diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:56:48 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:56:48 -0700 |
| commit | fcb88a83ecdbf7f12e56bcc29b97e3e3e21db7ba (patch) | |
| tree | d51bbc26f37cdacc5c21020760bbc4256a35b31c | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31981-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 108040 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31981-h/31981-h.htm | 893 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31981-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 33446 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31981-h/images/image_001.jpg | bin | 0 -> 42283 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31981-h/images/image_a.jpg | bin | 0 -> 1568 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31981-h/images/image_h1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 4279 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31981-h/images/image_i.jpg | bin | 0 -> 4268 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31981-h/images/image_t.jpg | bin | 0 -> 4639 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31981-h/images/image_x.jpg | bin | 0 -> 5000 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31981.txt | 802 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31981.zip | bin | 0 -> 15393 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
14 files changed, 1711 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/31981-h.zip b/31981-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f4c5569 --- /dev/null +++ b/31981-h.zip diff --git a/31981-h/31981-h.htm b/31981-h/31981-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..df0c527 --- /dev/null +++ b/31981-h/31981-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,893 @@ +<!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 The Eel, by Miriam Allen deFord + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; background-color: #FFFFFF; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +.tr {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; margin-top: 5%; margin-bottom: 5%; padding: 2em; background-color: #f6f2f2; color: black; border: dotted black 1px;} + +.img1 {border:solid 1px; } + +.p1 { margin-left: 70%; } + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + +.center {text-align: center;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-right: 0.25em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +/* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Eel, by Miriam Allen DeFord + +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: The Eel + +Author: Miriam Allen DeFord + +Illustrator: Dillon + +Release Date: April 14, 2010 [EBook #31981] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EEL *** + + + + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="tr"><p class="center">Transcriber's Note:</p> +<p class="center">This etext was produced from Galaxy Science Fiction April 1958. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.</p></div> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img class="img1" src="images/cover.jpg" width="400" height="549" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<p> </p> +<h1>the eel</h1> +<p> </p> +<h2>BY MIRIAM ALLEN DeFORD</h2> +<p> </p> +<h3>Illustrated by DILLON</h3> +<p> </p> +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>The punishment had to fit more than just the crime—it had +to suit every world in the Galaxy!</i></p></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_h1.jpg" alt="H" width="50" height="50" /></div> +<p>e was intimately and unfavorably known everywhere in the Galaxy, but +with special virulence on eight planets in three different solar +systems. He was eagerly sought on each; they all wanted to try him and +punish him—in each case, by their own laws and customs. This had been +going on for 26 terrestrial years, which means from minus ten to plus +280 in some of the others. The only place that didn't want him was +Earth, his native planet, where he was too smart to operate—but, of +course, the Galactic Police were looking for him there too, to deliver +him to the authorities of the other planets in accordance with the +Interplanetary Constitution.</p> + +<p>For all of those years, The Eel (which was his Earth monicker; +elsewhere, he was known by names indicating equally squirmy and slimy +life-forms) had been gayly going his way, known under a dozen +different aliases, turning up suddenly here, there, everywhere, +committing his gigantic depredations, and disappearing as quickly and +silently when his latest enterprise had succeeded. He specialized in +enormous, unprecedented thefts. It was said that he despised stealing +anything under the value of 100 million terrestrial units, and most of +his thefts were much larger than that.</p> + +<p>He had no recognizable <i>modus operandi</i>, changing his methods with +each new crime. He never left a clue. But, in bravado, he signed his +name to every job: his monicker flattered him, and after each +malefaction the victim—usually a government agency, a giant +corporation, or one of the clan enterprises of the smaller +planets—would receive a message consisting merely of the impudent +depiction of a large wriggling eel.</p> + +<p>They got him at last, of course. The Galactic Police, like the +prehistoric Royal Canadian Mounted, have the reputation of always +catching their man. (Sometimes they don't catch him till he's dead, +but they catch him.) It took them 26 years, and it was a hard job, for +The Eel always worked alone and never talked afterward.