diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32885-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 416089 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32885-h/32885-h.htm | 1423 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32885-h/images/001.png | bin | 0 -> 353041 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32885-h/images/if1953-05-000.jpg | bin | 0 -> 62330 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32885.txt | 934 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32885.zip | bin | 0 -> 17437 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
9 files changed, 2373 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/32885-h.zip b/32885-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0729dfb --- /dev/null +++ b/32885-h.zip diff --git a/32885-h/32885-h.htm b/32885-h/32885-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..79cd15d --- /dev/null +++ b/32885-h/32885-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1423 @@ +<!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 Circle of Flight, by Richard E. Stockham. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; color: black; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .cap:first-letter {float: left; clear: left; margin: -0.2em 0.1em 0; margin-top: 0%; + padding: 0; line-height: .75em; font-size: 300%; text-align: justify;} + .cap {text-align: justify;} + + ins {text-decoration:none; border-bottom: thin dotted gray;} .tnote {border: + dashed 1px; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em;} + + .centerbox { width: 40%; /* heading box */ + margin: 0 auto; + text-align: center; + padding: 1em; + } + + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Circle of Flight, by Richard Stockham + +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: Circle of Flight + +Author: Richard Stockham + +Release Date: June 18, 2010 [EBook #32885] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CIRCLE OF FLIGHT *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Dianna Adair and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> +<img src="images/if1953-05-000.jpg" width="450" height="660" alt="A new novelette by the authur of THE EXPLORATION OF SPACE" title="" /> +<span class="caption"> </span> +</div> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"> +<img src="images/001.png" width="450" height="690" alt="A vengeful Thorus looks on a determined Aria - the twain meet here." title="" /> +<span class="caption"> </span> +</div> + + +<div class="centerbox"> +<p> +<i>Thorus, the vengeful, had determined</i> his <i>way. +Aria, the healer, had determined</i> her <i>way. Which +determined this classic meeting of the twain.</i></p> +</div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h1><a name="CIRCLE" id="CIRCLE"></a>CIRCLE <i>OF FLIGHT</i></h1> + +<h2>By Richard E. Stockham</h2> + +<h2>Illustrated by Ed Emsh</h2> + + +<div class='cap'>IT SEEMED they had argued +for years as they were arguing +tonight. The man paced back and +forth chain-smoking cigarettes; the +woman sat motionless, watching +him. They glanced at their watches +with fearful eyes. They heard, with +acutely alert ears, the goings and +comings of people in the hall; +heard the shattering blast of rockets +in the sky above the city. And +they argued.</div> + +<p>"So you're going through with +it tonight," he said heavily, "in +your own way."</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps I should stop you." He +crushed out his cigarette. "If the +police were to hear—"</p> + +<p>"No!" The word was thrown at +him. "I know you don't mean that. +But it's unworthy of you even to +say it." She covered her face with +nervous hands. "After all I <i>am</i> +your wife."</p> + +<p>He stood over her, his lips tight. +There was something of the fragile, +finely made puppet about her, he +thought, as though she had been +refashioned a hundred times by +some artisan seeking after perfect +delicacy and precision. He softened +momentarily.</p> + +<p>"Come with me then," he said.</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"Why? Why?"</p> + +<p>"Your way is <i>wrong</i>."</p> + +<p>"We're the last two leaders of +the opposition alive." His voice +came swiftly and low. "The authority's +beaten us. Their setup for killing, +imprisonment, bribery and +blackmail functions too well. Our +whole organization's been scattered +like matchsticks. The police are +closing in on us. We're finished<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +here on earth. We'll be lucky if +we're killed quickly." He waited a +moment for his words to take +effect. "We go along together that +far."</p> + +<p>She stood, clasping her hands. +"Of course. Of course."</p> + +<p>"Look. I know you've finished +that damned contraption of yours +that'll take you into the atoms. I +know you've been working on it +for years. But I've been working +too. My ship's been ready to take +off into super-space for two days. +But I haven't gone. I've been waiting +for you. To wait at a time like +this is to ask for death or worse. +Now I demand you give up this insane +idea of going into the atoms. +You've got to come with me."</p> + +<p>"I've told you I can't escape +with you out into the macrocosm. +It's not my <i>way</i>!"</p> + +<p>"The word 'escape' doesn't apply," +he snapped, "to what I'm doing. +<i>You're</i> escaping. You'll creep +into the microcosm and sit there +like a seed that won't grow. You +can't fight the Authority from the +microcosm. That way is utter passivity +and death. <i>My</i> way is fighting +back. I'm going into hyper-space. +My ship and I'll become so +huge and powerful I'll throw suns +around like snowballs. I'll toss +meteors around like grains of corn. +I'll upset gravities and warp time. +I'll stretch and straighten space. +I'll turn dimensions inside out—"</p> + +<p>"Yes. You'll destroy. You'll ruin +everything, you'll break the innocent +as well as the guilty."</p> + +<p>"I'll have to take that chance," +he said grimly. "But I'll destroy the +Authority and everything that goes +with it."</p> + +<p>She pulled from his grasp. "Violence +and destruction are not my +way. They never have been." +Slowly now she sank into the chair, +looked past him as she spoke. +"You've always worshipped spaces +and vacuums and voids. I've always +been happy working with +flowers and trees, the life of the +meadow and valley, the rain and +the new, small buds in springtime. +We have always gone in opposite +directions."