diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 29354-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 136805 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 29354-h/29354-h.htm | 1168 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 29354-h/images/001-1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 16812 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 29354-h/images/001-2.jpg | bin | 0 -> 103414 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 29354.txt | 820 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 29354.zip | bin | 0 -> 15495 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
9 files changed, 2004 insertions, 0 deletions
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/29354-h.zip b/29354-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..220f79c --- /dev/null +++ b/29354-h.zip diff --git a/29354-h/29354-h.htm b/29354-h/29354-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..636e636 --- /dev/null +++ b/29354-h/29354-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1168 @@ +<!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 This One Problem, by M. C. Pease + </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;} + hr {width: 45%; margin: 1em auto; visibility: hidden;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of This One Problem, by M. C. Pease + +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: This One Problem + +Author: M. C. Pease + +Release Date: July 8, 2009 [EBook #29354] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THIS ONE PROBLEM *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="bk1"><p><i><small>Piracy in the past has acquired the gaudy technicolor of high romance. In +the present, piracy is as tawdry as tabloid headlines. But piracy in the far +future, when presented as vividly as in this story, can be scary stuff.</small></i></p></div> + +<div class="bk2"><h1><b>this<br /> +one<br /> +problem</b></h1> + +<h2><small><i>by ... M. C. Pease</i></small></h2> + +<p class="pr1"><big><b>The shortest distance between two points may be +the long way around—and a path of dishonor may +well turn into the high road to virtue.</b></big></p></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="smcap">Marc Polder</span>, Resident Comptroller +of Torran, strolled idly +down the dusty littered path that +passed for a street. In the half-light +of the pint-sized moon overhead +the town looked almost romantic. +One day, when civilization +had at last been brought to these +Asteroid bases, memory would +make Torran heroic. But now, +with the fact before the eyes, it +was merely dirty and squalid. +Only the scum of the Solar System +called it home.</p> + +<p>Idly Marc Polder pushed a +swinging door aside and entered +what passed on Torran for a +restaurant. Pushing his way +through the tables until he saw his +only aide, Female Personnel +Manager Lee Treynor, he sat +down.</p> + +<p>"What's new?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Not a thing." But for a certain +softness of voice and curve of unmade-up +lips, Lee could have +passed for a boy. Her light hair +was short, she wore a man's +coveralls. She added, "Only the +usual murder, arson and brigandage +that you don't want to hear +about."</p> + +<p>"Don't let such trifles get you +down," said Marc with a crooked +half-smile.</p> + +<p>"I'm fed up," the girl said +shortly. "I must have been still +wet behind the ears when I agreed +to come out here two months ago. +I thought I was going to help +establish a place where decent +people could live and work. So +far I've just watched my boss +swig Venerian swamp beer with +the worst elements in town, and +do nothing about the lawlessness +that runs riot all over the place."</p> + +<p>"Look, lady," Marc answered +gently, "I certainly admire those +lofty sentiments of yours. I admit +they are maybe what ought to be. +But the way I see it they just +don't fit the facts. Out here the +Federation space fleet is supposed +to be the big stick. Only right +now it's off playing mumbly-peg +with the Venerians.</p> + +<p>"The Big Wheels seem to think +there'll be a shooting war in a +couple of months. There's only +three or four destroyers left in +the whole damn Asteroid Belt. +And without the big stick behind +me I'm not hankering to commit +suicide by looking for trouble."</p> + +<p>Marc smiled again ruefully. +"What I can do I try to do," he +added with sudden earnestness. +"I figure the most important thing +is to protect the Asteroid Development +Company so they can +buy the nuclear ore the Astrodites +bring in. Without that ore the +Federation's going to be in a hell +of a fix if it actually does come +to war. And along with that +there's the matter of guarding the +stuff the Navy's got stored here." +He waved toward the Navy warehouse +that could be seen outside +the window.</p> + +<p>"Listening to and fraternizing +with the characters you call the +biggest crooks in town," the comptroller +went on with a shrug, "I've +a chance at getting tipped off in +advance to anything that may +make trouble for our interests. As +long as I ignore their rackets they +accept me in their midst, talk +freely with me around. And it's a +hell of a lot easier to stop something +when you know the score +beforehand."