</p> + +<p>They did it by the herculean labor of investigating the source of the +fortune of every inhabitant of Earth, since all that was known was +that The Eel was a terrestrial. Every computer in the Federation +worked overtime analyzing the data fed into it. It wasn't entirely a +thankless task, for, as a by-product, a lot of embezzlers, tax evaders +and lesser robbers were turned up.</p> + +<p>In the end, it narrowed down to one man who owned more than he could +account for having. Even so, they almost lost him, for his takings +were cached away under so many pseudonyms that it took several months +just to establish that they all belonged to the same person. When that +was settled, the police swooped. The Eel surrendered quietly; the one +thing he had been surest of was never being apprehended, and he was so +dumfounded he was unable to put up any resistance.</p> + +<p>And then came the still greater question: which of the planets was to +have him?</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_x.jpg" alt="X" width="38" height="40" /></div> +<p>ystil said it had the first right because his theft there had been +the largest—a sum so huge, it could be expressed only by an algebraic +index. Artha's argument was that his first recorded crime had been on +that planet. Medoris wanted him because its only penalty for any +felony is an immediate and rather horrible death, and that would +guarantee getting rid of The Eel forever.</p> + +<p>Ceres put in a claim on the ground that it was the only planet or moon +in the Sol System in which he had operated, and since he was a +terrestrial, it was a matter for local jurisdiction. Eb pleaded that +it was the newest and poorest member of the Galactic Federation, and +should have been protected in its inexperience against his +thievishness.</p> + +<p>Ha-Almirath argued that it had earned his custody because it was its +Chief Ruler who had suggested to the police the method which had +resulted in his arrest. Vavinour countered that it should be the +chosen recipient, since the theft there had included desecration of +the High Temple.</p> + +<p>Little Agsk, which was only a probationary Galactic Associate, +modestly said that if it were given The Eel, its prompt and exemplary +punishment might qualify it for full membership, and it would be +grateful for the chance.</p> + +<p>A special meeting of the Galactic Council had to be called for the +sole purpose of deciding who got The Eel.</p> + +<p>Representatives of all the claimant planets made their +representations. Each told in eloquent detail why his planet and his +alone was entitled to custody of the arch-criminal, and what they +would do to him when—not if—they got him. After they had all been +heard, the councilors went into executive session, with press and +public barred. An indiscreet councilor (it was O-Al of Phlagon of +Altair, if you want to know) leaked later some of the rather +indecorous proceedings.</p> + +<p>The Earth councilor, he reported, had been granted a voice but no +vote, since Earth was not an interested party as to the crime, but +only as to the criminal. Every possible system of arbitration had been +discussed—chronological, numerical in respect to the size of the +theft, legalistic in respect to whether the culprit would be available +to hand on to another victim when the first had got through punishing +him.</p> + +<p>In the welter of claims and counterclaims, one harassed councilor +wearily suggested a lottery. Another in desperation recommended +handing The Eel a list of prospective punishments on each of the eight +planets and observing which one seemed to inspire him with most +dread—which would then be the one selected. One even proposed +poisoning him and announcing his sudden collapse and death.</p> + +<p>The sessions went on day and night; the exhausted councilors separated +for brief periods of sleep, then went at it again. A hung jury was +unthinkable; something had to be decided. The news outlets of the +entire Galaxy were beginning to issue sarcastic editorials about +procrastination and coddling criminals, with hints about bribery and +corruption, and remarks that perhaps what was needed was a few +impeachments and a new general election.</p> + +<p>So at last, in utter despair, they awarded The Eel to Agsk, as a sort +of bonus and incentive. Whichever planet they named, the other seven +were going to scream to high heaven, and Agsk was least likely to be +able to retaliate against any expressions of indignation.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_a.jpg" alt="A" width="37" height="40" /></div> +<p>gskians, as everyone knows, are fairly humanoid beings, primitives +from the outer edge of the Galaxy. They were like college freshmen +invited to a senior fraternity. This was their Big Chance to Make +Good.</p> + +<p>The Eel, taciturn as ever, was delivered to a delegation of six of +them sent to meet him in one of their lumbering spaceships, a low +countergrav machine such as Earth had outgrown several millennia +before. They were so afraid of losing him that they put a metal belt +around him with six chains attached to it, and fastened all six of +themselves to him. Once on Agsk, he was placed in a specially made +stone pit, surrounded by guards, and fed through the only opening.</p> + +<p>In preparation for the influx of visitors to the trial, an anticipated +greater assembly of off-planeters than little Agsk had ever seen, they +evacuated their capital city temporarily, resettling all its citizens +except those needed to serve and care for the guests, and remodeled +the biggest houses for the accommodation of those who had peculiar +space, shape, or other requirements.