</p> + +<p>She paused and smiled a bit +wistfully. "It's funny. Now we find, +too late to help our marriage, that +there's a whole universe between +us. You refuse, or perhaps you're +afraid, I don't know, to go to the +source of everything—this table, +this chair, this gown, your own +flesh. You don't want to understand +life; any more than you want +to understand me. You must conquer +it—or destroy it. You must be +a giant that can kick the earth +around like a football. But I <i>do</i> +want to understand, for in understanding +lies the cure. My machine +will take me into the atoms. I'll become +part of the fabric and tapestry +of the very warp and woof of +our world. By becoming a <i>part</i> of +it, I will <i>know</i>. I'll find the secret +of life in inner space and I'll return +and release our people from the +Authority. And you? You'll never +<i>really</i> understand anything. You'll +be a wild comet, yes, but I'll be a +raindrop in a deep well, learning +patience. I'll be a true healer."</p> + +<p>For a moment sadness rose and +softened his face. "There's nothing +more to say, is there."</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid not."</p> + +<p>"We'll make the goodbys quick."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> +He came to her. "At least we're being +honest with each other. No lies. +No pettiness. We've developed +pretty powerful ideals. And they +just won't fit together. It's that +simple—and that good."</p> + +<p>She looked up at him and +smiled. "At least I haven't lost you +to another woman."</p> + +<p>He returned her smile. "We're +getting sentimental. This isn't +good. It's weakening." He bent +and lightly kissed her hair. For an +instant her breathing stopped.</p> + +<p>"Goodby."</p> + +<p>"Goodby," she whispered.</p> + +<p>He strode to the door and +opened it. His body snapped taut.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class='cap'>CONFRONTING him with a +drawn blaster, stood a man in +the shining red garb of the police +command. He resembled Mephisto +with his flowing cape and snug +trousers. His face was dark, his +nose thin, his eyes black and very +bright.</div> + +<p>"You seem surprised," said the +man in red.</p> + +<p>Aria had half risen from the +chair. As the eyes of the policeman +turned on her, she sank back.</p> + +<p>"How opportune," the policeman +continued. "The eve of your +departures." The smile set on his +mouth. His gun snapped up on a +line with Thorus' heart. "No sudden +moves, or you'll be burnt to a +cinder. But no. That's what you +want—a quick death. So let me +threaten you with merely burning +your legs off." The blaster lowered. +"It may interest you to know we +have a recording of your whole +conversation. But there's something +else."</p> + +<p>His eyes holding Thorus, he +gave a sharp command to two +burly, bullnecked policemen. They +stepped from the shadows and +stood behind the commander. One +held a small, black box.</p> + +<p>"I see," the commander said, +"You've had experience before +with the truth clamps. You're +frightened."</p> + +<p>Thorus motioned the commander +inside. "A little fear trickles +through my hate."</p> + +<p>The door swung shut behind the +three policemen. Thorus glanced at +Aria. Her fingers clutched the +arms of the chair. He knew she +was thinking of the blocks that had +recently been installed in their +minds by X-ray hypnosis. Would +the blocks hold after three days? +Three days, they both knew was +the limit.</p> + +<p>"It's your methods of escape we +must have," said the commander. +He motioned to one of the policemen.</p> + +<p>Thorus watched the man step in +front of him and raise the clamps +to his forehead. He saw features +that were thick and heavy, as +though they had been roughly +moulded out of too wet clay.</p> + +<p>"You can see," the commander +went on, "the tremendous advantage +to us of being able to go into +the macrocosm and toss meteors +around like bits of corn, as you +say." He glanced at Aria, who sat +huddled in the chair, like a porcelain +doll. "And then into the microcosm. +Unlimited power. A +whole new universe to conquer and +colonize."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span></p> + +<p>Aria did not move or speak.</p> + +<p>"I see she refuses to face reality." +He turned to Thorus. "But +<i>you</i> will face reality—and so will +she when we've finished. Had you +conducted your experiments in behalf +of the Authority, you would +have been well rewarded. But no, +you have been working against us—however, +it has been <i>for</i> the Authority +after all."</p> + +<p>Thorus felt the clamps tight on +his temples, like two steel fingers. +Sitting stiffly on a chair, he felt +sweat on his back and chest, felt it +seep from his forehead down into +his eyes, felt the burn of salt. There +was tightness all through him as he +waited for the first shock. His fingernails +cut his palms. His breath +stopped. His shoulders and arms +hardened, stretched tight his tunic.</p> + +<p>The commander flicked his +finger at the one kneeling before +the little black box. This one +tripped a lever. A soft hum seemed +to rise from the box and fill the +room.</p> + +<p>Thorus listened to the hum grow +until it was a soft, high pitched +scream. He closed his eyes. The +next instant a shattering blow +ripped through every inch of his +body. Fire ran along his nerves. He +felt his lips grimacing away from +his teeth, felt the corners of his +mouth stretching back to his ears. +Oh God, oh God, he cried out in +silent agony. Hold back my +screams. Then he heard himself +groan. He cut off the sound of it. +Choked. Heard a growl deep in his +chest. Lights flashed in his eyes +and there was a tearing apart +through his whole body. A squeezing +together rushed all around him +and an insane pounding and pulling +as though his flesh were being +beaten and clawed from his bones. +Time dropped away from him until +it seemed he had never been +aware of anything but this agony. +Then he was empty of sensation. +He felt himself fall forward, felt +heavy hands catch him roughly +and set him upright. The soft voice +of the commander flowed into his +mind like a voice from outer +space:</p> + +<p>"You will tell us your method of +going into the macrocosm. The +equations, the type ship, its propellent, +where the ship is hidden."</p> + +<p>Thorus felt enveloped in a void.</p> + +<p>The voice of the commander +droned on. "All we need is a clue. +We'll work out the rest."</p> + +<p>Life and feeling and thought +were surging back into Thorus +now. Strength filled his muscles +again. Sight came into his eyes. +Again he sat straight and stiff on +the chair. The block held, he +thought. It held and they cannot +know now!</p> + +<p>"Speak!" The commander's +voice rose. "Damn you!" He seized +Thorus by the hair. "You've +blocked off the information. I'll see +both of you tortured until you'll +wish to kill each other. Then we'll +try the clamps again." He smashed +his fist into Thorus' face.</p> + +<p>On the instant the commander +pulled back his fist, Thorus +reached out and jerked the blaster +from his belt. His foot came up +hard against the man's groin. +There was a grunting cry of pain. +Thorus fell backward off the stool, +pressing the blaster trigger as he +hit the floor. He saw blood gush<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +from the commander's middle, saw +him pitch sideways, like a broken +statue, heard Aria's scream. The +clamps pulled from his head. He +swung the gun's muzzle to the two +policemen, clawing at their holsters. +The blaster struck out, a long +coughing hiss, a spray of flame. +There were cries and gasps and +jerking and clutching and the +scrambling fall of the two bodies.