diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32284-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 70047 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32284-h/32284-h.htm | 1577 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32284-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 20694 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32284-h/images/illo-002.png | bin | 0 -> 28622 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32284.txt | 994 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32284.zip | bin | 0 -> 17967 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
9 files changed, 2587 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/32284-h.zip b/32284-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..11745f0 --- /dev/null +++ b/32284-h.zip diff --git a/32284-h/32284-h.htm b/32284-h/32284-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1da13aa --- /dev/null +++ b/32284-h/32284-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1577 @@ +<!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"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Hitch Hikers, by Vernon L. McCain</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ + /* slight differences for print and screen */ + @media print { + span.pgmark {border: 0 !important; } + hr.pg {display: none; visibility: hidden; } + .main p {margin-bottom: 0.25em; + text-indent: 2em; } + body {margin-right: 0; + margin-left: 0; } + } + @media screen { + span.pgmark {border-top: thin solid silver; + border-bottom: thin solid silver; + display: inline!important; + visibility: visible!important; + position: absolute; left: 1%; } + p {margin-bottom: 0.75em; + text-indent: 0; } + body {margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%;} + } + + body {font-size: medium; } + + h1 {text-indent: 0; + text-align: center; + font-family: sans-serif; + font-weight: normal; + font-size: 320%; + margin: 0 auto; + word-spacing: 0.15em; + padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0.5em; } + + div.main {margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + margin-top: 0; + padding-top: 3em; + padding-bottom: 3em; + max-width: 32em; } + div.main p {text-align: justify; + margin-top: 0; + line-height: 1.3; } + + /* for transcriber's note */ + div.tnote {border: dashed 1px; + padding: .5em; + margin-top: 3em; margin-bottom: 6em; + page-break-before: always; + page-break-after: always; } + div.tnote p {text-indent: 0; + margin-top: .5em; + font-size: 85%;} + div.tnote h3 {text-indent: 0; + text-align: left; + font-size: 110%; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: bold; + padding-top: 60px; + letter-spacing: 0;} + .clearup {clear: left; line-height: 0; } + + p.blurb {text-indent: 0!important; + text-align: center!important; + font-family: sans-serif; + font-size: 110%; + margin: 2em auto 0 auto!important; + line-height: 2!important; } + p.author {text-indent: 0!important; + text-align: center!important; + font-family: sans-serif; + font-size: 110%; + font-variant: small-caps; + margin: 2em 0 2em auto!important; } + + div.illus {margin: 4em auto; + page-break-before: always; + page-break-after: always; } + + /* links */ + @media print { + a:link {color: black; background-color: inherit; + text-decoration: none;} + a:visited {color: black; background-color: inherit; + text-decoration: none;} + } + + @media screen { + a:link {color: blue; background-color: inherit; + text-decoration: none;} + a:visited {color: blue; background-color: inherit; + text-decoration: none;} + a:hover {color: red; background-color: inherit;} + a:focus {outline: #ffee66 solid 2px; color: inherit; background-color: #ffee66;} + } + + span.pgmark {display: none; visibility: hidden; /* over-ridden for screen devices */ + font-size: x-small; + font-family: serif; + font-variant: normal; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + line-height: 1.2; + letter-spacing: 0; + text-indent: 0; text-align: left; + margin: 0; padding: .05em 0.5em !important; } + + hr {background-color: black; color: inherit; padding: 0;} + + .ns {display: none; visibility: hidden; } + em, cite {font-style: italic; } + .tb {padding-top: 1.7em; } + .noindent {text-indent: 0!important; } + .fltleft {float: left; width: auto; margin-right: 4em; } + .framed {border: thin solid black; } + .uc {text-transform: uppercase; margin-left: -4px; } + .drop {font-size: 275%; + float: left; width: auto; + line-height: 90%; + padding-right: 4px;} + .ctr {text-align: center!important; } + .vspread {padding: 1em 0; } + .rt {text-align: right!important; } + + /* XML end ]]>*/ +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Hitch Hikers, by Vernon L. McCain + +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 Hitch Hikers + +Author: Vernon L. McCain + +Release Date: May 7, 2010 [EBook #32284] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HITCH HIKERS *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, David Wilson and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<hr class="pg" /> + +<div class="tnote"> +<img class="framed fltleft" src="images/cover.jpg" width="220" height="296" + alt="If: Worlds of Science Fiction" title="Magazine Cover" /> +<h3>Transcriber’s note:</h3> +<p>This story was published in <cite>If: Worlds of Science Fiction</cite>, + November 1954. +Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the + U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.</p><p class="clearup"> </p> + + +</div> + +<div class="main"> + +<p class="rt"><a name="png.001" id="png.001" href="#png.001"><span class="ns">[</span><span + class="pgmark">86</span><span class="ns">]<br + /></span></a><small><i>Illustrated by Kelly Freas</i></small></p> + + + + +<h1>The Hitch Hikers</h1> + +<p class="blurb"><i>The Rell, a great and ancient Martian race, faced extinction +when all moisture was swept from their planet.<br + />Then, one day, a lone visitor—a strange, two-legged creature +composed mostly of water—landed on Mars …</i></p> + +<p class="author">BY VERNON L. MC CAIN</p> + +<p class="noindent tb"><br class="ns" + /><span class="drop">T</span><span class="uc">he dehydration</span> of the +planet had taken centuries in +all. The Rell had still been a great +race when the process started. Construction +of the canals was a prodigious +feat but not a truly remarkable +one. But what use are even +canals when there is nothing to fill +them?</p> + +<p>What cosmic influences might +have caused the disaster baffled +even the group-mind of the Rell. +Through the eons the atmosphere +had drifted into space; and with it +went the life-giving moisture. Originally +a liquid paradise, the planet +was now a dry, hostile husk.</p> + +<p>The large groups of Rell had +been the first to suffer. But in time +even the tiny villages containing +mere quadrillions of the submicroscopic<!-- Transcriber's note: + original reads "sub-microscopic" --> +entities had found too little +moisture left to satisfy their thirst +and the journey ever southward toward +the pole had commenced.</p> + +<p>The new life was bitter and difficult +and as their resources were +depleted so also did their numbers +diminish.</p> + +<div class="illus"> +<p class="ctr"><a name="png.002" id="png.002" href="#png.002"><span class="ns">[</span><span + class="pgmark">87</span><span class="ns">]<br + /></span></a><img src="images/illo-002.png" width="438" height="665" + alt="Astronaut and spaceship on surface of planet" title="" /></p> +</div> + +<p>Huddled at their last retreat the +Rell watched the ever smaller ice +cap annually diminish and lived +with the knowledge they faced extinction. +A mere thousand years +<a name="png.003" id="png.003" href="#png.003"><span class="ns">[</span><span + class="pgmark">88</span><span class="ns">] + </span></a>more would see even this trifling +remainder gone.</p> + +<p>Oh, you might say there was +hope … of a sort. There might be +Rell in the northern hemisphere. +The canals girdled the globe and +a similar ice cap could well exist +at the opposite pole. Rell perhaps +survived there also.</p> + +<p>But this was scant comfort. The +fate of the Rell in the South was +sealed. What hope of any brighter +future for those in the North? And +if they survived a few hundred +thousand years longer … or if +they had perished a similar period +earlier, what actual difference did +it make?</p> + +<p>There was no one more aware +of this gloomy future than Raeillo/ee13.</p> + +<p>In the old days a single unit of +the group-mind of the Rell would +have possessed but a single function +and exercised this function +perhaps a dozen times during his +life. But due to the inexorable +shrinkage only the most important +problems now could command +mind-action and each unit had +been forced to forsake specialization +for multi-purpose endeavors.</p> + +<p>Thus Raeillo/ee13 and his mate +Raellu//2 were two of the five +thousand units whose task was to +multiply in any group-mind action +involving mathematical prediction. +Naturally Raeillo/ee13 and Raellu//2 +did not waste their abilities +in mundane problems not involving +prediction. Nor did they +divide, add, or subtract. That was +assigned to other units just as +several million of the upper groups +had the task of sorting and interpreting +their results. Raeillo/ee13 +and Raellu//2 multiplied +only. And it must be admitted +they did it very well. It is a pity +the Rell could not have multiplied +physically as easily as Raeillo/ee13 +and Raellu//2 multiplied mentally.</p> + +<p>With the exception of an occasional +comet or meteor the Rell +were seldom diverted by anything +of a physical nature. The ice cap +was their sole concern.</p> + +<p>But one afternoon a rare physical +phenomenon was reported by a +bank of observer Rell.</p> + +<p>“In the sky’s northwest portion,” +an excited injunction came +through. “Observe that patch of +flaming red!”</p> + +<p>More observer Rell were quickly +focused on the novel sight and further +data was rapidly fed into the +interpretive bank.</p> + +<p>The Rell were justifiably proud +of their interpreters. With the race +shrinkage it had proved impossible +to properly train new interpreters. +So, not without a great deal of +sacrifice, the old interpreters, dating +back to when the canals still flowed +with water, had been kept alive.</p> + +<p>They were incredibly ancient but +there was no doubt as to their +ability. It was a truism among the +Rell that the interpretive banks arrived +at their conclusions faster +than any other group and that these +conclusions could be checked to +hundreds of decimal places without +finding inaccuracy.</p> + +<p>So it was no surprise to have the +interpretive bank respond almost +instantly, “It is quite odd but the +flame appears to be of artificial +origin.”</p> + +<p>“Artificial!” came the rough and +questing probe of the speculative +bank. “But how could Rell possibly +be out there?”</p> + +<p><a name="png.004" id="png.004" href="#png.004"><span class="ns">[</span><span + class="pgmark">89</span><span class="ns">]<br + /></span></a>“Who mentioned Rell?” was the +interpretive bank’s smug answer. +They were not utterly averse to +demonstrating their superior mental +abilities on occasion.</p> + +<p>The speculative bank replied, +“Artificial implies intelligence, and +intelligence means Rell …”</p> + +<p>“Does it?” the interpretive bank +interrupted. The speculative +bank waited but the interpretive +bank failed to enlarge on the provocative +query.</p> + +<p>The Rell had found certain disadvantages +accrued to abnormal +prolongation of life and thus were +not unused to the interpretive +bank’s occasional tendency to talk +in riddles.</p> + +<p>“Perhaps not<!-- Transcriber's note: + original lacks comma -->,” the speculative +bank replied after a quick check +with the logical formulae held in +reserve by the historical bank. “It +is theoretically possible that Rell-like +individuals might have developed +elsewhere, and perhaps +even have developed intelligence, +although, according to the historical +bank, such an idea has never +before been subjected to consideration. +But what is the flame doing?” +they continued, a trifle resentful at +having been left to do work properly +in the interpretive bank’s province.</p> + +<p>The observation and interpretive +banks once more came into +play, studying the situation for +several minutes. “The flame appears +to be the exhaust of a fairly +crude vessel,” the interpretive bank +finally reported, “propelled by ignition +of some gaseous mixture.”</p> + +<p>“Is it moving?”</p> + +<p>“Quite rapidly.”</p> + +<p>“Where is it going?”</p> + +<p>This called into play the prophecy +division of the mind and +Raeillo/ee13 and Raellu//2, who +had been merely interested onlookers +before, hurriedly meshed +themselves with the other forty +nine hundred odd of their fellows. +(It was impossible to say at any +given time just how many there +were in their computer section, as +several births and deaths had occurred<!-- Transcriber's note: + original reads "occured" --> +among the group since beginning +the current observations. +These would be suspended for the +next several moments, however, as +there was a strict prohibition +against anyone being born, dying, +or otherwise engaging in extraneous +activity while their particular +bank was either alerted or in action.)</p> + +<p>Raeillo/ee13 and Raellu//2 felt +the group discipline take hold much +more firmly than the free-and-easy +mesh which each unit enjoyed +with the complete group-mind +during periods of leisure.</p> + +<p>With a speed that would have +been dizzying and incomprehensible +to any individual unit, the observing +banks relayed huge masses of +extraneous data to the interpretive +bank. They strained out the salient +facts and in turn passed these to +the computing:prediction section. +Here they were routed to the +groups who would deal with them. +Raeillo/ee13 and Raellu//2 found +their own talents pressed into service +a dozen or more times in the +space of the minute and a half it +took the computing:prediction and +interpretive banks to arrive at the +answer.</p> + +<p>“It’s aimed here,” the interpretive +bank reported.</p> + +<p>“Here!” a jumble of incoherent +and anarchistic thoughts resounded +<a name="png.005" id="png.005" href="#png.005"><span class="ns">[</span><span + class="pgmark">90</span><span class="ns">] + </span></a>from many shocked and temporarily +out-of-mesh units.</p> + +<p>“Order!” came a sharp command +from the elite corp of three +thousand disciplinary units.</p> + +<p>As stillness settled back over the +group-mind the speculative bank +once more came in. “By here … +do you mean <em>right</em> here?”</p> + +<p>“Approximately<!-- Transcriber's note: + original has period -->,” replied the +interpretive bank with what would +have sounded suspiciously like a +chuckle in a human reply. “According +to calculations the craft +should land within half a mile of +our present location.”</p> + +<p>“Let’s go there then and wait for +it!” That thought from the now +seldom used reservation of impulse.</p> + +<p>The speculative bank murmured, +“I wonder if there would be any +danger. How hot is that exhaust?”</p> + +<p>Calculations were rapidly made +and the answer arrived at. The Rell +prudently decided to remain where +they were for the present.</p> + + +<p class="noindent tb"><br class="ns" + /><span class="drop">C</span><span class="uc">aptain Leonard Brown</span>, +USAF, hunched over the instruments +in the cramped control +cabin which, being the only available +space in the ship, doubled as +living quarters. A larger man would +have found the arrangement impossible. +Brown, being 5' 2" and +weighing 105 pounds found it +merely intolerable.</p> + +<p>At the moment he was temporarily +able to forget his discomfort, +however. The many tiny dials and +indicators told a story all their own +to Brown’s trained vision.</p> + +<p>“Just another half hour,” he +whispered to himself. “Just thirty +more minutes and I’ll land. It may +be just a dead planet but I’ll still +be the first.”</p> + +<p>There really wasn’t a great deal +for Brown to do. The ship was self-guided. +The Air Force had trusted +robot mechanisms more than human +reactions.</p> + +<p>Thus Brown’s entire active contribution +to the flight consisted in +watching the dials (which recorded +everything so even watching them +was unnecessary) and in pressing +the button which would cause the +ship to start its return journey.</p> + +<p>Of course the scientists could +have constructed another mechanism +to press the button and made +it a completely robot ship. But despite +their frailties and imperfections, +human beings have certain +advantages. Humans can talk. +Machines may see and detect far +more than their human creators +but all they can do is record. They +can neither interpret nor satisfactorily +describe.</p> + +<p>Brown was present not only to +report a human’s reactions to the +first Mars flight; he was also along +to see that which the machines +might miss.</p> + +<p>“We’ve never satisfactorily defined +life,” one of his instructors +had told Brown shortly after he +started the three grueling years of +training which had been necessary, +“so we can’t very well build a foolproof +machine for detecting it. +That’s why we’ve left room for 105 +pounds of dead weight.”</p> + +<p>“Meaning me?”</p> + +<p>“Meaning you.”</p> + +<p>“And I’m your foolproof machine +for detecting life?”</p> + +<p>“Let’s say you’re the closest we +can come to it at present. We’re +banking everything on this first +trip. It’ll be at least eighteen +<a name="png.006" id="png.006" href="#png.006"><span class="ns">[</span><span + class="pgmark">91</span><span class="ns">] + </span></a>months later before we can get a +second ship into space. So it’s up +to you to get everything you can +… some evidence of life, preferably +animal, if possible. With public +support it’ll be a hell of a lot +easier squeezing appropriations out +of Congress for the next ship and +to get public support we need the +biggest possible play in the newspapers. +If anything is newsworthy +on Mars it should be evidence of +life … even plant life.”</p> + +<p>So here he was, 105 pounds of +concentrated knowledge and anticipation, +itching with the desire for +action and also from more basic +causes having to do with two +months confinement in a small +space with a minimum of water.</p> + +<p>“Life is most probable at the +poles<!-- Transcriber's note: + original has period -->,” the instructor had said. +“You won’t be able to stay long so +we’ll try to set you down right at +the South Pole. You won’t have +room to bring back specimens. So +keep your eyes open and absorb +everything you see. Don’t forget +anything. What you bring back in +your mind weighs nothing.”</p> + + +<p class="tb"><br class="ns" + />“It’s just sitting there,” the observing +banks reported, “and the +red flame has gone out.”</p> + +<p>“Is it safe now?” enquired the +speculative bank.</p> + +<p>“In what way?”</p> + +<p>“Is it safe to go near that thing?”</p> + +<p>“It’s very huge,” ventured the +observing banks unasked. There +was a stir of activity which encompassed +practically all except +the most simple units and which +lasted for perhaps five minutes +while the speculative bank’s last +question was processed.</p> + +<p>Finally the interpretive bank reluctantly +admitted, “We can’t arrive +at a positive answer. Too many +unknown elements are present. We +don’t know for sure what caused +the flame, when it might start +again, or what, if anything, is inside.”</p> + +<p>“But you said it was a work of +intelligence. Doesn’t that mean +Rell would be inside?”</p> + +<p>“Not necessarily. They could +have constructed the thing to operate +itself.”</p> + +<p>It was just then that the observing +banks reported, “It’s opening.”</p> + +<p>The speculative bank quickly +responded, “This is an emergency. +We must be able to observe from +close up. We’ll have to approach +it.”</p> + +<p>“The entire mind?” enquired +the disciplinary corps.</p> + +<p>The speculative bank hesitated. +“No, we’ll need to split up. One-fifth +of us will go, the rest remain +here. It’s a short distance and +we’ll still be able to continue in +complete contact.”</p> + +<p>Those who were to go were +quickly sorted out and Raeillo/ee13 +was quite thrilled to find he and +Raellu//2 were included in the +scouting party.</p> + +<p>The group set off briskly toward +their objective but had moved +hardly one hundred yards when a +vertigo seemed to overtake them. +Raeillo/ee13 found himself swimming +helplessly in a vortex of darkness +and isolation, blanked off from +not only the group-mind and his +bank but also from Raellu//2. +Frantically he grasped for some sort +of stasis, but dependence on the +group-mind was too ingrained and +he was unable to stir his +<a name="png.007" id="png.007" href="#png.007"><span class="ns">[</span><span + class="pgmark">92</span><span class="ns">] + </span></a>long-dormant powers of sight and education.</p> + +<p>Then the isolation cleared to be +replaced by a brief impression of +chaos with perhaps a tinge of +alienness. Another instant of vertigo +followed and then everything +was normal once more as the comfortable +familiar mesh took hold.</p> + +<p>“What was that?” Even the +speculative bank sounded frightened.</p> + +<p>“Sorry.” The usually silent meshing +bank sounded abashed. “We +weren’t prepared for that. Some +sort of thought wave is issuing from +the opening and it disrupted the +group mesh till we were able to +take it into calculation and rebuild +the mesh around it.”</p> + +<p>“Thought wave? Then there <em>are</em> +Rell in that thing.”</p> + +<p>“Do not compute before the +mesh is set<!-- Transcriber's note: + original has period -->,” the interpretive bank +cautioned. “The presence of Rell, +while extremely probable, is not +yet entirely certain.”</p> + +<p>Without waiting for a suggestion +from elsewhere the disciplinary +group ordered the entire mind forward.</p> + +<p>Perhaps, in time of stress, dormant +qualities tend to emerge, +Raeillo/ee13 mused. Certainly +everyone, himself included, appeared +to be exercising speculative +qualities. Not that specialization +isn’t a marvelous blessing, he +hastily added, in case the disciplinary +corps might be scanning his +bank. But the disciplinary corps +itself was as fascinated by the phenomenon +ahead as Raeillo/ee13.</p> + +<p>Emerging from the infinitely +huge upright thing was a mobile +being, also infinitely huge. Not that +they were the same size. The mobile +one was small enough to fit easily +through the opening in the lower +portion of the larger. But beyond +a certain point words lose meaning +and infinitely huge was the closest +measurement the tiny Rell could +find for either the upright pointed +thing or the knobby one which had +emerged and was quickly identified +as the source of the disrupting +thought patterns.</p> + + +<p class="noindent tb"><br class="ns" + /><span class="drop">L</span><span class="uc">eonard Brown</span> was enjoying +himself thoroughly. The inside +of a space suit can scarcely be +termed comfortable but at least you +can move around in it and Brown +was making the most of this sensation +after two months cramped in +his tiny cell. He was, in fact, comporting +himself much as a three-year-old +might have done after a +similar release.</p> + +<p>But before long he settled down +to the serious business of observing +and mentally recording everything +in sight.</p> + +<p>There were none of the mysterious +‘canals’ in view, which was +disappointing; one piece of glamour +the publicity boys would necessarily +forego until the next trip. The ice +cap itself, if such it could be called, +was almost equally disappointing. +On Earth it would have been dismissed +as a mere frost patch, if this +section was typical. For a radius of +many yards the ground was blasted +bare by the action of the exhaust +and nowhere in sight did there appear +to be more than the flimsiest +covering of white over the brown +sandy soil.</p> + +<p>“Not even lichens,” muttered +Brown in disgust.