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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/29181-h.zip b/29181-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6b83da4 --- /dev/null +++ b/29181-h.zip diff --git a/29181-h/29181-h.htm b/29181-h/29181-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6dd5384 --- /dev/null +++ b/29181-h/29181-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1175 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Foundling on Venus, by John & Dorothy de Courcy + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + h1 {line-height: 2em;} + h1,h2 {text-align: right; font-weight: normal;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .bk1 {margin: 1em auto 3em; border-top: solid 2px; border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bk2 {float: left; width: 15em; margin: 1em 2em 1em 0;} + .pr1 {line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 4em;} + p.cap:first-letter {float: left; margin-right: .05em; padding-top: .05em; font-size: 300%; line-height: .8em; width: auto;} + .figt {float: left; clear: left; margin: 15px; padding: 0; width: 140px;} + .trn {border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15%; min-height: 230px;} + .trn p {margin: 15px;} + a:link,a:visited {text-decoration: none;} + img {border: none;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Foundling on Venus, by +John de Courcy and Dorothy de Courcy + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Foundling on Venus + +Author: John de Courcy + Dorothy de Courcy + +Release Date: June 20, 2009 [EBook #29181] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOUNDLING ON VENUS *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="bk1"><p><i><small>Venus was the most miserable planet in the system, peopled by miserable +excuses for human beings. And somewhere among this conglomeration of +boiling protoplasm there was a being unlike the others, a being who +walked and talked like the others but who was different—and afraid +the difference would be discovered. You'll remember this short story.</small></i></p></div> + +<div class="bk2"><h1><b>foundling<br /> +on<br /> +venus</b></h1> + +<h2><small><i>by ... John & Dorothy<br /> de Courcy</i></small></h2> + +<p class="pr1"><big><b>The foundling could not have been more than three years old. Yet he +held a secret that was destined to bring joy to many unhappy people.</b></big></p></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="smcap">Unlike Gaul</span>, the north continent +of Venus is divided into +<i>four</i> parts. No Caesar has set +foot here either, nor shall one—for +the dank, stinging, caustic air +swallows up the lives of men and +only Venus may say, <i>I conquered</i>.</p> + +<p>This is colonized Venus, where +one may walk without the threat +of sudden death—except from +other men—the most bitterly +fought for, the dearest, bloodiest, +most worthless land in the solar +system.</p> + +<p>Separated by men into East +and West at the center of the +Twilight Zone, the division across +the continent is the irregular, +jagged line of Mud River, springing +from the Great Serpent +Range.</p> + +<p>The African Republic holds +one quarter which the Negroes +exploit as best they can, encumbered +by filter masks and +protective clothing.</p> + +<p>The Asians still actually try to +colonize their quarter, while the +Venusian primitives neither help +nor hinder the bitter game of +power-politics, secret murder, +and misery—most of all, misery.</p> + +<p>The men from Mars understand +this better, for their quarter +is a penal colony. Sleepy-eyed, +phlegmatic Martians, self-condemned +for minute violations +of their incredible and complex +mores—without guards save +themselves—will return to the +subterranean cities, complex philosophies, +and cool, dry air of +Mars when they have declared +their own sentences to be at an +end.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, they labor to extract +the wealth of Venus without +the bitterness and hate, without +the savagery and fear of their +neighbors. Hence, they are regarded +by all with the greatest +suspicion.</p> + +<p>The Federated States, after +their fashion, plunder the land +and send screaming ships to +North America laden with booty +and with men grown suddenly +rich—and with men who will +never care for riches or anything +else again. These are the fortunate +dead. The rest are received +into the sloppy breast of Venus +where even a tombstone or marker +is swallowed in a few, short +weeks. And they die quickly on +Venus, and often.</p> + +<p>From the arbitrary point where +the four territories met, New +Reno flung its sprawling, dirty +carcass over the muddy soil and +roared and hooted endlessly, +laughed with the rough boisterousness +of miners and spacemen, +rang with the brittle, brassy +laughter of women following a +trade older than New Reno. It +clanged and shouted and bellowed +so loudly that quiet sobbing was +never heard.