diff options
| author | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-04 12:01:15 -0800 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-02-04 12:01:15 -0800 |
| commit | 42655b98e91d48544b5ffdf8f3aa7fb6542ddcfb (patch) | |
| tree | f42f7fccf466a765fc3bf253f296dbcddbe40652 /old | |
| parent | 1e5f9ebfcff3086583e9d1f3395cb6c1c1af2386 (diff) | |
Diffstat (limited to 'old')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63869-0.txt | 1006 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63869-0.zip | bin | 19386 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63869-h.zip | bin | 513093 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63869-h/63869-h.htm | 1097 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63869-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 249889 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63869-h/images/illus.jpg | bin | 243562 -> 0 bytes |
6 files changed, 0 insertions, 2103 deletions
diff --git a/old/63869-0.txt b/old/63869-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index a012de8..0000000 --- a/old/63869-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1006 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ordeal in Space, by Ralph Sloan - -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 -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this ebook. - -Title: Ordeal in Space - -Author: Ralph Sloan - -Release Date: December 05, 2020 [EBook #63869] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ORDEAL IN SPACE *** - - - - - ORDEAL IN SPACE - - By RALPH SLOAN - - This was Lieutenant Mike Logan's chance--alone - in space with the man he ached to kill. A man, - bound and helpless, who taunted him, dared him, - goaded him--knowing Mike had to bring him in alive! - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Planet Stories Fall 1949. - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - -A needle gun pointed through the cell bars at the hulking form of -Edward Snyder, his blue-furred Moon mimic squirming on his lap. Behind -it were the cold hands, cropped black hair, and bloodless face of Lt. -Mike Logan. It had taken him three hours to slide past the guards of -the transient prison. He would leave with the same efficient caution. -_But first he had to kill!_ - -Snyder looked up and saw him. The flabby face twisted cynically. -"Something personal, Lieutenant, or does the gun make it official?" - -"Ask your questions in hell," Logan grated. His angular length was -bent; gray eyes bloodshot and he fought to keep them open. After two -months of tramping over Pluto's ice cliffs, he had returned to Jupiter -to find the odor of death and no rest. - -A savage desire for revenge had driven him on until now he stood -staring almost unseeingly at the killer. The needle gun would be silent -and untraceable. "You killed Johnny. This is for him." - -Snyder shrugged beefy shoulders. "I've killed many and life is cheap. I -can't remember them all." - -"He was the last one," Logan choked. "He was my brother--" Something -caught his arm in a vice from behind. A stab of pain shot from his -wrist to his neck. - -"Sorry, Lieutenant, but I got to keep 'im alive," the voice of the -prison guard broke in his ear. He felt the gun drop from his fingers -and tried to break free. Through the bars he could dimly see Snyder's -mocking smile. Then something struck him on the head and he slid a long -ways down. - - * * * * * - -An hour later he stood at attention before the command desk of the -Patrol's Jupiter division. His knees were weak, chills of exhaustion -tracing his back muscles. He was washed up and he knew it. - -"I used to think I could count on you," Commander Bates stormed. "Well, -I was wrong. You're nothing but a damned gutless jellyfish. If it -weren't for your record I'd have you cashiered here and now." - -Logan flinched and tightened his lips. - -"There's no room in the Patrol for a man who cracks," Bates raged -on. "I'm sorry about Johnny. He had an easy way of getting under the -skin and belonging to all of us. Even the natives liked him. You're -different, Logan. You live for yourself." - -Sand had crawled up under Logan's eyelids. He listened, too tired to be -angered by the truth. - -The Commander's eyes shifted to a sheaf of papers. "General Winkham -sent me your requests for Transportation and Exploration licenses. I'm -supposed to endorse them." He swept the papers away and glared. "Snyder -dies on an Earth rope in three days and no self-appointed god has the -right to make it a minute sooner." - -"If you want my resignation--" Those papers had been his future. His -and Johnny's ... tattered remnants of a star dream. - -"Damned your resignation," Bates roared. "You're going to be taught a -lesson. You want Snyder--well, I'm giving him to you." - -The room rocked. "You're _what_--?" - -"You heard me." The older man snapped a piece of paper across his desk. -"You're taking him to Earth for execution." - -"I'll kill--" Mike Logan forgot about sleep. - -"Go ahead," Bates challenged him. "He'll die anyway. If it happens -while he's your charge, you'll be hanged in his place or psychoed out -at the next exam. Johnny deserves a better