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One Small Step Page 21


  I had him then. I knew that I did. I glanced at Rosalie, praying that she would keep her mouth shut and say nothing to spoil the moment. Thank the gods, her lips were tightly sealed.

  In point of fact, I had no intention of battling Granite on the field of honor. The man could break a griffin in half. I wouldn’t have had a chance against him; he would have driven my head so far down into my body that I would have been able to lace my boots with my teeth. Fighting him man to man would be suicide.

  I intended to use the night between now and tomorrow to bundle together everything that I owned in the world — which was, admittedly, not much. Then, under cover of darkness, I would slip away. There was a wide world out there beyond the kingdom of Isteria, and I couldn’t help but feel that there had to be sufficient room in it for Apropos. Granted, my flight would be an irretrievable besmirching of my honor. To hell with that. Honor did not pay bills, nor keep one warm at night. Apropos would disappear; I would take up a new identity. It wasn’t as if the one that I had was all that wonderful anyway. Start a new life, learn a trade, perhaps become a knight eventually somewhere else. Who knew? Perhaps, at some point in the future, Granite and I would meet on the battlefield. We would face each other, glowering . . . and then, with any luck, I’d shoot him with an arrow from a safe distance.

  All this occurred to me in a moment’s time.

  And then Granite said, “I don’t care.”

  That was all the warning I had before the sword swung down toward me. . . .

  Look for STAR TREK fiction from Pocket Books

  Star Trek®: The Original Series

  Enterprise: The First Adventure • Vonda N. McIntyre

  Strangers From the Sky • Margaret Wander Bonanno

  Final Frontier • Diane Carey

  Spock’s World • Diane Duane

  The Lost Years • J.M. Dillard

  Prime Directive • Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

  Probe • Margaret Wander Bonanno

  Best Destiny • Diane Carey

  Shadows on the Sun • Michael Jan Friedman

  Sarek • A.C. Crispin

  Federation • Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

  Vulcan’s Forge • Josepha Sherman & Susan Shwartz

  Mission to Horatius • Mack Reynolds

  Vulcan’s Heart • Josepha Sherman & Susan Shwartz

  The Eugenics Wars: The Rise and Fall of Khan Noonien Singh, Book One • Greg Cox

  Novelizations

  Star Trek: The Motion Picture • Gene Roddenberry

  Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan • Vonda N. McIntyre

  Star Trek III: The Search for Spock • Vonda N. McIntyre

  Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home • Vonda N. McIntyre

  Star Trek V: The Final Frontier • J.M. Dillard

  Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country • J.M. Dillard

  Star Trek Generations • J.M. Dillard Starfleet Academy • Diane Carey

  Star Trek books by William Shatner with Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

  The Ashes of Eden

  The Return

  Avenger

  Star Trek: Odyssey (contains The Ashes of Eden, The Return, and Avenger)