</p> + +<p>The young woman's lips parted +as if she seemed about to say +something. Then they closed in a +thin line. Obviously she was not +happy with Marc Polder's explanation. +She was too young to +be willing to compromise her +ideals, no matter how potent the +logic of necessity.</p> + +<p>She was about to leave the +table when the shrill screams of a +distant whistle sliced through the +noise of the crowd. Voices broke +off in mid-sentence and bodies +froze into immobility. As the +siren's piercing tones faded the +restaurant's customers looked at +one another in silent terror. Then, +as the shock wore off and unanswered +questions were beginning +to fly, a man suddenly ran +in through the revolving doors.</p> + +<p>"Raiders!" he gasped. "The +listening gear's picked up a signal +that's not from any Astrodite or +destroyer. Signal Corps figures it's +a pirate!"</p> + +<p>There was a mad rush for the +doors and seconds later the place +was empty except for Marc +Polder, still sitting calmly at the +table drinking his beer, and Lee +Treynor who sat watching him.</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do?" +she finally asked.</p> + +<p>"I don't know. What <i>can</i> I +do?" Marc said.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens!" the girl exploded. +"Are you just going to +sit there guzzling beer while +pirates take over the town?" She +stared at him incredulously.</p> + +<p>"What do you suggest I do?" +the comptroller asked. "We +haven't anything to fight with. +There's no way we can get help. +As far as I can see there's nothing +we <i>can</i> do—not yet anyway." He +calmly lifted his glass.</p> + +<p>"You mean we're just going to +<i>sit</i> here?" the girl gaped.</p> + +<p>"Sure. The others left to hide +their money and valuables. I've +got nothing to hide."</p> + +<p>"What about that stuff the +Navy has cached in their warehouse?" +Lee asked. "That new +rocket fuel their destroyers use +when they need a little extra push. +Isn't that worth hiding?"</p> + +<p>"The hyper-degenerate-thorium, +you mean? I'd like to hide that +somewhere," Marc conceded. +"But where do you hide ten tons +of stuff in five minutes? Besides, +it wouldn't do the raiders any +good. Too hot. It'll burn out +their jets. They'd go up like an +A-bomb two minutes after they +threw it on. They know that. +Only thing they could do with it +is sell it to Venus. Not that that +would be bad. Shortage of +H.D.T.'s may be the chief reason +why there's been no war started +yet. But for now there's nothing +you and I can do." Calmly he lit +a cigarette.</p> + +<p>"Of course," he went on, smiling, +"we <i>could</i> bum a ride out +with some of the company men. +No doubt they're all hightailing +it away from here in their space-buggies."</p> + +<p>"I'm surprised," Lee said with +a trace of sarcasm, "that you're +not doing just that, leaving me +and the other women to the +beasts!"</p> + +<p>Marc eyed her unblinkingly. +"You know as well as I do that +most of the females on this +asteroid take pirates in their stride. +They might even welcome a +change of partners. As for you"—he +paused—"you stick close to +me and keep your pretty mouth +shut. I think we'll manage somehow."</p> + +<p>In silence they walked back to +the comptroller's office.</p> + +<p>"Marc," Lee said as they +entered, "what about the new +radar? Maybe we could get a +message out with it, in code or +something."</p> + +<p>"What?" Marc turned, astonished. +"You want to play our +only hole-card on an off-chance +like that? There aren't more than +four or five people here who even +know it's been set up on the other +side of the asteroid. There's +hardly a chance the raiders will +find out about it. And you want +to blast the news at them!" He +looked disgusted.</p> + +<p>The girl said stubbornly, "You +can't just give up without a fight. +And that's our only weapon."</p> + +<p>"Look," Marc said grimly, +"that's only a second-hand +destroyer radar, so it wouldn't +carry far. No. I'm not going to +use it on any such harebrained +scheme as that. And if you +breathe a word about it I'll take +you apart." He added with a +faint smile, "Not that <i>that</i> +wouldn't be a pleasure."</p> + +<p>Looking at him she knew he +meant the tender joke and the +knowledge helped her.</p> + +<p>"I think," Marc went on after +a moment, "I'd better warn the +boys over on the radar project or +they might accidentally start it up +while the raiders are here." He +closed the door as he went into +the inner office to make the call.</p> + +<p>A moment later he emerged and +studied the still angry girl through +half-closed eyes. She blushed +under his scrutiny, said coldly, +"What's the matter? Afraid I'm +not attractive enough for our +visitors?"</p> + +<p>He grinned. "You could do +with a mite of padding here and +there. But I was thinking the +other way, as a matter of fact. It's +a pity you don't have a small +mustache."</p> + +<p>"You don't have to insult me!" +Lee cried bitterly. "I'm <i>glad</i> I'm +thin!"</p> + +<p>"I'm not insulting you," Marc +said mildly. "I even wish you +were a bit skinnier. It's the plump +girls our guests are going to be +looking at first. Remember now—you +stick right with me and +keep your mouth shut, d'you +hear?"