tombstone. But maybe you -haven't the decency to think of him." - -Logan was trapped. His future lay on the desk, a crumpled mass of -applications under the other's hairy fist. It took an A-1 discharge and -a Patrol recommendation to get the needed licenses and he owed it to -Johnny to keep trying. - -"So this is a _last chance_," he breathed acidly. A believer in satanic -justice, Bates always found a 'last chance' for the man who cracked. -They were spawned in hell but never refused because there was no place -in society for a Patrol 'wash out'. - -The wizened superior looked strange. "It takes guts on the outer -planets, Logan. I was born on Neptune. At ten I watched drunken natives -work a Mhulo Taag sacrifice on my mother after killing my father and -tying me up." He paled. "The priest used a sharp razor. I never forgot -it or his face. Twelve years later I brought him in over six thousand -miles of ice when I'd have given my soul to kill him." - - * * * * * - -In the glare of the rocket field's giant arc lamps, Logan looked at -his watch. In twenty minutes he was due to blast off. He watched the -fueling of the small Patrol spacer and smoked a cigarette. His lips -felt numb and the smoke drifted with a will of its own, sometimes drawn -to the lungs with a breath, sometimes burning his nostrils. He wasn't -aware. - -Odd how he had pursued an even course for twenty-eight years, driving -toward a goal he and his brother had planned since childhood, then -suddenly losing his props. The Patrol had been a prerequisite of the -government licenses they needed. For his part, Logan had been able to -face hell, crawl through the stink and the mud and the cold of the -outer planets. Yet the five years of service had been a task apart -from him, a bridge to an end. Even his black Patrol uniform had seemed -alien and temporary. But the blood on Johnny's chest and the ugly dirk -protruding from the flesh had struck home. - -"Tell Mike to make it a good space line. I'll be around to see it," -were Johnny's last words when they found him. Two days later the Patrol -had smoked Snyder out of a cheap rooming house--trapped, still with the -damned cynical smile. - -There was movement at the field exit and four figures detached -themselves from the darkness. Edward Snyder towered above the others, -carrying his opal-eyed pet in his fettered hands; a sad-faced -monkey-sized creature that imitated gestures and obeyed mental -commands. Logan glanced swiftly at his watch--ten minutes! and moved to -intercept the body. - -"I'll take over," he said crisply. - -Snyder's eyes widened, tiny chip blue flakes lost in flabby flesh. "Is -this the pilot?" he demanded. "He'll kill me." But he kept his queer -smile. - -The guards were Jovians, local police, short, rotund, lobster-faced -individuals. One of them stepped forward. "Lieutenant Logan?" - -Mike Logan nodded and showed his papers. The Jovian satisfied himself -and returned them. His eyes waved on the end of stalks--supple, -transparent muscles; never still. - -"We are in charge until the moment of take-off, Lieutenant," he said -stiffly. "If you will step aside we will chain the prisoner within the -ship." He spoke with characteristic hollowness, a racial organic flaw. - -"I think I can handle that," Mike said testily. Snyder laughed and he -looked up a foot at the mocking face. - -"They know you're going to kill me. You can wait till space, can't you, -Logan?" He had found out his name. - -Hate welled up in Logan's eyes and curdled his soul. But he had to -stand with raw nerves and take it. The entourage, pushing past him, -entered the Patrol ship. Blood ran down his fingers where the nails had -bitten into the palms. - -The Jovian guards chained Snyder to the bunk behind the control bucket. -When they re-appeared their spokesman approached Logan. - -"The prisoner is secure," he reported. - -"Then your duty is done." - -"Not until you leave," the guard corrected. He hesitated. "We have -heard what occasioned at the prison. I knew your brother and mourn his -passing. His killer has a strange mind, but he is to die--." - -"He'll die," Logan promised dangerously. - -"But you will cheat us. He has killed my people too. Have we no share -in vengeance? Let him be hanged. Think--" - -"Save it for your children," Logan broke in savagely. He turned angrily -and climbed into the Patrol ship, his mind blazing with a dozen tangent -thoughts. The port clapped shut like the jaws of death behind him. -He sank into the control bucket, not looking at his prisoner, only -the panel chronometer. The hands met straight up. He touched off the -gravity-clearing charge and the breath was sucked from his lungs. - - * * * * * - -The stars were pinpoints of light poking holes in the consciousness. -He looked at them and wondered if Johnny were watching him. He didn't -believe in ghosts, but-- - -It had been a great dream, he and the kid had had. There was little -interplanetary transportation; none beyond Jupiter except by the -Patrol. It had been the outer planets they had wanted to link. -First the Patrol hitch to qualify, then the charting of bases and -trajectories. With those they could have gone to the Earth government -for financing. Mike