that an officer had to know the whole ship, not just the rigging and how to astrogate. One of the things Pasternak’s list had...
by Drak Bibliophile | Feb 16, 2018 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets
Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 18 “And I get the bill!” said Woetjans. She didn’t exactly shout, but her voice from just behind — and above — me made me jump. “Lucinda will seat you, madame and master,” said...
by Drak Bibliophile | Feb 14, 2018 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets
Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 17 CHAPTER 12 Captain Leary brought us down in the harbor at Santiago, the capital of the planet of the same name. He put me in the striker’s seat, just as he had when Lieutenant Enery landed on Hansen’s...
by Drak Bibliophile | Feb 12, 2018 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets
Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 16 CHAPTER 11 Barnes had warned me that the two of us would be dry-lubing Antenna Dorsal A on our next watch. Though I’d never done it, I knew that applying graphite to all the joints was a miserable, filthy job....
by Drak Bibliophile | Feb 9, 2018 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets
Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 15 CHAPTER 10 By the time Woetjans and I got back to the Sunray, Captain Leary and the senior personnel who’d served with him on the Princess Cecile — the former Sissies — had gone off to dinner....
by Drak Bibliophile | Feb 7, 2018 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets
Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 14 Woetjans kneaded her pectoral muscles with her fingers and looked sideways at me. “Sorry,” she muttered in apparent embarrassment. “I took some slugs a couple years ago and they tighten up when they...
by Drak Bibliophile | Feb 5, 2018 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets
Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 13 I knew that this was the first time Barnes and Dasi had landed on Hansen’s World, so probably the captain hadn’t either. At any rate, he hadn’t directed me to a particular outfitter. Cory might want...
by Drak Bibliophile | Feb 2, 2018 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets
Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 12 CHAPTER 9 I was using one of the displays on the bridge to read what the Sailing Directions had to say about Hansen’s World. I wanted to learn as much as I could, but mainly I was focusing on something other than...
by Drak Bibliophile | Jan 31, 2018 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets
Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 11 CHAPTER 7 I spent my next duty on the hull with Captain Leary as he indicated our course to me from the Dorsal A masthead platform. The captain was using a brass rod — it must have been filled with something...
by Drak Bibliophile | Jan 29, 2018 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets
Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 10 CHAPTER 6 Barnes started taking off his helmet as soon as the outer hatch had locked closed. I knew that was usual for riggers, but I’d always been willing to wait for the pressure in the lock to build up a bit....