</p> + +<p>But a strange sound hung in +the air, the crying of a child. A +tiny child, a boy, he sat begrimed +by mud at the edge of the street +where an occasional ground car +flung fresh contamination on his +small form until he became almost +indistinguishable from the +muddy street. His whimpering +changed to prolonged wailing +sobs. He didn't turn to look at +any of the giant passers-by nor +did they even notice him.</p> + +<p>But finally one passer-by +stopped. She was young and +probably from the Federated +States. She was not painted nor +was she well-dressed. She had +nothing to distinguish her, except +that she stopped.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my!" she breathed, bending +over the tiny form. "You +poor thing. Where's your mama?"</p> + +<p>The little figure rubbed its face, +looked at her blankly and heaved +a long, shuddering sigh.</p> + +<p>"I can't leave you sitting here +in the mud!" She pulled out a +handkerchief and tried to wipe +away some of the mud and then +helped him up. His clothes were +rags, his feet bare. She took him +by the hand and as they walked +along she talked to him. But he +seemed not to hear.</p> + +<p>Soon they reached the dirty, +plastic front of the Elite Cafe. +Once through the double portals, +she pulled the respirator from her +face. The air inside was dirty +and smelly but it was breathable. +People were eating noisily, boisterously, +with all the lusty, unclean +young life that was Venus. +They clamored, banged and threw +things for no reason other than +to throw them.</p> + +<p>She guided the little one past +the tables filled with people and +into the kitchen. The door closed +with a bang, shutting out much +of the noise from the big room. +Gingerly she sat him down on +a stool, and with detergent and +water she began removing the +mud. His eyes were horribly +red-rimmed.</p> + +<p>"It's a wonder you didn't die +out there," she murmured. "Poor +little thing!"</p> + +<p>"Hey! Are you going to work +or aren't you, Jane?" a voice +boomed.</p> + +<p>A large ruddy man in white +had entered the kitchen and he +stood frowning at the girl. Women +weren't rare on Venus, and +she was only a waitress ...</p> + +<p>"What in the blue blazes is +that!" He pointed to the child.</p> + +<p>"He was outside," the girl explained, +"sitting in the street. He +didn't have a respirator."</p> + +<p>The ruddy man scowled at the +boy speculatively. "His lungs all +right?"</p> + +<p>"He isn't coughing much," she +replied.</p> + +<p>"But what are you going to do +with him?" the man asked Jane.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," she said. +"Something. Tell the Patrol +about him, I guess."</p> + +<p>The beefy man hesitated. "It's +been a long time since I've seen +a kid this young on Venus. They +always ship 'em home. Could +have been dumped. Maybe his +parents left him on purpose."</p> + +<p>The girl flinched.</p> + +<p>He grunted disgustedly, his +face mirroring his thoughts. +<i>Stringy hair ... plain face ... +and soft as Venus slime clear +through!</i> He shrugged. "Anyway, +he's got to eat." He looked +at the small figure. "Want to eat, +kid? Would you like a glass of +milk?" He opened a refrigerator, +took out a plastic bottle and +poured milk in a glass.</p> + +<p>Chubby hands reached out for +the glass.</p> + +<p>"There, that's better," the cook +said. "Pete will see that you get +fed all right." He turned to the +girl. "Could he belong to someone +around here?"</p> + +<p>Jane shook her head. "I don't +know. I've never seen him before."</p> + +<p>"Well, he can stay in the +kitchen while you work the shift. +I'll watch him."</p> + +<p>She nodded, took an apron +down from a hook and tied it +around her waist. Then she +patted the sober-faced youngster +on his tousled head and left.</p> + +<p>The beefy man studied the +boy. "I think I'll put you over +there," he said. He lifted him, +stool and all, and carried him +across the kitchen. "You can +watch through that panel. See? +That's Jane in there. She'll come +back and forth, pass right by +here. Is that all right?"</p> + +<p>The little one nodded.</p> + +<p>"Oh?" Pete raised his eyebrows. +"So you <i>do</i> know what +I'm saying." He watched the +child for a few minutes, then +turned his attention to the range. +The rush hour was on and he +soon forgot the little boy on the +stool ...</p> + +<p>Whenever possible during the +lunch-hour rush, Jane stopped to +smile and talk to the child. Once +she asked, "Don't you know +where your mama and daddy +are?"</p> + +<p>He just stared at her, unblinking, +his big eyes soft and sad-looking.</p> + +<p>The girl studied him for a moment, +then she picked up a cookie +and gave it to him. "Can you tell +me your name?" she asked hopefully.</p> + +<p>His lips parted. Cookie crumbs +fell off his chin and from the +corners of his mouth, but he +spoke no words.</p> + +<p>She sighed, turned, and went +out to the clattering throng with +laden plates of food.</p> + +<p>For a while Jane was so busy +she almost forgot the young one. +But finally people began to linger +more over their food, the +clinking of dishes grew quieter +and Pete took time for a cup of +coffee. His sweating face was +haggard. He stared sullenly at +the little boy and shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Shouldn't be such things as +kids," he muttered. "Nothing +but a pain in the neck!"