“If they don’t,” Barashkukor offered, “we can always give a large-scale demonstration…”
“Congratulations!” Ashnak walloped Major-General Barashkukor’s shoulder. “You just volunteered for the first mission, too. And I will see there’s a medal for you in this.”
“Oh, sir, thank you, sir!”
Wide-eyed, ears jutting bolt upright, Barashkukor surveyed the Cave of Portals and the many worlds. “I can see it now, sir. Missions! Campaigns! Wars! Crusades! Empires!”
CIA Chief Lugashaldim mused, “Employers of mercenaries. Regimes to destabilise…”
“Worlds,” Commissar Razitshakra said, “to which we can take the Way of the Orc!”
“R&R,” Master Sergeant Varimnak muttered. Dakashnit bellowed laughter. She elbowed Wing Commander Chahkamnit. “I love it, man! New worlds to conquer, and she’s already thinking about her—”
“Oh, I say!” Chahkamnit blushed.
“I can see it too.” Ashnak grinned. “Rape. Pillage. Massacre. Atrocity…”
Ashnak threw back his head, hairy nostrils flaring, scenting the winds from the arcade of worlds. The great orc in filthy camouflage battledress put his arms around Magda Brandiman as the Otherworld sunrise shone brightly into the eyes of the orc and the halfling and the orc marine officers.
“Yo!” Ashnak yelled. “It’s an orc’s life in the marines!”
AFTER-ACTION REPORT
Grateful thanks go to (in alphabetical order): Ashley Bird, Michael Fearn, Neil Gaiman, Michael Gearing, Roz Kaveney, Alex Stewart, and various members of the old Battlegroup, and Five Company.
And to the man without whom this book would be in far better taste: Dean “Pass me another elf, Sergeant” Wayland…
Thanks for the inspiration, guys. The orcs would be proud of you.
About the Author
Mary Gentle has written eight books, including Grunts and Ash: A Secret History, which have won critical acclaim from science fiction and fantasy authors and critics alike. She’s completed two master’s degrees and is an expert sword fighter. She resides in England.
Copyright
Published by New American Library, a division of
Penguin Group (USA) Inc., 375 Hudson Street,
New York, New York 10014, USA
Penguin Group (Canada), 90 Eglinton Avenue East, Suite 700, Toronto,
Ontario M4P 2Y3, Canada (a division of Pearson Penguin Canada Inc.)
Penguin Books Ltd., 80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
Penguin Ireland, 25 St. Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2,
Ireland (a division of Penguin Books Ltd.)
Penguin Group (Australia), 250 Camberwell Road, Camberwell, Victoria 3124,
Australia (a division of Pearson Australia Group Pty. Ltd.)
Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11 Community Centre, Panchsheel Park,
New Delhi – 110 017, India
Penguin Group (NZ), 67 Apollo Drive, Rosedale, North Shore 0632,
New Zealand (a division of Pearson New Zealand Ltd.)
Penguin Books (South Africa) (Pty.) Ltd., 24 Sturdee Avenue,
Rosebank, Johannesburg 2196, South Africa
Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices:
80 Strand, London WC2R 0RL, England
Published by Roc, an imprint of New American Library, a division of Penguin Group
(USA) Inc. Previously published in Great Britain by Bantam Press.
First Roc Printing, August 1995
20 19 18
ISBN: 978-1-101-65592-4
Copyright © Mary Gentle, 1992
All rights reserved
REGISTERED TRADEMARK — MARCA REGISTRADA
Printed in the United States of America
Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
The publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.
If you purchased this book without a cover you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”
The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated.