diff options
| author | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-01-27 13:01:57 -0800 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-01-27 13:01:57 -0800 |
| commit | b4f5434a2a0013431d7d245bf598cdd65a7c6d6a (patch) | |
| tree | 019488989199cd2ecff5859fb459a3f3e25e2fad | |
| parent | 61db396d7eb1a5fd2ea67256fe01c8eca4480d27 (diff) | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 4 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/60515-h.zip | bin | 325461 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/60515-h/60515-h.htm | 850 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/60515-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 237608 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/60515-h/images/illus.jpg | bin | 72789 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/60515.txt | 738 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/60515.zip | bin | 14477 -> 0 bytes |
9 files changed, 17 insertions, 1588 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf 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..d54c90e --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #60515 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/60515) diff --git a/old/60515-h.zip b/old/60515-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index caa5e4a..0000000 --- a/old/60515-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/60515-h/60515-h.htm b/old/60515-h/60515-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 21c75e6..0000000 --- a/old/60515-h/60515-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,850 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=us-ascii" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of Homecoming, by Miguel Hidalgo. - </title> - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} -hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.right {text-align: right;} - -.caption {font-weight: bold;} - -/* Images */ -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -div.titlepage { - text-align: center; - page-break-before: always; - page-break-after: always; -} - -div.titlepage p { - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0em; - font-weight: bold; - line-height: 1.5; - margin-top: 3em; -} - -.ph1 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; } -.ph1 { font-size: large; margin: .83em auto; } - - - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Homecoming, by Miguel Hidalgo - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Homecoming - -Author: Miguel Hidalgo - -Release Date: October 17, 2019 [EBook #60515] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOMECOMING *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/cover.jpg" width="343" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>HOMECOMING</h1> - -<h2>BY MIGUEL HIDALGO</h2> - -<p class="ph1"><i>What lasts forever? Does love?<br /> -Does death?... Nothing lasts<br /> -forever.... Not even forever</i></p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Worlds of If Science Fiction, April 1958.<br /> -Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that<br /> -the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]</p> - -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>The large horse plodded slowly over the shifting sand.</p> - -<p>The rider was of medium size, with huge, strong hands and seemingly -hollow eyes. Strange eyes, alive and aflame. They had no place in -the dust-caked, tired body, yet there they were, seeking, always -seeking—searching the clear horizon, and never seeming to find what -they sought.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" width="188" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>The horse moved faster now. They were nearing a river; the water would -be welcome on tired bodies and dry throats. He spurred his horse, -and when they reached the water's edge, he dismounted and unsaddled -the horse. Then both man and horse plunged headlong into the waiting -torrent, deep into the cool embrace of the clear liquid. They soaked it -into their pores and drank deeply of it, feeling life going once more -through their veins. Satisfied, they lifted themselves from the water, -and the man lay down on the yellow sand of the river bank to sleep.</p> - -<p>When he awoke, the sun was almost setting. The bright shafts of red -light spilled across the sky, making the mountains silent scarlet -shadows on the face of the rippling water. Quickly he gathered -driftwood, and built a small fire. From his pack he removed some of -the coffee he had found in one of the ruined cities. He brought water -from the river in the battered coffee-pot he had salvaged, and while he -waited for it to boil, he went to his horse, Conqueror, stroking his -mane and whispering in his ear. Then he led him silently to a grassy -slope where he hobbled him and left him for the night.</p> - -<p>In the fading light, he ate the hard beef jerky and drank the scalding -coffee. Refreshed and momentarily content, he sat staring into the -dying fire, seeing the bright glowing coals as living fingers clutching -at the wood in consuming embrace, taking all and returning nothing but -ashes.</p> - -<p>Slowly his eyelids yielded. His body sagged, and blood seemed to fill -his brain, bathing it in a gentle, warm flood.</p> - -<p>He slept. His brain slept.</p> - -<p>But the portion of his brain called memory stirred. It was all alone; -all else was at rest. Images began to appear, drawn from inexhaustible -files, wherein are kept all thoughts, past, present, and future....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>It was the night before he was to go overseas. World War III had been -declared, and he had enlisted, receiving his old rank of captain. He -was with his wife in the living room of their home. They had put the -children to bed—their sons—and now sat on the couch, watching the -blazing fire. It was then that he had showed it to her.</p> - -<p>"I've got something to tell you, and something to show you."</p> - -<p>He had removed the box from his pocket and opened it. And heard her cry -of surprised joy.</p> - -<p>"Oh, a ring, and it's a diamond, too!" she cried in her rich, happy -voice which always seemed to send a thrill through his body.</p> - -<p>"It's for you; so long as you wear it, I'll come back, even from the -dead, if need be. Read the inscription."</p> - -<p>She held the ring up to the light and read aloud, "It is forever."</p> - -<p>Then she had slipped the ring on her finger and her arms around him. -He held her very close, feeling the warmth from her body flowing into -his and making him oblivious to everything except that she was there in -his arms and that he was sinking deep, deep into a familiar sea, where -he had been many times before but each time found something new and -unexplored, some vastly different emotion he could never quite explain.</p> - -<p>"Wait!" she cried. "I've something for you, too."</p> - -<p>She took off the locket she wore about her neck and held it up to the -shimmering light, letting it spin at the end of its chain. It caught -the shadows of the fire and reflected them, greatly magnified, over the -room. It was in the shape of a star, encrusted with emeralds, with one -large ruby in the center. When he opened it, he found a picture of her -in one side, and in the other a picture of the children. He took her in -his arms again, and loosened her long, black hair, burying his face in -it for a moment. Then he kissed her, and instantly was drawn down into -the abyss which seemed to have no beginning or any end.</p> - -<p>The next morning had been bleak and gray. The mist clung to the wet, -sodden ground, and the air was heavy in his lungs. He had driven off -in the jeep the army had sent for him, watching her there on the porch -until the mist swirled around her feet and she ran back into the house -and slammed the door. His cold fingers found the locket, making a -little bulge under his uniform, and the touch of it seemed to warm the -blood in his veins.</p> - -<p>Three days later they had landed in Spain, merged with another -division, then crossed the Pyrenees into France, and finally to Paris -where the fighting had begun. Already the city was a silent graveyard, -littered with the rubble of towers and cathedrals which had once been -great.</p> - -<p>Three years later they were on the road to Moscow. Over a thousand -miles lay behind, a dead man on every foot of those miles. Yet victory -was near. The Russians had not yet used the H-bomb; the threat of -annihilation by the retaliation forces had been too great.</p> - -<p>He had done well in the war, and had been decorated many times for -bravery in action. Now he felt the victory that seemed to be in the -air, and he had wished it would come quickly, so that he might return -to her. Home. The very feel of the word was everything a battle-weary -soldier needed to make him fight harder and live longer.</p> - -<p>Suddenly he had become aware of a droning, wooshing sound above him. It -grew louder and louder until he knew what it was.</p> - -<p>"Heavy bombers!" The alarm had sounded, and the men had headed for -their foxholes.</p> - -<p>But the planes had passed over, the sun glinting on their bellies, -reflecting a blinding light. They were bound for bigger, more important -targets. When the all-clear had sounded, the men clambered from their -shelters. An icy wind swept the field, bringing with it clouds which -covered the sun. A strange fear had gripped him then....</p> - -<p>Across the Atlantic, over the pole, via Alaska, the great bombers -flew. In cities, great and small, the air raid sirens sounded, high -screaming noises which had jarred the people from sleep in time to die. -The defending planes roared into the sky to intercept the on-rushing -bombers. The horrendous battle split the universe. Many bombers fell, -victims of fanatical suicide planes, or of missiles that streaked -across the sky which none could escape.</p> - -<p>But too many bombers got through, dropping their deadly cargo upon the -helpless cities. And not all the prayers or entreaties to any God had -stopped their carnage. First there had been the red flashes that melted -buildings into molten streams, and then the great triple-mushroom cloud -filled with the poisonous gases that the wind swept away to other -cities, where men had not died quickly and mercifully, but had rotted -away, leaving shreds of putrid flesh behind to mark the places where -they had crawled.</p> - -<p>The retaliatory forces had roared away to bomb the Russian cities. Few, -if any, had returned. Too much blood and life were on their hands. -Those who had remained alive had found a resting place on the crown -of some distant mountain. Others had preferred the silent peaceful -sea, where flesh stayed not long on bones, and only darting fishes and -merciful beams of filtered light found their aluminum coffins.</p> - -<p>The war had ended.</p> - -<p>To no avail. Neither side had won. Most of the cities and the majority -of the population of both countries had been destroyed. Even their -governments had vanished, leaving a silent nothingness. The armies that -remained were without leaders, without sources of supplies, save what -they could forage and beg from an unfriendly people.</p> - -<p>They were alone now, a group of tired, battered men, for whom life held -nothing. Their families had long since died, their bodies turned to -dust, their spirits fled on the winds to a new world.</p> - -<p>Yet these remnants of an army must return—or at least try. Their -exodus was just beginning. Somehow he had managed to hold together the -few men left from his force. He had always nourished the hope that -she might still be alive. And now that the war was over he had to -return—had to know whether she was still waiting for him.</p> - -<p>They had started the long trek. Throughout Europe anarchy reigned. He -and his men were alone. All they could do now was fight. Finally they -reached the seaport city of Calais. With what few men he had left, he -had commandeered a small yacht, and they had taken to the sea.</p> - -<p>After months of storms and bad luck, they had been shipwrecked -somewhere off the coast of Mexico. He had managed to swim ashore, -and had been found by a fisherman's family. Many months he had spent -swimming and fishing, recovering his strength, inquiring about the -United States. The Mexicans had spoken with fear of the land across the -Rio Grande. All its great cities had been destroyed, and those that had -been only partially destroyed were devoid of people. The land across -the Rio Grande had become a land of shadows. The winds were poisoned, -and the few people who might have survived, were crazed and maimed by -the blasts. Few men had dared cross the Rio Grande into "El Mundo gris -de Noviembre"—the November world. Those who had, had never returned.</p> - -<p>In time he had traveled north until he reached the Rio Grande. He had -waded into the muddy waters and somehow landed on the American side. In -the November world.</p> - -<p>It was rightly called. The deserts were long. All plant life had died, -leaving to those once great fertile stretches, nothing but the sad, -temporal beauty that comes with death. No people had he seen. Only the -ruins of what had once been their cities. He had walked through them, -and all that he had seen were the small mutant rodents, and all that he -had heard was the occasional swish of the wind as it whisked along what -might have been dead leaves, but wasn't.</p> - -<p>He had been on the trail for a long time. His food was nearly -exhausted. The mountains were just beginning, and he hoped to find food -there. He had not found food, but his luck had been with him. He had -found a horse. Not a normal horse, but a mutation. It was almost twice -as large as a regular horse. Its skin seemed to shimmer and was like -glassy steel to the touch. From the center of its forehead grew a horn, -straight out, as the horn of a unicorn. But most startling of all were -the animal's eyes which seemed to speak—a silent mental speech, which -he could understand. The horse had looked up as he approached it and -seemed to say: "Follow me."</p> - -<p>And he had followed. Over a mountain, until they came to a pass, and -finally to a narrow path which led to an old cabin. He had found it -empty, but there were cans of food and a rifle and many shells. He had -remained there a long time—how long he could not tell, for he could -only measure time by the cycles of the sun and the moon. Finally he -had taken the horse, the rifle and what food was left, and once again -started the long journey home.</p> - -<p>The farther north he went, the more life seemed to have survived. He -had seen great herds of horses like his own, stampeding across the -plains, and strange birds which he could not identify. Yet he had seen -no human beings.</p> - -<p>But he knew he was closer now. Closer to home. He recognized the land. -How, he did not know, for it was much changed. A sensing, perhaps, of -what it had once been. He could not be more than two days' ride away. -Once he was through this desert, he would find her, he would be with -her once again; all would be well, and his long journey would be over.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The images faded. Even memory slept in a flow of warm blood. Body and -mind slept into the shadows of the dawn.</p> - -<p>He awoke and stretched the cramped muscles of his body. At the edge of -the water he removed his clothes and stared at himself in the rippling -mirror. His muscles were lean and hard, evenly placed throughout the -length of his frame. A deep ridge ran down the length of his torso, -separating the muscles, making the chest broad. Well satisfied with his -body, he plunged into the cold water, deep down, until he thought his -lungs would burst; then swiftly returned to the clean air, tingling in -every pore. He dried himself and dressed. Conqueror was eating the long -grass near the stream. Quickly he saddled him. No time for breakfast. -He would ride all day and the next night. And he would be home.</p> - -<p>Still northward. The hours crawled slower than a dying man. The sun -was a torch that pierced his skin, seeming to melt his bones into a -burning stream within his body. But day at last gave way to night, and -the sun to the moon. The torch became a white pock-marked goddess, with -streaming hair called stars.</p> - -<p>In the moonlight he had not seen the crater until he was at its -very edge. Even then he might not have seen it had not the horse -stopped suddenly. The wind swirled through its vast emptiness, -slapping his face with dusty hands. For a moment he thought he heard -voices—mournful, murmuring voices, echoing up from the misty depths. -He turned quickly away and did not look back.</p> - -<p>Night paled into day; day burned into night.</p> - -<p>There were clouds in the sky now, and a gentle wind caressed the sweat -from his tired body. He stopped. There it was! Barely discernible -through the moonlight, he saw it. Home.</p> - -<p>Quickly he dismounted and ran. Now he could see a small light in the -window, and he knew they were there. His breath came in hard ragged -gulps. At the window he peered in, and as his eyes became accustomed -to the inner gloom, he saw how bare the room was. No matter. Now that -he was home he would build new furniture, and the house would be even -better than it had been before.</p> - -<p>Then he saw her.</p> - -<p>She was sitting motionless in a straight wooden chair beside the -fireplace, the feeble light cast by the embers veiling her in mauve -shadows. He waited, wondering if she were.... Presently she stirred -like a restless child in sleep, then moved from the chair to the pile -of wood near the hearth, and replenished the fire. The wood caught -quickly, sending up long tongues of flame, and forming a bright pool of -light around her.</p> - -<p>His blood froze. The creature illuminated by the firelight was a -monster. Large greasy scales covered its face and arms, and there was -no hair on its head. Its gums were toothless cavities in a sunken, -mumbling mouth. The eyes, turned momentarily toward the window, were -empty of life.</p> - -<p>"No, no!" he cried soundlessly.</p> - -<p>This was not his house. In his delirium he had only imagined he had -found it. He had been searching so long. He would go on searching. -He was turning wearily away from the window when the movement of the -creature beside the fire held his attention. It had taken a ring from -one skeleton-like finger and stood, turning the ring slowly as if -trying to decipher some inscription inside it.</p> - -<p>He knew then. He had come home.</p> - -<p>Slowly he moved toward the door. A great weakness was upon him. His -feet were stones, reluctant to leave the earth. His body was a weed, -shriveled by thirst. He grasped the doorknob and clung to it, looking -up at the night sky and trying to draw strength from the wind that -passed over him. It was no use. There was no strength. Only fear—a -kind of fear he had never known.</p> - -<p>He fumbled at his throat, his fingers crawling like cold worms around -his neck until he found the locket and the clasp which had held it -safely through endless nightmare days and nights. He slipped the clasp -and the locket fell into his waiting hand. As one in a dream, he opened -it, and stared at the pictures, now in the dim moonlight no longer -faces of those he loved, but grey ghosts from the past. Even the ruby -had lost its glow. What had once been living fire was now a dull glob -of darkness.</p> - -<p>"Nothing is forever!" He thought he had shouted the words, but only a -thin sound, the sound of leaves ruffled by the wind, came back to him.</p> - -<p>He closed the locket and fastened the clasp, and hung it on the -doorknob. It moved slowly in the wind, back and forth, like a pendulum. -"Forever—forever. Only death is forever." He could have sworn he heard -the words.</p> - -<p>He ran. Away from the house. To the large horse with a horn in the -center of its forehead, like a unicorn. Once in the saddle, the spurt -of strength left him. His shoulders slumped, his head dropped onto his -chest.</p> - -<p>Conqueror trotted away, the sound of his hooves echoing hollowly in the -vast emptiness.</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Homecoming, by Miguel Hidalgo - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOMECOMING *** - -***** This file should be named 60515-h.htm or 60515-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/0/5/1/60515/ - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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 in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. 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 -www.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 unprotected by copyright law 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 in the United States and - most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the - United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you - are located before using this ebook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (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 The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, 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 -works not protected by U.S. copyright law 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 1.F.3. 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 MERCHANTABILITY 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 information page at -www.gutenberg.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. 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 in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, 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 contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -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 www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.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 forty 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 not protected by copyright 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: 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/old/60515-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/60515-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 47e6589..0000000 --- a/old/60515-h/images/cover.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/60515-h/images/illus.jpg b/old/60515-h/images/illus.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 2a2d68a..0000000 --- a/old/60515-h/images/illus.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/60515.txt b/old/60515.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 52c08f8..0000000 --- a/old/60515.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,738 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Homecoming, by Miguel Hidalgo - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Homecoming - -Author: Miguel Hidalgo - -Release Date: October 17, 2019 [EBook #60515] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOMECOMING *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - HOMECOMING - - BY MIGUEL HIDALGO - - _What lasts forever? Does love? - Does death?... Nothing lasts - forever.... Not even forever_ - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Worlds of If Science Fiction, April 1958. - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - -The large horse plodded slowly over the shifting sand. - -The rider was of medium size, with huge, strong hands and seemingly -hollow eyes. Strange eyes, alive and aflame. They had no place in -the dust-caked, tired body, yet there they were, seeking, always -seeking--searching the clear horizon, and never seeming to find what -they sought. - -The horse moved faster now. They were nearing a river; the water would -be welcome on tired bodies and dry throats. He spurred his horse, -and when they reached the water's edge, he dismounted and unsaddled -the horse. Then both man and horse plunged headlong into the waiting -torrent, deep into the cool embrace of the clear liquid. They soaked it -into their pores and drank deeply of it, feeling life going once more -through their veins. Satisfied, they lifted themselves from the water, -and the man lay down on the yellow sand of the river bank to sleep. - -When he awoke, the sun was almost setting. The bright shafts of red -light spilled across the sky, making the mountains silent scarlet -shadows on the face of the rippling water. Quickly he gathered -driftwood, and built a small fire. From his pack he removed some of -the coffee he had found in one of the ruined cities. He brought water -from the river in the battered coffee-pot he had salvaged, and while he -waited for it to boil, he went to his horse, Conqueror, stroking his -mane and whispering in his ear. Then he led him silently to a grassy -slope where he hobbled him and left him for the night. - -In the fading light, he ate the hard beef jerky and drank the scalding -coffee. Refreshed and momentarily content, he sat staring into the -dying fire, seeing the bright glowing coals as living fingers clutching -at the wood in consuming embrace, taking all and returning nothing but -ashes. - -Slowly his eyelids yielded. His body sagged, and blood seemed to fill -his brain, bathing it in a gentle, warm flood. - -He slept. His brain slept. - -But the portion of his brain called memory stirred. It was all alone; -all else was at rest. Images began to appear, drawn from inexhaustible -files, wherein are kept all thoughts, past, present, and future.... - - * * * * * - -It was the night before he was to go overseas. World War III had been -declared, and he had enlisted, receiving his old rank of captain. He -was with his wife in the living room of their home. They had put the -children to bed--their sons--and now sat on the couch, watching the -blazing fire. It was then that he had showed it to her. - -"I've got something to tell you, and something to show you." - -He had removed the box from his pocket and opened it. And heard her cry -of surprised joy. - -"Oh, a ring, and it's a diamond, too!" she cried in her rich, happy -voice which always seemed to send a thrill through his body. - -"It's for you; so long as you