</p> + +<p>Never since the Galactic Federation was founded had so many beings, +human, humanoid, semi-humanoid and non-humanoid, gathered at the same +time on any one member-planet. Every newstape, tridimens, audio and +all other varieties of information services—even including the drum +amplifiers of Medoris and the ray-variants of Eb—applied for and were +granted a place in the courtroom. This, because no other edifice was +large enough, was an immense stone amphitheater usually devoted to +rather curious games with animals; since it rains on Agsk only for two +specified hours on every one of their days, no roof was needed. At +every seat, there was a translatophone, with interpreters ready in +plastic cages to translate the Intergalactic in which the trial was +conducted into even the clicks and hisses of Jorg and the eye-flashes +of Omonro.</p> + +<p>And in the midst of all this, the cause and purpose of it all, sat the +legendary Eel.</p> + +<p>Seen at last, he was hardly an impressive figure. Time had been going +on and The Eel was in his fifties, bald and a trifle paunchy. He was +completely ordinary in appearance, a circumstance which had, of +course, enabled him to pass unobserved on so many planets; he looked +like a salesman or a minor official, and had indeed been so taken by +the unnoticing inhabitants of innumerable planets.</p> + +<p>People had wondered, when word came of some new outrage by this +master-thief, if perhaps he had disguised himself as a resident of the +scene of each fresh crime, but now it was obvious that this had not +been necessary. He had been too clever to pick any planet where +visitors from Earth were not a common sight, and he had been too +insignificant for anyone to pay attention to him.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="36" height="40" /></div> +<p>he criminal code of Agsk is unique in the Galaxy, though there are +rumors of something similar among a legendary extinct tribe on Earth +called the Guanches. The high priest is also the chief executive (as +well as the minister of education and head of the medical faculty), +and he rules jointly with a priestess who also officiates as chief +judge.</p> + +<p>The Agskians have some strange ideas to a terrestrial eye—for +example, suicide is an honor, and anyone of insufficient rank who +commits it condemns his immediate family to punishment for his +presumption. They are great family people, in general. Also, they +never lie, and find it hard to realize that other beings do.</p> + +<p>Murder, to them, is merely a matter for negotiation between the +murderer and the relatives of the victim, provided it is open and +without deceit. But grand larceny, since property is the foundation of +the family, is punished in a way that shows that the Agskians, though +technologically primitive, are psychologically very advanced.</p> + +<p>They reason that death, because it comes inevitably to all, is the +least of misfortunes. Lasting grief, remorse and guilt are the +greatest. So they let the thief live and do not even imprison him.</p> + +<p>Instead, they find out who it is that the criminal most loves. If they +do not know who it is, they merely ask him, and since Agskians never +lie, he always tells them. Then they seize that person, and kill him +or her, slowly and painfully, before the thief's eyes.</p> + +<p>And the agreement had been that The Eel was to be tried and punished +by the laws and customs of the planet to which he was awarded.</p> + +<p>The actual trial and conviction of The Eel were almost perfunctory. +Without needing to resort to torture, his jailers had been presented, +on a platter as it were, with a full confession—so far as the +particular robbery he had committed on Agsk was concerned. There is a +provision for defense in the Agskian code, but it was unneeded because +The Eel had pleaded guilty.</p> + +<p>But he knew very well he would not be executed by the Agskians; he +would instead be set free (presumably with a broken heart) to be +handed over to the next claimant—and that, the Council had decided, +would be Medoris. Since Medoris always kills its criminals, that would +end the whole controversy.</p> + +<p>So the Eel was quite aware that his conviction by Agsk would be only +the preliminary to an exquisitely painful and lingering demise at the +two-clawed hands of the Medorans. His business was somehow to get out +from under.</p> + +<p>Naturally, the resources of the Galactic Police had been at the full +disposal of the officials of Agsk.</p> + +<p>The files had been opened, and the Agskians had before them The Eel's +history back to the day of his birth. He himself had been questioned, +encelographed, hypnotized, dormitized, injected, psychographed, +subjected to all the means of eliciting information devised by all +eight planets—for the other seven, once their first resentment was +over, had reconciled themselves and cooperated whole-heartedly with +Agsk.</p> + +<p>Medoris especially had been of the greatest help. The Medorans could +hardly wait.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_i.jpg" alt="I" width="19" height="40" /></div> +<p>n the spate of news of the trial that inundated every portion of the +Galaxy, there began to be discovered a note of sympathy for this one +little creature arrayed against the mightiest powers of the Galaxy. +Poor people who wished they had his nerve, and romantic people who +dreamed of adventures they would never dare perform, began to say that +The Eel wasn't so bad, after all; he became a symbol of the rebellious +individual thumbing his nose at entrenched authority. Students of +Earth prehistory will recognize such symbols in the mythical Robin +Hood and Al Capone.