</p> + +<p>But disgust cannot long stand +<a name="png.008" id="png.008" href="#png.008"><span class="ns">[</span><span + class="pgmark">93</span><span class="ns">] + </span></a>against the magic of a fresh new +planet and Brown continued his +avid, though barren, search until +hunger forced his return to the +ship. He had been able to detect +no life and was completely unaware +of his close proximity to the +planet’s dominant species. It had +been considered neither practical +nor particularly desirable to build +a microscope into the space suit. +Simplicity and the least possible +weight had been the watchwords +here as with everything designed +to go aboard the ship.</p> + +<p>In any case, a microscope would +have done Brown little good in +trying to detect the submicroscopic +beings of the Rell.</p> + + +<p class="tb"><br class="ns" + />The Rell, who had somewhat +lost their fear of Brown, hastily retreated +when they saw him returning +to the still awesome ship.</p> + +<p>“But are you <em>sure</em> he’s <em>completely</em> +self-powered?” the speculative bank +queried. “No Rell inside him at +all?”</p> + +<p>“There are many Rell-like beings +in various parts of him<!-- Transcriber's note: + original has period -->,” replied +the interpretive bank. “Some help +digest his food, others are predators, +and still others their enemies. +But most are too big and +clumsy to have developed intelligence, +and even the small ones +appear completely mindless.”</p> + +<p>“But where do the thought +waves come from? We all felt +them.”</p> + +<p>“It’s hard to accept but we are +almost forced to conclude they are +emanating from the mobile unit +itself, or rather from the living part +within the cocoon.”</p> + +<p>“You’re positive they aren’t the +product of some of the Rell-beings +inside?”</p> + +<p>“Almost positive. The mesh insists +not. In fact, it claims this is +an un-Rell like type of intelligence, +though that appears to be a contradiction +in terms. The thought +pattern is completely outside our +experience. In fact, it is so alien +we haven’t broken it down yet to +the meaning behind it.”</p> + +<p>“But if the Rell inside are too +large to have developed intelligence, +how could this gigantic +monster in which they live have +done so?”</p> + +<p>“We cannot yet say. Remember, +the theory that intelligence cannot +develop in creatures above a certain +size is unproven, even though +never before challenged. We’ve +watched other races die through +failure to adapt to change so apparently +it is true of Rell-like +creatures on this world. But who +can say about organisms on another +world or of the unprecedented +size of this one? Completely different +physical laws may apply.”</p> + +<p>It was later that afternoon after +the Rell had spent much time observing +Brown while Brown was +busy observing the landscape that +the interpretive bank made the +triumphant announcement, “We +have it! We’ve broken the thought +waves down to their meanings and +know what he’s thinking. What +would you like to know first?”</p> + +<p>“Check and see if there are any +Rell inside the other thing or on +his home world. They might have +constructed him.”</p> + +<p>“Apparently there are none, or at +least no intelligent Rell, on his +world. We can’t guide his mind +but the memory bank recorded all +<a name="png.009" id="png.009" href="#png.009"><span class="ns">[</span><span + class="pgmark">94</span><span class="ns">] + </span></a>the thoughts we’ve received and +some time ago he was thinking of +something he termed ‘vermin’. +Apparently these are sometimes +Rell-like creatures, although far +larger. He regards them as a great +nuisance, but mindless. The big +thing, by the way, he calls a ‘ship’ +and it is utterly lifeless. We needn’t +fear the flame until this creature +leaves.”</p> + +<p>“What about him? What is he +like?”</p> + +<p>“That’s the most exciting part! +He thought of his bodily needs once +and we glimpsed<!-- Transcriber's note: + original reads "glimsed" --> a concept dealing +with his physical construction. It’s +incredible! His body is composed +almost entirely of water … there’s +enough water in him alone to +prolong the life of the Rell many +ages. Further, the air in his ‘ship’ +is heavily impregnated with moisture +and he even has reserve supplies +of water for his needs.”</p> + + +<p class="tb"><br class="ns" + />At this, not only Raeillo/ee13, +but all except perhaps the most +responsible units felt a shiver of +primitive longing and perhaps even +greed. Not for millennia<!-- Transcriber's note: + original reads "millenia" --> had there +been such a plentitude of water so +close!</p> + +<p>“Then can’t we appropriate at +least part of it?” asked the speculative +bank.</p> + +<p>“Unfortunately both the ‘man’, +as he calls himself, and his ‘ship’ +are sealed so tightly that we could +not penetrate either. Worse yet, +almost half his time here is already +gone. We don’t quite understand +his purpose here. His thoughts seem +to say he is searching for Rell for +some unfathomable reason yet he +seems to know nothing of the Rell +and cannot even detect us.”</p> + + +<p class="noindent tb"><br class="ns" + /><span class="drop">I</span><span class="uc">t was</span> the next day when the +time was almost all gone that +the two big discoveries were made. +During a routine check, the mesh +came across a thought of the man’s +return and a visualization of his +home world. It was so startling +that the interpretive bank was recalled +from its effort to try to devise +a means through the spacesuit +and set at the new problem.</p> + +<p>A hasty check of the man’s subconscious +thoughts revealed the big +news. “Do you know,” the interpretive +bank announced, “not only +does this being’s home world have +a moist atmosphere like that in his +ship but two thirds of the surface +of his world is <em>liquid water</em>!”</p> + +<p>Even the speculative bank was +silent for a full two seconds after +this news. Then a hasty impulse +was sent to the disciplinary corps +and the entire mind called into +action. An extreme emergency upon +which the fate of the race hinged +called for the utmost effort by even +the humblest members of the +group.</p> + +<p>The Rell worked diligently and +many blind alleys were explored, +but it was not for some time that +anyone thought of enquiring of the +not-too-bright feeding bank how +they were managing to keep the +mind operating at considerably +more than normal power with no +frost within feeding distance.</p> + +<p>“We’re taking moisture from the +air<!-- Transcriber's note: + original has period -->,” was the answer.</p> + +<p>“Where is the moisture coming +from?” the interpretive bank was +asked.</p> + +<p>The answer didn’t take long. +Rapid measurements supplied it. +“Some of it is vaporized frost but +that wouldn’t be enough for our +<a name="png.010" id="png.010" href="#png.010"><span class="ns">[</span><span + class="pgmark">95</span><span class="ns">] + </span></a>needs. The only other possibility is +that moisture must be seeping +away from either the man or his +ship despite his sureness that they +were both airtight and our own +investigations which confirmed it.”</p> + +<p>They had maintained a cautious +distance from the ship for the most +part despite the interpretive bank’s +assurance of no immediate danger. +But now they swarmed over both +it and the spacesuit determined to +detect the leak.</p> + +<p>They found none.</p> + +<p>And now the man was returning +to his ship.</p> + +<p>“This is the last time<!-- Transcriber's note: + original has period -->,” the mesh +warned. It was now or never.</p> + +<p>For a second there was conflict +over control of the circuits to the +disciplinary corps which carried +with it command of the organism +during the emergency. The speculative +bank customarily assumed +this responsibility, but a slight +schism had developed between +it and the interpretive bank. +The latter’s greater age and skill +came into play and victory was +quickly won.