</p> + +<p>Then silence.</p> + +<p>Thorus crawled unsteadily to his +feet, stood swaying. The gun hung +loosely in his hand. Now he felt +Aria close to him, heard her voice +trembling and breathy.</p> + +<p>"Thorus! Are you all right?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"The blocks held! They held!"</p> + +<p>Steadying himself, he saw Aria +glance at the bodies on the floor.</p> + +<p>"Destruction!" she shuddered. +"Nothing but destruction. Oh God, +I'm sick of it!"</p> + +<p>Thorus let the gun drop to the +floor. "There's no time to talk. +Your laboratory." He grasped her +by the shoulders and turned her +toward a bright steel door across +the room. "<i>You'll</i> save time to go +into your damned microcosm. +<i>You'll</i> make it. Good luck. If I +have any luck at all, I'll make it +too." He gave her a push. Without +speaking or turning back, she +moved across the room, as though +sleep walking. The gleaming door +slab slid back as she approached it, +closed behind her.</p> + +<p>The memory of her face stayed +in his mind for a long moment after +she had disappeared, and from +the room's atmosphere he seemed +to breathe in regret and a sense of +their failure. He turned abruptly, +looked down at each crumpled +body. Opening the door a crack, he +searched the brightly lighted street +for the figure of a policeman, saw +none, stepped outside and ran.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class='cap'>IN HER laboratory, Aria worked +deftly, swiftly at the transparent +body-length cylinder. She checked +wire connections, dials, buttons, +then opened one end of the tube, +lowered herself into place, when +she had closed the tube, she lay +still, the forefinger of her right +hand resting on a button.</div> + +<p>During all these preparations, +she was viewing, with her inner +sight, Thorus' tiny ship streaking +through the night toward a distant +mountain peak where a small metal +ball, large enough for one man, +sat shrouded by a screen of invisibility. +Now she saw the streak of +flame die in the night and the tiny +ship sitting motionless beside the +metal ball; saw Thorus open a +hatch in the ball's side, let himself +through the opening and swing +shut the circle of steel.</p> + +<p>"Thank God," she said. "Whatever +comes now, at least he's made +it."</p> + +<p>Wiping away the vision of him, +she hesitated a moment, said goodby +to earth and life as she'd +known it and would never know it +again. A moment of yearning for +a chance to live safely and well as +a wife and mother swept her with +sadness. The yearning held her finger +from the button; a final hugging +of human love and full human +life, a last lonely cry for earth as +she had known it in childhood +with the press of wind and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +touch and sight of green growing +things and the depth of blue above +and the ground beneath.</p> + +<p>Feeling then as though she were +plunging into midnight ocean +depths, she thrust her finger hard +against the button!</p> + +<p>Instantly light shimmered all +about!</p> + +<p>The room dissolved. A sense of +dreaming too vividly, yet of being +deep in a sleep that was a thousand +times more acutely awake than +any awakeness she had ever known +filled all her being. She felt herself +sinking into a great bottomless +depth and yet at the same time +soaring through space to the ends +of the universe, until both falling +and soaring flowed into each other +and became suspension. And then +suddenly she saw all things as one. +She saw the intricate design of a +snowflake that was the snows of all +the earth and a drop of water that +held all the oceans.</p> + +<p>There was the rhythmic beating +all around as though of a great, +omnipresent heart and the surge +and flow of oceans of lifeblood and +the rise and fall of eternal breathing. +A speck of soil was the soil of +all the earth, from which grew forests +and fields of green. She let herself +out into the space of all this +and was merely there, like time is, +where there is the motion and +change of birth and death and +birth again and death again. She +felt a gentle touch on her body +that was the body of all mankind +and knew it for the touch of air, a +single element of all earth's winds +that yet was all the clear winds of +earth.</p> + +<p>The next moment a thundrous +roar crashed like a tidal wave. She +felt a gigantic shaking in all the +snow and water, in the oceans and +mountains, in the air and wind, in +the blood and life and beating +heart. A faltering of the rhythm +and flow went, like a cosmic shudder, +through all this life and +through her own being so that she +was conscious of nausea and ache +and a violent flinging about.</p> + +<p>She had a sense then of pulling +within herself, like a sea anemone +that has been touched by an enemy.</p> + +<p>And in her silent voice, she cried +out, "Thorus!"</p> + +<p>In the macrocosm. Thorus destroying! +Destroying! The next instant +her inner sight swung back +to where Thorus' ship, the shining +metal ball, had leapt up off the +mountain of earth; leapt, in the +fraction of a second, through the +blue earth covering into black, outer +space. Her inner sight saw the +metal ball inflating, a cosmic <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'baloon'">balloon</ins>, +flashing like the sun, then +seeming to fill the space between +all the suns!</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class='cap'>THORUS, in his ship, was +conscious of being a colossus +that could step from planet to +planet as though he were using +them for stones to cross a pond of +earth water. Step past the solar system, +he thought, out into the universe. +Now the sun became a tiny +ball of fire, a lightning bug, the +earth a grain of dust. He could +blow out the light of the sun, flick +Earth and the other planets into +nothingness. "I've broken through," +he thought. "I've done it! I've been<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +released." And looking out and +away, he saw universe upon universe +extending past infinity, it +seemed, an ocean without a horizon.</div> + +<p>Now, said his thought, I will destroy +all evil and I shall begin with +the evil of earth. As though he +were looking through a microscope, +he focused his sight on the grain of +dust that was earth. His fingers +made delicate adjustments on a +dial, and earth, softly green and +blue, swam clearly into his vision. +He magnified his sight of earth until +he could see all of it like a gigantic +relief map. He saw the fortified +places of the Authority—great, +spreading, shining, metal domes; +saw them dotting the earth; saw +the lines of vehicles speeding back +and forth between them. He saw +too the hamlets of the people, in +the spaces between the forts of the +Authority, all places of squalor +with row upon row of boxlike +houses, each exactly like the other. +There were not any green lawns or +shade trees, only houses and streets +and people moving about.