</p> + +<p>These were the people who were glad to put up when bets began to be +made. At first the odds were ten to one against The Eel; then, as time +dragged by, they dropped until it was even money.</p> + +<p>Agsk itself began to be worried. It was one thing to make a big, +expensive splurge to impress the Galaxy and to hasten its acceptance +into full membership in the Federation, but nobody had expected the +show to last more than a few days. If it kept on much longer, Agsk +would be bankrupt.</p> + +<p>For the trial had foundered on one insoluble problem: the only way The +Eel could ever be punished by their laws was to kill the person he +most loved—and nobody could discover that he had ever loved anybody.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/image_001.jpg" width="400" height="571" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>His mother? His father? He had been an undutiful and unaffectionate +son, and his parents were long since dead in any case. He had never +had a brother, a sister, a wife or a child. No probing could find any +woman with whom he had ever been in love. He had never had an intimate +friend.</p> + +<p>He did nothing to help, naturally. He simply sat in his chains and +smiled and waited. He was perfectly willing to be escorted from the +court every evening, relieved of his fetters and placed in his pit. It +was a much pleasanter existence than being executed inch by inch by +the Medorans. For all he cared, the Agskians could go on spending +their planetary income until he finally died of old age.</p> + +<p>The priestess-judge and her co-adjutors wore themselves out in +discussions far into the night. They lost up to 15 pounds apiece, +which on Agsk, where the average weight of adults is about 40, was +serious. It began to look as if The Eel's judges would predecease him.</p> + +<p><i>Whom</i> did The Eel love? They went into minutiae and subterfuges. He +had never had a pet to which he was devoted. He had never even loved a +house which could be razed. He could not be said to have loved the +immense fortune he had stolen, for he had concealed his wealth and +used little of it, and in any event it had all been confiscated and, +so far as possible, restored proportionately to those he had robbed.</p> + +<p>What he had loved most, doubtless, was his prowess in stealing +unimaginable sums and getting away with it—but there is no way of +"killing" a criminal technique.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_a.jpg" alt="A" width="37" height="40" /></div> +<p>lmost a year had passed. Agsk was beginning to wish The Eel had never +been caught, or that they had never been awarded the glory of trying +him.</p> + +<p>At last the priestess-judge, in utter despair, took off her judge's +robes, put on the cassock and surplice of her sacred calling, and laid +the problem before the most unapproachable and august of the gods of +Agsk.</p> + +<p>The trial was suspended while she lay for three days in a trance on +the high altar. She emerged weak and tottering, her skin light blue +instead of its healthy purple, but her head high and her mouth curved +in triumph.</p> + +<p>At sight of her, renewed excitement surged through the audience. +News-gatherers, who had been finding it difficult of late to get +anything to report, rushed to their instruments.</p> + +<p>"Remove the defendant's chains and set him free," the priestess-judge +ordered in ringing tones. "The Great God of the Unspeakable Name has +revealed to me whom the defendant most loves. As soon as he is freed, +seize him and slay him. For the only being he loves is—himself."</p> + +<p>There was an instant's silence, and then a roar. The Medorans howled +in frustration.</p> + +<p>But The Eel, still guarded but unchained, stood up and laughed aloud.</p> + +<p>"Your Great God is a fool!" he said blasphemously. "I deny that I love +myself. I care nothing for myself at all."</p> + +<p>The priestess-judge sighed. "Since this is your sworn denial, it must +be true," she said. "So then we cannot kill you. Instead, we grant +that you do indeed love no one. Therefore you are a creature so far +outside our comprehension that you cannot come under our laws, no +matter how you have broken them. We shall notify the Federation that +we abandon our jurisdiction and hand you over to our sister-planet +which is next in line to judge you."</p> + +<p>Then all the viewers on tridimens on countless planets saw something +that nobody had ever thought to see—The Eel's armor of +self-confidence cracked and terror poured through the gap.</p> + +<p>He dropped to his knees and cried: "Wait! Wait! I confess that I +blasphemed your god, but without realizing that I did!"</p> + +<p>"You mean," pressed the priestess-judge, "you acknowledge that you +yourself are the only being dear to you?"</p> + +<p>"No, not that, either. Until now, I have never known love. But now it +has come upon me like a nova and I must speak the truth." He paused, +still on his knees, and looked piteously at the priestess-judge. +"Are—are you bound by your law to—to believe me and to kill, instead +of me, this—this being I adore?"</p> + +<p>"We are so bound," she stated.</p> + +<p>"Then," said The Eel, smiling and confident again, rising to his feet, +"before all the Galaxy, I must declare the object of my sudden but +everlasting passion. Great lady, it is you!"