</p> + +<p>"I hear," she said shortly. But +he could see the fear she was +trying to hide and he knew she +was honestly frightened for the +first time in her adult life. She +said, "What will they—be like?"</p> + +<p>"If it's John Mantor, and I +suspect it is, they'll be rough," +Marc informed her. "He's a tough +ex-pilot who got bounced off +Space Patrol and turned outlaw. +He seems to hold a grudge +against the whole human race. +If it's one of the others—it may +be a lot worse."</p> + +<p>"I don't see why outlaws are +allowed to exist at all," she said.</p> + +<p>Marc sighed, shook his head. +"A lot of people have felt that +way over a lot of pirates over a +lot of eras. But somehow they +keep turning up."</p> + +<p>A few minutes later the space-scarred +pirate ship had made a +rocky landing in the middle of the +small spaceport and John Mantor, +pirate chief, drove up to the comptroller's +office in a cloud of dust. +He was tall and dirty and thin and +tough. "Which one of you is the +comptroller?" he demanded, as +he faced Marc Polder and Lee +Treynor.</p> + +<p>"I am," Marc said, not rising +from behind the desk.</p> + +<p>"Then you're the guy responsible +for any trouble here," Mantor +said. "So I'm going to tell you +how to avoid trouble." His +brutally scarred face twisted into +a grin.</p> + +<p>"There's a lot of loot around +here. I'm not going to ask you +where it is. My boys can take +care of that matter. But there's +also the Navy warehouse. Maybe +we won't know what some of the +stuff in there is for, so you're +going to tell us."</p> + +<p>Mantor leaned across the desk, +his eyes as hard and cold as +chips of duratite. "And if you +won't, there's going to be trouble +and you'll be it—you and your +friend here."</p> + +<p>Marc sat impassively, meeting +the hard-eyed gaze. "That warehouse +is government property," +he said. "So far, there's only +piracy against you. But if you +raid that building you're going +to be the personal problem of the +Navy. If I were you I'd leave it +alone."</p> + +<p>"You let me worry about that," +said Mantor.</p> + +<p>"Besides," Marc went on, "I +don't see what good the stuff in +that warehouse can be to you. +There's little of cash value in +there. And I doubt if you can +use any of the parts on your ship."</p> + +<p>"That could be," Mantor replied. +"But on the other hand, +maybe we can find a market for +certain items." He smiled coldly. +Watching, Lee knew he referred +to Venus. She sat perfectly still, +praying for him not to notice her.</p> + +<p>Mantor spread his hands on the +desk, a look of hatred and ferocity +on his face. "What I want to +know is—are you or are you not +going to cooperate? And I want +to know fast."</p> + +<p>"Don't get me wrong," Marc +said softly. "I'm not telling you +what to do or what not to do. +But that warehouse is the thing +I'm here to protect. And if I were +to agree to help you, the Navy +would be after me, too. So I've +got to say to hell with you."</p> + +<p>John Mantor rocked back on +his heels, hooking his thumbs in +his belt. A slow smile spread +over his face. "Okay," he said. "I +think I get what you mean. So I +guess we got to work you over. +And we'll do it where there aren't +any outside witnesses."</p> + +<p>Marc grinned back at him.</p> + +<p>Lee was puzzled. It took her +a moment to realize that the grins +sealed a contract between the two +men. Marc would cooperate if he +were beaten up enough first to +satisfy a later investigation—but +not too severely for his own comfort!</p> + +<p>Lee found it difficult to hide +her contempt. She stared at her +hands, clenched in her lap, and +waited for Mantor to leave.</p> + +<p>The looting and destruction +were well under way an hour later +when a couple of Mantor's men +joined their chief, who stood with +a somewhat bruised Marc Polder +and an unharmed but furious Lee +Treynor. Between them they carried +a small, obviously heavy box.</p> + +<p>"You know what this stuff is, +boss?" one of the men asked. +"They got a hundred or a +hundred-fifty boxes like this in +there." He nodded at the Navy +warehouse.</p> + +<p>They set the box down and +Mantor flung back its lid. It was +filled with small grey pellets. +Mantor picked up a handful and +stood fingering them.</p> + +<p>"Looks like rocket fuel," he +said. "Only I've never seen any +this color. And it's too heavy, +also." He turned to the comptroller. +"<i>You</i> tell me what it is."</p> + +<p>Marc shrugged. "I don't know. +It's a Navy secret."</p> + +<p>Mantor's eyes glinted. Without +warning his fist flew out, sent the +comptroller sprawling in the dust +where he lay stunned. Lee's hands +flew to her mouth barely in time +to suppress a cry.</p> + +<p>After a few moments Marc +rolled over slowly and pushed +himself painfully to a sitting position. +He looked up at Mantor who +stood watching him coldly, his +fist flexing.</p> + +<p>The comptroller licked his lips +and looked around at the several +men who stood watching, their +faces impassive. "Okay," he said +in a none-too-steady voice. "I'll +tell you. You'd find out anyway +from the files."</p> + +<p>"Cut the alibis and give," Mantor +growled.</p> + +<p>"Keep your shirt on." Marc's +voice indicated he was regaining +control of himself. "It's H.D.T.—Hyper-Degenerate-Thorium—the +stuff the destroyers use to get +extra push."