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CAPTAIN of the KALI
By Gary Wright
Sail down the wind, Kali! Victory waits
across the seas—and so does death!
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Worlds of If Science Fiction, January 1963.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
John Ward, God Helper, hung in his chair like a damp, empty uniform. Anopen, four-foot port showed a circle of blazing blue sky and a regularglimpse of a high, curving topsail. The humid, hot salty flavor of astrange sea blanketed the cabin, and sparked a sudden thought:
"What the hell am I doing here?"
There was no prompt answer. The wind rushed and moaned. The roilingwater crashed and hissed under the stern. The following ship heaved itstopsail into sight again, and withdrew it. A lilting chant drifted likesmoke on the wind.
We ride the wind down like sleek, skimming birds.
The seething foam furrows follow true.
The sky is clouded with our singing sails.
We ride the wind down, down the wind.
He was Comet Colonel John Ward, Terran Confederation, Earth; he wascertain of that. Age? Forty-two, more or less. Specialty? HistoricalNaval Tactician. If you had to call it something you might as wellcall it that. Hobby? Sailing. But, God, Snipes and Lightnings aren'tships-of-the-line! Reading? Well ... lyric poetry and ancient history,if you must know. Present Occupation? God Helper. No, call thatCommander Advisor to the Kali, Aqua. Future? Oh, hell-yes; right upthe....
Wide shouldered, wave exploding, trim twin-hulled we come.
First, the sky tall, fine first-liners.
Then the seconds, flanking fast.
Lean and level slide the frigates.
All around us flash the corvettes.
Ride the wind down, Kali seamen, down the wind to Ande-Ke.
Six months ago he had a future all outlined, but six months ago he wasa shining God Helper, come in glory. Now he was simply a God Helper,and sometimes not even that.
We are the Kali. The fortunate ones. Yes!
Heirs to our wind and water world.
Like our ships we are tall and proud.
Like our wind we are wild and restless.
Like our sea we are strong and savage.
This is our world, wide and lonely.
Ride the wind down. Kali brothers, down the wind to Anda-Ke.
Six months on this barely discovered, one per cent land area,behind-the-galaxy planet, with piercing Confederation insight: Aqua.Where the land was scattered about like pepper on an egg, and even thewind tried to run backwards.
Down the wind at Anda-Ke—there is trouble.
There we meet the stupid Grimnal.
There the challenging, groveling Grimnal.
He will plead for his wives and children.
And, as proper Kali seamen....
                        
BU KİTABI OKUMAK İÇİN ÜYE OLUN VEYA GİRİŞ YAPIN!

                        
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