</p> + +<p>Thorus felt his anger rise. He +pressed a button that flung out +fields of gravity. Earth rocked and +heaved, like an animal in convulsions. +Volcanos exploded, shot out +their flaming, poisonous refuse. +Oceans were monsters writhing +and rolling in their troughs, reaching +onto the land, as though to pull +it beneath them. And the land itself +split wide and snapped shut +great, yawning jaws. There was a +wild rushing about among all the +people, a madness, as though frantic +motion would save them. They +looked up off the convulsed earth +with panic stricken eyes, their +voices raised in agony.</p> + +<p>Thorus' voice sounded, "The +time for the death of the Authority +has come. I will crush them as +though I were crushing snails." He +reached out from the ship with +rays that seized meteors and flung +them like a schoolboy flinging +stones at bottles, one by one against +the massive, shining domes of the +Authority. The domes cracked and +split and were crushed. The atomic +bombs broke open with flame that +leapt up yellow tongues and grew +mushrooms in the sky, and a burning +death spread all around.</p> + +<p>Then Thorus was quiet, watching +all that he had destroyed.</p> + +<p>But suddenly, he became aware +of Aria's thought within him, crying +out. "Destroyer! Murderer! In +moments you've set humanity back +a hundred thousand years. You're +worse than the Authority. There'll +never be any peace for you or for +the earth or even the universe after +what you've done. Other Authorities +will come and you'll have +to destroy them and others and +others. Destruction for you forever, +on and on, until you fill the universe +with it...."</p> + +<p>In his mind, Thorus saw her +among the falling snowflakes and +the drops of cool water and the +green, growing atoms; saw her in +the transparent tube sink deeper +and deeper into the microcosm, +away and away like a minnow +swimming down into a beautiful +lake on a summer's day. Deeper, +ever deeper, until there was nothing +but the blue, sleepy water.</p> + +<p>As Thorus looked upon the earth +again and saw the terrible destruction<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +he had wrought, he trembled. +There was the realization in him +that, beneath his consciousness, +had lain the hope that, after he +had wiped clean the earth, Aria's +healing power would remake it. +But now there would be no healing, +and for thousands of years +earth would lie a smoking ruins +with the people crawling about its +shattered surface like bugs.</p> + +<p>He turned from all he saw. He +closed his eyes and threw his ship +out into space, threw it away into +the fathomless void. He must escape +from the universe, must flee +from the horror that filled him at +the desolation he had wrought. +Straight out into space, out into +the forever, where earth would +cease to exist, where he and his remorse +would be lost.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class='cap'>GLEAMING suns and galaxies +streaked past yet he seemed +within himself to be hanging motionless +in an infinite sea of blackness +while he knew that the speed +of him cracked through the barrier +of time and space; knew that it +was a speed beyond any conceived +by the mind of man. On into forgetfulness, +escape beyond his memory, +faster and farther away than +his mind, so far away that even +earth would disappear in his +thought.</div> + +<p>As incredible distances stretched +almost to breaking between himself +and earth, he thought: So this +is the end. For all I've been and +wanted to be, this is it. A nothingness +beyond the universe.</p> + +<p>But as the last word went from +his thought, he saw a greenish blue +ball of light rush toward him. He +watched it inflate in the port. It +enveloped the whole ship. The suns +and the galaxies had faded into +nothingness. He was aware of sinking +into eternal depths but at the +same time he felt himself soaring +until sinking and soaring flowed +into each other. After a time, he +saw shimmering white crystals encircling +his ship. And then the encircling +crystals became one snowflake +reflecting light like the moon.</p> + +<p>A great wonder filled him and +he stared in overwhelming awe. He +heard his own heartbeat in his +body and outside the ship, holding +the ship in an eternal throbbing; +heard the flowing of his own blood +like a turbulent river; heard his +breathing become the ebb and flow +of wind, like the sound of surf. His +body too became the soil of earth +and its rock and water and he was +deeply conscious of growth all +through him. He was birth and +death and he was both in one and +he was the life of mankind, of animals, +of plants.</p> + +<p>As he waited in what seemed to +be eternity, sunlight broke into his +sight and he saw a field of grass +forming around his ship. Blue sky +swam into focus above him. White +cloud patches formed in the blue +as though they had been ordered +there by the word of creation. +Thorus knew then that he was on +earth again, that he had come up +from deep inside it.</p> + +<p>Rising up, like one awakening +uncertainly from sleep in a strange +room, he opened the ship's hatch +and looked out upon the land. A +flash of light caught his eyes then,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +from above, and he looked up in +wonder.</p> + +<p>He gasped.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<div class='cap'>ARIA, in the transparent cylinder, +sinking down through +the blue, like a leaf, settling gently +to the earth a hundred feet away.</div> + +<p>She crawled out and stood looking +across the field of grass at him, +a strange, smile on her face.</p> + +<p>Thorus leaped from his ship and +ran toward her. He ran silently. +She held out her hands and he +grasped them tenderly, as he would +grasp the hands of a child. And +all he could say was, "Aria. Aria."</p> + +<p>"Thorus," she said, and there +was courage and joy in her voice. +"We've come back."</p> + +<p>They stared into each other's +eyes for a long moment and then +they were close, and they held to +each other and swayed.</p> + +<p>"Do you know what's happened?" +she said.</p> + +<p>"Yes. You came back through +hyper-space while <i>I</i> came back +through the atoms." His voice was +quiet. "Oh, Lord. Oh good and +strange Lord. We forgot that one +of the great men twenty thousand +years ago, proved that space was +curved."</p> + +<p>"Yes." She stood away from him +now, yet held to his hand. "We +couldn't escape from our place in +life or ourselves or the good and +the evil that we have done. We +came back to our earth and now +we must do what we have left undone."</p> + +<p>There was much to be done.