</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="36" height="40" /></div> +<p>he Eel is still in his pit, which has been made most comfortable by +his sympathizers, while the Council of the Galactic Federation seeks +feverishly and vainly, year after year, to find some legal way out of +the impasse.</p> + +<p>Agsk, however, requests all Federation citizens to submit solutions, +the grand prize for a workable answer being a lifetime term as +president of the planet. A secondary contest (prize: lifetime +ambassadorship to the Galactic Federation) is offered for a legal way +around the statute barring criminals (specifically The Eel) from +entering the primary contest.</p> + +<p class="p1">—<b>MIRIAM ALLEN DeFORD</b></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Eel, by Miriam Allen DeFord + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EEL *** + +***** This file should be named 31981-h.htm or 31981-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/9/8/31981/ + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, 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/31981-h/images/cover.jpg b/31981-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b72ce69 --- /dev/null +++ b/31981-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/31981-h/images/image_001.jpg b/31981-h/images/image_001.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5b2d783 --- /dev/null +++ b/31981-h/images/image_001.jpg diff --git a/31981-h/images/image_a.jpg b/31981-h/images/image_a.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8b9adc1 --- /dev/null +++ b/31981-h/images/image_a.jpg diff --git a/31981-h/images/image_h1.jpg b/31981-h/images/image_h1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6e1d392 --- /dev/null +++ b/31981-h/images/image_h1.jpg diff --git a/31981-h/images/image_i.jpg b/31981-h/images/image_i.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8f20023 --- /dev/null +++ b/31981-h/images/image_i.jpg diff --git a/31981-h/images/image_t.jpg b/31981-h/images/image_t.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f842a67 --- /dev/null +++ b/31981-h/images/image_t.jpg diff --git a/31981-h/images/image_x.jpg b/31981-h/images/image_x.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e2107e7 --- /dev/null +++ b/31981-h/images/image_x.jpg diff --git a/31981.txt b/31981.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7800166 --- /dev/null +++ b/31981.txt @@ -0,0 +1,802 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Eel, by Miriam Allen DeFord + +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: The Eel + +Author: Miriam Allen DeFord + +Illustrator: Dillon + +Release Date: April 14, 2010 [EBook #31981] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EEL *** + + + + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from Galaxy Science Fiction April 1958. + Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. + copyright on this publication was renewed. + + + the eel + + + BY MIRIAM ALLEN DeFORD + + + Illustrated by DILLON + + + _The punishment had to fit more than just the crime--it had + to suit every world in the Galaxy!_ + + * * * * * + + + + +He was intimately and unfavorably known everywhere in the Galaxy, but +with special virulence on eight planets in three different solar +systems. He was eagerly sought on each; they all wanted to try him and +punish him--in each case, by their own laws and customs. This had been +going on for 26 terrestrial years, which means from minus ten to plus +280 in some of the others. The only place that didn't want him was +Earth, his native planet, where he was too smart to operate--but, of +course, the Galactic Police were looking for him there too, to deliver +him to the authorities of the other planets in accordance with the +Interplanetary Constitution. + +For all of those years, The Eel (which was his Earth monicker; +elsewhere, he was known by names indicating equally squirmy and slimy +life-forms) had been gayly going his way, known under a dozen +different aliases, turning up suddenly here, there, everywhere, +committing his gigantic depredations, and disappearing as quickly and +silently when his latest enterprise had succeeded. He specialized in +enormous, unprecedented thefts. It was said that he despised stealing +anything under the value of 100 million terrestrial units, and most of +his thefts were much larger than that. + +He had no recognizable _modus operandi_, changing his methods with +each new crime. He never left a clue. But, in bravado, he signed his +name to every job: his monicker flattered him, and after each +malefaction the victim--usually a government agency, a giant +corporation, or one of the clan enterprises of the smaller +planets--would receive a message consisting merely of the impudent +depiction of a large wriggling eel. + +They got him at last, of course. The Galactic Police, like the +prehistoric Royal Canadian Mounted, have the reputation of always +catching their man. (Sometimes they don't catch him till he's dead, +but they catch him.) It took them 26 years, and it was a hard job, for +The Eel always worked alone and never talked afterward. + +They did it by the herculean labor of investigating the source of the +fortune of every inhabitant of Earth, since all that was known was +that The Eel was a terrestrial. Every computer in the Federation +worked overtime analyzing the data fed into it. It wasn't entirely a +thankless task, for, as a by-product, a lot of embezzlers, tax evaders +and lesser robbers were turned up. + +In the end, it narrowed down to one man who owned more than he could +account for having. Even so, they almost lost him, for his takings +were cached away under so many pseudonyms that it took several months +just to establish that they all belonged to the same person. When that +was settled, the police swooped. The Eel surrendered quietly; the one +thing he had been surest of was never being apprehended, and he was so +dumfounded he was unable to put up any resistance. + +And then came the still greater question: which of the planets was to +have him? + + * * * * * + +Xystil said it had the first right because his theft there had been +the largest--a sum so huge, it could be expressed only by an algebraic +index. Artha's argument was that his first recorded crime had been on +that planet. Medoris wanted him because its only penalty for any +felony is an immediate and rather horrible death, and that would +guarantee getting rid of The Eel forever. + +Ceres put in a claim on the ground that it was the only planet or moon +in the Sol System in which he had operated, and since he was a +terrestrial, it was a matter for local jurisdiction. Eb pleaded that +it was the newest and poorest member of the Galactic Federation, and +should have been protected in its inexperience against his +thievishness. + +Ha-Almirath argued that it had earned his custody because it was its +Chief Ruler who had suggested to the police the method which had +resulted in his arrest. Vavinour countered that it should be the +chosen recipient, since the theft there had included desecration of +the High Temple. + +Little Agsk, which was only a probationary Galactic Associate, +modestly said that if it were given The Eel, its prompt and exemplary +punishment might qualify it for full membership, and it would be +grateful for the chance. + +A special meeting of the Galactic Council had to be called for the +sole purpose of deciding who got The Eel. + +Representatives of all the claimant planets made their +representations. Each told in eloquent detail why his planet and his +alone was entitled to custody of the arch-criminal, and what they +would do to him when--not if--they got him. After they had all been +heard, the councilors went into executive session, with press and +public barred. An indiscreet councilor (it was O-Al of Phlagon of +Altair, if you want to know) leaked later some of the rather +indecorous proceedings. + +The Earth councilor, he reported, had been granted a voice but no +vote, since Earth was not an interested party as to the crime, but +only as to the criminal. Every possible system of arbitration had been +discussed--chronological, numerical in respect to the size of the +theft, legalistic in respect to whether the culprit would be available +to hand on to another victim when the first had got through punishing +him. + +In the welter of claims and counterclaims, one harassed councilor +wearily suggested a lottery. Another in desperation recommended +handing The Eel a list of prospective punishments on each of the eight +planets and observing which one seemed to inspire him with most +dread--which would then be the one selected. One even proposed +poisoning him and announcing his sudden collapse and death. + +The sessions went on day and night; the exhausted councilors separated +for brief periods of sleep, then went at it again. A hung jury was +unthinkable; something had to be decided. The news outlets of the +entire Galaxy were beginning to issue sarcastic editorials about +procrastination and coddling criminals, with hints about bribery and +corruption, and remarks that perhaps what was needed was a few +impeachments and a new general election. + +So at last, in utter despair, they awarded The Eel to Agsk, as a sort +of bonus and incentive. Whichever planet they named, the other seven +were going to scream to high heaven, and Agsk was least likely to be +able to retaliate against any expressions of indignation. + + * * * * * + +Agskians, as everyone knows, are fairly humanoid beings, primitives +from the outer edge of the Galaxy. They were like college freshmen +invited to a senior fraternity. This was their Big Chance to Make +Good. + +The Eel, taciturn as ever, was delivered to a delegation of six of +them sent to meet him in one of their lumbering spaceships, a low +countergrav machine such as Earth had outgrown several millennia +before. They were so afraid of losing him that they put a metal belt +around him with six chains attached to it, and fastened all six of +themselves to him. Once on Agsk, he was placed in a specially made +stone pit, surrounded by guards, and fed through the only opening. + +In preparation for the influx of visitors to the trial, an anticipated +greater assembly of off-planeters than little Agsk had ever seen, they +evacuated their capital city temporarily, resettling all its citizens +except those needed to serve and care for the guests, and remodeled +the biggest houses for the accommodation of those who had peculiar +space, shape, or other requirements. + +Never since the Galactic Federation was founded had so many beings, +human, humanoid, semi-humanoid and non-humanoid, gathered at the same +time on any one member-planet. Every newstape, tridimens, audio and +all other varieties of information services--even including the drum +amplifiers of Medoris and the ray-variants of Eb--applied for and were +granted a place in the courtroom. This, because no other edifice was +large enough, was an immense stone amphitheater usually devoted to +rather curious games with animals; since it rains on Agsk only for two +specified hours on every one of their days, no roof