</p> + +<p>From the disciplinary corps came +the order, “Stay close to the ‘man’.”</p> + +<p>The interpretive bank explained, +“He breathes the air so he’ll have +to get to it some way.”</p> + +<p>The defeated speculative bank +maintained a sulky silence.</p> + +<p>Thus it was that the entire mind +of the Rell rode into the interior +of the ship through the airlock +while clustered around Brown.</p> + +<p>The Rell had grasped that the +man lived and traveled inside his +ship and the necessity for it to be +airtight<!-- Transcriber's note: + original reads "air tight" -->. But so desperate were the +two races’ needs that the necessity +for an airlock and the consequent +slight seepage each time it was used +had not occurred<!-- Transcriber's note: + original reads "occured" --> to even the interpretive +bank.</p> + +<p>Inside, many Rell, suddenly intoxicated +by the heady moisture-laden +air, commenced uniting with +each other then splitting away, each +such union resulting in another unit +of Rell, naturally. The interpretive +bank again seized control.</p> + +<p>“Stop it! Stop it this instant!” +it snapped. “Reproduction must be +kept to the former minimum for +now. That is a firm order.”</p> + +<p>Reluctantly the process was +halted. The interpretive bank explained, +“It would not take long +for us to use up the entire supply of +water if we indulged in uncontrolled +reproduction. That might endanger +the whole trip.”</p> + +<p>“What do we do now?” the +speculative bank finally asked.</p> + +<p>“There is no way of knowing +positively whether the man uses +this same atmosphere until he returns +to his world or not. For our +own safety it would seem best, since +Rell-like creatures already inhabit +him, that we join them. If any +place is safe it will be his interior. +And there is plenty of moisture +within to sustain us. But we must be +good parasites,” the interpretive +bank warned. “Remember, no undue +reproduction no matter how +many quarts of moisture seem to be +going to waste inside this ‘man’. +He may need it himself and if he +does not survive the ship might +not complete its trip.”</p> + +<p>Brown was just emerging from +his space suit so the Rell chose his +closest available body opening and +flowed as a group into his mouth +and nostrils.</p> + +<p>“Ahchoo!” sneezed Brown, +<a name="png.011" id="png.011" href="#png.011"><span class="ns">[</span><span + class="pgmark">96</span><span class="ns">] + </span></a>violently evicting half the Rell.</p> + +<p>They re-entered a bit more cautiously +in order not to irritate the +sensitive membrane again.</p> + +<p>“Dammit,” said Brown, “don’t +tell me I’ve caught a cold clear out +here on Mars. Hope I didn’t pick +up any Martian germs.”</p> + +<p>But he needn’t have worried. By +the time he reached Earth he was +far less germ-ridden, even if considerably +more itchy on the exterior, +than when he’d left. The +Rell were good at self defense and a +surprising number of mindless but +voracious creatures in Brown’s interior +had been eliminated.</p> + +<p>Brown dreaded having to give +the news he carried but he needn’t +have. He was a conquering hero.</p> + +<p>So much fuss was made over the +first flight to Mars that Congress +promptly voted twice the appropriation +for the second ship that +the Air Force had requested, despite +strong opposition from the Navy +and headlines which read:</p> + +<p class="ctr vspread">NO LIFE ON MARS</p> + +<p>Actually, as it happened, the +headlines were one hundred percent +correct, but they neglected to +mention, chiefly because the headline +writers didn’t know it, that +there were now two races of intelligent +life on Earth.</p> + +</div> + +<hr class="pg" /> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Hitch Hikers, by Vernon L. McCain + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HITCH HIKERS *** + +***** This file should be named 32284-h.htm or 32284-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/2/8/32284/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, David Wilson 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/32284-h/images/cover.jpg b/32284-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..40896cf --- /dev/null +++ b/32284-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/32284-h/images/illo-002.png b/32284-h/images/illo-002.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..68b17ea --- /dev/null +++ b/32284-h/images/illo-002.png diff --git a/32284.txt b/32284.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..961fac8 --- /dev/null +++ b/32284.txt @@ -0,0 +1,994 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Hitch Hikers, by Vernon L. McCain + +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 Hitch Hikers + +Author: Vernon L. McCain + +Release Date: May 7, 2010 [EBook #32284] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HITCH HIKERS *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, David Wilson and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + +--------------------------------------------------------------+ + | | + | Transcriber's note: | + | | + | This story was published in _If: Worlds of Science Fiction_, | + | November 1954. Extensive research did not uncover any | + | evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was | + | renewed. | + | | + +--------------------------------------------------------------+ + + + + +_Illustrated by Kelly Freas_ + + + + +The Hitch Hikers + + _The Rell, a great and ancient Martian race, faced extinction when + all moisture was swept from their planet. Then, one day, a lone + visitor--a strange, two-legged creature composed mostly of + water--landed on Mars..._ + +BY VERNON L. MC CAIN + + +The dehydration of the planet had taken centuries in all. The Rell had +still been a great race when the process started. Construction of the +canals was a prodigious feat but not a truly remarkable one. But what +use are even canals when there is nothing to fill them? + +What cosmic influences might have caused the disaster baffled even the +group-mind of the Rell. Through the eons the atmosphere had drifted into +space; and with it went the life-giving moisture. Originally a liquid +paradise, the planet was now a dry, hostile husk. + +The large groups of Rell had been the first to suffer. But in time even +the tiny villages containing mere quadrillions of the submicroscopic +entities had found too little moisture left to satisfy their thirst and +the journey ever southward toward the pole had commenced. + +The new life was bitter and difficult and as their resources were +depleted so also did their numbers diminish. + +[Illustration] + +Huddled at their last retreat the Rell watched the ever smaller ice cap +annually diminish and lived with the knowledge they faced extinction. A +mere thousand years more would see even this trifling remainder gone. + +Oh, you might say there was hope ... of a sort. There might be Rell in +the northern hemisphere. The canals girdled the globe and a similar ice +cap could well exist at the opposite pole. Rell perhaps survived there +also. + +But this was scant comfort. The fate of the Rell in the South was +sealed. What hope of any brighter future for those in the North? And if +they survived a few hundred thousand years longer ... or if they had +perished a similar period earlier, what actual difference did it make? + +There was no one more aware of this gloomy future than Raeillo/ee13. + +In the old days a single unit of the group-mind of the Rell would have +possessed but a single function and exercised this function perhaps a +dozen times during his life. But due to the inexorable shrinkage only +the most important problems now could command mind-action and each unit +had been forced to forsake specialization for multi-purpose endeavors. + +Thus Raeillo/ee13 and his mate Raellu//2 were two of the five thousand +units whose task was to multiply in any group-mind action involving +mathematical prediction. Naturally Raeillo/ee13 and Raellu//2 did not +waste their abilities in mundane problems not involving prediction. Nor +did