wanted to say, "Don't worry, kid. I'll pick up the -pieces." But he couldn't. - -From behind him he heard the low squealing of the Moon mimic and Edward -Snyder's laugh. - -"Getting up the courage, Lieutenant?" he mocked. Logan could see him -in the panel mirror, head cocked to one side, fat lips parted in an -invitation to be smashed. "That gun," Snyder nodded to the holstered -blaster. "It could do a neat job if you like intestines and blood." - -The Patrolman's hand moved to the blaster's cold butt. His brain told -him it could never be proved as murder. He could report an attempted -escape and plant the evidence. He half withdrew the gun; shivered and -let it slide back. Sweat stood out on his face. There were things that -wouldn't let him kill. The kid and his star dream and the unsigned -license requests. The little Jovian with his idiotic sense of justice. -And there was Bates and his native priest. He could see the picture, -snow and glaciers--two men in a motor sled, as alone as a ship in -space. _And here was Snyder and he couldn't kill him._ Maybe they would -let him fit the noose about the killer's neck. Maybe he could beg them -to let him spring the trap. He could be close then and watch the body -dangle. But he would be cheated. It was second best so that Johnny and -Bates, gray-haired satanic Bates, could be first. The decision left him -weak. - -Snyder watched the re-holstering of the gun and his eyes narrowed. -"What's wrong? Haven't ya got the guts?" - -"You'll get yours." - -"I think you're yellow." - -The tiredness dissolved as Logan whirled about and showed his teeth. -"Don't push me, rat. There's a damn thin line between the worth of -killing you myself and letting you hang." - - * * * * * - -The fat man nodded and so did the mimic. They both seemed pleased. "I'm -glad it's a thin line. Do you want to know why?" - -"Not interested." Logan kept his eyes on the murderer while he fished -Synthetic Sleep capsules from the panel locker. He needed something to -dispel the sluggishness of his brain. - -"You should be," Snyder taunted. "I love death. In life there's -nothing, but there's glory in death." His tiny eyes blazed. "You're not -free, Logan. No one is until they've balanced a knife over a being's -heart and heard the breath rattle. You listen to the beat of the blood, -knowing you can stop it in a second, or make it go slower and slower -until it drains away." - -Logan sat frozen; incredulous. - -"You wonder why I say this," Snyder laughed. "It's because I'm going to -choose my death." He looked strange. "I don't want to hang. If I can't -escape and be free again, I'll _make you kill me_." He stared for a -minute, then threw back his head and laughed. The mimic laughed, high -loonish squeals. - -"Hah, the blaster would be good. It has drama." Then the killer and his -mimic curled up on the bunk in identical positions and went to sleep. - -A feeling of nausea crept over Logan. The sound of the insane babbling -struck a sickening note. Snyder was a maniac. No one had told him. At -the height of the giant's bloody career he had been in the Plutonian -hinterland. But Bates had known. He cursed the gray-haired brother of -the devil. - -The panel chronometer showed forty-six hours before he would reach -Earth. Forty-six hours cooped up with a madman and a squealing mimic, -his mind already foggy and with no prospect of rest. Since returning -to Jupiter he had gone a long ways in the wrong direction. His logic -was shaky and it was hard to tell what was right and wrong. A chill ran -over him. Maybe he would be as mad as Snyder before he reached Earth. - -Trouble first struck on the fourth hour sunward. Its nature was -mechanical and deadly. The instrument panel belched smoke. The roar of -the jet engines became erratic and jerky. - -The patrolman's eyes swung from the mirror. His hands jumped, the -left cutting the current with a blow to the ignition while the right -unlocked and swung open the meter studded section. He heard Snyder stir -behind him; the whimpering of the mimic. The confident drum of the -engines died. Smoke poured upward and was sucked into the dying blades -of the ventilator fans. Automatically activated, the blue emergency -lights faded on. - -The short was deep in the electrical maze. He knew the wiring by heart, -could close his eyes and see pages of diagrams he had had to memorize -in Patrol school. His fingers burned as he found the bare wire, flecks -of molten insulation clinging to the tips. A long jumper-wire was dug -from the panel locker. - -"We're drifting," Snyder yelled. "Use the auxiliaries, fool." - -"Shut up," Logan snapped. The ship pitched and swung end over end, -caught in the ether-tides of the asteroid belt. With the current -cut they had no detectors, repulsers--even the air could not be -replenished. Still he hesitated to expend the auxiliary jets. Their -charge was limited. In space, auxiliaries weren't an answer to fate, -only a brief postponement. - -The defective wire ripped out, he cut his fingers fumbling with the -connecting posts. The spacer leveled and flowed stern first. Something, -probably a meteor the size of a thumbnail, struck the hull. It shivered -and