</p> + +<p>Jane came through the door. +"It gets worse all the time," she +groaned. She turned to the little +boy. "Did you have something to +eat?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't know what to fix for +him," Pete said. "How about +some beef stew? Do you think +he'd go for that?"</p> + +<p>Jane hesitated. "I—I don't +know. Try it."</p> + +<p>Pete ladled up a bowl of steaming +stew. Jane took it and put +it on the table. She took a bit +on a spoon, blew on it, then held +it out. The child opened his +mouth. She smiled and slowly +fed him the stew.</p> + +<p>"How old do you think he is?" +Pete asked.</p> + +<p>The girl hesitated, opened her +mouth, but said nothing.</p> + +<p>"About two and a half, I'd +guess," Pete answered himself. +"Maybe three." Jane nodded and +he turned back to cleaning the +stove.</p> + +<p>"Don't you want some more +stew?" Jane asked as she offered +the small one another spoonful.</p> + +<p>The little mouth didn't open.</p> + +<p>"Guess you've had enough," +she said, smiling.</p> + +<p>Pete glanced up. "Why don't +you leave now, Jane. You're +going to have to see the Patrol +about that kid. I can take care +of things here."</p> + +<p>She stood thinking for a moment. +"Can I use an extra respirator?"</p> + +<p>"You can't take him out +without one!" Pete replied. He +opened a locker and pulled out +a transparent facepiece. "I think +this'll tighten down enough to fit +his face."</p> + +<p>She took it and walked over +to the youngster. His large eyes +had followed all her movements +and he drew back slightly as she +held out the respirator. "It won't +hurt," she coaxed. "You have to +wear it. The air outside stings."</p> + +<p>The little face remained steady +but the eyes were fearful as Jane +slid the transparent mask over +his head and tightened the elastic. +It pulsed slightly with his breathing.</p> + +<p>"Better wrap him in this," Pete +suggested, pulling a duroplast +jacket out of the locker. "Air's +tough on skin."</p> + +<p>The girl nodded, pulling on +her own respirator. She stepped +quickly into her duroplast suit +and tied it. "Thanks a lot, Pete," +she said, her voice slightly muffled. +"See you tomorrow."</p> + +<p>Pete grunted as he watched +her wrap the tiny form in the +jacket, lift it gently in her arms, +then push through the door.</p> + +<p>The girl walked swiftly up the +street. It was quieter now, but +in a short time the noise and +stench and garishness of New +Reno would begin rising to +another cacophonous climax.</p> + +<p>The strange pair reached a +wretched metal structure with an +askew sign reading, "El Grande +Hotel." Jane hurried through the +double portals, the swish of air +flapping her outer garments as +the air conditioning unit fought +savagely to keep out the rival atmosphere +of the planet.</p> + +<p>There was no one at the desk +and no one in the lobby. It was +a forlorn place, musty and +damp. Venus humidity seemed to +eat through everything, even +metal, leaving it limp, faded, and +stinking.</p> + +<p>She hesitated, looked at the +visiphone, then impulsively pulled +a chair over out of the line of +sight of the viewing plate and +gently set the little boy on it. +She pulled the respirator from +her face, pressed the button under +the blank visiphone disk. The +plate lit up and hummed faintly.</p> + +<p>"Patrol Office," Jane said.</p> + +<p>There was a click and a middle-aged, +square-faced man with +blue-coated shoulders appeared. +"Patrol Office," he repeated.</p> + +<p>"This is Jane Grant. I work +at the Elite Cafe. Has anyone +lost a little boy?"</p> + +<p>The patrolman's eyebrows +raised slightly. "Little boy? Did +you find one?"</p> + +<p>"Well—I—I saw one earlier +this evening," she faltered. "He +was sitting at the edge of the +street and I took him into the +cafe and fed him."</p> + +<p>"Well, there aren't many children +in town," he replied. "Let's +see." He glanced at a record +sheet. "No, none's reported missing. +He with you now?"</p> + +<p>"Ah—no."</p> + +<p>He shook his head again, still +looking downward. He said slowly, +"His parents must have found +him. If he was wandering we'd +have picked him up. There is a +family that live around there who +have a ten-year-old kid who wanders +off once in a while. Blond, +stutters a little. Was it him?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I—" she began. She +paused, said firmly, "No."</p> + +<p>"Well, we don't have any reports +on lost children. Haven't +had for some time. If the boy +was lost his parents must have +found him. Thank you for calling." +He broke the connection.</p> + +<p>Jane stood staring at the blank +plate. No one had reported a +little boy missing. In all the +maddening confusion that was +New Reno, no one had missed a +little boy.</p> + +<p>She looked at the small bundle, +walked over and slipped off +his respirator. "I should have +told the truth," she murmured to +him softly. "But you're so tiny +and helpless. Poor little thing!"