wear it, I'll come back, even from the -dead, if need be. Read the inscription." - -She held the ring up to the light and read aloud, "It is forever." - -Then she had slipped the ring on her finger and her arms around him. -He held her very close, feeling the warmth from her body flowing into -his and making him oblivious to everything except that she was there in -his arms and that he was sinking deep, deep into a familiar sea, where -he had been many times before but each time found something new and -unexplored, some vastly different emotion he could never quite explain. - -"Wait!" she cried. "I've something for you, too." - -She took off the locket she wore about her neck and held it up to the -shimmering light, letting it spin at the end of its chain. It caught -the shadows of the fire and reflected them, greatly magnified, over the -room. It was in the shape of a star, encrusted with emeralds, with one -large ruby in the center. When he opened it, he found a picture of her -in one side, and in the other a picture of the children. He took her in -his arms again, and loosened her long, black hair, burying his face in -it for a moment. Then he kissed her, and instantly was drawn down into -the abyss which seemed to have no beginning or any end. - -The next morning had been bleak and gray. The mist clung to the wet, -sodden ground, and the air was heavy in his lungs. He had driven off -in the jeep the army had sent for him, watching her there on the porch -until the mist swirled around her feet and she ran back into the house -and slammed the door. His cold fingers found the locket, making a -little bulge under his uniform, and the touch of it seemed to warm the -blood in his veins. - -Three days later they had landed in Spain, merged with another -division, then crossed the Pyrenees into France, and finally to Paris -where the fighting had begun. Already the city was a silent graveyard, -littered with the rubble of towers and cathedrals which had once been -great. - -Three years later they were on the road to Moscow. Over a thousand -miles lay behind, a dead man on every foot of those miles. Yet victory -was near. The Russians had not yet used the H-bomb; the threat of -annihilation by the retaliation forces had been too great. - -He had done well in the war, and had been decorated many times for -bravery in action. Now he felt the victory that seemed to be in the -air, and he had wished it would come quickly, so that he might return -to her. Home. The very feel of the word was everything a battle-weary -soldier needed to make him fight harder and live longer. - -Suddenly he had become aware of a droning, wooshing sound above him. It -grew louder and louder until he knew what it was. - -"Heavy bombers!" The alarm had sounded, and the men had headed for -their foxholes. - -But the planes had passed over, the sun glinting on their bellies, -reflecting a blinding light. They were bound for bigger, more important -targets. When the all-clear had sounded, the men clambered from their -shelters. An icy wind swept the field, bringing with it clouds which -covered the sun. A strange fear had gripped him then.... - -Across the Atlantic, over the pole, via Alaska, the great bombers -flew. In cities, great and small, the air raid sirens sounded, high -screaming noises which had jarred the people from sleep in time to die. -The defending planes roared into the sky to intercept the on-rushing -bombers. The horrendous battle split the universe. Many bombers fell, -victims of fanatical suicide planes, or of missiles that streaked -across the sky which none could escape. - -But too many bombers got through, dropping their deadly cargo upon the -helpless cities. And not all the prayers or entreaties to any God had -stopped their carnage. First there had been the red flashes that melted -buildings into molten streams, and then the great triple-mushroom cloud -filled with the poisonous gases that the wind swept away to other -cities, where men had not died quickly and mercifully, but had rotted -away, leaving shreds of putrid flesh behind to mark the places where -they had crawled. - -The retaliatory forces had roared away to bomb the Russian cities. Few, -if any, had returned. Too much blood and life were on their hands. -Those who had remained alive had found a resting place on the crown -of some distant mountain. Others had preferred the silent peaceful -sea, where flesh stayed not long on bones, and only darting fishes and -merciful beams of filtered light found their aluminum coffins. - -The war had ended. - -To no avail. Neither side had won. Most of the cities and the majority -of the population of both countries had been destroyed. Even their -governments had vanished, leaving a silent nothingness. The armies that -remained were without leaders, without sources of supplies, save what -they could forage and beg from an unfriendly people. - -They were alone now, a group of tired, battered men, for whom life held -nothing. Their families had long since died, their bodies turned to -dust, their spirits fled on the winds to a new world. - -Yet these remnants of an army must return--or at least try. Their -exodus was just beginning. Somehow he had managed to hold together the -few men left from his force. He had