</p> + +<p>Mantor roared his glee. "Pack +it aboard, boys—<i>all</i> of it! And +put it where it will be handy, +just in case."</p> + +<p>This was it, Lee thought as she +stood by, watching—the final +bitter pill. Mantor had as much +as told them he was working for +Venus. And the H.D.T. was all +Venus needed to be ready for war—a +war that might well blast +civilization from the Solar System. +Strange that so much should +depend upon one man; tragic that +the one man was a weakling.</p> + +<p>With an effort Lee forced herself +to be fair. It might have done +no good to lie, she conceded. But +anyone with even a normal +amount of simple courage would +have tried.</p> + +<p>It was about two hours later +when the siren went off again like +a banshee wailing to a low-hanging +moon. Men came running +from all directions, shouting questions +at the tops of their voices.</p> + +<p>A midget auto came skidding +down the pirate ship's ramp, its +driver standing on the accelerator. +The car knifed through the swirling +crowd, barely missing several +people, and skidded to a dusty +stop directly in front of Mantor.</p> + +<p>"<i>Radar signal!</i>" the driver +yelled. "The search receiver +picked up a signal that sounds like +a destroyer's radar. It suddenly +came in strong. Probably sneaked +up on us from behind that damn +moon. It's coming in fast and +braking hard!"</p> + +<p>There was a mad scramble as +the looters raced for their ship. +Heavy-handed horseplay was forgotten. +They knew they were +helpless against a Navy destroyer. +Their only hope lay in a fast +getaway. Seconds could easily +spell the difference between safety +and defeat.</p> + +<p>In less than ten minutes the +ship's locks were sealed and they +fired off. As the flames roared +out and the huge ship lifted +swiftly it was obvious that they +were throwing on all the fuel +their jets could take.</p> + +<p>Marc Polder had faded back +into the crowd at the first sound +of the siren. As he stood watching +the blastoff Lee joined him, +hands in her pockets, looking +more than ever like a boy.</p> + +<p>"Maybe my idea of asking for +help wasn't so far-fetched," she +said quietly. "Maybe the patrol +might have been here in time. +Maybe you wouldn't have had to +tell them about the H.D.T."</p> + +<p>"Maybe," Marc answered without +turning his eyes from the +dwindling point of reddish light +high in the dark sky.</p> + +<p>"And just by way of keeping +the record straight," the girl went +on in a voice that began to rasp, +"you know as well as I do that +the files don't list any H.D.T. +It's under a code name."</p> + +<p>"Maybe," Marc replied in a +noncommittal tone.</p> + +<p>The point of light in the sky +suddenly turned blue. Lee was +staring at it too, now. And she +knew also what the change of +color meant. Mantor had started +to use the new fuel!</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Suddenly there was a blinding +flash. Lee cried out and staggered +back, covering her eyes. Marc, +who had closed his eyes when the +color change came, took hold of +the girl's arm.</p> + +<p>"I told you what would happen +if they used the stuff," he said +gently. "It's too hot for their jet +chambers. It melts the walls. A +lot of gas piles up in the tubes. +The pressure pushes the fire back. +And when it gets shoved back into +the recoil chamber and you lose +the protective layers of cold gas +there—well, then you've got to +look for your ship with an +ionization gauge!</p> + +<p>"I told you all that long ago. +The trouble is, you're too idealistic, +Lee. That's not the same as +<i>having ideals</i>. I admire ideals—I +might even confess to a few of +my own. But <i>you</i> don't stop to +figure out just what your ideals +are—exactly what you're fighting +for.</p> + +<p>"You come to a crisis like this +one and you forget about the <i>big</i> +goal. All you see is this one +problem. And by giving them yes-or-no +answers—good or bad, +brave or cowardly—to the problem +of the moment—you may +miss a simple solution to the big +one.</p> + +<p>"You've got to keep a cool +head and never forget for even a +moment exactly what it is you +want to accomplish." His voice +was gentle, and it held no rebuke.</p> + +<p>"All right," said Lee unhappily, +"you win. You needn't +bother to rub in the salt. I was +going to chase you through all +the inquiry courts for this. Instead, +you got a lucky break, so I can't +do a thing. You ought to be +tarred and feathered through +every city of the Federation, but +because a destroyer happened to +stumble in here at the right time +you'll end up a hero." Her voice +caught in a sob.</p> + +<p>"Oh, the destroyer," Marc replied. +"Ah, yes, that <i>was</i> lucky, +wasn't it? The only hitch is—there +wasn't any destroyer. Probably +not one within a million +miles!" He laughed as Lee turned +surprise-widened eyes toward him.</p> + +<p>"What they thought was a +destroyer was the radar system on +the side of the rock, bouncing a +signal off the moon. I gave the +radar boys the word just before +Mantor dropped in on us. The +crew did a damned good job of +juggling the power and frequency +and all." He grinned. "Remind +me to buy them a beer sometime."</p> + +<p>He laughed then at the girl's +expression as it changed from +bitter disillusion to something akin +to awe, close to hero-worship.