Freer Snippets

The Shaman of Karres – Snippet 36

This book should be available now, so this is the last snippet. The Shaman of Karres - Snippet 36 She realized that they could. They must have some kind of infra-red detector. The Toll-teaching pattern said she could no-shape infra-red too. It wasn't easy to learn while you were running, but she did it. And kept running for a bit for good measure. The shooting stopped. But that was definitely a bit of an ionization burn on her shoulder. Did she need the Egger route…? Not quite yet, she decided. She was too close now. But the wound hurt and...

The Shaman of Karres – Snippet 35

The Shaman of Karres - Snippet 35 Once the trolley was piled high with boxes and crates, coils of wire, steel beams of various shapes and sizes, the spacemen chased the little humanoids -- on average half their size -- to leashes on the draw-bar. With the little humanoids chanting rhythmically again, they hauled the load towards the gate. Goth walked along in the shade, wishing she had the hat and sun-glasses from Parisienne. They were still with her luggage on the ship. They dragged the trolley through the gate and to the compound beyond,...

The Shaman of Karres – Snippet 34

The Shaman of Karres - Snippet 34 The engineer was slightly more thorough than his junior officer, and came back to check the switch. He swore and promptly flipped it off again, and ran to check the recycler. Goth had to work pretty quickly to get the original switch in place before he came back. It took him several frantic runs to get Felap to stay and flip the switch and have him satisfied that it was working properly. But neither he nor the crew were a happy bunch of spacers. Being out here with a faulty air-recycler was more terrifying...

The Shaman of Karres – Snippet 32

The Shaman of Karres - Snippet 32 Chapter 12 Sitting in the cleared cabin, Goth thought about her situation. They had brought her bag from the hotel, hastily and badly packed. She could wait until they decided to take steps to make her a slave or toss her off the ship into space. She could do her best to see that went badly wrong for them. Or… Or she could take steps before they even tried. The best and simplest step, now that she'd established that this was definitely the ship she needed to be on, was not to be there when they came hunting...

The Shaman of Karres – Snippet 31

The Shaman of Karres - Snippet 31 If he'd dropped a bomb on the court it might have had less effect. Eventually the judge had to order the court cleared, and a recess until after lunch. The prisoners were led out… and into a waiting transport. They were underground on a little carrier within minutes, being kitted up for outside -- just in case. "We've still got some distance to go. The rock has been hardened," admitted the lead driller. "Can you get us onto the surface?" asked Pausert. "Already got an exit. But there is a guard on patrol up...

The Shaman of Karres – Snippet 30

The Shaman of Karres - Snippet 30 Chapter 11 Sitting back in the Venture, all together again, just the four of them, was a pleasant respite, even if the trial was still coming. Late that night, long after the Leewit had gone to bed, Pausert was sitting in the command chair, thinking. It was a comfortable and familiar spot, and, Pausert had to admit to himself, one he kept hoping Goth would suddenly appear next to. But instead it was the Leewit, in her nightclothes, who did. "Can't sleep," she said tersely. That was the Leewit's way of saying...

The Shaman of Karres – Snippet 29

The Shaman of Karres - Snippet 29 She seemed to be taking a rather nasty pleasure in both Pausert and Ta'zara's reaction to the Leewit's new pet. But it was her turn next. "Why haven't you got any legs?" the Leewit asked. Me'a straightened up in her chair and said, her eyes narrow and hard: "Shut up, little girl. Or else…" In reply the Leewit whistled at her. A two-pitched shrill and directional whistle, which hurt Pausert's ear drums and shattered several pieces of glass, and made Me'a clutch her ears and wince in pain. The captain -- and...

The Shaman of Karres – Snippet 28

The Shaman of Karres - Snippet 28 Chapter 10 Me'a grimaced. "This is a most appalling mess you present me with, Captain. My inclination is to have nothing to do with it. But I have been in coded subradio contact with the Daal of Uldune. Sedmon of the Six Lives has instructed me to give the Wisdoms of Karres any support they need. And that, in particular, applied to three of you. You, Captain Pausert. A particularly dangerous witch called Goth. And the Leewit." The Leewit glowered at her. "You bet." Me'a allowed herself the faintest hint of a...