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diff --git a/32832-h/32832-h.htm b/32832-h/32832-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f8d7e4f --- /dev/null +++ b/32832-h/32832-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2088 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Piper in the Woods, by Philip K. Dick + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + h1,h2 {text-align: center;} + h1 {margin-top: 0;} + h2 {line-height: 1.5; font-weight: normal;} + hr {width: 45%; margin: 2em auto; visibility: hidden;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + img {border: none;} + a:link,a:visited {text-decoration: none;} + p.cap:first-letter {float: left; margin-right: .05em; padding-top: .05em; font-size: 300%; line-height: .8em; width: auto;} + .dcap {text-transform: uppercase;} + .bk1 {background: url("images/001.png") top left no-repeat; width: 600px; height: 433px; margin: 0 auto 2em; overflow: hidden;} + .bk2 {padding-bottom: 178px; padding-left: 305px;} + .figt {float: left; clear: left; margin: 15px; padding: 0; width: 138px;} + .trn {border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15%; min-height: 230px;} + .trn p {margin: 15px;} + .bk3 {margin: 0 auto 4em; width: 30em;} + .bk3 p {text-indent: 4em;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Piper in the Woods, by Philip K. Dick + +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: Piper in the Woods + +Author: Philip K. Dick + +Release Date: June 16, 2010 [EBook #32832] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PIPER IN THE WOODS *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="bk1"><div class="bk2"><h1>PIPER IN THE WOODS</h1> + +<h2><i>By<br /> +Philip K. Dick</i></h2></div></div> + +<div class="bk3"><p><b><big>Earth maintained an important garrison on +Asteroid Y-3. Now suddenly it was imperiled with +a biological impossibility—men becoming plants!</big></b></p></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">"Well</span>, Corporal Westerburg," +Doctor Henry Harris +said gently, "just why do you +think you're a plant?"</p> + +<p>As he spoke, Harris glanced down +again at the card on his desk. It +was from the Base Commander himself, +made out in Cox's heavy +scrawl: <i>Doc, this is the lad I told +you about. Talk to him and +try to find out how he got this delusion. +He's from the new Garrison, +the new check-station on Asteroid +Y-3, and we don't want +anything to go wrong there. Especially +a silly damn thing like this!</i></p> + +<p>Harris pushed the card aside and +stared back up at the youth across +the desk from him. The young +man seemed ill at ease and appeared +to be avoiding answering the question +Harris had put to him. Harris +frowned. Westerburg was a good-looking +chap, actually handsome in +his Patrol uniform, a shock of blond +hair over one eye. He was tall, almost +six feet, a fine healthy lad, +just two years out of Training, according +to the card. Born in Detroit. +Had measles when he was +nine. Interested in jet engines, +tennis, and girls. Twenty-six years +old.</p> + +<p>"Well, Corporal Westerburg," +Doctor Harris said again. "Why do +you think you're a plant?"</p> + +<p>The Corporal looked up shyly. +He cleared his throat. "Sir, I <i>am</i> +a plant, I don't just think so. I've +been a plant for several days, now."</p> + +<p>"I see." The Doctor nodded. "You +mean that you weren't always a +plant?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir. I just became a plant +recently."</p> + +<p>"And what were you before you +became a plant?"</p> + +<p>"Well, sir, I was just like the +rest of you."</p> + +<p>There was silence. Doctor Harris +took up his pen and scratched a +few lines, but nothing of importance +came. A plant? And such a healthy-looking +lad! Harris removed +his steel-rimmed glasses and polished +them with his handkerchief. He +put them on again and leaned back +in his chair. "Care for a cigarette, +Corporal?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir."</p> + +<p>The Doctor lit one himself, resting +his arm on the edge of the +chair. "Corporal, you must realize +that there are very few men who +become plants, especially on such +short notice. I have to admit you +are the first person who has ever +told me such a thing."</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I realize it's quite rare."</p> + +<p>"You can understand why I'm interested, +then. When you say you're +a plant, you mean you're not capable +of mobility? Or do you mean +you're a vegetable, as opposed to an +animal? Or just what?"</p> + +<p>The Corporal looked away. "I +can't tell you any more," he murmured. +"I'm sorry, sir."</p> + +<p>"Well, would you mind telling me +<i>how</i> you became a plant?"</p> + +<p>Corporal Westerburg hesitated. +He stared down at the floor, then +out the window at the spaceport, +then at a fly on the desk. At last +he stood up, getting slowly to his +feet. "I can't even tell you that, +sir," he said.</p> + +<p>"You can't? Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Because—because I promised +not to."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> room was silent. Doctor +Harris rose, too, and they both +stood facing each other. Harris +frowned, rubbing his jaw. "Corporal, +just <i>who</i> did you promise?"</p> + +<p>"I can't even tell you that, sir. +I'm sorry."</p> + +<p>The Doctor considered this. At +last he went to the door and opened +it. "All right, Corporal. You may +go now. And thanks for your time."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry I'm not more helpful." +The Corporal went slowly out and +Harris closed the door after him. +Then he went across his office to +the vidphone. He rang Commander +Cox's letter. A moment later the +beefy good-natured face of the Base +Commander appeared.</p> + +<p>"Cox, this is Harris. I talked to +him, all right. All I could get is +the statement that he's a plant. +What else is there? What kind of +behavior pattern?"</p> + +<p>"Well," Cox said, "the first thing +they noticed was that he wouldn't +do any work. The Garrison Chief +reported that this Westerburg would +wander off outside the Garrison and +just sit, all day long. Just sit."</p> + +<p>"In the sun?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. Just sit in the sun. Then +at nightfall he would come back in. +When they asked why he wasn't +working in the jet repair building +he told them he had to be out in +the sun. Then he said—" Cox hesitated.</p> + +<p>"Yes? Said what?"</p> + +<p>"He said that work was unnatural. +That it was a waste of time. That +the only worthwhile thing was to sit +and contemplate—outside."</p> + +<p>"What then?"</p> + +<p>"Then they asked him how he got +that idea, and then he revealed to +them that he had become a plant."</p> + +<p>"I'm going to have to talk to +him again, I can see," Harris said. +"And he's applied for a permanent +discharge from the Patrol? What +reason did he give?"</p> + +<p>"The same, that he's a plant now, +and has no more interest in being +a Patrolman. All he wants to do is +sit in the sun. It's the damnedest +thing I ever heard."</p> + +<p>"All right. I think I'll visit him +in his quarters." Harris looked at +his watch. "I'll go over after dinner."</p> + +<p>"Good luck," Cox said gloomily. +"But who ever heard of a man +turning into a plant? We told him +it wasn't possible, but he just smiled +at us."</p> + +<p>"I'll let you know how I make +out," Harris said.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Harris</span> walked slowly down the +hall. It was after six; the +evening meal was over. A dim concept +was coming into his mind, +but it was much too soon to be sure. +He increased his pace, turning right +at the end of the hall. Two nurses +passed, hurrying by. Westerburg +was quartered with a buddy, a man +who had been injured in a jet blast +and who was now almost recovered. +Harris came to the dorm wing and +stopped, checking the numbers on +the doors.</p> + +<p>"Can I help you, sir?" the robot +attendant said, gliding up.</p> + +<p>"I'm looking for Corporal Westerburg's +room."</p> + +<p>"Three doors to the right."</p> + +<p>Harris went on. Asteroid Y-3 had +only recently been garrisoned and +staffed. It had become the primary +check-point to halt and examine +ships entering the system from outer +space. The Garrison made sure +that no dangerous bacteria, fungus, +or what-not arrived to infect the +system. A nice asteroid it was, +warm, well-watered, with trees and +lakes and lots of sunlight. And the +most modern Garrison in the nine +planets. He shook his head, coming +to the third door. He stopped, raising +his hand and knocking.</p> + +<p>"Who's there?" sounded through +the door.</p> + +<p>"I want to see Corporal Westerburg."</p> + +<p>The door opened. A bovine +youth with horn-rimmed glasses +looked out, a book in his hand. +"Who are you?"</p> + +<p>"Doctor Harris."</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, sir. Corporal Westerburg +is asleep."</p> + +<p>"Would he mind if I woke him +up? I want very much to talk to +him." Harris peered inside. He +could see a neat room, with a desk, +a rug and lamp, and two bunks. On +one of the bunks was Westerburg, +lying face up, his arms folded across +his chest, his eyes tightly closed.</p> + +<p>"Sir," the bovine youth said, "I'm +afraid I can't wake him up for +you, much as I'd like to."</p> + +<p>"You can't? Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Sir, Corporal Westerburg won't +wake up, not after the sun sets. He +just won't. He can't be wakened."</p> + +<p>"Cataleptic? Really?"</p> + +<p>"But in the morning, as soon as +the sun comes up, he leaps out of +bed and goes outside. Stays the +whole day."</p> + +<p>"I see," the Doctor said. "Well, +thanks anyhow." He went back +out into the hall and the door shut +after him. "There's more to this +than I realized," he murmured. He +went on back the way he had come.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">It</span> was a warm sunny day. The +sky was almost free of +clouds and a gentle wind moved +through the cedars along the bank +of the stream. There was a path +leading from the hospital building +down the slope to the stream. At +the stream a small bridge led over +to the other side, and a few patients +were standing on the bridge, wrapped +in their bathrobes, looking aimlessly +down at the water.</p> + +<p>It took Harris several minutes to +find Westerburg. The youth was +not with the other patients, near or +around the bridge. He had gone +farther down, past the cedar trees +and out onto a strip of bright meadow, +where poppies and grass grew +everywhere. He was sitting on the +stream bank, on a flat grey stone, +leaning back and staring up, his +mouth open a little. He did not +notice the Doctor until Harris was +almost beside him.</p> + +<p>"Hello," Harris said softly.</p> + +<p>Westerburg opened his eyes, looking +up. He smiled and got slowly +to his feet, a graceful, flowing motion +that was rather surprising for +a man of his size. "Hello, Doctor. +What brings you out here?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing. Thought I'd get some +sun."</p> + +<p>"Here, you can share my rock." +Westerburg moved over and Harris +sat down gingerly, being careful not +to catch his trousers on the sharp +edges of the rock. He lit a cigarette +and gazed silently down at the water. +Beside him, Westerburg had +resumed his strange position, leaning +back, resting on his hands, staring +up with his eyes shut tight.</p> + +<p>"Nice day," the Doctor said.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Do you come here every day?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"You like it better out here than +inside."</p> + +<p>"I can't stay inside," Westerburg +said.</p> + +<p>"You can't? How do you mean, +'can't'?"</p> + +<p>"You would die without <i>air</i>, +wouldn't you?" the Corporal said.</p> + +<p>"And you'd die without sunlight?"