  Spectre

  Dark Victory

  Preserver

  #1 • Star Trek: The Motion Picture • Gene Roddenberry

  #2 • The Entropy Effect • Vonda N. McIntyre

  #3 • The Klingon Gambit • Robert E. Vardeman

  #4 • The Covenant of the Crown • Howard Weinstein

  #5 • The Prometheus Design • Sondra Marshak & Myrna Culbreath

  #6 • The Abode of Life • Lee Correy

  #7 • Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan • Vonda N. McIntyre

  #8 • Black Fire • Sonni Cooper

  #9 • Triangle • Sondra Marshak & Myrna Culbreath

  #10 • Web of the Romulans • M.S. Murdock

  #11 • Yesterday’s Son • A.C. Crispin

  #12 • Mutiny on the Enterprise • Robert E. Vardeman

  #13 • The Wounded Sky • Diane Duane

  #14 • The Trellisane Confrontation • David Dvorkin

  #15 • Corona • Greg Bear

  #16 • The Final Reflection • John M. Ford

  #17 • Star Trek III: The Search for Spock • Vonda N. McIntyre

  #18 • My Enemy, My Ally • Diane Duane

  #19 • The Tears of the Singers • Melinda Snodgrass

  #20 • The Vulcan Academy Murders • Jean Lorrah

  #21 • Uhura’s Song • Janet Kagan

  #22 • Shadow Lord • Laurence Yep

  #23 • Ishmael • Barbara Hambly

  #24 • Killing Time • Della Van Hise

  #25 • Dwellers in the Crucible • Margaret Wander Bonanno

  #26 • Pawns and Symbols • Majliss Larson

  #27 • Mindshadow • J.M. Dillard

  #28 • Crisis on Centaurus • Brad Ferguson

  #29 • Dreadnought! • Diane Carey

  #30 • Demons • J.M. Dillard

  #31 • Battlestations! • Diane Carey

  #32 • Chain of Attack • Gene DeWeese

  #33 • Deep Domain • Howard Weinstein

  #34 • Dreams of the Raven • Carmen Carter

  #35 • The Romulan Way • Diane Duane & Peter Morwood

  #36 • How Much for Just the Planet? • John M. Ford

  #37 • Bloodthirst • J.M. Dillard

  #38 • The IDIC Epidemic • Jean Lorrah

  #39 • Time for Yesterday • A.C. Crispin

  #40 • Timetrap • David Dvorkin

  #41 • The Three-Minute Universe • Barbara Paul

  #42 • Memory Prime • Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens

  #43 • The Final Nexus • Gene DeWeese

  #44 • Vulcan’s Glory • D.C. Fontana

  #45 • Double, Double • Michael Jan Friedman

  #46 • The Cry of the Onlies • Judy Klass

  #47 • The Kobayashi Maru • Julia Ecklar

  #48 • Rules of Engagement • Peter Morwood

  #49 • The Pandora Principle • Carolyn Clowes

  #50 • Doctor’s Orders • Diane Duane

  #51 • Unseen Enemy • V.E. Mitchell

  #52 • Home Is the Hunter • Dana Kramer Rolls

  #53 • Ghost-Walker • Barbara Hambly

  #54 • A Flag Full of Stars • Brad Ferguson

  #55 • Renegade • Gene DeWeese

  #56 • Legacy • Michael Jan Friedman

  #57 • The Rift • Peter David

  #58 • Face of Fire • Michael Jan Friedman

  #59 • The Disinherited • Peter David

  #60 • Ice Trap • L.A. Graf

  #61 • Sanctuary • John Vornholt

  #62 • Death Count • L.A. Graf

  #63 • Shell Game • Melissa Crandall

  #64 • The Starship Trap • Mel Gilden

  #65 • Windows on a Lost World • V.E. Mitchell

  #66 • From the Depths • Victor Milan

  #67 • The Great Starship Race • Diane Carey

  #68 • Firestorm • L.A. Graf

  #69 • The Patrian Transgression • Simon Hawke

  #70 • Traitor Winds • L.A. Graf

  #71 • Crossroad • Barbara Hambly

  #72 • The Better Man • Howard Weinstein

  #73 • Recovery • J.M. Dillard

  #74 • The Fearful Summons • Denny Martin Flynn

  #75 • First Frontier • Diane Carey & Dr. James I. Kirkland

  #76 • The Captain’s Daughter • Peter David

  #77 • Twilight’s End • Jerry Oltion

  #78 • The Rings of Tautee • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  #79 • Invasion! #1: First Strike • Diane Carey

  #80 • The Joy Machine • James Gunn

  #81 • Mudd in Your Eye • Jerry Oltion

  #82 • Mind Meld • John Vornholt

  #83 • Heart of the Sun • Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowskir />
  #84 • Assignment: Eternity • Greg Cox

  #85-87 • My Brother’s Keeper • Michael Jan Friedman

  #85 • Republic

  #86 • Constitution

  #87 • Enterprise

  #88 • Across the Universe • Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowski

  #89-94 • New Earth

  #89 • Wagon Train to the Stars • Diane Carey

  #90 • Belle Terre • Dean Wesley Smith with Diane Carey

  #91 • Rough Trails • L.A. Graf

  #92 • The Flaming Arrow • Kathy and Jerry Oltion

  #93 • Thin Air • Kristine Kathryn Rusch & Dean Wesley Smith

  #94 • Challenger • Diane Carey

  #95-96 • Rihannsu • Diane Duane

  #95 • Swordhunt

  #96 • The Empty Throne

  Star Trek: The Next Generation®

  Metamorphosis • Jean Lorrah

  Vendetta • Peter David

  Reunion • Michael Jan Friedman

  Imzadi • Peter David

  The Devil’s Heart • Carmen Carter

  Dark Mirror • Diane Duane

  Q-Squared • Peter David

  Crossover • Michael Jan Friedman

  Kahless • Michael Jan Friedman

  Ship of the Line • Diane Carey

  The Best and the Brightest • Susan Wright

  Planet X • Michael Jan Friedman

  Imzadi II: Triangle • Peter David

  I, Q • Peter David & John de Lancie

  The Valiant • Michael Jan Friedman

  The Genesis Wave, Book One • John Vornholt

  The Genesis Wave, Book Two • John Vornholt

  Novelizations

  Encounter at Farpoint • David Gerrold

  Unification • Jeri Taylor

  Relics • Michael Jan Friedman

  Descent • Diane Carey

  All Good Things . . . • Michael Jan Friedman

  Star Trek: Klingon • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  Star Trek Generations • J.M. Dillard