</p> + +<p>He looked up at her, then +around the lobby, his brown eyes +resting on first one object, then +another. His little chin began +to quiver.</p> + +<p>The girl picked him up and +stroked his hair. "Don't cry," +she soothed. "Everything's going +to be all right."</p> + +<p>She walked down a hall, fumbling +inside her coveralls for a +key. At the end of the hall she +stopped, unlocked a door, and +carried him inside. As an afterthought +she locked the door, still +holding the small bundle in her +arms. Then she placed him on a +bed, removed the jacket and +threw it on a chair.</p> + +<p>"I don't know why I should +go to all this trouble," she said, +removing her protective coveralls. +"I'll probably get picked up by +the Patrol. But <i>somebody's</i> got +to look after you."</p> + +<p>She sat down beside him. +"Aren't you even a bit sleepy?"</p> + +<p>He smiled a little.</p> + +<p>"Maybe now you can tell me +your name," she said. "Don't +you know your name?"</p> + +<p>His expression didn't change.</p> + +<p>She pointed to herself. "Jane." +Then she hesitated, looked downward +for a moment. "Jana, I +was called before I came here."</p> + +<p>The little face looked up at +her. The small mouth opened. +"Jana." It was half whisper, half +whistle.</p> + +<p>"That's right," she replied, +stroking his hair. "My, but your +throat must be sore. I hope you +won't be sick from breathing too +much of that awful air."</p> + +<p>She regarded him quizzically. +"You know, I've never seen many +little boys. I don't quite know +how to treat one. But I know +you should get some sleep."</p> + +<p>She smiled and reached over +to take off the rags. He pulled +away suddenly.</p> + +<p>"Don't be afraid," she said +reassuringly. "I wouldn't hurt +you."</p> + +<p>He clutched the little ragged +shirt tightly.</p> + +<p>"Don't be afraid," she repeated +soothingly. "I'll tell you +what. You lie down and I'll put +this blanket over you," she said, +rising. "Will that be all right?"</p> + +<p>She laid him down and covered +the small form with a +blanket. He lay there watching +her with his large eyes.</p> + +<p>"You don't look very sleepy," +she said. "Perhaps I had better +turn the light down." She did +so, slowly, so as not to alarm +him. But he was silent, watchful, +never taking his eyes from +her.</p> + +<p>She smiled and sat down next +to him. "Now I'll tell you a story +and then you must go to sleep," +she said softly.</p> + +<p>He smiled—just a little smile—and +she was pleased.</p> + +<p>"Fine," she cried. "Well—once +upon a time there was a +beautiful planet, not at all like +this one. There were lovely +flowers and cool-running streams +and it only rained once in a while. +You'd like it there for it's a very +nice place. But there were people +there who liked to travel—to +see strange places and new things, +and one day they left in a great +big ship."</p> + +<p>She paused again, frowning in +thought. "Well, they traveled +a long, long way and saw many +things. Then one day something +went wrong."</p> + +<p>Her voice was low and soft. +It had the quality of a dream, +the texture of a zephyr, but the +little boy was still wide awake.</p> + +<p>"Something went very, very +wrong and they tried to land so +they could fix it. But when they +tried to land they found they +couldn't—and they fell and just +barely managed to save themselves. +The big, beautiful ship +was all broken. Well, since they +couldn't fix the ship at all now, +they set out on foot to find out +where they were and to see if +they could get help. Then they +found that they were in a land +of great big giants, and the +people were very fierce."</p> + +<p>The little boy's dark eyes were +watching her intently but she +went on, hardly noticing.</p> + +<p>"So they went back to the +broken ship and tried to decide +what to do. They couldn't get +in touch with their home because +the radio part of the ship +was all broken up. And the +giants were horrible and wanted +everything for themselves and +were cruel and mean and probably +would have hurt the poor +ship-wrecked people if they had +known they were there.</p> + +<p>"So—do you know what they +did? They got some things from +the ship and they went and built +a giant. And they put little motors +inside and things to make it +run and talk so that the giants +wouldn't be able to tell that it +wasn't another giant just like +themselves."</p> + +<p>She paused, straightening +slightly.</p> + +<p>"And then they made a space +inside the giant where somebody +could sit and run this big giant +and talk and move around—and +the giants wouldn't ever know +that she was there. They made +it a <i>she</i>. In fact, she was the +only person who could do it because +she could learn to talk all +sorts of languages—that's what +she could do best. So she went out +in the giant suit and mingled with +the giants and worked just like +they did.</p> + +<p>"But every once in a while +she'd go back to the others, +bringing them things they needed. +And she would bring back news. +That was their only hope—news +of a ship which might be looking +for them, which might take +them home—"</p> + +<p>She broke off. "I wonder what +the end of the story will be?" +she murmured.