they divide, add, or subtract. That was assigned to other units just +as several million of the upper groups had the task of sorting and +interpreting their results. Raeillo/ee13 and Raellu//2 multiplied only. +And it must be admitted they did it very well. It is a pity the Rell +could not have multiplied physically as easily as Raeillo/ee13 and +Raellu//2 multiplied mentally. + +With the exception of an occasional comet or meteor the Rell were seldom +diverted by anything of a physical nature. The ice cap was their sole +concern. + +But one afternoon a rare physical phenomenon was reported by a bank of +observer Rell. + +"In the sky's northwest portion," an excited injunction came through. +"Observe that patch of flaming red!" + +More observer Rell were quickly focused on the novel sight and further +data was rapidly fed into the interpretive bank. + +The Rell were justifiably proud of their interpreters. With the race +shrinkage it had proved impossible to properly train new interpreters. +So, not without a great deal of sacrifice, the old interpreters, dating +back to when the canals still flowed with water, had been kept alive. + +They were incredibly ancient but there was no doubt as to their ability. +It was a truism among the Rell that the interpretive banks arrived at +their conclusions faster than any other group and that these conclusions +could be checked to hundreds of decimal places without finding +inaccuracy. + +So it was no surprise to have the interpretive bank respond almost +instantly, "It is quite odd but the flame appears to be of artificial +origin." + +"Artificial!" came the rough and questing probe of the speculative bank. +"But how could Rell possibly be out there?" + +"Who mentioned Rell?" was the interpretive bank's smug answer. They were +not utterly averse to demonstrating their superior mental abilities on +occasion. + +The speculative bank replied, "Artificial implies intelligence, and +intelligence means Rell..." + +"Does it?" the interpretive bank interrupted. The speculative bank +waited but the interpretive bank failed to enlarge on the provocative +query. + +The Rell had found certain disadvantages accrued to abnormal +prolongation of life and thus were not unused to the interpretive bank's +occasional tendency to talk in riddles. + +"Perhaps not," the speculative bank replied after a quick check with the +logical formulae held in reserve by the historical bank. "It is +theoretically possible that Rell-like individuals might have developed +elsewhere, and perhaps even have developed intelligence, although, +according to the historical bank, such an idea has never before been +subjected to consideration. But what is the flame doing?" they +continued, a trifle resentful at having been left to do work properly in +the interpretive bank's province. + +The observation and interpretive banks once more came into play, +studying the situation for several minutes. "The flame appears to be the +exhaust of a fairly crude vessel," the interpretive bank finally +reported, "propelled by ignition of some gaseous mixture." + +"Is it moving?" + +"Quite rapidly." + +"Where is it going?" + +This called into play the prophecy division of the mind and Raeillo/ee13 +and Raellu//2, who had been merely interested onlookers before, +hurriedly meshed themselves with the other forty nine hundred odd of +their fellows. (It was impossible to say at any given time just how many +there were in their computer section, as several births and deaths had +occurred among the group since beginning the current observations. These +would be suspended for the next several moments, however, as there was a +strict prohibition against anyone being born, dying, or otherwise +engaging in extraneous activity while their particular bank was either +alerted or in action.) + +Raeillo/ee13 and Raellu//2 felt the group discipline take hold much more +firmly than the free-and-easy mesh which each unit enjoyed with the +complete group-mind during periods of leisure. + +With a speed that would have been dizzying and incomprehensible to any +individual unit, the observing banks relayed huge masses of extraneous +data to the interpretive bank. They strained out the salient facts and +in turn passed these to the computing:prediction section. Here they were +routed to the groups who would deal with them. Raeillo/ee13 and Raellu//2 +found their own talents pressed into service a dozen or more times in +the space of the minute and a half it took the computing:prediction and +interpretive banks to arrive at the answer. + +"It's aimed here," the interpretive bank reported. + +"Here!" a jumble of incoherent and anarchistic thoughts resounded from +many shocked and temporarily out-of-mesh units. + +"Order!" came a sharp command from the elite corp of three thousand +disciplinary units. + +As stillness settled back over the group-mind the speculative bank once +more came in. "By here ... do you mean _right_ here?" + +"Approximately," replied the interpretive bank with what would have +sounded suspiciously like a chuckle in a human reply. "According to +calculations the craft should land within half a mile of our present +location." + +"Let's go there then and wait for it!" That thought from the now seldom +used reservation of impulse. + +The speculative bank murmured, "I wonder if there would be any danger. +How hot is that exhaust?" + +Calculations were rapidly made and the answer arrived at. The Rell +prudently decided to remain where they were for the present. + + * * * * * + +Captain Leonard Brown, USAF, hunched over the instruments in the cramped +control cabin which, being the only available space in the ship, doubled +as living quarters. A larger man would have found the arrangement +impossible. Brown, being 5' 2" and weighing 105 pounds found it merely +intolerable. + +At the moment he was temporarily able to forget his discomfort, however. +The many tiny dials and indicators told a story all their own to Brown's +trained vision. + +"Just another half hour," he whispered to himself. "Just thirty more +minutes and I'll land. It may be just a dead planet but I'll still be +the first." + +There really wasn't a great deal for Brown to do. The ship was +self-guided. The Air Force had trusted robot mechanisms more than human +reactions. + +Thus Brown's entire active contribution to the flight consisted in +watching the dials (which recorded everything so even watching them was +unnecessary) and in pressing the button which would cause the ship to +start its return journey. + +Of course the scientists could have constructed another mechanism to +press the button and made it a completely robot ship. But despite their +frailties and imperfections, human beings have certain advantages. +Humans can talk. Machines may see and detect far more than their human +creators but all they can do is record. They can neither interpret nor +satisfactorily describe. + +Brown was present not only to report a human's reactions to the first +Mars flight; he was also along to see that which the machines might +miss. + +"We've never satisfactorily defined life," one of his instructors had +told Brown shortly after he started the three grueling years of training +which had been necessary, "so we can't very well build a foolproof +machine for detecting it. That's why we've left room for 105 pounds of +dead weight." + +"Meaning me?" + +"Meaning you." + +"And I'm your foolproof machine for detecting life?" + +"Let's say you're the closest we can come to it at present. We're +banking everything on this first trip. It'll be at least eighteen +months later before we can get a second ship into space. So it's up to +you to get everything you can ... some evidence of life, preferably +animal, if possible. With public support it'll be a hell of a lot easier +squeezing appropriations out of Congress for the next ship and to get +public support we need the biggest possible play in the newspapers. If +anything is newsworthy on Mars it should be evidence of life ... even +plant life." + +So here he