Mary Gentle - Grunts

“Yo!” Ashnak swung Magda Brandiman up into his arms, waltzed a few bow-legged steps on the cavern floor, kissed her, and stepped back as she kicked him smartly.

“My love,” the big orc said gravely, “I thought I would at least have to ask .”

Barashkukor seized Supreme Commander Ashnak by the taloned hand and shook it vigorously. “Oh, sir !”

Magda tugged her tailored skirt straight.

“Of course…” Her eyes narrowed. “If John Stryker accidentally came through to here—then others can do that too. Accidentally, Or deliberately.”

“They can’t see us! Can they!” Tech-Colonel Ugarit suddenly whimpered and cowered, turning cross-eyed to survey the cave of dragon-sized arches. “We may even now be under scrutiny for attack!”

Commissar Razitshakra snapped her notebook decisively shut. “Then we’ll have to get our retaliation in first! Supreme Commander, sir, I volunteer to accompany you!”

“I thought you might,” Ashnak remarked.

Magda speculated demurely. “I’m sure the Otherworlds will see the point of trading with the Orc Marine Armaments and Leisure Services Company—once we’ve given a smallscale demonstration.”

“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!”

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.

Mary Gentlehas 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.

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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

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