</p> + +<p>Westerburg nodded.</p> + +<p>"Corporal, may I ask you something? +Do you plan to do this the +rest of your life, sit out in the sun +on a flat rock? Nothing else?"</p> + +<p>Westerburg nodded.</p> + +<p>"How about your job? You went +to school for years to become a Patrolman. +You wanted to enter the +Patrol very badly. You were given +a fine rating and a first-class position. +How do you feel, giving all +that up? You know, it won't be +easy to get back in again. Do you +realize that?"</p> + +<p>"I realize it."</p> + +<p>"And you're really going to give +it all up?"</p> + +<p>"That's right."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Harris</span> was silent for a while. +At last he put his cigarette out +and turned toward the youth. "All +right, let's say you give up your +job and sit in the sun. Well, what +happens, then? Someone else has +to do the job instead of you. Isn't +that true? The job has to be done, +<i>your</i> job has to be done. And if +you don't do it someone else has to."</p> + +<p>"I suppose so."</p> + +<p>"Westerburg, suppose everyone +felt the way you do? Suppose everyone +wanted to sit in the sun +all day? What would happen? No +one would check ships coming from +outer space. Bacteria and toxic +crystals would enter the system and +cause mass death and suffering. +Isn't that right?"</p> + +<p>"If everyone felt the way I do +they wouldn't be going into outer +space."</p> + +<p>"But they have to. They have to +trade, they have to get minerals and +products and new plants."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"To keep society going."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Well—" Harris gestured. "People +couldn't live without society."</p> + +<p>Westerburg said nothing to that. +Harris watched him, but the youth +did not answer.</p> + +<p>"Isn't that right?" Harris said.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps. It's a peculiar business, +Doctor. You know, I struggled for +years to get through Training. I +had to work and pay my own way. +Washed dishes, worked in kitchens. +Studied at night, learned, crammed, +worked on and on. And you know +what I think, now?"</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"I wish I'd become a plant earlier."</p> + +<p>Doctor Harris stood up. "Westerburg, +when you come inside, will +you stop off at my office? I want +to give you a few tests, if you don't +mind."</p> + +<p>"The shock box?" Westerburg +smiled. "I knew that would be +coming around. Sure, I don't mind."</p> + +<p>Nettled, Harris left the rock, +walking back up the bank a short +distance. "About three, Corporal?"</p> + +<p>The Corporal nodded.</p> + +<p>Harris made his way up the hill, +to the path, toward the hospital +building. The whole thing was beginning +to become more clear to +him. A boy who had struggled all his +life. Financial insecurity. Idealized +goal, getting a Patrol assignment. +Finally reached it, found the load +too great. And on Asteroid Y-3 there +was too much vegetation to look at +all day. Primitive identification and +projection on the flora of the asteroid. +Concept of security involved +in immobility and permanence. Unchanging +forest.</p> + +<p>He entered the building. A robot +orderly stopped him almost at +once. "Sir, Commander Cox wants +you urgently, on the vidphone."</p> + +<p>"Thanks." Harris strode to his +office. He dialed Cox's letter and +the Commander's face came presently +into focus. "Cox? This is +Harris. I've been out talking to the +boy. I'm beginning to get this +lined up, now. I can see the pattern, +too much load too long. Finally +gets what he wants and the +idealization shatters under the—"</p> + +<p>"Harris!" Cox barked. "Shut up +and listen. I just got a report from +Y-3. They're sending an express +rocket here. It's on the way."</p> + +<p>"An express rocket?"</p> + +<p>"Five more cases like Westerburg. +All say they're plants! The Garrison +Chief is worried as hell. Says +we <i>must</i> find out what it is or the +Garrison will fall apart, right away. +Do you get me, Harris? Find out +what it is!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," Harris murmured. +"Yes, sir."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">By</span> the end of the week there +were twenty cases, and all, of +course, were from Asteroid Y-3.</p> + +<p>Commander Cox and Harris stood +together at the top of the hill, looking +gloomily down at the stream below. +Sixteen men and four women +sat in the sun along the bank, none +of them moving, none speaking. An +hour had gone by since Cox and +Harris appeared, and in all that +time the twenty people below had +not stirred.</p> + +<p>"I don't get it," Cox said, shaking +his head. "I just absolutely +don't get it. Harris, is this the beginning +of the end? Is everything +going to start cracking around us? +It gives me a hell of a strange feeling +to see those people down there, +basking away in the sun, just sitting +and basking."</p> + +<p>"Who's that man there with the +red hair?"</p> + +<p>"That's Ulrich Deutsch. He was +Second in Command at the Garrison. +Now look at him! Sits and +dozes with his mouth open and his +eyes shut. A week ago that man +was climbing, going right up to the +top. When the Garrison Chief retires +he was supposed to take over. +Maybe another year, at the most. +All his life he's been climbing to get +up there."</p> + +<p>"And now he sits in the sun," +Harris finished.</p> + +<p>"That woman. The brunette, +with the short hair. Career woman. +Head of the entire office staff of +the Garrison. And the man beside +her. Janitor. And that cute little +gal there, with the bosom. Secretary, +just out of school. All kinds. +And I got a note this morning, +three more coming in sometime today."</p> + +<p>Harris nodded. "The strange thing +is—they really <i>want</i> to sit down +there. They're completely rational; +they could do something else, but +they just don't care to."