</p> + +<p>"And this, by the way," Polder +said, "is as good a time as any to +tell you that I'd like to see you +look like a woman, for a change. +How about changing into a dress +before we go into town. You +know, I've never seen you out of +that uniform?"</p> + +<p>She hesitated, unsure of herself +now. "That will take a little +time," she said doubtfully.</p> + +<p>He put hands on her slim +shoulders, gave her a gentle shove +toward her quarters. "We've got +time," he told her. "Lots of it. +But I've been waiting quite +a while."</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 This One Problem, by M. C. Pease + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THIS ONE PROBLEM *** + +***** This file should be named 29354-h.htm or 29354-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/3/5/29354/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/29354-h/images/001-1.jpg b/29354-h/images/001-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..354fda3 --- /dev/null +++ b/29354-h/images/001-1.jpg diff --git a/29354-h/images/001-2.jpg b/29354-h/images/001-2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..dc5333b --- /dev/null +++ b/29354-h/images/001-2.jpg diff --git a/29354.txt b/29354.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1d59b6f --- /dev/null +++ b/29354.txt @@ -0,0 +1,820 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of This One Problem, by M. C. Pease + +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: This One Problem + +Author: M. C. Pease + +Release Date: July 8, 2009 [EBook #29354] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THIS ONE PROBLEM *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + _Piracy in the past has acquired the gaudy technicolor of high + romance. In the present, piracy is as tawdry as tabloid headlines. + But piracy in the far future, when presented as vividly as in this + story, can be scary stuff._ + + + this + one + problem + + _by ... M. C. Pease_ + + + The shortest distance between two points may be + the long way around--and a path of dishonor may + well turn into the high road to virtue. + + +Marc Polder, Resident Comptroller of Torran, strolled idly down the +dusty littered path that passed for a street. In the half-light of the +pint-sized moon overhead the town looked almost romantic. One day, when +civilization had at last been brought to these Asteroid bases, memory +would make Torran heroic. But now, with the fact before the eyes, it was +merely dirty and squalid. Only the scum of the Solar System called it +home. + +Idly Marc Polder pushed a swinging door aside and entered what passed on +Torran for a restaurant. Pushing his way through the tables until he saw +his only aide, Female Personnel Manager Lee Treynor, he sat down. + +"What's new?" he asked. + +"Not a thing." But for a certain softness of voice and curve of +unmade-up lips, Lee could have passed for a boy. Her light hair was +short, she wore a man's coveralls. She added, "Only the usual murder, +arson and brigandage that you don't want to hear about." + +"Don't let such trifles get you down," said Marc with a crooked +half-smile. + +"I'm fed up," the girl said shortly. "I must have been still wet behind +the ears when I agreed to come out here two months ago. I thought I was +going to help establish a place where decent people could live and work. +So far I've just watched my boss swig Venerian swamp beer with the worst +elements in town, and do nothing about the lawlessness that runs riot +all over the place." + +"Look, lady," Marc answered gently, "I certainly admire those lofty +sentiments of yours. I admit they are maybe what ought to be. But the +way I see it they just don't fit the facts. Out here the Federation +space fleet is supposed to be the big stick. Only right now it's off +playing mumbly-peg with the Venerians. + +"The Big Wheels seem to think there'll be a shooting war in a couple of +months. There's only three or four destroyers left in the whole damn +Asteroid Belt. And without the big stick behind me I'm not hankering to +commit suicide by looking for trouble." + +Marc smiled again ruefully. "What I can do I try to do," he added with +sudden earnestness. "I figure the most important thing is to protect the +Asteroid Development Company so they can buy the nuclear ore the +Astrodites bring in. Without that ore the Federation's going to be in a +hell of a fix if it actually does come to war. And along with that +there's the matter of guarding the stuff the Navy's got stored here." He +waved toward the Navy warehouse that could be seen outside the window. + +"Listening to and fraternizing with the characters you call the biggest +crooks in town," the comptroller went on with a shrug, "I've a chance at +getting tipped off in advance to anything that may make trouble for our +interests. As long as I ignore their rackets they accept me in their +midst, talk freely with me around. And it's a hell of a lot easier to +stop something when you know the score beforehand." + +The young woman's lips parted as if she seemed about to say something. +Then they closed in a thin line. Obviously she was not happy with Marc +Polder's explanation. She was too young to be willing to compromise her +ideals, no matter how potent the logic