diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old/30437.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/30437.txt | 659 |
1 files changed, 659 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/old/30437.txt b/old/30437.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..021c64e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/30437.txt @@ -0,0 +1,659 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Larson's Luck, by Gerald Vance + +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: Larson's Luck + +Author: Gerald Vance + +Illustrator: Robert Fuqua + +Release Date: November 9, 2009 [EBook #30437] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LARSON'S LUCK *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +LARSON'S LUCK + +by GERALD VANCE + + + Larson couldn't possibly have known what was + going on in the engine room, yet he acted.... + + +[Illustration: There would be hell to pay; Larson was stunting again.] + +"We moor in ten minutes," I said. + +We were flying at reduced speed because of the heavy fog we had run into +at the outer fringe of Earth's atmosphere. But I knew we were within +forty or fifty miles of the Trans-Space base. I had counted the miles on +this particular trip because of the load of radium we were carrying from +the Venusian mines. I wouldn't draw a completely relieved breath until +we were down and the stuff was in the hands of the commerce agents. + +I eased my position slightly to relieve the pressure on my broken +flipper and grinned at the pilot, Lucky Larson, the screwiest, most +unpredictable void trotter who had ever flown for dear old Trans-Space. + +"You've been too good to be true this trip," I said, "and it's a good +thing. The chief told me that if you so much as _thought_ about clowning +around or stunting he was going to clip your wings for good." + +Lucky grinned, an impish, devil-may-care grin that lightened up his +freckled face and bunched the tiny wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. +Then with characteristic abruptness he scowled. + +"That grandmother," he said disgustedly. "Who does he think I am, +anyway? Some crazy irresponsible madman who hasn't got enough brains to +stay on a space beam?" + +"That's just what he does think," I grinned, "and you've given him +plenty of reason to think it. You can't bring your crate in to the base +without stunting around and showing off and risking your damn neck. +That's why he sent me along with you this trip. Just to see that you +act like a pilot--instead of circus acrobat." + +"A lot of good you'd do," Lucky mumbled. "You got a broken arm. The only +reason he sent you is because he didn't want to pay you while you was in +the hospital so he cooks up this trip to get his money out of you. And +say," he turned to me belligerently, "when did I ever crack up a ship? +When did I ever even dent one of the babies?" + +"You haven't," I was forced to admit, "but that's just because of that +screwy luck of yours. But it won't last forever and one of these days +it's going to run out just when you need it. So just remember--no +stunting this trip or you'll be out of the strata for the rest of your +natural life." + +"Aw, that's the trouble with this racket," Lucky grumbled, "a guy can't +have no fun no more. Back when I was with the Space circus--" + +"Okay, okay," I cut in, "I've heard that before. Just fly your ship, +now, and forget about the deep dark plot of the company to take all the +joy out of your life. I'm going to take a look-see at the atomic floats +and get the passengers bundled together." + +I stood up and crawled over him and opened the door leading to the body +of the ship. I could still hear him grumbling as I slid the light +chrome-alloy door shut. I chuckled to myself and headed up the aisle to +the baggage compartments. Lucky Larson was a legend as space pilots go. +An unpredictable, erratic screwball but one of the finest rocket riders +who ever flashed through the void. + +Company regulations and interplanetary commissions were the bane of his +existence. He made his own rules and regulations and got by with it. +That is he _had_ gotten by with it. Now they were cracking down on him. +He had been grounded twice and the chief had threatened to set him down +for life if any more infractions were charged to him. I shook my head +gloomily. He was a great guy, the last of a great and gallant army of +space adventurers, but he was on the way out. The rules were necessary, +vital to safe space travel and the Lucky Larsons would have to live up +to them, or else. + + * * * * * + +My mind was a long way away from the cabin of the space ship and maybe +that's why I got what I did. I didn't see it coming. One minute I was +walking through the aisle, thinking about Lucky Larson and the next +second something slammed into the back of my head knocking me to my +knees. + +Through a haze of red and white lights I heard a voice bark, "Toss him +into a chair and grab that good arm of his." + +I wasn't out. Just damn sick. Something like a cold hand seemed to have +closed over my stomach and for an awful moment I gagged and tried to +retch. But the moment passed and I forced open my eyes and focused them +on two tough-looking, hard-eyed gents who stood in front of me. Another +unpleasant-looking little man knelt along side of me, twisting my good +arm behind my back. + +"Okay," I gritted, "what's the gag?" + +The tallest of the three, evidently their leader, smiled at me. "It's no +gag," he murmured calmly, "we happen to need the radium you're carrying. +We're going to take it. Any objections?" + +"You'll never get away with this," I snapped, "your names and +descriptions are registered with the passenger office. You'll be tracked +down in twenty-four hours." + +I was bluffing, of course, and I knew from their contemptuous smiles +that they knew it, too. They probably had given fictitious names, and +the descriptive information which the bureau required consisted of a few +generalities, such as height, weight and the like. I cursed myself for a +stupid, careless fool. The three men had been the only passengers from +Venus and they had kept to themselves the entire trip. Once or twice I +had wondered at their reticence and quietness but I had not been +suspicious enough to make