</p> + +<p>For some time she had not +been using English. She had been +speaking in a soft, fluid language +unlike anything ever heard on +Venus. But now she had stopped +speaking entirely.</p> + +<p>After a slight pause—another +voice spoke—in the same melodious, +alien tongue! It said, "I +think I know the end of the story. +I think someone has come for +you poor people and is going to +take you home."</p> + +<p>She gasped—for she realized +it had not been her voice. Her +artificial eyes watched, stunned, +as the little boy began peeling +off a skin-tight, flexible baby-faced +mask, revealing underneath +the face of a little man.</p> + +<div class="trn"><div class="figt"><a href="images/001-2.jpg"><img src="images/001-1.jpg" width="140" height="200" alt="" title="" /></a></div> + +<p><big><b>Transcriber's Note:</b></big></p> + +<p>This etext was produced from <i>Fantastic Universe</i> March 1954. +Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. +copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and +typographical errors have been corrected without note.</p></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Foundling on Venus, by +John de Courcy and Dorothy de Courcy + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOUNDLING ON VENUS *** + +***** This file should be named 29181-h.htm or 29181-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/1/8/29181/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Foundling on Venus + +Author: John de Courcy + Dorothy de Courcy + +Release Date: June 20, 2009 [EBook #29181] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOUNDLING ON VENUS *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + _Venus was the most miserable planet in the system, peopled by + miserable excuses for human beings. And somewhere among this + conglomeration of boiling protoplasm there was a being unlike the + others, a being who walked and talked like the others but who was + different--and afraid the difference would be discovered. You'll + remember this short story._ + + + foundling + on + venus + + _by ... John & Dorothy de Courcy_ + + + The foundling could not have been more than three years old. Yet he + held a secret that was destined to bring joy to many unhappy people. + + +Unlike Gaul, the north continent of Venus is divided into _four_ parts. +No Caesar has set foot here either, nor shall one--for the dank, +stinging, caustic air swallows up the lives of men and only Venus may +say, _I conquered_. + +This is colonized Venus, where one may walk without the threat of sudden +death--except from other men--the most bitterly fought for, the dearest, +bloodiest, most worthless land in the solar system. + +Separated by men into East and West at the center of the Twilight Zone, +the division across the continent is the irregular, jagged line of Mud +River, springing from the Great Serpent Range. + +The African Republic holds one quarter which the Negroes exploit as best +they can, encumbered by filter masks and protective clothing. + +The Asians still actually try to colonize their quarter, while the +Venusian primitives neither help nor hinder the bitter game of +power-politics, secret murder, and misery--most of all, misery. + +The men from Mars understand this better, for their quarter is a penal +colony. Sleepy-eyed, phlegmatic Martians, self-condemned for minute +violations of their incredible and complex mores--without guards save +themselves--will return to the subterranean cities, complex +philosophies, and cool, dry air of Mars when they have declared their +own sentences to be at an end. + +Meanwhile, they labor to extract the wealth of Venus without the +bitterness and hate, without the savagery and fear of their neighbors. +Hence, they are regarded by all with the greatest suspicion. + +The Federated States, after their fashion, plunder the land and send +screaming ships to North America laden with booty and with men grown +suddenly rich--and with men who will never care for riches or anything +else again. These are the fortunate dead. The rest are received into the +sloppy breast of Venus where even a tombstone or marker is swallowed in +a few, short weeks. And they die quickly on Venus, and often. + +From the arbitrary point where the four territories met, New Reno flung +its sprawling, dirty carcass over the muddy soil and roared and hooted +endlessly, laughed with the rough boisterousness of miners and spacemen, +rang with the brittle, brassy laughter of women following a trade older +than New Reno. It clanged and shouted and bellowed so loudly that quiet +sobbing was never heard. + +But a strange sound hung in the air, the crying of a child. A tiny +child, a boy, he sat begrimed by mud at the edge of the street where an +occasional ground car flung fresh contamination on his small form until +he became almost indistinguishable from the muddy street. His whimpering +changed to prolonged wailing sobs. He didn't turn to look at any of the +giant passers-by nor did they even notice him. + +But