</p> + +<p>Thorus looked around. He saw +in the distance a crushed and +smoking ruins. "I've destroyed the +Authority, but I've destroyed too +much. Now the people are in +chaos."</p> + +<p>Aria stood silently awhile, and +then moved his arm. "But now you +can help me to heal them. You've +seen in the microcosm, as I have in +the macrocosm that all life is one. +Now we can show the people that +outer and inner space are not separate. +We can show them how they +exist together and how there can +be no escape in either or from +either. It will take a long time. But +we will do it. And the doing will +be grand." She paused. "The beginning +and the end, Thorus. The +greatness and the smallness. The +light and the darkness. It's all +here."</p> + +<p>"And all that's in between. That +too."</p> + +<p>"Yes," she answered quietly. +"That too."</p> + +<p>They turned to the smoking +ruins and arm in arm began walking toward it.</p> + + +<div class="center"><h3> THE END </h3> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> +<p>This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction May 1953. +Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.</p> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired.</p> + +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. +Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p></div> + + + + + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Circle of Flight, by Richard Stockham + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CIRCLE OF FLIGHT *** + +***** This file should be named 32885-h.htm or 32885-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/8/8/32885/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Dianna Adair and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> + +</html> diff --git a/32885-h/images/001.png b/32885-h/images/001.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d1a15bc --- /dev/null +++ b/32885-h/images/001.png diff --git a/32885-h/images/if1953-05-000.jpg b/32885-h/images/if1953-05-000.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9f064e2 --- /dev/null +++ b/32885-h/images/if1953-05-000.jpg diff --git a/32885.txt b/32885.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..33ed3b6 --- /dev/null +++ b/32885.txt @@ -0,0 +1,934 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Circle of Flight, by Richard Stockham + +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: Circle of Flight + +Author: Richard Stockham + +Release Date: June 18, 2010 [EBook #32885] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CIRCLE OF FLIGHT *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Dianna Adair and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + +[Illustration] + + _Thorus, the vengeful, had determined_ his _way. Aria, the healer, + had determined_ her _way. Which determined this classic meeting of + the twain._ + + + + + CIRCLE + + _OF FLIGHT_ + + By Richard E. Stockham + + Illustrated by Ed Emsh + + +It seemed they had argued for years as they were arguing tonight. The +man paced back and forth chain-smoking cigarettes; the woman sat +motionless, watching him. They glanced at their watches with fearful +eyes. They heard, with acutely alert ears, the goings and comings of +people in the hall; heard the shattering blast of rockets in the sky +above the city. And they argued. + +"So you're going through with it tonight," he said heavily, "in your own +way." + +"Yes." + +"Perhaps I should stop you." He crushed out his cigarette. "If the +police were to hear--" + +"No!" The word was thrown at him. "I know you don't mean that. But it's +unworthy of you even to say it." She covered her face with nervous +hands. "After all I _am_ your wife." + +He stood over her, his lips tight. There was something of the fragile, +finely made puppet about her, he thought, as though she had been +refashioned a hundred times by some artisan seeking after perfect +delicacy and precision. He softened momentarily. + +"Come with me then," he said. + +"No." + +"Why? Why?" + +"Your way is _wrong_." + +"We're the last two leaders of the opposition alive." His voice came +swiftly and low. "The authority's beaten us. Their setup for killing, +imprisonment, bribery and blackmail functions too well. Our whole +organization's been scattered like matchsticks. The police are closing +in on us. We're finished here on earth. We'll be lucky if we're killed +quickly." He waited a moment for his words to take effect. "We go along +together that far." + +She stood, clasping her hands. "Of course. Of course." + +"Look. I know you've finished that damned contraption of yours that'll +take you into the atoms. I know you've been working on it for years. But +I've been working too. My ship's been ready to take off into super-space +for two days. But I haven't gone. I've been waiting for you. To wait at +a time like this is to ask for death or worse. Now I demand you give up +this insane idea of going into the atoms. You've got to come with me." + +"I've told you I can't escape with you out into the macrocosm. It's not +my _way_!" + +"The word 'escape' doesn't apply," he snapped, "to what I'm doing. +_You're_ escaping. You'll creep into the microcosm and sit there like a +seed that won't grow. You can't fight the Authority from the microcosm. +That way is utter passivity and death. _My_ way is fighting back. I'm +going into hyper-space. My ship and I'll become so huge and powerful +I'll throw suns around like snowballs. I'll toss meteors around like +grains of corn. I'll upset gravities and warp time. I'll stretch and +straighten space. I'll turn dimensions inside out--" + +"Yes. You'll destroy. You'll ruin everything, you'll break the innocent +as well as the guilty." + +"I'll have to take that chance," he said grimly. "But I'll destroy the +Authority and everything that goes with it." + +She pulled from his grasp. "Violence and destruction are not my way. +They never have been." Slowly now she sank into the chair, looked past +him as she spoke. "You've always worshipped spaces and vacuums and +voids. I've always been happy working with flowers and trees, the life +of the meadow and valley, the rain and the new, small buds in +springtime. We have always gone in opposite directions." + +She paused and smiled a bit wistfully. "It's funny. Now we find, too +late to help our marriage, that there's a whole universe between us. You +refuse, or perhaps you're afraid, I don't know, to go to the source of +everything--this table, this chair, this gown, your own flesh. You don't +want to understand life; any more than you want to understand me. You +must conquer it--or destroy it. You must be a giant that can kick the +earth around like a football. But I _do_ want to understand, for in +understanding lies the cure. My machine will take me into the atoms. +I'll become part of the fabric and tapestry of the very warp and woof of +our world. By becoming a _part_ of it, I will _know_. I'll find the +secret of life in inner space and I'll return and release our people +from