</p> + +<p>"Well?" Cox said. "What are +you going to do? Have you found +anything? We're counting on you. +Let's hear it."</p> + +<p>"I couldn't get anything out of +them directly," Harris said, "but +I've had some interesting results +with the shock box. Let's go inside +and I'll show you."</p> + +<p>"Fine," Cox turned and started +toward the hospital. "Show me anything +you've got. This is serious. +Now I know how Tiberius felt +when Christianity showed up in high +places."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Harris</span> snapped off the light. +The room was pitch black. +"I'll run this first reel for you. The +subject is one of the best biologists +stationed at the Garrison. Robert +Bradshaw. He came in yesterday. +I got a good run from the shock +box because Bradshaw's mind is so +highly differentiated. There's a lot +of repressed material of a non-rational +nature, more than usual."</p> + +<p>He pressed a switch. The projector +whirred, and on the far wall +a three-dimensional image appeared +in color, so real that it might +have been the man himself. Robert +Bradshaw was a man of fifty, heavy-set, +with iron grey hair and a +square jaw. He sat in the chair +calmly, his hands resting on the +arms, oblivious to the electrodes attached +to his neck and wrist. "There +I go," Harris said. "Watch."</p> + +<p>His film-image appeared, approaching +Bradshaw. "Now, Mr. +Bradshaw," his image said, "this +won't hurt you at all, and it'll help +us a lot." The image rotated the +controls on the shock box. Bradshaw +stiffened, and his jaw set, but otherwise +he gave no sign. The image of +Harris regarded him for a time and +then stepped away from the controls.</p> + +<p>"Can you hear me, Mr. Bradshaw?" +the image asked.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"What is your name?"</p> + +<p>"Robert C. Bradshaw."</p> + +<p>"What is your position?"</p> + +<p>"Chief Biologist at the check-station +on Y-3."</p> + +<p>"Are you there now?"</p> + +<p>"No, I'm back on Terra. In a +hospital."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Because I admitted to the Garrison +Chief that I had become a +plant."</p> + +<p>"Is that true? That you are a +plant."</p> + +<p>"Yes, in a non-biological sense. +I retain the physiology of a human +being, of course."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean, then, that +you're a plant?"</p> + +<p>"The reference is to attitudinal response, +to Weltanschauung."</p> + +<p>"Go on."</p> + +<p>"It is possible for a warm-blooded +animal, an upper primate, to +adopt the psychology of a plant, to +some extent."</p> + +<p>"Yes?"</p> + +<p>"I refer to this."</p> + +<p>"And the others? They refer to +this also?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"How did this occur, your adopting +this attitude?"</p> + +<p>Bradshaw's image hesitated, the +lips twisting. "See?" Harris said +to Cox. "Strong conflict. He +wouldn't have gone on, if he had +been fully conscious."</p> + +<p>"I—"</p> + +<p>"Yes?"</p> + +<p>"I was taught to become a plant."</p> + +<p>The image of Harris showed surprise +and interest. "What do you +mean, you were <i>taught</i> to become a +plant?"</p> + +<p>"They realized my problems and +taught me to become a plant. Now +I'm free from them, the problems."</p> + +<p>"Who? Who taught you?"</p> + +<p>"The Pipers."</p> + +<p>"Who? The Pipers? Who are +the Pipers?"</p> + +<p>There was no answer.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Bradshaw, who are the Pipers?"</p> + +<p>After a long, agonized pause, the +heavy lips parted. "They live in +the woods...."</p> + +<p>Harris snapped off the projector, +and the lights came on. He and +Cox blinked. "That was all I could +get," Harris said. "But I was lucky +to get that. He wasn't supposed to +tell, not at all. That was the thing +they all promised not to do, tell +who taught them to become plants. +The Pipers who live in the woods, +on Asteroid Y-3."</p> + +<p>"You got this story from all +twenty?"</p> + +<p>"No." Harris grimaced. "Most +of them put up too much fight. I +couldn't even get <i>this</i> much from +them."</p> + +<p>Cox reflected. "The Pipers. Well? +What do you propose to do? Just +wait around until you can get the +full story? Is that your program?"</p> + +<p>"No," Harris said. "Not at all. +I'm going to Y-3 and find out who +the Pipers are, myself."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> small patrol ship made its +landing with care and precision, +its jets choking into final silence. +The hatch slid back and Doctor +Henry Harris found himself staring +out at a field, a brown, sun-baked +landing field. At the end of the +field was a tall signal tower. Around +the field on all sides were long grey +buildings, the Garrison check-station +itself. Not far off a huge Venusian +cruiser was parked, a vast +green hulk, like an enormous lime. +The technicians from the station +were swarming all over it, checking +and examining each inch of it for +lethal life-forms and poisons that +might have attached themselves to +the hull.</p> + +<p>"All out, sir," the pilot said.</p> + +<p>Harris nodded. He took hold +of his two suitcases and stepped +carefully down. The ground was +hot underfoot, and he blinked in +the bright sunlight. Jupiter was in +the sky, and the vast planet reflected +considerable sunlight down onto +the asteroid.</p> + +<p>Harris started across the field, +carrying his suitcases. A field attendant +was already busy opening +the storage compartment of the patrol +ship, extracting his trunk. The +attendant lowered the trunk into a +waiting dolly and came after him, +manipulating the little truck with +bored skill.</p> + +<p>As Harris came to the entrance +of the signal tower the gate slid +back and a man came forward, an +older man, large and robust, with +white hair and a steady walk.</p> + +<p>"How are you, Doctor?" he said, +holding his hand out. "I'm Lawrence +Watts, the Garrison Chief."