  Star Trek: First Contact • J.M. Dillard

  Star Trek: Insurrection • J.M. Dillard

  #1 • Ghost Ship • Diane Carey

  #2 • The Peacekeepers • Gene DeWeese

  #3 • The Children of Hamlin • Carmen Carter

  #4 • Survivors • Jean Lorrah

  #5 • Strike Zone • Peter David

  #6 • Power Hungry • Howard Weinstein

  #7 • Masks • John Vornholt

  #8 • The Captain’s Honor • David & Daniel Dvorkin

  #9 • A Call to Darkness • Michael Jan Friedman

  #10 • A Rock and a Hard Place • Peter David

  #11 • Gulliver’s Fugitives • Keith Sharee

  #12 • Doomsday World • David, Carter, Friedman & Greenberger

  #13 • The Eyes of the Beholders • A.C. Crispin

  #14 • Exiles • Howard Weinstein

  #15 • Fortune’s Light • Michael Jan Friedman

  #16 • Contamination • John Vornholt

  #17 • Boogeymen • Mel Gilden

  #18 • Q-in-Law • Peter David

  #19 • Perchance to Dream • Howard Weinstein

  #20 • Spartacus • T.L. Mancour

  #21 • Chains of Command • W.A. McCoy & E.L. Flood

  #22 • Imbalance • V.E. Mitchell

  #23 • War Drums • John Vornholt

  #24 • Nightshade • Laurell K. Hamilton

  #25 • Grounded • David Bischoff

  #26 • The Romulan Prize • Simon Hawke

  #27 • Guises of the Mind • Rebecca Neason

  #28 • Here There Be Dragons • John Peel

  #29 • Sins of Commission • Susan Wright

  #30 • Debtor’s Planet • W.R. Thompson

  #31 • Foreign Foes • Dave Galanter & Greg Brodeur

  #32 • Requiem • Michael Jan Friedman & Kevin Ryan

  #33 • Balance of Power • Dafydd ab Hugh

  #34 • Blaze of Glory • Simon Hawke

  #35 • The Romulan Stratagem • Robert Greenberger

  #36 • Into the Nebula • Gene DeWeese

  #37 • The Last Stand • Brad Ferguson

  #38 • Dragon’s Honor • Kij Johnson & Greg Cox

  #39 • Rogue Saucer • John Vornholt

  #40 • Possession • J.M. Dillard & Kathleen O’Malley

  #41 • Invasion! #2: The Soldiers of Fear • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  #42 • Infiltrator • W.R. Thompson

  #43 • A Fury Scorned • Pamela Sargent & George Zebrowski

  #44 • The Death of Princes • John Peel

  #45 • Intellivore • Diane Duane

  #46 • To Storm Heaven • Esther Friesner

  #47-49 • The Q Continuum • Greg Cox

  #47 • Q-Space

  #48 • Q-Zone

  #49 • Q-Strike

  #50 • Dyson Sphere • Charles Pellegrino & George Zebrowski

  #51-56 • Double Helix

  #51 • Infection • John Gregory Betancourt

  #52 • Vectors • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  #53 • Red Sector • Diane Carey

  #54 • Quarantine • John Vornholt

  #55 • Double or Nothing • Peter David

  #56 • The First Virtue • Michael Jan Friedman & Christie Golden

  #57 • The Forgotten War • William R. Forstchen

  #58-59 • Gemworld • John Vornholt

  #58 • Gemworld #1

  #59 • Gemworld #2

  #60 • Tooth and Claw • Doranna Durgin

  #61 • Diplomatic Implausibility • Keith R.A. DeCandido

  #62-63 • Maximum Warp • Dave Galanter & Greg Brodeur

  #62 • Dead Zone

  #63 • Forever Dark

  Star Trek: Deep Space Nine®

  Warped • K.W. Jeter

  Legends of the Ferengi • Ira Steven Behr & Robert Hewitt Wolfe

  Novelizations

  Emissary • J.M. Dillard

  The Search • Diane Carey

  The Way of the Warrior • Diane Carey

  Star Trek: Klingon • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  Trials and Tribble-ations • Diane Carey