was needed. At +every seat, there was a translatophone, with interpreters ready in +plastic cages to translate the Intergalactic in which the trial was +conducted into even the clicks and hisses of Jorg and the eye-flashes +of Omonro. + +And in the midst of all this, the cause and purpose of it all, sat the +legendary Eel. + +Seen at last, he was hardly an impressive figure. Time had been going +on and The Eel was in his fifties, bald and a trifle paunchy. He was +completely ordinary in appearance, a circumstance which had, of +course, enabled him to pass unobserved on so many planets; he looked +like a salesman or a minor official, and had indeed been so taken by +the unnoticing inhabitants of innumerable planets. + +People had wondered, when word came of some new outrage by this +master-thief, if perhaps he had disguised himself as a resident of the +scene of each fresh crime, but now it was obvious that this had not +been necessary. He had been too clever to pick any planet where +visitors from Earth were not a common sight, and he had been too +insignificant for anyone to pay attention to him. + + * * * * * + +The criminal code of Agsk is unique in the Galaxy, though there are +rumors of something similar among a legendary extinct tribe on Earth +called the Guanches. The high priest is also the chief executive (as +well as the minister of education and head of the medical faculty), +and he rules jointly with a priestess who also officiates as chief +judge. + +The Agskians have some strange ideas to a terrestrial eye--for +example, suicide is an honor, and anyone of insufficient rank who +commits it condemns his immediate family to punishment for his +presumption. They are great family people, in general. Also, they +never lie, and find it hard to realize that other beings do. + +Murder, to them, is merely a matter for negotiation between the +murderer and the relatives of the victim, provided it is open and +without deceit. But grand larceny, since property is the foundation of +the family, is punished in a way that shows that the Agskians, though +technologically primitive, are psychologically very advanced. + +They reason that death, because it comes inevitably to all, is the +least of misfortunes. Lasting grief, remorse and guilt are the +greatest. So they let the thief live and do not even imprison him. + +Instead, they find out who it is that the criminal most loves. If they +do not know who it is, they merely ask him, and since Agskians never +lie, he always tells them. Then they seize that person, and kill him +or her, slowly and painfully, before the thief's eyes. + +And the agreement had been that The Eel was to be tried and punished +by the laws and customs of the planet to which he was awarded. + +The actual trial and conviction of The Eel were almost perfunctory. +Without needing to resort to torture, his jailers had been presented, +on a platter as it were, with a full confession--so far as the +particular robbery he had committed on Agsk was concerned. There is a +provision for defense in the Agskian code, but it was unneeded because +The Eel had pleaded guilty. + +But he knew very well he would not be executed by the Agskians; he +would instead be set free (presumably with a broken heart) to be +handed over to the next claimant--and that, the Council had decided, +would be Medoris. Since Medoris always kills its criminals, that would +end the whole controversy. + +So the Eel was quite aware that his conviction by Agsk would be only +the preliminary to an exquisitely painful and lingering demise at the +two-clawed hands of the Medorans. His business was somehow to get out +from under. + +Naturally, the resources of the Galactic Police had been at the full +disposal of the officials of Agsk. + +The files had been opened, and the Agskians had before them The Eel's +history back to the day of his birth. He himself had been questioned, +encelographed, hypnotized, dormitized, injected, psychographed, +subjected to all the means of eliciting information devised by all +eight planets--for the other seven, once their first resentment was +over, had reconciled themselves and cooperated whole-heartedly with +Agsk. + +Medoris especially had been of the greatest help. The Medorans could +hardly wait. + + * * * * * + +In the spate of news of the trial that inundated every portion of the +Galaxy, there began to be discovered a note of sympathy for this one +little creature arrayed against the mightiest powers of the Galaxy. +Poor people who wished they had his nerve, and romantic people who +dreamed of adventures they would never dare perform, began to say that +The Eel wasn't so bad, after all; he became a symbol of the rebellious +individual thumbing his nose at entrenched authority. Students of +Earth prehistory will recognize such symbols in the mythical Robin +Hood and Al Capone. + +These were the people who were glad to put up when bets began to be +made. At first the odds were ten to one against The Eel; then, as time +dragged by, they dropped until it was even money. + +Agsk itself began to be worried. It was one thing to make a big, +expensive splurge to impress the Galaxy and to hasten its acceptance +into full membership in the Federation, but nobody had expected the +show to last more than a few days. If it kept on much longer, Agsk +would be bankrupt. + +For the trial had foundered on one insoluble problem: the only way The +Eel could ever be punished by their laws was to kill the person he +most loved--and nobody could discover that he had ever loved anybody. + +[Illustration] + +His mother? His