the Authority. And you? You'll never _really_ understand anything. +You'll be a wild comet, yes, but I'll be a raindrop in a deep well, +learning patience. I'll be a true healer." + +For a moment sadness rose and softened his face. "There's nothing more +to say, is there." + +"I'm afraid not." + +"We'll make the goodbys quick." He came to her. "At least we're being +honest with each other. No lies. No pettiness. We've developed pretty +powerful ideals. And they just won't fit together. It's that simple--and +that good." + +She looked up at him and smiled. "At least I haven't lost you to another +woman." + +He returned her smile. "We're getting sentimental. This isn't good. It's +weakening." He bent and lightly kissed her hair. For an instant her +breathing stopped. + +"Goodby." + +"Goodby," she whispered. + +He strode to the door and opened it. His body snapped taut. + + * * * * * + +Confronting him with a drawn blaster, stood a man in the shining red +garb of the police command. He resembled Mephisto with his flowing cape +and snug trousers. His face was dark, his nose thin, his eyes black and +very bright. + +"You seem surprised," said the man in red. + +Aria had half risen from the chair. As the eyes of the policeman turned +on her, she sank back. + +"How opportune," the policeman continued. "The eve of your departures." +The smile set on his mouth. His gun snapped up on a line with Thorus' +heart. "No sudden moves, or you'll be burnt to a cinder. But no. That's +what you want--a quick death. So let me threaten you with merely burning +your legs off." The blaster lowered. "It may interest you to know we +have a recording of your whole conversation. But there's something +else." + +His eyes holding Thorus, he gave a sharp command to two burly, +bullnecked policemen. They stepped from the shadows and stood behind the +commander. One held a small, black box. + +"I see," the commander said, "You've had experience before with the +truth clamps. You're frightened." + +Thorus motioned the commander inside. "A little fear trickles through my +hate." + +The door swung shut behind the three policemen. Thorus glanced at Aria. +Her fingers clutched the arms of the chair. He knew she was thinking of +the blocks that had recently been installed in their minds by X-ray +hypnosis. Would the blocks hold after three days? Three days, they both +knew was the limit. + +"It's your methods of escape we must have," said the commander. He +motioned to one of the policemen. + +Thorus watched the man step in front of him and raise the clamps to his +forehead. He saw features that were thick and heavy, as though they had +been roughly moulded out of too wet clay. + +"You can see," the commander went on, "the tremendous advantage to us of +being able to go into the macrocosm and toss meteors around like bits of +corn, as you say." He glanced at Aria, who sat huddled in the chair, +like a porcelain doll. "And then into the microcosm. Unlimited power. A +whole new universe to conquer and colonize." + +Aria did not move or speak. + +"I see she refuses to face reality." He turned to Thorus. "But _you_ +will face reality--and so will she when we've finished. Had you +conducted your experiments in behalf of the Authority, you would have +been well rewarded. But no, you have been working against us--however, +it has been _for_ the Authority after all." + +Thorus felt the clamps tight on his temples, like two steel fingers. +Sitting stiffly on a chair, he felt sweat on his back and chest, felt it +seep from his forehead down into his eyes, felt the burn of salt. There +was tightness all through him as he waited for the first shock. His +fingernails cut his palms. His breath stopped. His shoulders and arms +hardened, stretched tight his tunic. + +The commander flicked his finger at the one kneeling before the little +black box. This one tripped a lever. A soft hum seemed to rise from the +box and fill the room. + +Thorus listened to the hum grow until it was a soft, high pitched +scream. He closed his eyes. The next instant a shattering blow ripped +through every inch of his body. Fire ran along his nerves. He felt his +lips grimacing away from his teeth, felt the corners of his mouth +stretching back to his ears. Oh God, oh God, he cried out in silent +agony. Hold back my screams. Then he heard himself groan. He cut off the +sound of it. Choked. Heard a growl deep in his chest. Lights flashed in +his eyes and there was a tearing apart through his whole body. A +squeezing together rushed all around him and an insane pounding and +pulling as though his flesh were being beaten and clawed from his bones. +Time dropped away from him until it seemed he had never been aware of +anything but this agony. Then he was empty of sensation. He felt himself +fall forward, felt heavy hands catch him roughly and set him upright. +The soft voice of the commander flowed into his mind like a voice from +outer space: + +"You will tell us your method of going into the macrocosm. The +equations, the type ship, its propellent, where the ship is hidden." + +Thorus felt enveloped in a void. + +The voice of the commander droned on. "All we need is a clue. We'll work +out the rest." + +Life and feeling and thought were surging back into Thorus now. Strength +filled his muscles again. Sight came into his eyes. Again he sat +straight and stiff on the chair. The block held, he thought. It held and +they cannot know now! + +"Speak!" The commander's voice rose. "Damn you!" He seized Thorus by the +hair. "You've blocked off the information. I'll see both of you tortured +until you'll wish to kill each other. Then we'll try the clamps again." +He smashed his fist into Thorus' face. + +On the instant the commander pulled back his fist, Thorus reached out +and jerked the blaster from his belt. His foot came up hard against the +man's groin. There was a grunting cry of pain. Thorus fell backward off +the stool, pressing the blaster trigger as he hit the floor. He saw +blood gush from the commander's middle, saw him pitch sideways, like a +broken statue, heard Aria's scream. The clamps pulled from his head. He +swung the gun's muzzle to the two policemen, clawing at their holsters. +The blaster struck out, a long coughing hiss, a spray of flame. There +were cries and gasps and jerking and clutching and the scrambling fall +of the two bodies. + +Then silence. + +Thorus crawled unsteadily to his feet, stood swaying. The gun hung +loosely in his hand. Now he felt Aria close to him, heard her voice +trembling and breathy. + +"Thorus! Are you all right?" + +"Yes." + +"The blocks held! They held!" + +Steadying himself, he saw Aria glance at the bodies on the floor. + +"Destruction!" she shuddered. "Nothing but destruction. Oh God, I'm sick +of it!" + +Thorus let the gun drop to the floor. "There's no time to talk. Your +laboratory." He grasped her by the shoulders and turned her toward a +bright steel door across the room. "_You'll_ save time to go into your +damned