finally one passer-by stopped. She was young and probably from the +Federated States. She was not painted nor was she well-dressed. She had +nothing to distinguish her, except that she stopped. + +"Oh, my!" she breathed, bending over the tiny form. "You poor thing. +Where's your mama?" + +The little figure rubbed its face, looked at her blankly and heaved a +long, shuddering sigh. + +"I can't leave you sitting here in the mud!" She pulled out a +handkerchief and tried to wipe away some of the mud and then helped him +up. His clothes were rags, his feet bare. She took him by the hand and +as they walked along she talked to him. But he seemed not to hear. + +Soon they reached the dirty, plastic front of the Elite Cafe. Once +through the double portals, she pulled the respirator from her face. The +air inside was dirty and smelly but it was breathable. People were +eating noisily, boisterously, with all the lusty, unclean young life +that was Venus. They clamored, banged and threw things for no reason +other than to throw them. + +She guided the little one past the tables filled with people and into +the kitchen. The door closed with a bang, shutting out much of the noise +from the big room. Gingerly she sat him down on a stool, and with +detergent and water she began removing the mud. His eyes were horribly +red-rimmed. + +"It's a wonder you didn't die out there," she murmured. "Poor little +thing!" + +"Hey! Are you going to work or aren't you, Jane?" a voice boomed. + +A large ruddy man in white had entered the kitchen and he stood frowning +at the girl. Women weren't rare on Venus, and she was only a waitress ... + +"What in the blue blazes is that!" He pointed to the child. + +"He was outside," the girl explained, "sitting in the street. He didn't +have a respirator." + +The ruddy man scowled at the boy speculatively. "His lungs all right?" + +"He isn't coughing much," she replied. + +"But what are you going to do with him?" the man asked Jane. + +"I don't know," she said. "Something. Tell the Patrol about him, I +guess." + +The beefy man hesitated. "It's been a long time since I've seen a kid +this young on Venus. They always ship 'em home. Could have been dumped. +Maybe his parents left him on purpose." + +The girl flinched. + +He grunted disgustedly, his face mirroring his thoughts. _Stringy hair +... plain face ... and soft as Venus slime clear through!_ He shrugged. +"Anyway, he's got to eat." He looked at the small figure. "Want to eat, +kid? Would you like a glass of milk?" He opened a refrigerator, took out +a plastic bottle and poured milk in a glass. + +Chubby hands reached out for the glass. + +"There, that's better," the cook said. "Pete will see that you get fed +all right." He turned to the girl. "Could he belong to someone around +here?" + +Jane shook her head. "I don't know. I've never seen him before." + +"Well, he can stay in the kitchen while you work the shift. I'll watch +him." + +She nodded, took an apron down from a hook and tied it around her waist. +Then she patted the sober-faced youngster on his tousled head and left. + +The beefy man studied the boy. "I think I'll put you over there," he +said. He lifted him, stool and all, and carried him across the kitchen. +"You can watch through that panel. See? That's Jane in there. She'll +come back and forth, pass right by here. Is that all right?" + +The little one nodded. + +"Oh?" Pete raised his eyebrows. "So you _do_ know what I'm saying." He +watched the child for a few minutes, then turned his attention to the +range. The rush hour was on and he soon forgot the little boy on the +stool ... + +Whenever possible during the lunch-hour rush, Jane stopped to smile and +talk to the child. Once she asked, "Don't you know where your mama and +daddy are?" + +He just stared at her, unblinking, his big eyes soft and sad-looking. + +The girl studied him for a moment, then she picked up a cookie and gave +it to him. "Can you tell me your name?" she asked hopefully. + +His lips parted. Cookie crumbs fell off his chin and from the corners of +his mouth, but he spoke no words. + +She sighed, turned, and went out to the clattering throng with laden +plates of food. + +For a while Jane was so busy she almost forgot the young one. But +finally people began to linger more over their food, the clinking of +dishes grew quieter and Pete took time for a cup of coffee. His sweating +face was haggard. He stared sullenly at the little boy and shook his +head. + +"Shouldn't be such things as kids," he muttered. "Nothing but a pain in +the neck!" + +Jane came through the door. "It gets worse all the time," she groaned. +She turned to the little boy. "Did you have something to eat?" + +"I didn't know what to fix for him," Pete said. "How about some beef +stew? Do you think he'd go for that?" + +Jane hesitated. "I--I don't know. Try it." + +Pete ladled up a bowl of steaming stew. Jane took it and put it on the +table. She took a bit on a spoon, blew on it, then held it out. The +child opened his mouth. She smiled and slowly fed him the stew. + +"How old do you think he is?" Pete asked. + +The girl