  Far Beyond the Stars • Steve Barnes

  What You Leave Behind • Diane Carey

  #1 • Emissary • J.M. Dillard

  #2 • The Siege • Peter David

  #3 • Bloodletter • K.W. Jeter

  #4 • The Big Game • Sandy Schofield

  #5 • Fallen Heroes • Dafydd ab Hugh

  #6 • Betrayal • Lois Tilton

  #7 • Warchild • Esther Friesner

  #8 • Antimatter • John Vornholt

  #9 • Proud Helios • Melissa Scott

  #10 • Valhalla • Nathan Archer

  #11 • Devil in the Sky • Greg Cox & John Gregory Betancourt

  #12 • The Laertian Gamble • Robert Sheckley

  #13 • Station Rage • Diane Carey

  #14 • The Long Night • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  #15 • Objective: Bajor • John Peel

  #16 • Invasion! #3: Time’s Enemy • L.A. Graf

  #17 • The Heart of the Warrior • John Gregory Betancourt

  #18 • Saratoga • Michael Jan Friedman

  #19 • The Tempest • Susan Wright

  #20 • Wrath of the Prophets • David, Friedman & Greenberger

  #21 • Trial by Error • Mark Garland

  #22 • Vengeance • Dafydd ab Hugh

  #23 • The 34th Rule • Armin Shimerman & David R. George III

  #24-26 • Rebels • Dafydd ab Hugh

  #24 • The Conquered

  #25 • The Courageous

  #26 • The Liberated

  Books set after the series

  The Lives of Dax • Marco Palmieri, ed.

  Millennium • Judith and Garfield Reeves-Stevens


  #1 • The Fall of Terok Nor

  #2 • The War of the Prophets

  #3 • Inferno

  A Stitch in Time • Andrew J. Robinson

  Avatar, Book One • S.D. Perry

  Avatar, Book Two • S.D. Perry

  Section 31: Abyss • David Weddle & Jeffrey Lang

  Star Trek: Voyager®

  Mosaic • Jeri Taylor

  Pathways • Jeri Taylor

  Captain Proton: Defender of the Earth • D.W. “Prof” Smith

  Novelizations

  Caretaker • L.A. Graf

  Flashback • Diane Carey

  Day of Honor • Michael Jan Friedman

  Equinox • Diane Carey

  Endgame • Diane Carey & Christie Golden

  #1 • Caretaker • L.A. Graf

  #2 • The Escape • Dean Wesley Smith & Kristine Kathryn Rusch

  #3 • Ragnarok • Nathan Archer

  #4 • Violations • Susan Wright

  #5 • Incident at Arbuk • John Gregory Betancourt

  #6 • The Murdered Sun • Christie Golden

  #7 • Ghost of a Chance • Mark A. Garland & Charles G. McGraw

  #8 • Cybersong • S.N. Lewitt

  #9 • Invasion! #4: Final Fury • Dafydd ab Hugh

  #10 • Bless the Beasts • Karen Haber

  #11 • The Garden • Melissa Scott

  #12 • Chrysalis • David Niall Wilson

  #13 • The Black Shore • Greg Cox

  #14 • Marooned • Christie Golden

  #15 • Echoes • Dean Wesley Smith, Kristine Kathryn Rusch & Nina Kiriki Hoffman

  #16 • Seven of Nine • Christie Golden

  #17 • Death of a Neutron Star • Eric Kotani

  #18 • Battle Lines • Dave Galanter & Greg Brodeur

  #19-21 • Dark Matters • Christie Golden

  #19 • Cloak and Dagger

  #20 • Ghost Dance

  #21 • Shadow of Heaven

  Star Trek®: New Frontier

  New Frontier #1-4 Collector’s Edition • Peter David

  #1 • House of Cards

  #2 • Into the Void

  #3 • The Two-Front War

  #4 • End Game

  #5 • Martyr • Peter David

  #6 • Fire on High • Peter David

  The Captain’s Table #5 • Once Burned • Peter David

  Double Helix #5 • Double or Nothing • Peter David

  #7 • The Quiet Place • Peter David

  #8 • Dark Allies • Peter David

  #9-11 • Excalibur • Peter David

  #9 • Requiem

  #10 • Renaissance

  #11 • Restoration