THERE'S NOTHING BEYOND THIS POINT

"I have many questions," Jack said.

"Of course you do, I anticipated that and I may have anticipated some of the questions as well."

The queen paced about the opulent hall.  She seemed distant, melancholy...Jack continued to

marvel at ther beauty and bearing.  Here was a lady from a most noble line.

"I rule here, my name is Moleena.  This island is called Tsars and my people are the Tsarst.  We

are an old and ancient race, descended from a people that used what you called magic.  These

very islands are shrouded from the outside world by magic. Obviously  you found your way

here and that must be the will of our Gods.  Ours is a rich and prosperous land.  For that very

reason we have long been at war.  Many have died, most of our warriors are women now...we

have only a handful of men left to man our walls against the invaders.  You fight well and you

are very strong...you can give us strong sons that will eventually turn the tide of war in our favor.

The flying ones that brought you here are the Aton, they serve us well...at least for now.  We

share much of our bounty with them."  The queen fell silent for a moment and Jack was quick

to speak.

"How is it that you speak my tongue so well Your Majesty? I am dumbfounded by this mystery."

The Queen's lovely eyes sparkled and she smiled slightly, "another came many years before.

My grandmother fell in love with him.  He stayed for years and she learned his tongue...this

language called English.  He told wonderful stories of one called Jesus and even better stories

of his own many adventures in the world beyond ours.  My grandmother wanted all to hear these

tales and she made his tongue our tongue. Our native language is all but forgotten now but no

matter."

"Who was this man, and what happened to him?"  Jack's curiosity was piqued.

"He called himself Solomon Kane and he was a great man.  He dwelled with us for ten years and

then simply vanished.  I supposed you could say he escaped the island and continued his

travels.  My grandmother was  heartbroken but she never forgot. She spoke of him until

her death."

"Go now Jack Nye," the Queen sat down wearily.  "I have much to attend to today.  You

will be well cared for and I grant you the run of the our city.  However, do not attempt to leave

us.  It would not go well for you.  The Aton would bring you back and you will be punished.  Yet,

I hope  you will not desire to flee, our women can be very accomodating and your life here

will be good."

Jack bristled at the thought of being kept a prisoner but he kept silent. He would escape, but

at a time of his own choosing.  He was escorted back to his room where he found his own

clothes cleaned, patched, and pressed.  He felt much better about many things after he

found his sword and bronze dagger there as well.  He dressed but did not go out.  There

were many things to be considered.  Food was brought and he ate.  More drink was brought

and he indulged.  He found their strange brew much to his liking and it helped him relax.

Towards evening Jack fell into a slumber.  He woke to a subdued tapping on his door.

"Come in," Jack barked, not quite finished with his nap.

A very pretty and very young maiden entered the room. "Who are you lass?"  Jack asked.

"I am called Nosa and I have come that we may do our duty to the Queen."  She kept her

eyes downcast and seemed nervous.  Jack could easily understand why...so already he

was required to do "his duty?"  The Queen was not one to waste time, although he thought

that Moleena was to be the first.  Obviously the Queen was delayed by matters of court

and poltics.  No matter to Jack, he found Nosa very fetching indeed.  "Come closer lass,"

he requested.

Jack did not stand, the girl approached and he took her by the arm. She trembled at his touch

and her eyes remained firmly on the floor.  "You came unwilling?" he asked.  The girl did

not answer but merely trembled again as he genlty massaged her soft arm. 

Jack released her.  He was a lusty fiend to be sure but it struck him as unmanly to take

advantage of such a young girl simply because it was ordained by the child's superiors.

"Sit for a little while and then you can go.. I will tell no  one that you disobeyed the Queen.

I have been guilty of many crimes but this...rape...is not to my liking.  T'will be our tiny

secret my fair lass."

The girl looked up suddenly and stared wide eyed into the pirate's eyes.  She appeared to

be very alarmed.  "Oh no, we MUST do our duty!" She half shouted before dropping her

simple gown to reveal her nakedness.  With surprising strength she shoved Jack back onto

the bed. Then she leaped atop him with amazing nimbleness.  "We MUST do our duty handsome

stranger...the Queen demands it and so do I!"

Jack was stunned but the softness of the girl's body rapidly gave birth to other desires, desires

kept long dormat at sea surrounded by filthy sailors. Their bodies melded together as one and

soon all thoughts of fleeing Tsars fled the brawny corsair's mind.  After an hour of intense love

making Nosa left him satiated in all respects.  He downed a healthy dose of the local brew and

collapsed into a long deep sleep.

Jack woke suddenly.  He did not recall where he was at first.  He instantly recalled the sounds he

heard..shouts, screams, clashing blades...a battle!  He glanced out his tower window and saw

hairy barbarians attacking the walls, some were already inside the grounds of the palace!  Jack

dressed quickly as only a warrior can.  He grasped the sword in his right hand and the dagger

in his left. Then he raced from his room, his heart soaring at the opportunity to hone his art..the

art of dealing death.