father? He had been an undutiful and unaffectionate +son, and his parents were long since dead in any case. He had never +had a brother, a sister, a wife or a child. No probing could find any +woman with whom he had ever been in love. He had never had an intimate +friend. + +He did nothing to help, naturally. He simply sat in his chains and +smiled and waited. He was perfectly willing to be escorted from the +court every evening, relieved of his fetters and placed in his pit. It +was a much pleasanter existence than being executed inch by inch by +the Medorans. For all he cared, the Agskians could go on spending +their planetary income until he finally died of old age. + +The priestess-judge and her co-adjutors wore themselves out in +discussions far into the night. They lost up to 15 pounds apiece, +which on Agsk, where the average weight of adults is about 40, was +serious. It began to look as if The Eel's judges would predecease him. + +_Whom_ did The Eel love? They went into minutiae and subterfuges. He +had never had a pet to which he was devoted. He had never even loved a +house which could be razed. He could not be said to have loved the +immense fortune he had stolen, for he had concealed his wealth and +used little of it, and in any event it had all been confiscated and, +so far as possible, restored proportionately to those he had robbed. + +What he had loved most, doubtless, was his prowess in stealing +unimaginable sums and getting away with it--but there is no way of +"killing" a criminal technique. + + * * * * * + +Almost a year had passed. Agsk was beginning to wish The Eel had never +been caught, or that they had never been awarded the glory of trying +him. + +At last the priestess-judge, in utter despair, took off her judge's +robes, put on the cassock and surplice of her sacred calling, and laid +the problem before the most unapproachable and august of the gods of +Agsk. + +The trial was suspended while she lay for three days in a trance on +the high altar. She emerged weak and tottering, her skin light blue +instead of its healthy purple, but her head high and her mouth curved +in triumph. + +At sight of her, renewed excitement surged through the audience. +News-gatherers, who had been finding it difficult of late to get +anything to report, rushed to their instruments. + +"Remove the defendant's chains and set him free," the priestess-judge +ordered in ringing tones. "The Great God of the Unspeakable Name has +revealed to me whom the defendant most loves. As soon as he is freed, +seize him and slay him. For the only being he loves is--himself." + +There was an instant's silence, and then a roar. The Medorans howled +in frustration. + +But The Eel, still guarded but unchained, stood up and laughed aloud. + +"Your Great God is a fool!" he said blasphemously. "I deny that I love +myself. I care nothing for myself at all." + +The priestess-judge sighed. "Since this is your sworn denial, it must +be true," she said. "So then we cannot kill you. Instead, we grant +that you do indeed love no one. Therefore you are a creature so far +outside our comprehension that you cannot come under our laws, no +matter how you have broken them. We shall notify the Federation that +we abandon our jurisdiction and hand you over to our sister-planet +which is next in line to judge you." + +Then all the viewers on tridimens on countless planets saw something +that nobody had ever thought to see--The Eel's armor of +self-confidence cracked and terror poured through the gap. + +He dropped to his knees and cried: "Wait! Wait! I confess that I +blasphemed your god, but without realizing that I did!" + +"You mean," pressed the priestess-judge, "you acknowledge that you +yourself are the only being dear to you?" + +"No, not that, either. Until now, I have never known love. But now it +has come upon me like a nova and I must speak the truth." He paused, +still on his knees, and looked piteously at the priestess-judge. +"Are--are you bound by your law to--to believe me and to kill, instead +of me, this--this being I adore?" + +"We are so bound," she stated. + +"Then," said The Eel, smiling and confident again, rising to his feet, +"before all the Galaxy, I must declare the object of my sudden but +everlasting passion. Great lady, it is you!" + + * * * * * + +The Eel is still in his pit, which has been made most comfortable by +his sympathizers, while the Council of the Galactic Federation seeks +feverishly and vainly, year after year, to find some legal way out of +the impasse. + +Agsk, however, requests all Federation citizens to submit solutions, +the grand prize for a workable answer being a lifetime term as +president of the planet. A secondary contest (prize: lifetime +ambassadorship to the Galactic Federation) is offered for a legal way +around the statute barring criminals (specifically The Eel) from +entering the primary contest. + + --MIRIAM ALLEN DeFORD + + * * * * * + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Eel, by Miriam Allen DeFord + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE EEL *** + +***** This file should be named 31981.txt or 31981.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/9/8/31981/ + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, 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/31981.zip b/31981.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..571893a --- /dev/null +++ b/31981.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..06f994c --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #31981 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/31981) |