was, 105 pounds of concentrated knowledge and anticipation, +itching with the desire for action and also from more basic causes +having to do with two months confinement in a small space with a minimum +of water. + +"Life is most probable at the poles," the instructor had said. "You +won't be able to stay long so we'll try to set you down right at the +South Pole. You won't have room to bring back specimens. So keep your +eyes open and absorb everything you see. Don't forget anything. What you +bring back in your mind weighs nothing." + + +"It's just sitting there," the observing banks reported, "and the red +flame has gone out." + +"Is it safe now?" enquired the speculative bank. + +"In what way?" + +"Is it safe to go near that thing?" + +"It's very huge," ventured the observing banks unasked. There was a stir +of activity which encompassed practically all except the most simple +units and which lasted for perhaps five minutes while the speculative +bank's last question was processed. + +Finally the interpretive bank reluctantly admitted, "We can't arrive at +a positive answer. Too many unknown elements are present. We don't know +for sure what caused the flame, when it might start again, or what, if +anything, is inside." + +"But you said it was a work of intelligence. Doesn't that mean Rell +would be inside?" + +"Not necessarily. They could have constructed the thing to operate +itself." + +It was just then that the observing banks reported, "It's opening." + +The speculative bank quickly responded, "This is an emergency. We must +be able to observe from close up. We'll have to approach it." + +"The entire mind?" enquired the disciplinary corps. + +The speculative bank hesitated. "No, we'll need to split up. One-fifth +of us will go, the rest remain here. It's a short distance and we'll +still be able to continue in complete contact." + +Those who were to go were quickly sorted out and Raeillo/ee13 was quite +thrilled to find he and Raellu//2 were included in the scouting party. + +The group set off briskly toward their objective but had moved hardly +one hundred yards when a vertigo seemed to overtake them. Raeillo/ee13 +found himself swimming helplessly in a vortex of darkness and isolation, +blanked off from not only the group-mind and his bank but also from +Raellu//2. Frantically he grasped for some sort of stasis, but +dependence on the group-mind was too ingrained and he was unable to stir +his long-dormant powers of sight and education. + +Then the isolation cleared to be replaced by a brief impression of chaos +with perhaps a tinge of alienness. Another instant of vertigo followed +and then everything was normal once more as the comfortable familiar +mesh took hold. + +"What was that?" Even the speculative bank sounded frightened. + +"Sorry." The usually silent meshing bank sounded abashed. "We weren't +prepared for that. Some sort of thought wave is issuing from the opening +and it disrupted the group mesh till we were able to take it into +calculation and rebuild the mesh around it." + +"Thought wave? Then there _are_ Rell in that thing." + +"Do not compute before the mesh is set," the interpretive bank +cautioned. "The presence of Rell, while extremely probable, is not yet +entirely certain." + +Without waiting for a suggestion from elsewhere the disciplinary group +ordered the entire mind forward. + +Perhaps, in time of stress, dormant qualities tend to emerge, +Raeillo/ee13 mused. Certainly everyone, himself included, appeared to be +exercising speculative qualities. Not that specialization isn't a +marvelous blessing, he hastily added, in case the disciplinary corps +might be scanning his bank. But the disciplinary corps itself was as +fascinated by the phenomenon ahead as Raeillo/ee13. + +Emerging from the infinitely huge upright thing was a mobile being, also +infinitely huge. Not that they were the same size. The mobile one was +small enough to fit easily through the opening in the lower portion of +the larger. But beyond a certain point words lose meaning and infinitely +huge was the closest measurement the tiny Rell could find for either the +upright pointed thing or the knobby one which had emerged and was +quickly identified as the source of the disrupting thought patterns. + + * * * * * + +Leonard Brown was enjoying himself thoroughly. The inside of a space +suit can scarcely be termed comfortable but at least you can move around +in it and Brown was making the most of this sensation after two months +cramped in his tiny cell. He was, in fact, comporting himself much as a +three-year-old might have done after a similar release. + +But before long he settled down to the serious business of observing and +mentally recording everything in sight. + +There were none of the mysterious 'canals' in view, which was +disappointing; one piece of glamour the publicity boys would necessarily +forego until the next trip. The ice cap itself, if such it could be +called, was almost equally disappointing. On Earth it would have been +dismissed as a mere frost patch, if this section was typical. For a +radius of many yards the ground was blasted bare by the action of the +exhaust and nowhere in sight did there appear to be more than the +flimsiest covering of white over the brown sandy soil. + +"Not even lichens," muttered Brown in disgust. + +But disgust cannot long stand against the magic of a fresh new planet +and Brown continued his avid, though barren, search until hunger forced +his return to the ship. He had been able to detect no life and was +completely unaware of his close proximity to the planet's dominant +species. It had been considered neither practical nor particularly +desirable to build a microscope into the space suit. Simplicity and the +least possible weight had been the watchwords here as with everything +designed to go aboard the ship. + +In any case, a microscope would have done Brown little good in trying to +detect the submicroscopic beings of the Rell. + + +The Rell, who had somewhat lost their fear of Brown, hastily retreated +when they saw him returning to the still awesome ship. + +"But are you _sure_ he's _completely_ self-powered?" the speculative +bank queried. "No Rell inside him at all?" + +"There are many Rell-like beings in various parts of him," replied the +interpretive bank. "Some help digest his food, others are predators, and +still others their enemies. But most are too big and clumsy to have +developed intelligence, and even the small ones appear completely +mindless." + +"But where do the thought waves come from? We all felt them." + +"It's hard to accept but we are almost forced to conclude they are +emanating from the mobile unit itself, or rather from the living part +within the cocoon." + +"You're positive they aren't the product of some of the Rell-beings +inside?" + +"Almost positive. The mesh insists not. In fact, it claims this is an +un-Rell like type of intelligence, though that appears to be a +contradiction in terms. The thought pattern is completely outside our +experience. In fact, it is so alien we haven't broken it down yet to the +meaning behind it." + +"But if the Rell inside are too large to have developed intelligence, +how could this gigantic monster in which they live have done so?" + +"We cannot yet say. Remember, the theory that intelligence cannot +develop in creatures above a certain size is unproven, even though never +before challenged. We've watched other races die through failure to +adapt to change so apparently it is true of Rell-like creatures on this +world. But who can say about organisms on another world or of the +unprecedented size of this one? Completely different physical laws may +apply." + +It was later that afternoon after the Rell had spent much time observing +Brown while Brown was busy observing the landscape that the interpretive +bank made the triumphant announcement, "We have it! We've broken the +thought waves down to their meanings and know what he's thinking. What +would you like to know first?" + +"Check and see if there are any