Attack of the Amazons by Gilbert L. Morris Page A

lives.”
    Dave shook his head stubbornly. “That may be so, but I could never be happy living like—well, like you do, Chava.”
    â€œNo, I think you could not, because it’s been born and bred in your bones that men are the strong ones and should rule over the weaker women.”
    â€œWell, it’s true,” Dave said. “I don’t think your women
are
strong physically. Why, there’s not a one of them that could stand up against me or Reb or Josh with a sword. I’d be willing to test it.”
    â€œYou’ll never get the chance,” Chava said. “The warrior maids are a fighting unit. Each one of them is brave and strong and able, but if they see one of their number being overcome, they swarm to her defense.”
    â€œI see,” Dave said slowly.
    He was about to say something else when Princess Merle came through the door. She was wearing an outfit he had not seen before, a skirt made from the pelt of an animal, perhaps a black panther, and an upper garment made of some sort of woven material. He could not help admiring her and thought,
Back in Oldworld she’d make a million bucks a year as a model for one of those fashion houses. But if she didn’t like somebody, she’d whack their head off, I suppose
.
    â€œCome with me, Dave,” Merle said. She did smile at Chava and say, “I’ll have to borrow your helper for a while, Father.”
    â€œOf course.” He gave the pair a look as they walked out, and muttered, “There’s going to be trouble with that pair. Both of them are strong-willed.”
    â€œWhere are we going?” Dave asked.
    â€œI’ve got a job for you.”
    â€œLook, Merle—”
    â€œCall me Princess,” the girl said. “Remember your place.”
    â€œAll right.” Dave shrugged impatiently. “Princess Merle, then. I can’t put up with this a whole lot longer. If you want me to do something for you, give me a sword or a bow. You know I’m able to fight beside any one of your women.”
    â€œWe don’t have men fighting beside us. That’s not the way things are.” There was a shortness in her voice, and she gave him a hard stare. “Don’t try to change things, Dave. No matter what they were like back in your world, you’re in our world now.” Then her voice softened, and she said, “Who knows? You may get chosen by one of the warrior maids as a mate.”
    Dave yearned to say, “Take all your warrior maids and shove them in a black hole in the sky!” but some wisdom warned him not to provoke her. “What’s the job you have in mind?”
    â€œI’ll show you.” There was a strange smile on her lips, and Dave had learned to hate that.
    She led him to one of the outer quarters where they found Abbey standing by a warrior, being instructed in the use of the short sword. Abbey had never been particularly good with weapons, and Dave saw at once that it was a hopeless case.
    â€œWhy don’t you let
me
do a bout with your warrior maid?” he suggested.
    â€œYou have your work to do. Take Abbey’s clothes over to those pots and wash them. Be sure you get them clean.”
    Anger raced through Dave. He glared at Abbey. “Did you ask for me to be your servant?”
    â€œNo,” Abbey said quickly, “I never said a word.”
    â€œI’m
saying the word. Take those clothes and get going.”
    â€œI won’t do it!” Dave said. He folded his arms and stared at Princess Merle. “Do what you please—I’m not going to be her servant.”
    Merle nodded to the warrior who had been teaching Abbey. She drew her own sword, and the two women began to close in on Dave. “Try not to scar himany more than you have to, Freya, but he’s got to be taught to mind.”
    â€œNo, don’t hurt him!” Abbey jumped in front of Dave. “Please let me talk to him.”