diff options
Diffstat (limited to '30476.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 30476.txt | 659 |
1 files changed, 659 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/30476.txt b/30476.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ed10802 --- /dev/null +++ b/30476.txt @@ -0,0 +1,659 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Zero Hour, by Alexander Blade + +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: Zero Hour + +Author: Alexander Blade + +Illustrator: Lloyd Rognan + +Release Date: November 14, 2009 [EBook #30476] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ZERO HOUR *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + ZERO HOUR + + _by + Alexander Blade_ + + + By accident Bobby discovered the rocket was + about to be shot to the Moon. Naturally he wanted + to go along. But could he smuggle himself aboard? + + + Illustrated by Lloyd Rognan + + +Dad had already gone when Bobby got up. This disappointed Bobby a little +but then he remembered--_this was the big day_. Naturally Dad would get +over to the project early. And at four o'clock-- Bobby shivered +deliciously at the thought of it. + +He ate his breakfast in silence with Mom across the table drinking a cup +of coffee and looking at a fashion catalogue. He was glad she was +occupied because he didn't want to talk; not today he didn't. Might +spill something secret. Might even let out the _big secret_. That would +be terrible. + +Of course, all things were secret at Buffalo Flats. So secret top +scientists like Dad didn't even discuss them with wives like Mom. And +wives like Mom never asked. + +So it was really something to sit there eating breakfast knowing that, +today, Dad was going to rocket to the Moon. And with Mom not even +knowing the Lunar project was in the works, so naturally not dreaming +that he was going _with_ Dad! The thrill was overpowering. + +Maybe they would have radio communication after they got there and he +would call back and say, _Hello, Mom! Guess where I am? On the moon with +Dad!_ And Mom would say, _Why, Bobby! Scaring me to death like this! I +was looking all over for you._ Sounding very angry but not being really +angry after all. Because maybe Dad would cut in and say, _Yeah, he's +right here with me, dear. What do you think of this boy of ours?_ + +Bobby gulped the last of his cereal so he could go outside and wriggle +for joy. As he got up from his chair, Mom said, "And what's your plan +for today, young man? Davy Crockett or Buck Rogers?" + +[Illustration] + +Bobby had a quick thought--a sudden temptation. Why not give Mom a hint? +Why he could even _tell_ her and she still wouldn't know. Then later, +after he was gone, she would remember back and say, _That boy! When he +tells you something he really means it._ + +Bobby smiled and said, "I think I'll go to the moon today." + +Mom smiled too and went back to her fashions. "Well, see to it your fuel +mixture is correct." + +"I'll check it. And Mom--I might not be home for lunch." + +"Where will you be?" + +"Oh, I don't know." + +"Well, mind your manners and say thank you when you leave." + +Mrs. Kendall, still smiling, watched Bobby dash out into the yard. +Living on a restricted government area had one compensation at least. +You didn't have to worry about your children. Four dozen families, all +with offspring, trapped behind ten-foot patrolled fence. Here, nobody +worried about their children. They came and went and at noon a mother +fed whatever number happened to be in the house at the time. Mrs. +Kendall usually drew six or seven. It would be a relief to dodge the +chore for one Saturday.... + + * * * * * + +Out in the backyard, Bobby fussed around his space rocket a little: +tightening a screw here--hammering in a nail there. Just until he could +slip away without Mom noticing his direction. + +It wasn't a bad rocket at that, he thought. Six feet long with two seats +and a keen instrument panel. But kid stuff of course. After he found the +way in through the sewer he hadn't paid any more attention to his own +ship. + +He could see Mom through the window, back in her book, so he went +casually out through the back gate and turned left, kicking at pebbles +as he sauntered along and trying to look as though he had no place to +go. Had to be careful. Didn't want to bump into any of the other kids +today, either. + +The way in through the sewer was at a place behind Laboratory B. There +was a kind of an alley there that nobody ever walked through and then +this round lid you could lift up and look under. And a ladder you could +climb down. + +Bobby hadn't dared go down at first. But, after thinking about it +overnight, his curiosity won out and he went back and ducked down +into the lower level. He called it a sewer because of sewers being +underground, but this place was clean and had bunches of wires strung +in every direction and faint little lights you could see by. + +Bobby went further and further every trip he took, never telling anybody +because you weren't supposed to talk about things at Buffalo Flats--not +even to the other kids. + +Then he found the big drome where they were building the rocket. It was +so sleek and beautiful and shiny that he just stared at it--up through +the grating in the floor that was for air circulation or something. + +He didn't know it was the moon rocket at first. Not until he'd gone back +several times to peek up at it and then one day two scientists came +walking along right in front of his nose. + +One of them was Dad. + +Bobby almost called out but he caught himself and just listened to them +talking. This was the first time his conscience bothered him about going +underneath the drome. He thought about it a lot--whether it was the +right thing to do. And while he was never able to still his conscience +completely, he quieted down by saying he really wasn't doing any harm +because he'd never told