always nourished the hope that -she might still be alive. And now that the war was over he had to -return--had to know whether she was still waiting for him. - -They had started the long trek. Throughout Europe anarchy reigned. He -and his men were alone. All they could do now was fight. Finally they -reached the seaport city of Calais. With what few men he had left, he -had commandeered a small yacht, and they had taken to the sea. - -After months of storms and bad luck, they had been shipwrecked -somewhere off the coast of Mexico. He had managed to swim ashore, -and had been found by a fisherman's family. Many months he had spent -swimming and fishing, recovering his strength, inquiring about the -United States. The Mexicans had spoken with fear of the land across the -Rio Grande. All its great cities had been destroyed, and those that had -been only partially destroyed were devoid of people. The land across -the Rio Grande had become a land of shadows. The winds were poisoned, -and the few people who might have survived, were crazed and maimed by -the blasts. Few men had dared cross the Rio Grande into "El Mundo gris -de Noviembre"--the November world. Those who had, had never returned. - -In time he had traveled north until he reached the Rio Grande. He had -waded into the muddy waters and somehow landed on the American side. In -the November world. - -It was rightly called. The deserts were long. All plant life had died, -leaving to those once great fertile stretches, nothing but the sad, -temporal beauty that comes with death. No people had he seen. Only the -ruins of what had once been their cities. He had walked through them, -and all that he had seen were the small mutant rodents, and all that he -had heard was the occasional swish of the wind as it whisked along what -might have been dead leaves, but wasn't. - -He had been on the trail for a long time. His food was nearly -exhausted. The mountains were just beginning, and he hoped to find food -there. He had not found food, but his luck had been with him. He had -found a horse. Not a normal horse, but a mutation. It was almost twice -as large as a regular horse. Its skin seemed to shimmer and was like -glassy steel to the touch. From the center of its forehead grew a horn, -straight out, as the horn of a unicorn. But most startling of all were -the animal's eyes which seemed to speak--a silent mental speech, which -he could understand. The horse had looked up as he approached it and -seemed to say: "Follow me." - -And he had followed. Over a mountain, until they came to a pass, and -finally to a narrow path which led to an old cabin. He had found it -empty, but there were cans of food and a rifle and many shells. He had -remained there a long time--how long he could not tell, for he could -only measure time by the cycles of the sun and the moon. Finally he -had taken the horse, the rifle and what food was left, and once again -started the long journey home. - -The farther north he went, the more life seemed to have survived. He -had seen great herds of horses like his own, stampeding across the -plains, and strange birds which he could not identify. Yet he had seen -no human beings. - -But he knew he was closer now. Closer to home. He recognized the land. -How, he did not know, for it was much changed. A sensing, perhaps, of -what it had once been. He could not be more than two days' ride away. -Once he was through this desert, he would find her, he would be with -her once again; all would be well, and his long journey would be over. - - * * * * * - -The images faded. Even memory slept in a flow of warm blood. Body and -mind slept into the shadows of the dawn. - -He awoke and stretched the cramped muscles of his body. At the edge of -the water he removed his clothes and stared at himself in the rippling -mirror. His muscles were lean and hard, evenly placed throughout the -length of his frame. A deep ridge ran down the length of his torso, -separating the muscles, making the chest broad. Well satisfied with his -body, he plunged into the cold water, deep down, until he thought his -lungs would burst; then swiftly returned to the clean air, tingling in -every pore. He dried himself and dressed. Conqueror was eating the long -grass near the stream. Quickly he saddled him. No time for breakfast. -He would ride all day and the next night. And he would be home. - -Still northward. The hours crawled slower than a dying man. The sun -was a torch that pierced his skin, seeming to melt his bones into a -burning stream within his body. But day at last gave way to night, and -the sun to the moon. The torch became a white pock-marked goddess, with -streaming hair called stars. - -In the moonlight he had not seen the crater until he was at its -very edge. Even then he might not have seen it had not the horse -stopped suddenly. The wind swirled through its vast emptiness, -slapping his face with dusty hands. For a moment he thought he heard -voices--mournful, murmuring voices, echoing up from the misty depths. -He turned quickly away and did not look back. - -Night paled into day; day burned into night. - -There were clouds in the sky now, and a gentle wind caressed the sweat -from his tired body. He stopped. There it was! Barely discernible -through the