began revolving again. - -"For God's sake, this is no way to die," Snyder screamed. The mimic -screeched and leaped up and down. - -Sweat ran into Mike Logan's eyes. One copper nipple slipped into its -socket. Space develops a sixth sense and he felt the urgent nearness -of the asteroid maze. One hand reached for the auxiliary switch as the -other fought to mate nipple and post. Abruptly the nipple mated and his -fist veered to strike the ignition button. An explosive stab of power -drove them forward. - -"You can stop crying, rat. We're safe." Logan looked in the mirror. His -hands shook and he reached for a cigarette despite regulations. Snyder -played with the bunk blankets; the mimic described little motions -with its eight-fingered paws. He turned wearily back to the controls, -re-setting the course. The chronometer showed forty-three more hours. - -Mental and physical endurance is limited and Logan's had been drained -before returning to Jupiter. The sapping in the transient prison had -found him in need of a bed, cool sheets, and a week of sleep. He hadn't -completely cracked, only been sick with strain and shock. This _last -chance_ was too much. He had reached the emotional saturation point. - - * * * * * - -Something soft slid over his nose, caught and jerked him backward. The -bucket's headrest hit his spine and he struck the deck rolling and -cursing himself. - -Snyder's laugh boomed as he dropped the improvised blanket-rope and -caught Logan's throat in his huge hands. The Patrolman's eyes bulged as -he was dragged to the edge of the bunk. - -"I can feel the blood in your neck," Snyder gloated. "You're not -clever, Logan. You're not strong. Your brother could fight." - -The giant was master all the way. Mike could feel his face swell, -lights dancing, as the sausage fingers tightened. Somewhere a foot -found purchase. He lashed out with the other. The toe cut the edge of a -small eye, momentarily relaxing the hold and he squirmed free. Chains -crunched as Snyder lunged after him and was jerked back. He pulled -himself to his feet, blaster in hand. - -[Illustration: _He lashed out with his foot, somehow fought free._] - -"Shoot," Snyder commanded him. "I tried to escape." - -Instinct tightened Logan's finger on the trigger. Then he leaned -against the hull and swore to the end of his strength while the giant -laughed with crying eyes. The mimic imitated him with cracking little -screeches. - -At eighteen hours sunward he fed his prisoner. A stern locker opened -into a compact kitchen and produced Earth meat and beans. He handed a -plate and a dull spoon to Snyder, took one himself and sat on a stool. -He wasn't hungry. - -"You don't understand me, do you?" Snyder said wistfully. - -"Shut up." - -"Why don't you make me?" he demanded. "Why don't you kill me?" He -brightened. "Do you know how I killed your brother?" - -The blood drained from Lt. Logan's face. - -"It was at the Jovian Feast of the Moons," Snyder related. "I had -an argument with a Martian girl and he tried to interfere. I killed -them both. She was a little cheat and he was a threat. I had to break -both his arms before I could use the knife. He had a strong heart. He -bled...." - -Somehow the Patrol officer found the control bucket. He swallowed -a full handful of Synthetic Sleep capsules. The mirror blurred and -he tried to watch Snyder and think of Bates and the native and the -motorsled in the snow. He told himself he had guts, but he was too -tired and sick to hear his own thoughts. _He wanted to kill._ - -Mars loomed up a swollen orange and swept astern. At thirty-six hours -he attached a leash to the Moon mimic's fur hidden collar. It stopped -the inane jumping. - -The hands of the chronometer spun and there began a series of blank -spaces which neither realization nor Synthetic Sleep could stop. He saw -Johnny and the spaceline, Bates, the lobster-faced Jovians. The roaring -jets became a lullaby. - -At forty-one hours he pulled out the blaster and moved to confront -Snyder. The fat man looked up with the same cynical smile. - -"Give it to me," Logan ordered. - -"What?" - -"The file. I've been watching you." - -The giant shrugged, brought the file in view and continued to saw at -his chains. "This is Oscar's donation," he said. "I hid it in his -collar. If you want it, take it with that." He nodded to the blaster. - -Logan hesitated, licked his lips, then brought the gun down hard along -a fleshy temple. The smile faded and the fat man folded. He took the -file, searched the surroundings, the blankets in the corner, found -nothing and returned to the controls. The odds were mounting against -him. Maybe next time.... - - * * * * * - -When Edward Snyder regained consciousness an hour later, Logan's eyes -hadn't left the mirror. The giant didn't smile anymore. Shortly he -became occupied with his pet, making grabbing motions at the air. - -The chronometer moved faster. There was Earth to look at--green, -peaceful Earth. He had done it! A few more hours and the nightmare -would be over! Lord, how he wanted sleep! He computed his primary orbit -and tuned in the Lunar Patrol station. - -"Logan calling...." - -"Go ahead, Lieutenant." The cherub face of the Moon's