of necessity. + +She was about to leave the table when the shrill screams of a distant +whistle sliced through the noise of the crowd. Voices broke off in +mid-sentence and bodies froze into immobility. As the siren's piercing +tones faded the restaurant's customers looked at one another in silent +terror. Then, as the shock wore off and unanswered questions were +beginning to fly, a man suddenly ran in through the revolving doors. + +"Raiders!" he gasped. "The listening gear's picked up a signal that's +not from any Astrodite or destroyer. Signal Corps figures it's a +pirate!" + +There was a mad rush for the doors and seconds later the place was empty +except for Marc Polder, still sitting calmly at the table drinking his +beer, and Lee Treynor who sat watching him. + +"What are you going to do?" she finally asked. + +"I don't know. What _can_ I do?" Marc said. + +"Good heavens!" the girl exploded. "Are you just going to sit there +guzzling beer while pirates take over the town?" She stared at him +incredulously. + +"What do you suggest I do?" the comptroller asked. "We haven't anything +to fight with. There's no way we can get help. As far as I can see +there's nothing we _can_ do--not yet anyway." He calmly lifted his +glass. + +"You mean we're just going to _sit_ here?" the girl gaped. + +"Sure. The others left to hide their money and valuables. I've got +nothing to hide." + +"What about that stuff the Navy has cached in their warehouse?" Lee +asked. "That new rocket fuel their destroyers use when they need a +little extra push. Isn't that worth hiding?" + +"The hyper-degenerate-thorium, you mean? I'd like to hide that +somewhere," Marc conceded. "But where do you hide ten tons of stuff in +five minutes? Besides, it wouldn't do the raiders any good. Too hot. +It'll burn out their jets. They'd go up like an A-bomb two minutes after +they threw it on. They know that. Only thing they could do with it is +sell it to Venus. Not that that would be bad. Shortage of H.D.T.'s may +be the chief reason why there's been no war started yet. But for now +there's nothing you and I can do." Calmly he lit a cigarette. + +"Of course," he went on, smiling, "we _could_ bum a ride out with some +of the company men. No doubt they're all hightailing it away from here +in their space-buggies." + +"I'm surprised," Lee said with a trace of sarcasm, "that you're not +doing just that, leaving me and the other women to the beasts!" + +Marc eyed her unblinkingly. "You know as well as I do that most of the +females on this asteroid take pirates in their stride. They might even +welcome a change of partners. As for you"--he paused--"you stick close +to me and keep your pretty mouth shut. I think we'll manage somehow." + +In silence they walked back to the comptroller's office. + +"Marc," Lee said as they entered, "what about the new radar? Maybe we +could get a message out with it, in code or something." + +"What?" Marc turned, astonished. "You want to play our only hole-card on +an off-chance like that? There aren't more than four or five people +here who even know it's been set up on the other side of the asteroid. +There's hardly a chance the raiders will find out about it. And you want +to blast the news at them!" He looked disgusted. + +The girl said stubbornly, "You can't just give up without a fight. And +that's our only weapon." + +"Look," Marc said grimly, "that's only a second-hand destroyer radar, so +it wouldn't carry far. No. I'm not going to use it on any such +harebrained scheme as that. And if you breathe a word about it I'll take +you apart." He added with a faint smile, "Not that _that_ wouldn't be a +pleasure." + +Looking at him she knew he meant the tender joke and the knowledge +helped her. + +"I think," Marc went on after a moment, "I'd better warn the boys over +on the radar project or they might accidentally start it up while the +raiders are here." He closed the door as he went into the inner office +to make the call. + +A moment later he emerged and studied the still angry girl through +half-closed eyes. She blushed under his scrutiny, said coldly, "What's +the matter? Afraid I'm not attractive enough for our visitors?" + +He grinned. "You could do with a mite of padding here and there. But I +was thinking the other way, as a matter of fact. It's a pity you don't +have a small mustache." + +"You don't have to insult me!" Lee cried bitterly. "I'm _glad_ I'm +thin!" + +"I'm not insulting you," Marc said mildly. "I even wish you were a bit +skinnier. It's the plump girls our guests are going to be looking at +first. Remember now--you stick right with me and keep your mouth shut, +d'you hear?" + +"I hear," she said shortly. But he could see the fear she was trying to +hide and he knew she was honestly frightened for the first time in her +adult life. She said, "What will they--be like?" + +"If it's John Mantor, and I suspect it is, they'll be rough," Marc +informed her. "He's a tough ex-pilot who got bounced off Space Patrol +and turned outlaw. He seems to hold a grudge against the whole human +race. If it's one of the others--it may be a lot worse." + +"I don't see why outlaws are allowed to exist at all," she said. + +Marc sighed, shook his head. "A lot of people have felt that way over a +lot of pirates over a lot of