</p> + +<p>They shook hands. Watts smiled +down at Harris. He was a huge +old man, still regal and straight in +his dark blue uniform, with his +gold epaulets sparkling on his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Have a good trip?" Watts asked. +"Come on inside and I'll have a +drink fixed for you. It gets hot +around here, with the Big Mirror up +there."</p> + +<p>"Jupiter?" Harris followed him +inside the building. The signal +tower was cool and dark, a welcome +relief. "Why is the gravity so near +Terra's? I expected to go flying +off like a kangaroo. Is it artificial?"</p> + +<p>"No. There's a dense core of +some kind to the asteroid, some kind +of metallic deposit. That's why we +picked this asteroid out of all the +others. It made the construction +problem much simpler, and it also +explains why the asteroid has natural +air and water. Did you see +the hills?"</p> + +<p>"The hills?"</p> + +<p>"When we get up higher in the +tower we'll be able to see over the +buildings. There's quite a natural +park here, a regular little forest, +complete with everything you'd +want. Come in here, Harris. This +is my office." The old man strode +at quite a clip, around the corner +and into a large, well-furnished +apartment. "Isn't this pleasant? I +intend to make my last year here +as amiable as possible." He frowned. +"Of course, with Deutsch gone, I +may be here forever. Oh, well." He +shrugged. "Sit down, Harris."</p> + +<p>"Thanks." Harris took a chair, +stretching his legs out. He watched +Watts as he closed the door to the +hall. "By the way, any more cases +come up?"</p> + +<p>"Two more today," Watts was +grim. "Makes almost thirty, in all. +We have three hundred men in this +station. At the rate it's going—"</p> + +<p>"Chief, you spoke about a forest +on the asteroid. Do you allow the +crew to go into the forest at will? +Or do you restrict them to the +buildings and grounds?"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Watts</span> rubbed his jaw. "Well, +it's a difficult situation, +Harris. I have to let the men leave +the grounds sometimes. They can +<i>see</i> the forest from the buildings, +and as long as you can see a nice +place to stretch out and relax that +does it. Once every ten days they +have a full period of rest. Then +they go out and fool around."</p> + +<p>"And then it happens?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I suppose so. But as long +as they can see the forest they'll +want to go. I can't help it."</p> + +<p>"I know. I'm not censuring you. +Well, what's your theory? What +happens to them out there? What +do they do?"</p> + +<p>"What happens? Once they get +out there and take it easy for +a while they don't want to come back +and work. It's boondoggling. Playing +hookey. They don't want to +work, so off they go."</p> + +<p>"How about this business of their +delusions?"</p> + +<p>Watts laughed good-naturedly. +"Listen, Harris. You know as well +as I do that's a lot of poppycock. +They're no more plants than you or +I. They just don't want to work, +that's all. When I was a cadet we +had a few ways to make people +work. I wish we could lay a few on +their backs, like we used to."</p> + +<p>"You think this is simple goldbricking, +then?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you think it is?"</p> + +<p>"No," Harris said. "They really +believe they're plants. I put them +through the high-frequency shock +treatment, the shock box. The whole +nervous system is paralyzed, all inhibitions +stopped cold. They tell +the truth, then. And they said the +same thing—and more."</p> + +<p>Watts paced back and forth, his +hands clasped behind his back. +"Harris, you're a doctor, and I +suppose you know what you're talking +about. But look at the situation +here. We have a garrison, a +good modern garrison. We're probably +the most modern outfit in the +system. Every new device and gadget +is here that science can produce. +Harris, this garrison is one vast machine. +The men are parts, and +each has his job, the Maintenance +Crew, the Biologists, the Office +Crew, the Managerial Staff.</p> + +<p>"Look what happens when one +person steps away from his job. +Everything else begins to creak. We +can't service the bugs if no one services +the machines. We can't order +food to feed the crews if no one +makes out reports, takes inventories. +We can't direct any kind of activity +if the Second in Command decides +to go out and sit in the sun all day.</p> + +<p>"Thirty people, one tenth of the +Garrison. But we can't run without +them. The Garrison is built +that way. If you take the supports +out the whole building falls. No +one can leave. We're all tied here, +and these people know it. They +know they have no right to do that, +run off on their own. No one has +that right anymore. We're all too +tightly interwoven to suddenly +start doing what we want. It's unfair +to the rest, the majority."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Harris</span> nodded. "Chief, can I +ask you something?"</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"Are there any inhabitants on the +asteroid? Any natives?"</p> + +<p>"Natives?" Watts considered. +"Yes, there's some kind of aborigines +living out there." He waved +vaguely toward the window.</p> + +<p>"What are they like? Have you +seen them?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I've seen them. At least, I +saw them when we first came here. +They hung around for a while, +watching us, then after a time they +disappeared."</p> + +<p>"Did they die off? Diseases of +some kind?"</p> + +<p>"No. They just—just disappeared. +Into their forest. They're +still there, someplace."</p> + +<p>"What kind of people are they?"</p> + +<p>"Well, the story is that they're +originally from Mars. They don't +look much like Martians, though. +They're dark, a kind of coppery +color. Thin. Very agile, in their +own way. They hunt and fish. No +written language. We don't pay +much attention to them."