radaronics -operator appeared on the scanning screen. - -"Requesting landing instructions from Earth via Moon." His set was too -small to receive through Earth's atmosphere. The Moon acted as a relay -station. - -"Make ground contact at--" - -"Do it--do it." The mental command aimed at the Moon mimic hit Logan's -brain like a hot iron. Its hairy little arm shot past him, grabbed the -ignition jumper wire as it had watched Snyder grab air, and jerked it -loose. As the engines died and the blue emergency lights faded on, -Snyder laughed and the mimic screeched, jumping about, waving its prize -and dragging the frayed leash the killer had broken. - -Logan hit the auxiliary switch. They were within the Moon's -gravitational pull and he had no choice. He was exhausted and felt like -crying. Lord, was there no end to it? Would the lunatic never stop? -Hadn't he paid enough for his own relapse? - -The startled face of the radaronics operator flashed on the screen -again. "Prepare for crash," Logan shouted at him, then cut the power to -conserve fuel. - -Through the steering port he could see the soiled craters of the Moon -leaping up at him and the Patrol spacer began to whine and vibrate -as it hit the three pound air pressure. He sweat over the auxiliary -controls, nursing the fuel in short bursts, breaking the rate of fall, -juggling the angle. They were west of the Mountains of Caucasus and -directly above a narrow strip of plains. Within a thousand feet he hit -the jet activator and held it. A single explosive roar sounded; died. -There was nothing more he could do. He closed his eyes and began to -pray. - -The Patrol spacer hit and dug a furrow across the plain for three -miles, eight inches of the finest steel fighting lava rock and meteor -metal. The base of the Alps range was within leaping distance when the -battered hull shivered to a halt. The deck was twisted and friction -smoke filled the air. - -Logan got up. His legs didn't want to hold him, but he got up anyhow. -There was blood on his face and more oozing from his thigh. He heard -the high whine of escaping air, moved to a stern locker and pulled out -two pressure suits. His arms and legs were like lead. He wanted to lie -down on the floor, say to-hell-with-everything--maybe die. - -Edward Snyder was quiet but alive and conscious. A trickle of blood -ran from his nose and dripped from the second chin. The monkey-like -mimic moaned up and down the scale. - -"Put this on," Logan whispered. He tossed one of the suits on the bunk. -Enough air had escaped to hamper breathing and affect his voice. - -"I'm chained," Snyder snarled. "For God's sake, why don't you kill me?" - -For a moment Logan stared at him, then swayed and caught himself on the -bulkhead. He had reached the end and he knew it. He lifted the blaster -toward his captive. - -Snyder's expression was ethereal. He threw back his shoulders and -braced himself. Then the massive face turned blank as the leg chains -were carried away. The second blast freed one arm. Logan dropped the -piece of file on the bunk. The fat man stared dumbly, then snatched it -up and sawed at the remaining chain with savage joy. - -Lt. Mike Logan crawled numbly into his pressure suit, slipped out an -escape hatch and dropped to the Moon's cold crust. He couldn't let -Snyder die; he couldn't stay with the insane killer free. There was no -end to it. - -He struck off toward the towering crags of the Alps. His lead wouldn't -be much. Snyder with his twisted brain would be after him in a few -minutes, but he didn't care how it ended anymore. The giant couldn't -escape from the Moon. They'd get him again. But he, Logan, wasn't going -to kill. - -The horizon was foggy. He could see Bates and the motorsled. - -_They'd know he'd had the guts_.... - - * * * * * - -It was a nightmare, falling, getting up, falling again. He had made it -to the first row of foothills when Edward Snyder caught him. The giant -had found a knife in the galley and he brandished it over his head, -narrowing the distance between them with long leaps. Logan's normal -thirty foot Moon strides had fallen to ten. There was nothing left in -him. He felt the impact of weight against his back, an arm tighten -about his neck and they fell to the rocks. Only a trick of the gravity -saved him from the first dipping of the knife. - -How long they fought there was no reckoning. Logan could see the giant -laughing within his plastic helmet and he thought of Johnny and found -the strength to fight. He held his blaster club fashion and struck -feebly. He knew it couldn't last long. Nothing as uneven, as unfair as -this ever did. - -The two pressure-suited bodies bounced over the rocky surface, Snyder's -mad thrashing tossing them yards into the air. When they lit the last -time something snapped and Logan's arm twisted queerly. - -Above them, on a projection of rock, he saw the mimic waving the knife -it had acquired to imitate its insane master. Logan summoned all his -strength in a desperate gamble on the creature's one virtue. "Do it! Do -it! Damn it, do it!" - -Snyder grinned and raised his knife for aim. - -The blue-furred Moon native hesitated, uncertain, then teetered and -dropped