Rell inside the other thing or on his +home world. They might have constructed him." + +"Apparently there are none, or at least no intelligent Rell, on his +world. We can't guide his mind but the memory bank recorded all the +thoughts we've received and some time ago he was thinking of something +he termed 'vermin'. Apparently these are sometimes Rell-like creatures, +although far larger. He regards them as a great nuisance, but mindless. +The big thing, by the way, he calls a 'ship' and it is utterly lifeless. +We needn't fear the flame until this creature leaves." + +"What about him? What is he like?" + +"That's the most exciting part! He thought of his bodily needs once and +we glimpsed a concept dealing with his physical construction. It's +incredible! His body is composed almost entirely of water ... there's +enough water in him alone to prolong the life of the Rell many ages. +Further, the air in his 'ship' is heavily impregnated with moisture and +he even has reserve supplies of water for his needs." + + +At this, not only Raeillo/ee13, but all except perhaps the most +responsible units felt a shiver of primitive longing and perhaps even +greed. Not for millennia had there been such a plentitude of water so +close! + +"Then can't we appropriate at least part of it?" asked the speculative +bank. + +"Unfortunately both the 'man', as he calls himself, and his 'ship' are +sealed so tightly that we could not penetrate either. Worse yet, almost +half his time here is already gone. We don't quite understand his +purpose here. His thoughts seem to say he is searching for Rell for some +unfathomable reason yet he seems to know nothing of the Rell and cannot +even detect us." + + * * * * * + +It was the next day when the time was almost all gone that the two big +discoveries were made. During a routine check, the mesh came across a +thought of the man's return and a visualization of his home world. It +was so startling that the interpretive bank was recalled from its effort +to try to devise a means through the spacesuit and set at the new +problem. + +A hasty check of the man's subconscious thoughts revealed the big news. +"Do you know," the interpretive bank announced, "not only does this +being's home world have a moist atmosphere like that in his ship but two +thirds of the surface of his world is _liquid water_!" + +Even the speculative bank was silent for a full two seconds after this +news. Then a hasty impulse was sent to the disciplinary corps and the +entire mind called into action. An extreme emergency upon which the fate +of the race hinged called for the utmost effort by even the humblest +members of the group. + +The Rell worked diligently and many blind alleys were explored, but it +was not for some time that anyone thought of enquiring of the +not-too-bright feeding bank how they were managing to keep the mind +operating at considerably more than normal power with no frost within +feeding distance. + +"We're taking moisture from the air," was the answer. + +"Where is the moisture coming from?" the interpretive bank was asked. + +The answer didn't take long. Rapid measurements supplied it. "Some of it +is vaporized frost but that wouldn't be enough for our needs. The only +other possibility is that moisture must be seeping away from either the +man or his ship despite his sureness that they were both airtight and +our own investigations which confirmed it." + +They had maintained a cautious distance from the ship for the most part +despite the interpretive bank's assurance of no immediate danger. But +now they swarmed over both it and the spacesuit determined to detect the +leak. + +They found none. + +And now the man was returning to his ship. + +"This is the last time," the mesh warned. It was now or never. + +For a second there was conflict over control of the circuits to the +disciplinary corps which carried with it command of the organism during +the emergency. The speculative bank customarily assumed this +responsibility, but a slight schism had developed between it and the +interpretive bank. The latter's greater age and skill came into play and +victory was quickly won. + +From the disciplinary corps came the order, "Stay close to the 'man'." + +The interpretive bank explained, "He breathes the air so he'll have to +get to it some way." + +The defeated speculative bank maintained a sulky silence. + +Thus it was that the entire mind of the Rell rode into the interior of +the ship through the airlock while clustered around Brown. + +The Rell had grasped that the man lived and traveled inside his ship and +the necessity for it to be airtight. But so desperate were the two +races' needs that the necessity for an airlock and the consequent slight +seepage each time it was used had not occurred to even the interpretive +bank. + +Inside, many Rell, suddenly intoxicated by the heady moisture-laden air, +commenced uniting with each other then splitting away, each such union +resulting in another unit of Rell, naturally. The interpretive bank +again seized control. + +"Stop it! Stop it this instant!" it snapped. "Reproduction must be kept +to the former minimum for now. That is a firm order." + +Reluctantly the process was halted. The interpretive bank explained, "It +would not take long for us to use up the entire supply of water if we +indulged in uncontrolled reproduction. That might endanger the whole +trip." + +"What do we do now?" the speculative bank finally asked. + +"There is no way of knowing positively whether the man uses this same +atmosphere until he returns to his world or not. For our own safety it +would seem best, since Rell-like creatures already inhabit him, that we +join them. If any place is safe it will be his interior. And there is +plenty of moisture within to sustain us. But we must be good parasites," +the interpretive bank warned. "Remember, no undue reproduction no matter +how many quarts of moisture seem to be going to waste inside this 'man'. +He may need it himself and if he does not survive the ship might not +complete its trip." + +Brown was just emerging from his space suit so the Rell chose his +closest available body opening and flowed as a group into his mouth and +nostrils. + +"Ahchoo!" sneezed Brown, violently evicting half the Rell. + +They re-entered a bit more cautiously in order not to irritate the +sensitive membrane again. + +"Dammit," said Brown, "don't tell me I've caught a cold clear out here +on Mars. Hope I didn't pick up any Martian germs." + +But he needn't have worried. By the time he reached Earth he was far +less germ-ridden, even if considerably more itchy on the exterior, than +when he'd left. The Rell were good at self defense and a surprising +number of mindless but voracious creatures in Brown's interior had been +eliminated. + +Brown dreaded having to give the news he carried but he needn't have. He +was a conquering hero. + +So much fuss was made over the first flight to Mars that Congress +promptly voted twice the appropriation for the second ship that the Air +Force had requested, despite strong opposition from the Navy and +headlines which read: + + NO LIFE ON MARS + +Actually, as it happened, the headlines were one hundred percent +correct, but they neglected to mention, chiefly because the headline +writers didn't know it, that there were now two races of intelligent +life on Earth. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Hitch Hikers, by Vernon L. McCain + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE HITCH HIKERS *** + +***** This file should be named 32284.txt or 32284.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/2/8/32284/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, David Wilson 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/32284.zip b/32284.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8d30c68 --- /dev/null +++ b/32284.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..f357473 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #32284 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/32284) |