a check-up. + +One of the men laughed shortly. "Let us worry about that. We've covered +every angle that could possibly come up. With the help of your friend up +front, this ship will be flown to a certain deserted asteroid where a +few friends of _ours_ are to meet us with another ship. How you come out +afterward will depend on how you co-operate now. Clear enough?" + +It was clear enough all right. Lucky and I wouldn't last long after we +served our purpose. + +The tall man turned from me and nodded significantly to the man standing +next to him and then pointed to the closed door to the pilot's chambers. + +"Take care of the pilot," he murmured, "and tell him if he isn't +obliging we'll take the cast off his friend's arm and--" he smiled at +me, "massage it a bit." + +I felt a cold sweat break out on my forehead. + +The thug grinned wolfishly at me and then winked at his leader. "I'll +tell him, boss." He dug his hand into his pocket and drew out a stubby +atomic pistol. "If he won't listen to me maybe this'll persuade him." + +Still grinning he turned and headed up the aisle, the gun clenched in +his huge fist. + + * * * * * + +I glanced at the tall figure standing in front of me and saw that he was +watching the retreating figure of his henchman with a saturnine smile on +his face. I thought swiftly. If I could yell a warning to Lucky, he +could bolt the door of the pilot's chamber and then set the ship down at +the Trans-Space base. It was the only way to save Lucky and the radium. +I wasn't very optimistic about my own chances. I knew they were zero. + +I opened my mouth, took a deep breath and then, before I could scream +the words that would warn Lucky, it happened. The ship shuddered for an +instant and then zoomed upward, the smooth hum of the rocket motors +crescendoing to a roaring song of power and speed. + +The sudden jolting acceleration hurled me to the tail of the ship and I +saw, like an image in a kaleidoscope, the tangled thrashing figures of +the space bandits as they were tossed to the floor, a dazedly struggling +mass of arms and legs. + +The ship was lying over on its back in a few seconds, and before I could +catch a breath it suddenly whipped over and blasted toward Earth in a +screeching, hissing power-dive. + +It was terrific punishment even for this type of space crate but it was +worse for human beings. The three bandits were clutching at their +stomachs as if they were afraid of losing them. Their faces were mottled +and blotchy and their eyes were rolling beseechingly. + +I didn't mind the erratic convolutions the ship was making but my arm +was burning as if it were on fire. Numbing waves of pain were coursing +up and down my entire body. + +I tried to crawl to my knees but the floor rolled under me as the ship +whipped over in a twisting spiral and I crashed forward on my face. Then +everything dissolved into inky blackness.... + + * * * * * + +When I came to, I heard a great commotion, then a sudden shot and then a +babble of voices booming around me. I remember thinking fleetingly of +crooks, Lucky Larson and a mountain of radium and then--because nothing +made sense--I passed out again. + + * * * * * + +The next time I opened my eyes I found myself stretched out on a cot in +the chief's office. I turned my head slightly and saw Lucky Larson, the +chief and a half dozen other guys staring down at me. + +"It's not very original," I said, "but where the hell am I?" That was +silly of me because I knew where I was, so I said: "Never mind that but +please tell me what the hell happened?" + +The chief laughed and Lucky Larson laughed and then they slapped each +other on the back. "Don't worry about a thing," the chief said, "those +crooks are under lock and key and there's not a thing to worry about." + +"But how--I mean what...?" My voice trailed off. Nothing made sense. + +"Well," the chief broke in, "Lucky here really deserves the credit for +catching them. And I'm not forgetting your good work either. Both of you +will receive more tangible evidence of my appreciation. But Lucky really +did the brainwork." + +"Awww," Lucky mumbled, "it wasn't much. Just a little common sense and, +uh, a little luck." + +"It was damn fast thinking," the chief cut in belligerently, "you knew +your stunting over the base would drive me crazy. You knew I'd get so +mad I'd call out the base police and have you thrown in when you moored. +And when you did moor and the crooks toppled out we were right on hand +to receive them. They were so weak from the shaking up you gave them +that they didn't have a chance." + +Lucky rolled innocent eyes to the ceiling. "Sometimes," he remarked +piously, "stunting has its uses." + +"Congratulations," I said weakly. "You certainly used your head. Caught +the chief's attention with your stunting and almost knocked the crooks +out with it too. That's killing two birds with one stone, all right." +Then another thought occurred to me. + +"How did you know I was in trouble?" I asked curiously. "How did you +know we had those crooks on board?" + +"Why--why," Lucky sputtered, "that was simple. I just happened to look +behind me and I saw those boys piling into you. So I did a little fast +thinking and then I whipped the ship into a few maneuvers and, like the +chief says, they caught his eye all right." + +The chief was beaming fondly and I turned my head to hide the smile on +my lips. "So you just looked behind you," I muttered. "Well, Lucky, you +certainly are--and were." + +He grinned down at me and winked. "You said it, kid." + +I wanted to ask him a question then, but I decided to wait until we were +alone. I closed my eyes and smiled again, thinking of his expression +when I would ask him how he had been able to look behind him and see me +struggling with those crooks, _when the door of the pilot's chamber was +closed all the time_.... + + +THE END + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from _Amazing Stories_ January 1943. + 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 Larson's Luck, by Gerald Vance + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LARSON'S LUCK *** + +***** This file should be named 30437.txt or 30437.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/4/3/30437/ + +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. |