</p> + +<p>"I see." Harris paused. "Chief, +have you ever heard of anything +called—The Pipers?"</p> + +<p>"The Pipers?" Watts frowned. +"No. Why?"</p> + +<p>"The patients mentioned something +called The Pipers. According +to Bradshaw, the Pipers taught him +to become a plant. He learned it +from them, a kind of teaching."</p> + +<p>"The Pipers. What are they?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," Harris admitted. +"I thought maybe you might know. +My first assumption, of course, was +that they're the natives. But now +I'm not so sure, not after hearing +your description of them."</p> + +<p>"The natives are primitive savages. +They don't have anything to +teach anybody, especially a top-flight +biologist."</p> + +<p>Harris hesitated. "Chief, I'd like +to go into the woods and look +around. Is that possible?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly. I can arrange it for +you. I'll give you one of the men +to show you around."</p> + +<p>"I'd rather go alone. Is there +any danger?"</p> + +<p>"No, none that I know of. Except—"</p> + +<p>"Except the Pipers," Harris finished. +"I know. Well, there's only +one way to find them, and that's it. +I'll have to take my chances."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">"If</span> you walk in a straight line," +Chief Watts said, "you'll find +yourself back at the Garrison in +about six hours. It's a damn small +asteroid. There's a couple of +streams and lakes, so don't fall in."</p> + +<p>"How about snakes or poisonous +insects?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing like that reported. We +did a lot of tramping around at +first, but it's grown back now, the +way it was. We never encountered +anything dangerous."</p> + +<p>"Thanks, Chief," Harris said. +They shook hands. "I'll see you before +nightfall."</p> + +<p>"Good luck." The Chief and his +two armed escorts turned and went +back across the rise, down the other +side toward the Garrison. Harris +watched them go until they disappeared +inside the building. Then +he turned and started into the grove +of trees.</p> + +<p>The woods were very silent around +him as he walked. Trees towered +up on all sides of him, huge dark-green +trees like eucalyptus. The +ground underfoot was soft with endless +leaves that had fallen and rotted +into soil. After a while the grove +of high trees fell behind and he +found himself crossing a dry meadow, +the grass and weeds burned +brown in the sun. Insects buzzed +around him, rising up from the +dry weed-stalks. Something scuttled +ahead, hurrying through the undergrowth. +He caught sight of a +grey ball with many legs, scampering +furiously, its antennae weaving.</p> + +<p>The meadow ended at the bottom +of a hill. He was going up, now, +going higher and higher. Ahead of +him an endless expanse of green +rose, acres of wild growth. He +scrambled to the top finally, blowing +and panting, catching his breath.</p> + +<p>He went on. Now he was going +down again, plunging into a deep +gully. Tall ferns grew, as large as +trees. He was entering a living +Jurassic forest, ferns that stretched +out endlessly ahead of him. Down +he went, walking carefully. The air +began to turn cold around him. +The floor of the gully was damp +and silent; underfoot the ground +was almost wet.</p> + +<p>He came out on a level table. It +was dark, with the ferns growing +up on all sides, dense growths of +ferns, silent and unmoving. He +came upon a natural path, an old +stream bed, rough and rocky, but +easy to follow. The air was thick +and oppressive. Beyond the ferns +he could see the side of the next +hill, a green field rising up.</p> + +<p>Something grey was ahead. Rocks, +piled-up boulders, scattered and +stacked here and there. The stream +bed led directly to them. Apparently +this had been a pool of some +kind, a stream emptying from it. He +climbed the first of the boulders +awkwardly, feeling his way up. At +the top he paused, resting again.</p> + +<p>As yet he had had no luck. So +far he had not met any of the natives. +It would be through them +that he would find the mysterious +Pipers that were stealing the men +away, if such really existed. If he +could find the natives, talk to them, +perhaps he could find out something. +But as yet he had been unsuccessful. +He looked around. The woods +were very silent. A slight breeze +moved through the ferns, rustling +them, but that was all. Where were +the natives? Probably they had a +settlement of some sort, huts, a +clearing. The asteroid was small; +he should be able to find them by +nightfall.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">He</span> started down the rocks. +More rocks rose up ahead and +he climbed them. Suddenly he +stopped, listening. Far off, he could +hear a sound, the sound of water. +Was he approaching a pool of some +kind? He went on again, trying +to locate the sound. He scrambled +down rocks and up rocks, and all +around him there was silence, except +for the splashing of distant water. +Maybe a waterfall, water in +motion. A stream. If he found +the stream he might find the natives.</p> + +<p>The rocks ended and the stream +bed began again, but this time it +was wet, the bottom muddy and +overgrown with moss. He was on +the right track; not too long ago +this stream had flowed, probably +during the rainy season. He went +up on the side of the stream, pushing +through the ferns and vines. A +golden snake slid expertly out of +his path. Something glinted ahead, +something sparkling through the +ferns. Water. A pool. He hurried, +pushing the vines aside and +stepping out, leaving them behind.</p> + +<p>He was standing on the edge of +a pool, a deep pool sunk in a hollow +of grey rocks, surrounded by +ferns and vines. The water was +clear and bright, and in motion, +flowing in a waterfall at the far +end. It was beautiful, and he +stood watching, marveling at it, the +undisturbed quality of it. Untouched, +it was. Just as it had +always been, probably. As long as +the asteroid existed. Was he the +first to see it? Perhaps. It was so +hidden, so concealed by the ferns. +It gave him a strange feeling, a feeling +almost of ownership. He stepped +down a little toward the water.