moonlight, he saw it. Home. - -Quickly he dismounted and ran. Now he could see a small light in the -window, and he knew they were there. His breath came in hard ragged -gulps. At the window he peered in, and as his eyes became accustomed -to the inner gloom, he saw how bare the room was. No matter. Now that -he was home he would build new furniture, and the house would be even -better than it had been before. - -Then he saw her. - -She was sitting motionless in a straight wooden chair beside the -fireplace, the feeble light cast by the embers veiling her in mauve -shadows. He waited, wondering if she were.... Presently she stirred -like a restless child in sleep, then moved from the chair to the pile -of wood near the hearth, and replenished the fire. The wood caught -quickly, sending up long tongues of flame, and forming a bright pool of -light around her. - -His blood froze. The creature illuminated by the firelight was a -monster. Large greasy scales covered its face and arms, and there was -no hair on its head. Its gums were toothless cavities in a sunken, -mumbling mouth. The eyes, turned momentarily toward the window, were -empty of life. - -"No, no!" he cried soundlessly. - -This was not his house. In his delirium he had only imagined he had -found it. He had been searching so long. He would go on searching. -He was turning wearily away from the window when the movement of the -creature beside the fire held his attention. It had taken a ring from -one skeleton-like finger and stood, turning the ring slowly as if -trying to decipher some inscription inside it. - -He knew then. He had come home. - -Slowly he moved toward the door. A great weakness was upon him. His -feet were stones, reluctant to leave the earth. His body was a weed, -shriveled by thirst. He grasped the doorknob and clung to it, looking -up at the night sky and trying to draw strength from the wind that -passed over him. It was no use. There was no strength. Only fear--a -kind of fear he had never known. - -He fumbled at his throat, his fingers crawling like cold worms around -his neck until he found the locket and the clasp which had held it -safely through endless nightmare days and nights. He slipped the clasp -and the locket fell into his waiting hand. As one in a dream, he opened -it, and stared at the pictures, now in the dim moonlight no longer -faces of those he loved, but grey ghosts from the past. Even the ruby -had lost its glow. What had once been living fire was now a dull glob -of darkness. - -"Nothing is forever!" He thought he had shouted the words, but only a -thin sound, the sound of leaves ruffled by the wind, came back to him. - -He closed the locket and fastened the clasp, and hung it on the -doorknob. It moved slowly in the wind, back and forth, like a pendulum. -"Forever--forever. Only death is forever." He could have sworn he heard -the words. - -He ran. Away from the house. To the large horse with a horn in the -center of its forehead, like a unicorn. Once in the saddle, the spurt -of strength left him. His shoulders slumped, his head dropped onto his -chest. - -Conqueror trotted away, the sound of his hooves echoing hollowly in the -vast emptiness. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Homecoming, by Miguel Hidalgo - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HOMECOMING *** - -***** This file should be named 60515.txt or 60515.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/0/5/1/60515/ - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law 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 in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. 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 -www.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 unprotected by copyright law 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 in the United States and - most other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the - United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you - are located before using this ebook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (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 The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, 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 -works not protected by U.S. copyright law 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 1.F.3. 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 MERCHANTABILITY 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 information page at -www.gutenberg.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. 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 in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, 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 contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -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 www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.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 forty 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 not protected by copyright 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: 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/old/60515.zip b/old/60515.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index b35d29f..0000000 --- a/old/60515.zip +++ /dev/null |