hesitated, opened her mouth, but said nothing. + +"About two and a half, I'd guess," Pete answered himself. "Maybe three." +Jane nodded and he turned back to cleaning the stove. + +"Don't you want some more stew?" Jane asked as she offered the small one +another spoonful. + +The little mouth didn't open. + +"Guess you've had enough," she said, smiling. + +Pete glanced up. "Why don't you leave now, Jane. You're going to have +to see the Patrol about that kid. I can take care of things here." + +She stood thinking for a moment. "Can I use an extra respirator?" + +"You can't take him out without one!" Pete replied. He opened a locker +and pulled out a transparent facepiece. "I think this'll tighten down +enough to fit his face." + +She took it and walked over to the youngster. His large eyes had +followed all her movements and he drew back slightly as she held out the +respirator. "It won't hurt," she coaxed. "You have to wear it. The air +outside stings." + +The little face remained steady but the eyes were fearful as Jane slid +the transparent mask over his head and tightened the elastic. It pulsed +slightly with his breathing. + +"Better wrap him in this," Pete suggested, pulling a duroplast jacket +out of the locker. "Air's tough on skin." + +The girl nodded, pulling on her own respirator. She stepped quickly into +her duroplast suit and tied it. "Thanks a lot, Pete," she said, her +voice slightly muffled. "See you tomorrow." + +Pete grunted as he watched her wrap the tiny form in the jacket, lift it +gently in her arms, then push through the door. + +The girl walked swiftly up the street. It was quieter now, but in a +short time the noise and stench and garishness of New Reno would begin +rising to another cacophonous climax. + +The strange pair reached a wretched metal structure with an askew sign +reading, "El Grande Hotel." Jane hurried through the double portals, the +swish of air flapping her outer garments as the air conditioning unit +fought savagely to keep out the rival atmosphere of the planet. + +There was no one at the desk and no one in the lobby. It was a forlorn +place, musty and damp. Venus humidity seemed to eat through everything, +even metal, leaving it limp, faded, and stinking. + +She hesitated, looked at the visiphone, then impulsively pulled a chair +over out of the line of sight of the viewing plate and gently set the +little boy on it. She pulled the respirator from her face, pressed the +button under the blank visiphone disk. The plate lit up and hummed +faintly. + +"Patrol Office," Jane said. + +There was a click and a middle-aged, square-faced man with blue-coated +shoulders appeared. "Patrol Office," he repeated. + +"This is Jane Grant. I work at the Elite Cafe. Has anyone lost a little +boy?" + +The patrolman's eyebrows raised slightly. "Little boy? Did you find +one?" + +"Well--I--I saw one earlier this evening," she faltered. "He was sitting +at the edge of the street and I took him into the cafe and fed him." + +"Well, there aren't many children in town," he replied. "Let's see." He +glanced at a record sheet. "No, none's reported missing. He with you +now?" + +"Ah--no." + +He shook his head again, still looking downward. He said slowly, "His +parents must have found him. If he was wandering we'd have picked him +up. There is a family that live around there who have a ten-year-old kid +who wanders off once in a while. Blond, stutters a little. Was it him?" + +"Well, I--" she began. She paused, said firmly, "No." + +"Well, we don't have any reports on lost children. Haven't had for some +time. If the boy was lost his parents must have found him. Thank you for +calling." He broke the connection. + +Jane stood staring at the blank plate. No one had reported a little boy +missing. In all the maddening confusion that was New Reno, no one had +missed a little boy. + +She looked at the small bundle, walked over and slipped off his +respirator. "I should have told the truth," she murmured to him softly. +"But you're so tiny and helpless. Poor little thing!" + +He looked up at her, then around the lobby, his brown eyes resting on +first one object, then another. His little chin began to quiver. + +The girl picked him up and stroked his hair. "Don't cry," she soothed. +"Everything's going to be all right." + +She walked down a hall, fumbling inside her coveralls for a key. At the +end of the hall she stopped, unlocked a door, and carried him inside. As +an afterthought she locked the door, still holding the small bundle in +her arms. Then she placed him on a bed, removed the jacket and threw it +on a chair. + +"I don't know why I should go to all this trouble," she said, removing +her protective coveralls. "I'll probably get picked up by the Patrol. +But _somebody's_ got to look after you." + +She sat down beside him. "Aren't you even a bit sleepy?" + +He smiled a little. + +"Maybe now you can tell me your name," she said. "Don't you know your +name?" + +His expression didn't change. + +She pointed to herself. "Jane." Then she hesitated, looked downward for +a moment. "Jana, I was called before I came here." + +The little face