</p> + +<p>And it was then he noticed her.</p> + +<p>The girl was sitting on the far +edge of the pool, staring down into +the water, resting her head on +one drawn-up knee. She had +been bathing; he could see that at +once. Her coppery body was still +wet and glistening with moisture, +sparkling in the sun. She had not +seen him. He stopped, holding his +breath, watching her.</p> + +<p>She was lovely, very lovely, with +long dark hair that wound around +her shoulders and arms. Her body +was slim, very slender, with a supple +grace to it that made him stare, +accustomed as he was to various +forms of anatomy. How silent she +was! Silent and unmoving, staring +down at the water. Time passed, +strange, unchanging time, as he +watched the girl. Time might even +have ceased, with the girl sitting on +the rock staring into the water, and +the rows of great ferns behind her, +as rigid as if they had been painted +there.</p> + +<p>All at once the girl looked up. +Harris shifted, suddenly conscious +of himself as an intruder. He stepped +back. "I'm sorry," he murmured. +"I'm from the Garrison. I +didn't mean to come poking around."</p> + +<p>She nodded without speaking.</p> + +<p>"You don't mind?" Harris asked +presently.</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>So she spoke Terran! He moved +a little toward her, around the side +of the pool. "I hope you don't +mind my bothering you. I won't +be on the asteroid very long. This +is my first day here. I just arrived +from Terra."</p> + +<p>She smiled faintly.</p> + +<p>"I'm a doctor. Henry Harris." +He looked down at her, at the slim +coppery body, gleaming in the sunlight, +a faint sheen of moisture on +her arms and thighs. "You might +be interested in why I'm here." He +paused. "Maybe you can even +help me."</p> + +<p>She looked up a little. "Oh?"</p> + +<p>"Would you like to help me?"</p> + +<p>She smiled. "Yes. Of course."</p> + +<p>"That's good. Mind if I sit +down?" He looked around and +found himself a flat rock. He sat +down slowly, facing her. "Cigarette?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'll have one." He lit up, +taking a deep breath. "You see, we +have a problem at the Garrison. +Something has been happening to +some of the men, and it seems to +be spreading. We have to find out +what causes it or we won't be able +to run the Garrison."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">He</span> waited for a moment. She +nodded slightly. How silent +she was! Silent and unmoving. +Like the ferns.</p> + +<p>"Well, I've been able to find out +a few things from them, and one +very interesting fact stands out. +They keep saying that something +called—called The Pipers are responsible +for their condition. They +say the Pipers taught them—" He +stopped. A strange look had flitted +across her dark, small face. "Do +you know the Pipers?"</p> + +<p>She nodded.</p> + +<p>Acute satisfaction flooded over +Harris. "You do? I was sure the +natives would know." He stood up +again. "I was sure they would, if +the Pipers really existed. Then they +do exist, do they?"</p> + +<p>"They exist."</p> + +<p>Harris frowned. "And they're +here, in the woods?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"I see." He ground his cigarette +out impatiently. "You don't +suppose there's any chance you +could take me to them, do you?"</p> + +<p>"Take you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. I have this problem and +I have to solve it. You see, the +Base Commander on Terra has assigned +this to me, this business about +the Pipers. It has to be solved. +And I'm the one assigned to the +job. So it's important to me to find +them. Do you see? Do you understand?"</p> + +<p>She nodded.</p> + +<p>"Well, will you take me to them?"</p> + +<p>The girl was silent. For a long +time she sat, staring down into the +water, resting her head against her +knee. Harris began to become impatient. +He fidgeted back and +forth, resting first on one leg and +then on the other.</p> + +<p>"Well, will you?" he said again. +"It's important to the whole Garrison. +What do you say?" He felt +around in his pockets. "Maybe I +could give you something. What +do I have...." He brought out +his lighter. "I could give you my +lighter."</p> + +<p>The girl stood up, rising slowly, +gracefully, without motion or effort. +Harris' mouth fell open. How supple +she was, gliding to her feet in a +single motion! He blinked. Without +effort she had stood, seemingly +without <i>change</i>. All at once she +was standing instead of sitting, +standing and looking calmly at him, +her small face expressionless.</p> + +<p>"Will you?" he said.</p> + +<p>"Yes. Come along." She turned +away, moving toward the row of +ferns.</p> + +<p>Harris followed quickly, stumbling +across the rocks. "Fine," he +said. "Thanks a lot. I'm very interested +to meet these Pipers. +Where are you taking me, to your +village? How much time do we +have before nightfall?"</p> + +<p>The girl did not answer. She had +entered the ferns already, and Harris +quickened his pace to keep from +losing her. How silently she glided!</p> + +<p>"Wait," he called. "Wait for +me."</p> + +<p>The girl paused, waiting for him, +slim and lovely, looking silently +back.</p> + +<p>He entered the ferns, hurrying after +her.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">"Well</span>, I'll be damned!" +Commander Cox said. "It +sure didn't take you long." He +leaped down the steps two at a time. +"Let me give you a hand."</p> + +<p>Harris grinned, lugging his heavy +suitcases. He set them down and +breathed a sigh of relief. "It isn't +worth it," he said. "I'm going to +give up taking so much."