downward. It landed on Snyder's shoulder, the knife describing -an awkward arc. The giant's pressure suit exploded as a six inch -gash was opened behind the neck. The mad leer disappeared and the -fat man gasped at the scant air. He flailed about, rolling over and -over, pulling Logan with him, then lay still; his eyes pushed upward, -fighting to breathe. - -A shower of lights hit Logan's brain. A chant pounded accompaniment. -"Can't kill 'im. Can't kill 'im. Can't--" The plastic helmet of the -mad Cyclops had shattered on the rocks and he found himself hammering -feebly at the loose features, tears of exhaustion streaming down his -face. The mimic continued to slash with the knife and the Patrolman's -suit dissolved, the left shoulder laid open. It grew very dark.... - - * * * * * - -There was a bed and sheets and the smell of tobacco smoke when he came -to. The room was in semi-darkness, but he could make out two figures. - -"Cigarette?" one of them asked and held a match. The other occupant -opened the shades and light filtered in. Immediately he recognized the -first. The long thin face and the bright eyes belonged to General -Winkham, commanding general of the Patrol. - -"Sir--" He tried to sit up, but the arm cast held him. - -"No need for formality, Logan." The general smiled. "The radaronics -operator tracked your ship down. You were near dead when the searching -party spotted that mimic." He chuckled. "They had the devil's own time -disarming the little beast." - -"What--what about Snyder?" - -The general sobered. "You've been asleep for two days. Snyder was -hanged yesterday." - -The other officer drew himself up stiffly. He wore a captain's bars and -was obviously the post commandant. "I think I should point out that the -prisoner was assaulted, General. Charges will have to be made." - -Winkham frowned. "Is that right, Lieutenant?" - -"I don't know." He swallowed hard and then told it from the -beginning--Johnny, Bates--everything. "I remember thinking at the last -that I couldn't kill him. Maybe I hit him; I don't know." - -"The situation is obvious," the captain summarized coldly. "The -prisoner was already subdued and therefore the beating was unnecessary -and in violation of the Conduct Code. You'll sit on the court martial, -of course, General?" The inner planets were hurtfully strict on -regulations. - -"Get out of here," Winkham snapped. When the other had fled he turned -to Logan. "I'm sorry about this, Lieutenant, but the captain is within -his rights. I don't hold with these teaparty technicalities, but you -can see my position. Why didn't you kill the blasted maniac? It would -have been self-defense." - -Logan experienced a wave of bitterness. The hell had been for nothing. -Something he didn't even remember clearly had caused him to fail Bates, -fail Johnny. "Bates told me he had brought in the native that tortured -his mother to death," he said weakly. "I tried to show as much guts. I -guess I haven't got it." - -"Bates, eh?" Winkham mused and looked out the window. "I was his -commanding officer then. The native was alive all right, but we always -wondered how his ears got sliced off and stuffed in his mouth. We -questioned him but couldn't make out his language." - -"Neptunian priests all speak English," Logan contradicted. - -"I know, but none of us did," the General returned with a wry grin. -"And I don't think anyone on this post will either. Even if I have to -break a captain to a hangar-monkey." He got up and paced the room. -"Bates says you want to start a space line. Says you're a good man with -ideas--" - -There was a growing spot of warmth in Logan's abdomen as he smoked and -listened to the famous "Winks". It was pride at belonging with men as -great as Bates and Johnny and Winkham. He could say it to Johnny, now, -softly. "Don't worry, kid. I'll pick up the pieces...." - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ORDEAL IN SPACE *** - -***** This file should be named 63869-0.txt or 63869-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/8/6/63869/ - -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 will 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/63869-0.zip b/old/63869-0.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 7d6e183..0000000 --- a/old/63869-0.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/63869-h.zip b/old/63869-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 8135742..0000000 --- a/old/63869-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/63869-h/63869-h.htm b/old/63869-h/63869-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index dc018a2..0000000 --- a/old/63869-h/63869-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1097 +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 Ordeal in Space, by Ralph Sloan. - </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;} - -/* Images */ -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -.caption p -{ - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0; - margin: 0.25em 0; -} - -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; -} - - </style> - </head> -<body> -<pre style='margin-bottom:6em;'>The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ordeal in Space, by Ralph Sloan - -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 -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this ebook. - -Title: Ordeal in Space - -Author: Ralph Sloan - -Release Date: December 05, 2020 [EBook #63869] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ORDEAL IN SPACE *** -</pre> -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>ORDEAL IN SPACE</h1> - -<h2>By RALPH SLOAN</h2> - -<p>This was Lieutenant Mike Logan's chance—alone<br /> -in space with the man he ached to kill. A man,<br /> -bound and helpless, who taunted him, dared him,<br /> -goaded him—knowing Mike had to bring him in alive!