looked up at her. The small mouth opened. "Jana." It was +half whisper, half whistle. + +"That's right," she replied, stroking his hair. "My, but your throat +must be sore. I hope you won't be sick from breathing too much of that +awful air." + +She regarded him quizzically. "You know, I've never seen many little +boys. I don't quite know how to treat one. But I know you should get +some sleep." + +She smiled and reached over to take off the rags. He pulled away +suddenly. + +"Don't be afraid," she said reassuringly. "I wouldn't hurt you." + +He clutched the little ragged shirt tightly. + +"Don't be afraid," she repeated soothingly. "I'll tell you what. You lie +down and I'll put this blanket over you," she said, rising. "Will that +be all right?" + +She laid him down and covered the small form with a blanket. He lay +there watching her with his large eyes. + +"You don't look very sleepy," she said. "Perhaps I had better turn the +light down." She did so, slowly, so as not to alarm him. But he was +silent, watchful, never taking his eyes from her. + +She smiled and sat down next to him. "Now I'll tell you a story and then +you must go to sleep," she said softly. + +He smiled--just a little smile--and she was pleased. + +"Fine," she cried. "Well--once upon a time there was a beautiful planet, +not at all like this one. There were lovely flowers and cool-running +streams and it only rained once in a while. You'd like it there for it's +a very nice place. But there were people there who liked to travel--to +see strange places and new things, and one day they left in a great big +ship." + +She paused again, frowning in thought. "Well, they traveled a long, long +way and saw many things. Then one day something went wrong." + +Her voice was low and soft. It had the quality of a dream, the texture +of a zephyr, but the little boy was still wide awake. + +"Something went very, very wrong and they tried to land so they could +fix it. But when they tried to land they found they couldn't--and they +fell and just barely managed to save themselves. The big, beautiful ship +was all broken. Well, since they couldn't fix the ship at all now, they +set out on foot to find out where they were and to see if they could get +help. Then they found that they were in a land of great big giants, and +the people were very fierce." + +The little boy's dark eyes were watching her intently but she went on, +hardly noticing. + +"So they went back to the broken ship and tried to decide what to do. +They couldn't get in touch with their home because the radio part of the +ship was all broken up. And the giants were horrible and wanted +everything for themselves and were cruel and mean and probably would +have hurt the poor ship-wrecked people if they had known they were +there. + +"So--do you know what they did? They got some things from the ship and +they went and built a giant. And they put little motors inside and +things to make it run and talk so that the giants wouldn't be able to +tell that it wasn't another giant just like themselves." + +She paused, straightening slightly. + +"And then they made a space inside the giant where somebody could sit +and run this big giant and talk and move around--and the giants wouldn't +ever know that she was there. They made it a _she_. In fact, she was the +only person who could do it because she could learn to talk all sorts of +languages--that's what she could do best. So she went out in the giant +suit and mingled with the giants and worked just like they did. + +"But every once in a while she'd go back to the others, bringing them +things they needed. And she would bring back news. That was their only +hope--news of a ship which might be looking for them, which might take +them home--" + +She broke off. "I wonder what the end of the story will be?" she +murmured. + +For some time she had not been using English. She had been speaking in a +soft, fluid language unlike anything ever heard on Venus. But now she +had stopped speaking entirely. + +After a slight pause--another voice spoke--in the same melodious, alien +tongue! It said, "I think I know the end of the story. I think someone +has come for you poor people and is going to take you home." + +She gasped--for she realized it had not been her voice. Her artificial +eyes watched, stunned, as the little boy began peeling off a skin-tight, +flexible baby-faced mask, revealing underneath the face of a little man. + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from _Fantastic Universe_ March 1954. + Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. + copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and + typographical errors have been corrected without note. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Foundling on Venus, by +John de Courcy and Dorothy de Courcy + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FOUNDLING ON VENUS *** + +***** This file should be named 29181.txt or 29181.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/1/8/29181/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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