</p> + +<p>"Come on inside. Soldier, give +him a hand." A Patrolman hurried +over and took one of the suitcases. +The three men went inside and +down the corridor to Harris' quarters. +Harris unlocked the door and +the Patrolman deposited his suitcase +inside.</p> + +<p>"Thanks," Harris said. He set +the other down beside it. "It's +good to be back, even for a little +while."</p> + +<p>"A little while?"</p> + +<p>"I just came back to settle my affairs. +I have to return to Y-3 tomorrow +morning."</p> + +<p>"Then you didn't solve the problem?"</p> + +<p>"I solved it, but I haven't <i>cured</i> +it. I'm going back and get to work +right away. There's a lot to be +done."</p> + +<p>"But you found out what it is?"</p> + +<p>"Yes. It was just what the men +said. The Pipers."</p> + +<p>"The Pipers do exist?"</p> + +<p>"Yes." Harris nodded. "They do +exist." He removed his coat and +put it over the back of the chair. +Then he went to the window and let +it down. Warm spring air rushed +into the room. He settled himself +on the bed, leaning back.</p> + +<p>"The Pipers exist, all right—in +the minds of the Garrison crew! To +the crew, the Pipers are real. The +crew created them. It's a mass +hypnosis, a group projection, and +all the men there have it, to some +degree."</p> + +<p>"How did it start?"</p> + +<p>"Those men on Y-3 were sent +there because they were skilled, +highly-trained men with exceptional +ability. All their lives they've been +schooled by complex modern society, +fast tempo and high integration between +people. Constant pressure +toward some goal, some job to be +done.</p> + +<p>"Those men are put down suddenly +on an asteroid where there +are natives living the most primitive +of existence, completely vegetable +lives. No concept of goal, no concept +of purpose, and hence no ability +to plan. The natives live the way +the animals live, from day to day, +sleeping, picking food from the trees. +A kind of Garden-of-Eden existence, +without struggle or conflict."</p> + +<p>"So? But—"</p> + +<p>"Each of the Garrison crew sees +the natives and <i>unconsciously</i> thinks +of his own early life, when he was +a child, when <i>he</i> had no worries, +no responsibilities, before he joined +modern society. A baby lying in +the sun.</p> + +<p>"But he can't admit this to himself! +He can't admit that he might +<i>want</i> to live like the natives, to lie +and sleep all day. So he invents +The Pipers, the idea of a mysterious +group living in the woods who trap +him, lead him into their kind of +life. Then he can blame <i>them</i>, not +himself. They 'teach' him to become +a part of the woods."</p> + +<p>"What are you going to do? Have +the woods burned?"</p> + +<p>"No." Harris shook his head. +"That's not the answer; the woods +are harmless. The answer is psychotherapy +for the men. That's +why I'm going right back, so I can +begin work. They've got to be +made to see that the Pipers are inside +them, their own unconscious +voices calling to them to give up +their responsibilities. They've got +to be made to realize that there +are no Pipers, at least, not outside +themselves. The woods are harmless +and the natives have nothing to +teach anyone. They're primitive +savages, without even a written +language. We're seeing a psychological +projection by a whole Garrison +of men who want to lay down +their work and take it easy for +a while."</p> + +<p>The room was silent.</p> + +<p>"I see," Cox said presently. +"Well, it makes sense." He got to +his feet. "I hope you can do something +with the men when you get +back."</p> + +<p>"I hope so, too," Harris agreed. +"And I think I can. After all, it's +just a question of increasing their +self-awareness. When they have +that the Pipers will vanish."</p> + +<p>Cox nodded. "Well, you go +ahead with your unpacking, Doc. +I'll see you at dinner. And maybe +before you leave, tomorrow."</p> + +<p>"Fine."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Harris</span> opened the door and +the Commander went out into +the hall. Harris closed the door +after him and then went back across +the room. He looked out the window +for a moment, his hands in his +pockets.</p> + +<p>It was becoming evening, the air +was turning cool. The sun was just +setting as he watched, disappearing +behind the buildings of the city +surrounding the hospital. He watched +it go down.</p> + +<p>Then he went over to his two +suitcases. He was tired, very tired +from his trip. A great weariness +was beginning to descend over him. +There were so many things to do, +so terribly many. How could he +hope to do them all? Back to the +asteroid. And then what?</p> + +<p>He yawned, his eyes closing. How +sleepy he was! He looked over at +the bed. Then he sat down on the +edge of it and took his shoes off. +So much to do, the next day.</p> + +<p>He put his shoes in the corner +of the room. Then he bent over, +unsnapping one of the suitcases. +He opened the suitcase. From it he +took a bulging gunnysack. Carefully, +he emptied the contents of the +sack out on the floor. Dirt, rich +soft dirt. Dirt he had collected during +his last hours there, dirt he had +carefully gathered up.</p> + +<p>When the dirt was spread out +on the floor he sat down in the middle +of it. He stretched himself +out, leaning back. When he was +fully comfortable he folded his +hands across his chest and closed +his eyes. So much work to do—But +later on, of course. Tomorrow. +How warm the dirt was....</p> + +<p>He was sound asleep in a moment.</p> + +<div class="trn"><div class="figt"><a href="images/002-2.jpg"><img src="images/002-1.jpg" width="138" height="200" alt="" title="" /></a></div> + +<p><b>Transcriber's Note:</b></p> + +<p>This etext was produced from <i>Imagination: Stories of Science and Fantasy</i> February 1953. +Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. +copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and +typographical errors have been corrected without note.</p></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Piper in the Woods, by Philip K. 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