Transcriber's note:
This etext was produced from Analog Science Fact—Science FictionNovember 1962, December 1962, January 1963, and February 1963.Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the copyrighton this publication was renewed.
SPACE VIKING
A great new novel by H. Beam Piper
Space Viking
Vengeance is a strange human motivation—
it can drive a man to do things
which he neither would nor could achieve without it ...
and because of that it lies behind some of the
greatest sagas of human literature!
by H. Beam Piper
Illustrated by Schoenherr[Pg 4]
They stood together at the parapet,their arms about each other'swaists, her head against his cheek.Behind, the broad leaved shrubberygossiped softly with the wind, andfrom the lower main terrace camemusic and laughing voices. Thecity of Wardshaven spread in frontof them, white buildings rising fromthe wide spaces of green treetops,under a shimmer of sun-reflectingaircars above. Far away, the mountainswere violet in the afternoonhaze, and the huge red sun hung ina sky as yellow as a ripe peach.
His eye caught a twinkle tenmiles to the southwest, and foran instant he was puzzled. Then hefrowned. The sunlight on the twothousand-foot globe of Duke Angus'new ship, the Enterprise, backat the Gorram shipyards after herfinal trial cruise. He didn't want tothink about that, now.
Instead, he pressed the girl closerand whispered her name, "Elaine,"and then, caressing every syllable,"Lady Elaine Trask of Traskon."
"Oh, no, Lucas!" Her protestwas half joking and half apprehensive."It's bad luck to be called byyour married name before thewedding."
"I've been calling you that in mymind since the night of the Duke'sb