microcosm. _You'll_ make it. Good luck. If I have any luck at +all, I'll make it too." He gave her a push. Without speaking or turning +back, she moved across the room, as though sleep walking. The gleaming +door slab slid back as she approached it, closed behind her. + +The memory of her face stayed in his mind for a long moment after she +had disappeared, and from the room's atmosphere he seemed to breathe in +regret and a sense of their failure. He turned abruptly, looked down at +each crumpled body. Opening the door a crack, he searched the brightly +lighted street for the figure of a policeman, saw none, stepped outside +and ran. + + * * * * * + +In her laboratory, Aria worked deftly, swiftly at the transparent +body-length cylinder. She checked wire connections, dials, buttons, then +opened one end of the tube, lowered herself into place, when she had +closed the tube, she lay still, the forefinger of her right hand resting +on a button. + +During all these preparations, she was viewing, with her inner sight, +Thorus' tiny ship streaking through the night toward a distant mountain +peak where a small metal ball, large enough for one man, sat shrouded by +a screen of invisibility. Now she saw the streak of flame die in the +night and the tiny ship sitting motionless beside the metal ball; saw +Thorus open a hatch in the ball's side, let himself through the opening +and swing shut the circle of steel. + +"Thank God," she said. "Whatever comes now, at least he's made it." + +Wiping away the vision of him, she hesitated a moment, said goodby to +earth and life as she'd known it and would never know it again. A moment +of yearning for a chance to live safely and well as a wife and mother +swept her with sadness. The yearning held her finger from the button; a +final hugging of human love and full human life, a last lonely cry for +earth as she had known it in childhood with the press of wind and the +touch and sight of green growing things and the depth of blue above and +the ground beneath. + +Feeling then as though she were plunging into midnight ocean depths, she +thrust her finger hard against the button! + +Instantly light shimmered all about! + +The room dissolved. A sense of dreaming too vividly, yet of being deep +in a sleep that was a thousand times more acutely awake than any +awakeness she had ever known filled all her being. She felt herself +sinking into a great bottomless depth and yet at the same time soaring +through space to the ends of the universe, until both falling and +soaring flowed into each other and became suspension. And then suddenly +she saw all things as one. She saw the intricate design of a snowflake +that was the snows of all the earth and a drop of water that held all +the oceans. + +There was the rhythmic beating all around as though of a great, +omnipresent heart and the surge and flow of oceans of lifeblood and the +rise and fall of eternal breathing. A speck of soil was the soil of all +the earth, from which grew forests and fields of green. She let herself +out into the space of all this and was merely there, like time is, where +there is the motion and change of birth and death and birth again and +death again. She felt a gentle touch on her body that was the body of +all mankind and knew it for the touch of air, a single element of all +earth's winds that yet was all the clear winds of earth. + +The next moment a thundrous roar crashed like a tidal wave. She felt a +gigantic shaking in all the snow and water, in the oceans and mountains, +in the air and wind, in the blood and life and beating heart. A +faltering of the rhythm and flow went, like a cosmic shudder, through +all this life and through her own being so that she was conscious of +nausea and ache and a violent flinging about. + +She had a sense then of pulling within herself, like a sea anemone that +has been touched by an enemy. + +And in her silent voice, she cried out, "Thorus!" + +In the macrocosm. Thorus destroying! Destroying! The next instant her +inner sight swung back to where Thorus' ship, the shining metal ball, +had leapt up off the mountain of earth; leapt, in the fraction of a +second, through the blue earth covering into black, outer space. Her +inner sight saw the metal ball inflating, a cosmic balloon, flashing +like the sun, then seeming to fill the space between all the suns! + + * * * * * + +Thorus, in his ship, was conscious of being a colossus that could step +from planet to planet as though he were using them for stones to cross a +pond of earth water. Step past the solar system, he thought, out into +the universe. Now the sun became a tiny ball of fire, a lightning bug, +the earth a grain of dust. He could blow out the light of the sun, flick +Earth and the other planets into nothingness. "I've broken through," he +thought. "I've done it! I've been released." And looking out and away, +he saw universe upon universe extending past infinity, it seemed, an +ocean without a horizon. + +Now, said his thought, I will destroy all evil and I shall begin with +the evil of earth. As though he were looking through a microscope, he +focused his sight on the grain of dust that was earth. His fingers made +delicate adjustments on a dial, and earth, softly green and blue, swam +clearly into his vision. He magnified his sight of earth until he could +see all of it like a gigantic relief map. He saw the fortified places of +the Authority--great, spreading, shining, metal domes; saw them dotting +the earth; saw the lines of vehicles speeding back and forth between +them. He saw too the hamlets of the people, in the spaces between the +forts of the Authority, all places of squalor with row upon row of +boxlike houses, each exactly like the other. There were not any green +lawns or shade trees, only houses and streets and people moving about. + +Thorus felt his anger rise. He pressed a button that flung out fields of +gravity. Earth rocked and heaved, like an animal in convulsions. +Volcanos exploded, shot out their flaming, poisonous refuse. Oceans were +monsters writhing and rolling in their troughs, reaching onto the land, +as though to pull it beneath them. And the land itself split wide and +snapped shut great, yawning jaws. There was a wild rushing about among +all the people, a madness, as though frantic motion would save them. +They looked up off the convulsed earth with panic stricken eyes, their +voices raised in agony. + +Thorus' voice sounded, "The time for the death of the Authority has +come. I will crush them as though I were crushing snails." He reached +out from the ship with rays that seized meteors and flung them like a +schoolboy flinging stones at bottles, one by one against the massive, +shining domes of the Authority. The domes cracked and split and were +crushed. The atomic bombs broke open with flame that leapt up yellow +tongues and grew mushrooms in the sky, and a burning death spread all +around. + +Then Thorus was quiet, watching all that he had