文档介绍：A Hymn Before Battle
by John Ringo
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 © 2000 by John Ringo
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions
thereof in any form.
A Baen Books Original
Baen Publishing Enterprises
. Box 1403
Riverdale, NY 10471
ISBN: 0-671-31841-1
Cover art by Patrick Turner
First paperback printing, October 2001
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ringo, John, 1963–
A hymn before battle / John Ringo.
p. cm.
"A Baen Books original"—. verso
ISBN 0-671-31841-1
1. Imaginary wars and battles—Fiction. 2. Human–alien
encounters—
Fiction. 3. Life on other s—Fiction. I. Title.
H96 2000
813'.6—dc21 00-042927
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
Production by Windhaven Press, Auburn, NH
Printed in the United States of America
This book is dedicated to my loving wife, Karin,
and my wonderful daughters Jenny and Lindy,
for not leaving me while I wrote it.
Living with a writer is a lesser Circle of Hell.
Prologue
"How many worlds does this make?" The dialogue took place before a wall-sized
view-screen. The image was not one to make for happy conversation.
The aide knew the question was rhetorical. As the Ghin aged he was ing soft,
without direction. Yet powerful still.
"Seventy-two."
"Not including Barwhon or Diess."
"They have not yet fallen."
The answer was silence. Then,
"We will use the humans."
At last!
"Yes, your Ghin."
Silence, a glance at the view-screen.
"That makes you happy, does it not, Tir."
"I believe it to be a wise decision, as all of your decisions are wise, your Ghin."
"But slow e, late. Without decisiveness, without, what is that human word?
'Élan.' "