eras. But somehow they keep turning up." + +A few minutes later the space-scarred pirate ship had made a rocky +landing in the middle of the small spaceport and John Mantor, pirate +chief, drove up to the comptroller's office in a cloud of dust. He was +tall and dirty and thin and tough. "Which one of you is the +comptroller?" he demanded, as he faced Marc Polder and Lee Treynor. + +"I am," Marc said, not rising from behind the desk. + +"Then you're the guy responsible for any trouble here," Mantor said. "So +I'm going to tell you how to avoid trouble." His brutally scarred face +twisted into a grin. + +"There's a lot of loot around here. I'm not going to ask you where it +is. My boys can take care of that matter. But there's also the Navy +warehouse. Maybe we won't know what some of the stuff in there is for, +so you're going to tell us." + +Mantor leaned across the desk, his eyes as hard and cold as chips of +duratite. "And if you won't, there's going to be trouble and you'll be +it--you and your friend here." + +Marc sat impassively, meeting the hard-eyed gaze. "That warehouse is +government property," he said. "So far, there's only piracy against you. +But if you raid that building you're going to be the personal problem of +the Navy. If I were you I'd leave it alone." + +"You let me worry about that," said Mantor. + +"Besides," Marc went on, "I don't see what good the stuff in that +warehouse can be to you. There's little of cash value in there. And I +doubt if you can use any of the parts on your ship." + +"That could be," Mantor replied. "But on the other hand, maybe we can +find a market for certain items." He smiled coldly. Watching, Lee knew +he referred to Venus. She sat perfectly still, praying for him not to +notice her. + +Mantor spread his hands on the desk, a look of hatred and ferocity on +his face. "What I want to know is--are you or are you not going to +cooperate? And I want to know fast." + +"Don't get me wrong," Marc said softly. "I'm not telling you what to do +or what not to do. But that warehouse is the thing I'm here to protect. +And if I were to agree to help you, the Navy would be after me, too. So +I've got to say to hell with you." + +John Mantor rocked back on his heels, hooking his thumbs in his belt. A +slow smile spread over his face. "Okay," he said. "I think I get what +you mean. So I guess we got to work you over. And we'll do it where +there aren't any outside witnesses." + +Marc grinned back at him. + +Lee was puzzled. It took her a moment to realize that the grins sealed a +contract between the two men. Marc would cooperate if he were beaten up +enough first to satisfy a later investigation--but not too severely for +his own comfort! + +Lee found it difficult to hide her contempt. She stared at her hands, +clenched in her lap, and waited for Mantor to leave. + +The looting and destruction were well under way an hour later when a +couple of Mantor's men joined their chief, who stood with a somewhat +bruised Marc Polder and an unharmed but furious Lee Treynor. Between +them they carried a small, obviously heavy box. + +"You know what this stuff is, boss?" one of the men asked. "They got a +hundred or a hundred-fifty boxes like this in there." He nodded at the +Navy warehouse. + +They set the box down and Mantor flung back its lid. It was filled with +small grey pellets. Mantor picked up a handful and stood fingering them. + +"Looks like rocket fuel," he said. "Only I've never seen any this color. +And it's too heavy, also." He turned to the comptroller. "_You_ tell me +what it is." + +Marc shrugged. "I don't know. It's a Navy secret." + +Mantor's eyes glinted. Without warning his fist flew out, sent the +comptroller sprawling in the dust where he lay stunned. Lee's hands flew +to her mouth barely in time to suppress a cry. + +After a few moments Marc rolled over slowly and pushed himself painfully +to a sitting position. He looked up at Mantor who stood watching him +coldly, his fist flexing. + +The comptroller licked his lips and looked around at the several men who +stood watching, their faces impassive. "Okay," he said in a +none-too-steady voice. "I'll tell you. You'd find out anyway from the +files." + +"Cut the alibis and give," Mantor growled. + +"Keep your shirt on." Marc's voice indicated he was regaining control of +himself. "It's H.D.T.--Hyper-Degenerate-Thorium--the stuff the +destroyers use to get extra push." + +Mantor roared his glee. "Pack it aboard, boys--_all_ of it! And put it +where it will be handy, just in case." + +This was it, Lee thought as she stood by, watching--the final bitter +pill. Mantor had as much as told them he was working for Venus. And the +H.D.T. was all Venus needed to be ready for war--a war that might well +blast civilization from the Solar System. Strange that so much should +depend upon one man; tragic that the one man was a weakling. + +With an effort Lee forced herself to be fair. It might have done no good +to lie, she conceded. But anyone with even a normal amount of simple +courage would have tried. + +It was about two hours later when the siren went off again like a +banshee wailing to a low-hanging moon. Men came running from all +directions, shouting questions at the tops of their voices. + +A midget auto came skidding down the pirate ship's ramp, its driver +standing on the accelerator. The car knifed through the swirling crowd, +barely missing several people, and skidded to a dusty stop directly in +front of Mantor. + +"_Radar signal!