destroyed. + +But suddenly, he became aware of Aria's thought within him, crying out. +"Destroyer! Murderer! In moments you've set humanity back a hundred +thousand years. You're worse than the Authority. There'll never be any +peace for you or for the earth or even the universe after what you've +done. Other Authorities will come and you'll have to destroy them and +others and others. Destruction for you forever, on and on, until you +fill the universe with it...." + +In his mind, Thorus saw her among the falling snowflakes and the drops +of cool water and the green, growing atoms; saw her in the transparent +tube sink deeper and deeper into the microcosm, away and away like a +minnow swimming down into a beautiful lake on a summer's day. Deeper, +ever deeper, until there was nothing but the blue, sleepy water. + +As Thorus looked upon the earth again and saw the terrible destruction +he had wrought, he trembled. There was the realization in him that, +beneath his consciousness, had lain the hope that, after he had wiped +clean the earth, Aria's healing power would remake it. But now there +would be no healing, and for thousands of years earth would lie a +smoking ruins with the people crawling about its shattered surface like +bugs. + +He turned from all he saw. He closed his eyes and threw his ship out +into space, threw it away into the fathomless void. He must escape from +the universe, must flee from the horror that filled him at the +desolation he had wrought. Straight out into space, out into the +forever, where earth would cease to exist, where he and his remorse +would be lost. + + * * * * * + +Gleaming suns and galaxies streaked past yet he seemed within himself to +be hanging motionless in an infinite sea of blackness while he knew that +the speed of him cracked through the barrier of time and space; knew +that it was a speed beyond any conceived by the mind of man. On into +forgetfulness, escape beyond his memory, faster and farther away than +his mind, so far away that even earth would disappear in his thought. + +As incredible distances stretched almost to breaking between himself and +earth, he thought: So this is the end. For all I've been and wanted to +be, this is it. A nothingness beyond the universe. + +But as the last word went from his thought, he saw a greenish blue ball +of light rush toward him. He watched it inflate in the port. It +enveloped the whole ship. The suns and the galaxies had faded into +nothingness. He was aware of sinking into eternal depths but at the same +time he felt himself soaring until sinking and soaring flowed into each +other. After a time, he saw shimmering white crystals encircling his +ship. And then the encircling crystals became one snowflake reflecting +light like the moon. + +A great wonder filled him and he stared in overwhelming awe. He heard +his own heartbeat in his body and outside the ship, holding the ship in +an eternal throbbing; heard the flowing of his own blood like a +turbulent river; heard his breathing become the ebb and flow of wind, +like the sound of surf. His body too became the soil of earth and its +rock and water and he was deeply conscious of growth all through him. He +was birth and death and he was both in one and he was the life of +mankind, of animals, of plants. + +As he waited in what seemed to be eternity, sunlight broke into his +sight and he saw a field of grass forming around his ship. Blue sky swam +into focus above him. White cloud patches formed in the blue as though +they had been ordered there by the word of creation. Thorus knew then +that he was on earth again, that he had come up from deep inside it. + +Rising up, like one awakening uncertainly from sleep in a strange room, +he opened the ship's hatch and looked out upon the land. A flash of +light caught his eyes then, from above, and he looked up in wonder. + +He gasped. + + * * * * * + +Aria, in the transparent cylinder, sinking down through the blue, like a +leaf, settling gently to the earth a hundred feet away. + +She crawled out and stood looking across the field of grass at him, a +strange, smile on her face. + +Thorus leaped from his ship and ran toward her. He ran silently. She +held out her hands and he grasped them tenderly, as he would grasp the +hands of a child. And all he could say was, "Aria. Aria." + +"Thorus," she said, and there was courage and joy in her voice. "We've +come back." + +They stared into each other's eyes for a long moment and then they were +close, and they held to each other and swayed. + +"Do you know what's happened?" she said. + +"Yes. You came back through hyper-space while _I_ came back through the +atoms." His voice was quiet. "Oh, Lord. Oh good and strange Lord. We +forgot that one of the great men twenty thousand years ago, proved that +space was curved." + +"Yes." She stood away from him now, yet held to his hand. "We couldn't +escape from our place in life or ourselves or the good and the evil that +we have done. We came back to our earth and now we must do what we have +left undone." + +There was much to be done. + +Thorus looked around. He saw in the distance a crushed and smoking +ruins. "I've destroyed the Authority, but I've destroyed too much. Now +the people are in chaos." + +Aria stood silently awhile, and then moved his arm. "But now you can +help me to heal them. You've seen in the microcosm, as I have in the +macrocosm that all life is one. Now we can show the people that outer +and inner space are not separate. We can show them how they exist +together and how there can be no escape in either or from either. It +will take a long time. But we will do it. And the doing will be grand." +She paused. "The beginning and the end, Thorus. The greatness and the +smallness. The light and the darkness. It's all here." + +"And all that's in between. That too." + +"Yes," she answered quietly. "That too." + +They turned to the smoking ruins and arm in arm began walking toward it. + + + THE END + + + * * * * * + +Transcriber Notes: + +This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction May 1953. +Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. +copyright on this publication was renewed. + + +"Obvious punctuation errors repaired." + +Page 100 (page 8 of this ebook) baloon spelling corrected to balloon + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Circle of Flight, by Richard Stockham + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CIRCLE OF FLIGHT *** + +***** This file should be named 32885.txt or 32885.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/8/8/32885/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Dianna Adair and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/32885.zip b/32885.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..638284d --- /dev/null +++ b/32885.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..54f30e4 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #32885 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/32885) |
