MargaretMartin

Margaret Martin

Signalwoman Martin wasn’t happy.  “I bleedin’ don’t know why I let you talk me into this.” “Don’t be an old Scrooge,” Dorothy told her.  “It’s Christmas, and these poor lads are half a world away from their homes and families.” “Wouldn’t be so bad if it were our own blokes,” Margaret grumbled. “You know fine…

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DorothyWalker

Dorothy Walker

At five-feet-four, Dorothy Walker was dwarfed by her Amazonian friend; and, not to put too fine a point on it, was just about as pretty as any human being had a right to be.  Her hair was dark brown and wavy, a type specifically chosen by God Above to suit the above-shoulders length mandated by…

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Lieutenant Ziegler

Lieutenant Ziegler

“The engagement should begin around 2200 hours,” said Lieutenant Spivac, the Gunnery Officer.  “De Ruyter will be first in line, then Java a thousand yards behind her.” “What genius decided to send in the cruisers before the destroyers?” groused Lieutenant Karl Ziegler.  “No, don’t tell me:  Admiral Doorman, ‘The Fleeing Dutchman,’ whose ass just happens…

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EnsignJackDeVries3

Ensign Jack De Vries

From behind De Vries, someone said, “I trust you’ve seen the VD films, Ensign?”  Jack recognized the voice of his immediate superior, Commander Gephardt. “Yes Sir, absolutely,” said Jack, saluting, “I did see the VD films they show at indoctrination.  And I can’t remember when I enjoyed the cinema so much.  Granted, the acting was…

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EnsignSwenson-Jensen

Ensign Swenson Jensen

The black powder charge exploded in a muffled baritone rasp—half bang, half whoosh.  As the torpedo shot down the tube, it tripped a lever that started the torpedo’s engine, so that by the time the long, silver cigar shape was hurtling through the air, the propellers were already spinning.  When it hit the water, the…

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ChiefMDoyle

Chief M Doyle

Chief Doyle was forty-seven, an old China hand, with as much grey as black in his short-cropped hair.  He seemed to have flourished on Navy chow, though his five feet, ten inches wore it fairly well.  Two decades at sea had baked his skin to a plump and juicy golden brown, and he spoke with…

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Village Leader

Village Leader

(The Village Leader is putting down a lynching by an ignorant lout named Rhig’mos.) Approaching Rhig’mos at the languorous pace of a father-of-the-bride escorting his daughter to the altar, the Village Leader slowly drew a dagger from his belt.  He raised it shoulder high, in a downward thrusting position.  The companions on either side of…

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Homeros

Homeros

(The beginning of the book:  Homeros wakes up, aphasic and suffering from amnesia, after being attacked by an unknown assailant.  He’s been in a coma for the past four days.) Homeros’ eyelids fluttered like the moth’s wings, and when he opened his eye he had no thought but of the searing fire in his brain. …

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Eriphyle

Eriphyle

(This is our first view of Homeros’ wife.) The wife of Homeros was born in the Aeolian settlement of Mytilene on the island of Lesbos, a day’s sail north of Chios (provided the wind was at your back, which it usually wasn’t).  The bard met her there twenty years ago as he made the rounds…

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Calliope

Calliope

(This is our first view of Calliope.) The younger daughter of Homeros was sixteen, small and slender like her mother, with the thick, lustrous black hair of a Lydian.  She was darker skinned than most Hellenes, with a sensitive complexion that was easily marred by insects or illness.  Blessedly, the pox had spared her features. …

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