Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 09

by Drak Bibliophile | Jan 26, 2018 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets

Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 09 Wedell and I had been using hand signals when we needed to “speak.” Rigging suits didn’t have radios because the accidental use of one in the Matrix could send a ship wildly off course. I’d...

Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 08

by Drak Bibliophile | Jan 24, 2018 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets

Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 08 CHAPTER 5 “Testing thrusters One and Six,” said a raspy voice over the PA system. The Sunray shook and wobbled as two plasma thrusters vented into the flooded slip. Pasternak, the Chief Engineer, was...

Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 07

by Drak Bibliophile | Jan 22, 2018 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets

Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 07 CHAPTER 4 I had a cabin on Level 1 — the rebuilding had added officers’ spaces as well as quarters for the crew and passengers. I had just opened the hatch to stow away the gear I’d brought, mostly...

Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 06

by Drak Bibliophile | Jan 19, 2018 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets

Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 06 “I’m Cory,” the officer at the command console said when I knelt beside him. “I’m second lieutenant and have the duty right now. You are?” “Sir, I’m Roylan...

Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 05

by Drak Bibliophile | Jan 17, 2018 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets

Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 05 CHAPTER 3 Captain Leary had said “noon.” I timed it to arrive at eleven in the morning. If they told me to cool my heels for an hour, that was fine. I wasn’t going to take a chance on being late,...

Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 04

by Drak Bibliophile | Jan 15, 2018 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets

Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 04 This wasn’t stuff I liked to talk about, and it wasn’t any of Leary’s business that I could see. Telling him to shut up was within my rights — and would’ve been, even if he’d been my...

Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 03

by Drak Bibliophile | Jan 12, 2018 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets

Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 03 CHAPTER 2 I looked out the window of my room, holding aside the towel I’d nailed up to cover the casement. Not that anybody across the broad arterial was likely to be looking into my fourth-floor room — or...

Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 02

by Drak Bibliophile | Jan 10, 2018 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets

Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 02 I stepped back as Cady dived forward on his nose. He’d been trying to grab me with his left hand and just overbalanced when I doubled him up. He wasn’t hurt bad, but he’d remember me every time he sat...

Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 01

by Drak Bibliophile | Jan 8, 2018 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets

Though Hell Should Bar The Way – Snippet 01 Though Hell Should Bar The Way David Drake Though Hell Should Bar the Way David Drake FROM WEALTH AND POWER, TO POVERTY AND INSULTS! Roy Olfetrie planned to be an officer in the Republic of Cinnabar Navy, but when his...

The Spark – Snippet 44

by Drak Bibliophile | Nov 8, 2017 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets

The book should be out now, so this is the last snippet. The Spark – Snippet 44 “Sir, I was White 1,” I said. “I was Green 4 the first time.” “You’re in Red Group now,” the Champion said, gesturing. “And fighting...

The Spark – Snippet 43

by Drak Bibliophile | Nov 6, 2017 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets

The Spark – Snippet 43 CHAPTER 19: The Tournament They’d rung a gong at six in the morning, but by then all the seventy of us qualified Aspirants were in the refectory eating whatever we each thought was a good idea. I had a plate of scrambled eggs, but I...

The Spark – Snippet 42

by Drak Bibliophile | Nov 3, 2017 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets

The Spark – Snippet 42 That wouldn’t have done me any good, of course. I worked to divert each of his strokes with my own weapon. This was easiest when we were using our dogs–Welsh had a black and white collie, a nice dog–and I could use...

The Spark – Snippet 41

by Drak Bibliophile | Nov 1, 2017 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets

The Spark – Snippet 41 CHAPTER 17: Making Friends The same clerk was on duty in the Aspirants’ Hall as the first time I applied. I doubt she recognized me in my new suit. I took out my shield and weapon as I entered. Guntram said, “Mistress? I vouch...

The Spark – Snippet 40

by Drak Bibliophile | Oct 30, 2017 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets

The Spark – Snippet 40 “I noticed the cubicles,” I said. “They were all really neat. Not as neat as Louis’ own room, but neat.” “So they were,” said Guntram. “I’m sure it’s a very efficient working...

The Spark – Snippet 39

by Drak Bibliophile | Oct 27, 2017 | DrakeSnippet, Snippets

The Spark – Snippet 39 An attendant in black led the man from Austerlitz to the side; an elderly woman hobbled into his place on the arm of another attendant. Guntram motioned me to follow him back into the hall. When we got outside I said, “Sir, how do we...