He lingered there, in the wonder of Nell’s smile, for a very long time.
Hypertext Publication
Now the story of the Sling Project is one of the world’s first hypertext novels. The disk version includes:
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Notes and Details about the men, machines, and places described in the novel
Read the story in different ways, from different points of view:
Nathan Pilstrom
Nell Carson
Hilan Forstil
Kira Evans
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DAVID’S SLING
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Front-matter
CONTROLLED BY COMPUTERS FAR AWAY IN WASHINGTON, THE SKYHUNTERS WENT TO WAR. . *
Infrared patterns of human beings in frenzied action concealed from optical vision by camouflage, meant division headquarters. Division headquarters meant float over target Float over target meant select aimpoint Aim-point selected meant bomb release.
Captain Townsend impassively watched the Third Shock Army come out of the dawn. The clanking of treads and the roar of diesels murmured from far away. In an hour or so, the Soviets would circumvent the minefields and the barricades thrown up by British engineers in the wee hours. Then they would charge across Townsend’s position. Over my dead body, Townsend swore to himself. He smiled for the first time that morning, recognizing the truth in his thoughts. His army was running out of ammunition and out of territory to fight across. They might retreat from here, but they would not find another place to make a stand.
A flicker in the corner of his eye made him look up. A spattering of fireworks smeared
across the sky, falling. The projectiles that advanced along the fireworks’ course could not be seen, but the captain could intuit their presence, as earlier he could sense the presence of the Soviet tanks. He had never heard of an artillery or aerial bombardment quite like this before, but he understood its purpose. He visualized the graceful arc of the bombs’ flight paths. Even with small warheads they would do great damage.
Mow explosions bellowed from the Soviet battle line, unmistakably the sound of tank ammunition erupting in flame. Captain Townsend’s eyes widened with a feeling he had not known for days: the feeling of hope.
Copyright & Publication info
MARC STIEGLER
DAVID’S SLING
This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
Copyright (c) 1988 by Marc Stiegler
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form.
A Baen Books Original
Baen Publishing Enterprises 260 Fifth Avenue New York, N.Y. 10001
First Baen printing, January 1988
ISBN: 0-671-65369-5
Cover art by David Mattingly
Printed in the United States of America
Distributed by SIMON & SCHUSTER 1230 Avenue of the Americas New York, N.Y. 10020
Dedication
To those who never stop seeking the third alternatives.
David's Sling Page 38