Hannah wants nothing more than to pay off her bond and live free, but her patron has other ideas and centuries to keep her. Body and soul. After a planet-killing asteroid, humanity has to huddle under shelters and live in the dimmest of places. A year of brutal survival and the breakdown of society leave Hannah less than hopeful of her prospects in the new world. A message in the darkness offers a lifeline to those who wish to leave Earth to be bonded servants to alien masters. For most, the price of their bond will be labour, but for Hannah, it turns into something else. With a stunningly high sensuality rating, she is a prime sexual bondservant and the bidding for her services ends with an amount that breaks records. Her patron is a male with wings who belongs to a species that does more than need sex; they consume it. Mero only needs to look at her, and he is hungrier than he has ever been. Excerpt: “Hannah, you are being rehoused.” Hannah looked at him, but he was motioning to one of the guards. She was hauled away before she had the chance to see if any of the other women were being treated the same way. The guard had a grip on her left wrist, and she walked Hanna away from the training centre toward the centre of the station. The light slippers that went with the smock let her record every sensation under her feet and the change in the rough decking to the smoother metalwork of the guest area. Asking where they were going wasn’t going to do any good, so she absorbed the details of where the guard was taking her. The arrivals’ hall was on her left, and it had a large number of beings milling around in it. A few looked at her with curiosity, but she quickly lowered her gaze. Don’t stare was one of the primary lessons. She was so busy not staring that she didn’t notice when a shadow crossed in front of her. The guard noticed. She jerked to a halt. Hannah looked down at large, booted feet that led up to snug black trousers and a floor-length, open vest hung from his shoulders. She didn’t look at his face. His collarbone was as far up as she was able to see comfortably. “What are you leading, guardswoman?” The low rumble was in Heniahk. “A bondservant is being sent for grooming, sir.” “She is for the purchasing fare tomorrow?” “Yes, sir.” Hannah held still as he circled her before coming to a halt in front of her. “Is she in heat?” “No, sir. She just completed her sensuality assessment.” She could hear him breathing deeply. “What was her score?” “That is for the sellers to disclose, sir.” The dark chuckle ran through the open area, and several of the closest folk must have taken one look at what was detaining them and scuttled away. She could see their feet walking, pausing and then moving quickly away. The skin of his belly was blue, and there were a few markings peeping from the richly embroidered vest. Whatever he was, he was scaring the hell out of her guard. The hand on her wrist was icy. “You are dismissed, guardswoman. And you, miss, I will see you tomorrow.” She nodded. “Yes, sir.” He chuckled and turned, his vest swirling wide. That is when she noticed what appeared to be the lower portion of huge wings. Hmrain. How had the instructor known that there would be one at the bond auction? ** Views: 23
An engineer drifting through life finds himself trapped in a village where nothing ever happens. Views: 23
The sixth issue of Adventure Tales includes 3 stories by H. Bedford-Jones (Mustered Out, The Badman's Brand, and Surprise in Sulphur Springs) plus The Fugitive Statue, by Vincent Starrett (featuring detective Jimmy Lavender), Miracle, by John D. Swain, The Devil's Heirloom, by Anthony M. Rud, The Tapir, by Arthur O. Friel, Thubway Tham's Dog, by Johnston McCulley, Lancelot Biggs Cooks a Pirate, by Nelson S. Bond, and Payable to Bearer, a crime novelet by Talbot Mundy. Plus the usual features. A great pulp extravaganza! Views: 23
