DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XL

     No matter what Bott pushed or pulled or thumped, the ship was going down, down.  He had defeated his old ship, filled with librarians, and that was all the amusement the Emperor intended for this particular prop.      “Everthin’s dead, Cap’n,” Louba told him.  This was unnecessary: the smiling flowers on the console wereContinue reading “DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XL”

DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XXXIX

     The ship that might be the Dragonshelf dropped almost straight down on the nasty-looking orange and black one.  Nubry had known Bott could fly, but watching it from here made that really obvious.  If only he hadn’t been a pirate as well!  Her eyes moved to where the captioned dialogue was rolling up theContinue reading “DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XXXIX”

DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XXXVIII

     At the height of the high white flight of stairs was a small landing and a tall wooden door.  Bott and his crew studied it for a moment without detecting spikes, poisoned nails, or opening for projectiles.  It lacked even a knocker with a nasty expression.  One hand on a grenade, Bott turned theContinue reading “DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XXXVIII”

DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XXVII

     Bott hit the floor, and had enough experience by now to scoot out of the way before looking to see where he’d landed.  The most immediate threat was coming down the chute.      “Wheeee-boomps!” shouted Louba, legs spreading left and wide as she tumbled toward the floor.  ”Ah…yoo-hah!  Wanna watch where ‘em knee bonesContinue reading “DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XXVII”

DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XXXVI

     The door they tumbled through was coated with smiling faces on the inside but sharp orange rock on the outside.  Louba’s hips caught in the doorway but Bott was behind her this time.  He threw a shoulder against the obstacle and they popped out together.      “Ya woon’t have problems like ‘at if ya’dContinue reading “DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XXXVI”

DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XXXV

     Sheriff Parimat swept a hand down her little skirt as she stepped off the traveling square.  It was a futile gesture.  Nothing would make this wisp of uniform long enough.      No one saluted or even nodded to her; this was the least-travelled corridor in the Rhododendron.  Had it not been for the blueContinue reading “DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XXXV”

DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XXXIV

     “He’s ripping her overalls off now.  It’s a real pity you can’t see this.”      The screen had been out of Nubry’s line of vision since the golden woman started dancing.  His Imperial Worship had thoughtfully provided commentary on how her dancing became a general hugging, kissing, squeezing lovefest among the four prisoners, preoccupyingContinue reading “DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XXXIV”

DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XXXIII

     Was the drone so monotonous that you just couldn’t hear it after a while?  Bott had no real hopes that the Emperor’s technicians might have overlooked that possibility.      Dazzling geometric patterns of black and white continued to swirl past under his hands.  Small, hard veins rippled along the surface of the tube withContinue reading “DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XXXIII”

DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XXXII

     It wasn’t the intense odor of vanilla that told Bott where he had landed so much as the fuzz.  He recalled the time that his Klamathan captain, especially upset, had ordered half the crew to shave their legs and hips before being stood in corners.  Easing one hand up past his face, ge faveContinue reading “DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XXXII”

DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XXXI

    Bott stared at the closing doors a moment too long.  Pellets flew again, this time angling down.  Most bounced off his back but he felt the sting as a few hit his hands and face.  He rolled from the ramp, aiming for the largest door he’d seen.      The door shuddered, but did notContinue reading “DRAGONSHELF AND THE DROVER XXXI”