Jack made his way onto the grounds in seconds.  The situation was not good, the women warriors,

and a few men were hard pressed by a large number of howling savages.  Some were painted

blue or red or white.  All seemed mad.  One such hurled himself at Jack. The pirate ran him through

then lashed out with his boot to displace the dead man from his blade.  Another slashed at Jack with

a large stone ax. Jack decapitated the man and looked towards another foe even before the head

struck the earth. 

It did not take long to find additional foes, they were everywhere. Some were covered with blood, their

own and that of the Tarst warriors. The women warriors fought well but there were simply to many foes

and the brutes were powerful and quick.  Jack ran two more through and deftly dodged a spear.  He

snarled and rushed the man who threw it. The hairy antagonist did not turn and flee but spat at

Jack.  In a way the pirate admired the fool even as he sent the heavily bearded head flying through

the air. In this manner Bloody Jack slashed and cut with sword and dagger with such fury that even

the air durrounding him seemed drenched in blood. 

A huge warrior suddenly leaped in front of Jack, he was a true giant and carried a massive club. The

barbarian was even larger than the Minotaur Jack had killed and he was three times as mad. He swung

the club with amazing dexterity.  The blood soakded corsair misjudged the man's speed and barely

managed to dodge the club only to catch a glancing blow from the backswing.  It barely grazed Jack's

scalp but his senses reeled.  A bloody mist filled the swordsman's eyes and he struck blindly with

his blade. He felt his steel make contact and there was a great roar.  Jack stumbled back, wiping

at his eyes furiously.  He knew he was doomed,  many dark figures danced before his clouded vision

and they were closing for the finale.  Jack cursed them furiously and struck with all the might his

waning strength could muster.  Then he should have died.

Suddenly Jack felt slender but powerful arms slip beneath his.  A soothing voice urged him to be

still and he felt the sensation of his body leaving the earth. He was dead and the angel of death

had come for him.  He had not expected it to be like this.  Of course he had never died before

either.  "It is I, Lorette...be still o man and I shall take you to safety before its to late."

"Lorette! You have returned to me."

Jack slumped and let himself be carried through the smoke filled air.  The rushing wind against his

face cleared his senses somewhat and he found himself high above the battle.  He heard Lorette

panting heavily from the strain of holding him aloft.  "You must put me down," Jack gasped.

"And I shall, just a bit further."  Soon Jack found his feet on solid ground.  He had almost completely

recovered from the blow to the head but he didn't object to the water Lorette gave him.  He drank

deeply from the little urn and dosed his head with the rest.  "We must go the rest of the way on foot

for you are large and I have not the strength to carry  you aloft."

"NO, I must return and aid the queen.  The people of Tars have been kind to me!"

"You are wrong foolish one, the Queen is hidden safely in a secret lair beneath the palace as are

most of the nobles...and look there if you fear for her people."  Lorette pointed to the sky.

Jack stared in amazement, the sky was filled with those strange flying men called the Aton.  Each one

carried either a bow or a long pike.  The bowmen fired arrows at the barbarians while the pikemen

dashed down and speared their foe at will.  The barbarians answered with rocks and spears but

to little avail.  It was obvious that they must flee or die where they stood.  "Come,"  Lorette half

shouted.  "This is the opportune time for you to escape this island, while the Aton are busy with

killing."

"I'm not sure I want to escape," Jack mumbled, his mind retreating to the night before and the soft

embraces of the lithe Nosa.

"I was a prisoner for a long time human.  It grows weary over time...even a golden cage cannot

long be tolerated.  Men like you are not bred for the life of a housepet my friend.  You freed me

and now allow me to free you...now follow." Jack begrudged her words but they rang true.

The two strange companions struck out at a quick pace.  In a quarter hour they reached a little

harbor.  A boat waited.  "Here is a vessel to take you away from this ancient land where you do

not belong." 

"But where do I go?  These waters are unknown to me, I could wander aimlessly for weeks until

I die from exposure."  Jack was confused.

"No!" Lorette exclaimed and she pressed a small object into Jack's bloody palm.  "Why its a

compass!  And a very old one at that." He marveled at the object as only a son of the sea would.

With her urging him on, Jack got into the boat.  It was sound and there were two strong oars.

A large urn and some food promised nourishment.  "Long ago I helped another escape from these

lands," Lorette declared.  "If you row hard and stay due north, you will reach an island well known

to your kind.  There ships occasionally stop.  With luck and some patience, you will be back

with a deck under  your feet in a short while."

"How long is the journey?"

"Two days and nights, no more if you bend your back."

Jack nodded somberly, "and that I shall.  I owe you much. Can  you remain with me for awhile

yet?"

"I shall go with you for a little ways and then I must return.  One such as I cannot leave the

shrouded lands, lest I die quickly."  Jack listened and did not doubt her words.  It was pointless

to try and understand everything he had seen and heard.

They talked quietly and Jack wished he had gotten to know this friend better.  Then she

shyly whispered goodbye.  "I shall not forget  you Jack Nye."

Jack watched as she rose high into the sky.  Then with a wave from her slender arm she

turned back towards the islands.  He watched her go and then layed to with the oars.

It was a fine tale he carried with him if nothing else.  But only drunkards and children would

believe it.  He wiped his brow, grimaced and bent to his rowing.  He glanced at the ancient

dagger in his belt to convince himself it was not all just a drunken dream.

END

 

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