_" the driver yelled. "The search receiver picked up a +signal that sounds like a destroyer's radar. It suddenly came in strong. +Probably sneaked up on us from behind that damn moon. It's coming in +fast and braking hard!" + +There was a mad scramble as the looters raced for their ship. +Heavy-handed horseplay was forgotten. They knew they were helpless +against a Navy destroyer. Their only hope lay in a fast getaway. Seconds +could easily spell the difference between safety and defeat. + +In less than ten minutes the ship's locks were sealed and they fired +off. As the flames roared out and the huge ship lifted swiftly it was +obvious that they were throwing on all the fuel their jets could take. + +Marc Polder had faded back into the crowd at the first sound of the +siren. As he stood watching the blastoff Lee joined him, hands in her +pockets, looking more than ever like a boy. + +"Maybe my idea of asking for help wasn't so far-fetched," she said +quietly. "Maybe the patrol might have been here in time. Maybe you +wouldn't have had to tell them about the H.D.T." + +"Maybe," Marc answered without turning his eyes from the dwindling point +of reddish light high in the dark sky. + +"And just by way of keeping the record straight," the girl went on in a +voice that began to rasp, "you know as well as I do that the files don't +list any H.D.T. It's under a code name." + +"Maybe," Marc replied in a noncommittal tone. + +The point of light in the sky suddenly turned blue. Lee was staring at +it too, now. And she knew also what the change of color meant. Mantor +had started to use the new fuel! + + * * * * * + +Suddenly there was a blinding flash. Lee cried out and staggered back, +covering her eyes. Marc, who had closed his eyes when the color change +came, took hold of the girl's arm. + +"I told you what would happen if they used the stuff," he said gently. +"It's too hot for their jet chambers. It melts the walls. A lot of gas +piles up in the tubes. The pressure pushes the fire back. And when it +gets shoved back into the recoil chamber and you lose the protective +layers of cold gas there--well, then you've got to look for your ship +with an ionization gauge! + +"I told you all that long ago. The trouble is, you're too idealistic, +Lee. That's not the same as _having ideals_. I admire ideals--I might +even confess to a few of my own. But _you_ don't stop to figure out just +what your ideals are--exactly what you're fighting for. + +"You come to a crisis like this one and you forget about the _big_ goal. +All you see is this one problem. And by giving them yes-or-no +answers--good or bad, brave or cowardly--to the problem of the +moment--you may miss a simple solution to the big one. + +"You've got to keep a cool head and never forget for even a moment +exactly what it is you want to accomplish." His voice was gentle, and it +held no rebuke. + +"All right," said Lee unhappily, "you win. You needn't bother to rub in +the salt. I was going to chase you through all the inquiry courts for +this. Instead, you got a lucky break, so I can't do a thing. You ought +to be tarred and feathered through every city of the Federation, but +because a destroyer happened to stumble in here at the right time you'll +end up a hero." Her voice caught in a sob. + +"Oh, the destroyer," Marc replied. "Ah, yes, that _was_ lucky, wasn't +it? The only hitch is--there wasn't any destroyer. Probably not one +within a million miles!" He laughed as Lee turned surprise-widened eyes +toward him. + +"What they thought was a destroyer was the radar system on the side of +the rock, bouncing a signal off the moon. I gave the radar boys the word +just before Mantor dropped in on us. The crew did a damned good job of +juggling the power and frequency and all." He grinned. "Remind me to buy +them a beer sometime." + +He laughed then at the girl's expression as it changed from bitter +disillusion to something akin to awe, close to hero-worship. + +"And this, by the way," Polder said, "is as good a time as any to tell +you that I'd like to see you look like a woman, for a change. How about +changing into a dress before we go into town. You know, I've never seen +you out of that uniform?" + +She hesitated, unsure of herself now. "That will take a little time," +she said doubtfully. + +He put hands on her slim shoulders, gave her a gentle shove toward her +quarters. "We've got time," he told her. "Lots of it. But I've been +waiting quite a while." + + + + +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 This One Problem, by M. C. Pease + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THIS ONE PROBLEM *** + +***** This file should be named 29354.txt or 29354.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/3/5/29354/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/29354.zip b/29354.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f82002b --- /dev/null +++ b/29354.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e47ab56 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #29354 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29354) |