</p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Planet Stories Fall 1949.<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>A needle gun pointed through the cell bars at the hulking form of -Edward Snyder, his blue-furred Moon mimic squirming on his lap. Behind -it were the cold hands, cropped black hair, and bloodless face of Lt. -Mike Logan. It had taken him three hours to slide past the guards of -the transient prison. He would leave with the same efficient caution. -<i>But first he had to kill!</i></p> - -<p>Snyder looked up and saw him. The flabby face twisted cynically. -"Something personal, Lieutenant, or does the gun make it official?"</p> - -<p>"Ask your questions in hell," Logan grated. His angular length was -bent; gray eyes bloodshot and he fought to keep them open. After two -months of tramping over Pluto's ice cliffs, he had returned to Jupiter -to find the odor of death and no rest.</p> - -<p>A savage desire for revenge had driven him on until now he stood -staring almost unseeingly at the killer. The needle gun would be silent -and untraceable. "You killed Johnny. This is for him."</p> - -<p>Snyder shrugged beefy shoulders. "I've killed many and life is cheap. I -can't remember them all."</p> - -<p>"He was the last one," Logan choked. "He was my brother—" Something -caught his arm in a vice from behind. A stab of pain shot from his -wrist to his neck.</p> - -<p>"Sorry, Lieutenant, but I got to keep 'im alive," the voice of the -prison guard broke in his ear. He felt the gun drop from his fingers -and tried to break free. Through the bars he could dimly see Snyder's -mocking smile. Then something struck him on the head and he slid a long -ways down.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>An hour later he stood at attention before the command desk of the -Patrol's Jupiter division. His knees were weak, chills of exhaustion -tracing his back muscles. He was washed up and he knew it.</p> - -<p>"I used to think I could count on you," Commander Bates stormed. "Well, -I was wrong. You're nothing but a damned gutless jellyfish. If it -weren't for your record I'd have you cashiered here and now."</p> - -<p>Logan flinched and tightened his lips.</p> - -<p>"There's no room in the Patrol for a man who cracks," Bates raged -on. "I'm sorry about Johnny. He had an easy way of getting under the -skin and belonging to all of us. Even the natives liked him. You're -different, Logan. You live for yourself."</p> - -<p>Sand had crawled up under Logan's eyelids. He listened, too tired to be -angered by the truth.</p> - -<p>The Commander's eyes shifted to a sheaf of papers. "General Winkham -sent me your requests for Transportation and Exploration licenses. I'm -supposed to endorse them." He swept the papers away and glared. "Snyder -dies on an Earth rope in three days and no self-appointed god has the -right to make it a minute sooner."</p> - -<p>"If you want my resignation—" Those papers had been his future. His -and Johnny's ... tattered remnants of a star dream.</p> - -<p>"Damned your resignation," Bates roared. "You're going to be taught a -lesson. You want Snyder—well, I'm giving him to you."</p> - -<p>The room rocked. "You're <i>what</i>—?"</p> - -<p>"You heard me." The older man snapped a piece of paper across his desk. -"You're taking him to Earth for execution."</p> - -<p>"I'll kill—" Mike Logan forgot about sleep.</p> - -<p>"Go ahead," Bates challenged him. "He'll die anyway. If it happens -while he's your charge, you'll be hanged in his place or psychoed out -at the next exam. Johnny deserves a better tombstone. But maybe you -haven't the decency to think of him."</p> - -<p>Logan was trapped. His future lay on the desk, a crumpled mass of -applications under the other's hairy fist. It took an A-1 discharge and -a Patrol recommendation to get the needed licenses and he owed it to -Johnny to keep trying.</p> - -<p>"So this is a <i>last chance</i>," he breathed acidly. A believer in satanic -justice, Bates always found a 'last chance' for the man who cracked. -They were spawned in hell but never refused because there was no place -in society for a Patrol 'wash out'.</p> - -<p>The wizened superior looked strange. "It takes guts on the outer -planets, Logan. I was born on Neptune. At ten I watched drunken natives -work a Mhulo Taag sacrifice on my mother after killing my father and -tying me up." He paled. "The priest used a sharp razor. I never forgot -it or his face. Twelve years later I brought him in over six thousand -miles of ice when I'd have given my soul to kill him."