anybody what he saw. + +He learned the rocket was going to the moon by listening to Dad and the +other scientists talk when they thought they were alone. And it was +funny. Because even there, they spoke in low voices and didn't give too +much away. + +He had known now for three days that at four o'clock the roof would open +and the drome would be turned into a blast-pit and the rocket would +shoot out through space to the moon. + +That was all he _did_ know for sure. None of the men had said who was +going on the first trip to the moon. Nothing had been said on that +subject at all, but Bobby knew Dad would go. He would have to. After +all, Dad was the second biggest scientist at Buffalo Flats. Second only +to Schleimmer himself and Professor Schleimmer was very old and +certainly wouldn't make the trip. That left Dad. Dad would just have to +go in order to run the rocket. There probably wasn't anybody else smart +enough in the whole place. + +The idea of going himself had been born the previous day--when he found +a larger grating in the floor near the rocket and realized if he was +very careful he could climb out of the sewer and duck into the rocket +when nobody was looking. Once inside he was pretty sure he'd find a +place to hide until blast-off. + +All the men would probably be strapped in bunks but if he found a place +he could wedge himself in he didn't think he'd get hurt. Then, halfway +to the moon he would come out and find Dad and would he be surprised! + +At first, thinking about it, he'd been scared but after he realized how +proud Dad and Mom would be, he made up his mind. + +Now, crouched beside the grating near the ship, he waited while two +men--technicians in white overalls--walked by. + +One of them said, "Well, whatever happens, she'll make a big splash." + +"You said it. Hope the brains know what they're doing." + +That made Bobby mad. Who said Dad didn't know what he was doing? Dad was +just about the smartest scientist in the world. + +After the two men left he waited a long time. He heard voices but no one +came in sight. Taking a deep breath, he opened the grating and got out. +It was only four steps to the open port of the rocket. There was a +little ramp they'd used to roll things in and Bobby's feet touched it +but lightly as he jumped into the ship. He found himself in some kind of +a storeroom. It would be a good place to hide all right. It was full of +aluminum barrels all the same size. He found a space between two rows +and sat down and got his breath back. It was very quiet around him. +Scary quiet. But he set his lips firmly. + +He was going to the moon with Dad. + + * * * * * + +John Kendall was a little late that night. He kissed his wife and said, +"Well, did you see the big sky rocket?" + +"How could I miss it, darling? Your supper is in the oven." + +"I could use a Martini first." + +"Coming right up." + +While Myra fixed the drink John lay back in his easy chair and closed +his eyes. "We'd hoped to stage a little ceremony at the launching but +Washington said no." + +"The Russians?" + +"The Eastern Coalition. It was a race. That was why it had to be so +secret. Washington said, light the fuse and fire the thing." + +"Is it still hush-hush?" + +"No. Not between us at least. We fired an explosion rocket at the moon. +It will hit in about an hour and telescopes will show a big purple spot +when our explosives go off and throw dye all over the place." + +Myra handed him a dry Martini. "I see. Lots of fun no doubt but what's +the purpose? Fourth of July on the moon?" + +"Oh, no. If the experiment is a success the next rocket will carry men +instead of a bomb." + +Myra went to the kitchen to see about supper. John called, "Where's +Bobby? In bed I suppose." + +Myra didn't hear and John set his drink down and moved toward the +bedroom. Maybe he was still awake. + +Bobby rolled over. His eyes popped open. "Dad! I thought you went to--" + +John Kendall sat down on the edge of the bed and tousled his son's hair. +"No, son. It's the old _terra firma_ for me. Did you see the rocket +blast?" + +"Uh-huh. It was really something. It went to the moon, didn't it?" + +"That's right." Kendall smiled and thought. Try to keep a secret from +the kids. It just can't be done. "How's _your_ moon rocket coming along, +son?" + +"Pretty good. Gee, Dad! As long as you didn't go, I'm glad I didn't go +either." + +"You were planning to make the trip also?" + +"Uh-huh. I got into the rocket and was all set but I got to thinking +about Mom--how one of us should stay and take care of her in case +anything happened." + +"Smart thinking, son. Now you get to sleep. I'll have a little time +tomorrow. We'll play some ball." + +"That will be keen!" + +John Kendall smiled as he left the bedroom. Kids were wonderful! Give +them a few old boards and a steering wheel and they could build a ship +to fly to the moon. What a wonderful dream world they lived in! + +Too bad they had to grow out of it. + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from _Imagination_ April 1956. 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 Zero Hour, by Alexander Blade + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ZERO HOUR *** + +***** This file should be named 30476.txt or 30476.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/0/4/7/30476/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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 +https://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 https://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 +https://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 https://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 https://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 including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was 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: + + https://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. |