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>In the glare of the rocket field's giant arc lamps, Logan looked at -his watch. In twenty minutes he was due to blast off. He watched the -fueling of the small Patrol spacer and smoked a cigarette. His lips -felt numb and the smoke drifted with a will of its own, sometimes drawn -to the lungs with a breath, sometimes burning his nostrils. He wasn't -aware.</p> - -<p>Odd how he had pursued an even course for twenty-eight years, driving -toward a goal he and his brother had planned since childhood, then -suddenly losing his props. The Patrol had been a prerequisite of the -government licenses they needed. For his part, Logan had been able to -face hell, crawl through the stink and the mud and the cold of the -outer planets. Yet the five years of service had been a task apart -from him, a bridge to an end. Even his black Patrol uniform had seemed -alien and temporary. But the blood on Johnny's chest and the ugly dirk -protruding from the flesh had struck home.</p> - -<p>"Tell Mike to make it a good space line. I'll be around to see it," -were Johnny's last words when they found him. Two days later the Patrol -had smoked Snyder out of a cheap rooming house—trapped, still with the -damned cynical smile.</p> - -<p>There was movement at the field exit and four figures detached -themselves from the darkness. Edward Snyder towered above the others, -carrying his opal-eyed pet in his fettered hands; a sad-faced -monkey-sized creature that imitated gestures and obeyed mental -commands. Logan glanced swiftly at his watch—ten minutes! and moved to -intercept the body.</p> - -<p>"I'll take over," he said crisply.</p> - -<p>Snyder's eyes widened, tiny chip blue flakes lost in flabby flesh. "Is -this the pilot?" he demanded. "He'll kill me." But he kept his queer -smile.</p> - -<p>The guards were Jovians, local police, short, rotund, lobster-faced -individuals. One of them stepped forward. "Lieutenant Logan?"</p> - -<p>Mike Logan nodded and showed his papers. The Jovian satisfied himself -and returned them. His eyes waved on the end of stalks—supple, -transparent muscles; never still.</p> - -<p>"We are in charge until the moment of take-off, Lieutenant," he said -stiffly. "If you will step aside we will chain the prisoner within the -ship." He spoke with characteristic hollowness, a racial organic flaw.</p> - -<p>"I think I can handle that," Mike said testily. Snyder laughed and he -looked up a foot at the mocking face.</p> - -<p>"They know you're going to kill me. You can wait till space, can't you, -Logan?" He had found out his name.</p> - -<p>Hate welled up in Logan's eyes and curdled his soul. But he had to -stand with raw nerves and take it. The entourage, pushing past him, -entered the Patrol ship. Blood ran down his fingers where the nails had -bitten into the palms.</p> - -<p>The Jovian guards chained Snyder to the bunk behind the control bucket. -When they re-appeared their spokesman approached Logan.</p> - -<p>"The prisoner is secure," he reported.</p> - -<p>"Then your duty is done."</p> - -<p>"Not until you leave," the guard corrected. He hesitated. "We have -heard what occasioned at the prison. I knew your brother and mourn his -passing. His killer has a strange mind, but he is to die—."</p> - -<p>"He'll die," Logan promised dangerously.</p> - -<p>"But you will cheat us. He has killed my people too. Have we no share -in vengeance? Let him be hanged. Think—"</p> - -<p>"Save it for your children," Logan broke in savagely. He turned angrily -and climbed into the Patrol ship, his mind blazing with a dozen tangent -thoughts. The port clapped shut like the jaws of death behind him. -He sank into the control bucket, not looking at his prisoner, only -the panel chronometer. The hands met straight up. He touched off the -gravity-clearing charge and the breath was sucked from his lungs.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The stars were pinpoints of light poking holes in the consciousness. -He looked at them and wondered if Johnny were watching him. He didn't -believe in ghosts, but—</p> - -<p>It had been a great dream, he and the kid had had. There was little -interplanetary transportation; none beyond Jupiter except by the -Patrol. It had been the outer planets they had wanted to link. -First the Patrol hitch to qualify, then the charting of bases and -trajectories. With those they could have gone to the Earth government -for financing. Mike wanted to say, "Don't worry, kid. I'll pick up the -pieces." But he couldn't.</p> - -<p>From behind him he heard the low squealing of the Moon mimic and Edward -Snyder's laugh.</p> - -<p>"Getting up the courage, Lieutenant?" he mocked. Logan could see him -in the panel mirror, head cocked to one side, fat lips parted in an -invitation to be smashed. "That gun," Snyder nodded to the holstered -blaster. "It could do a neat job if you like intestines and blood."</p> - -<p>The Patrolman's hand moved to the blaster's cold butt. His brain told -him it could never be proved as murder. He could report an attempted -escape and plant the evidence. He half withdrew the gun; shivered and -let it slide back. Sweat stood out on his face. There were things that -wouldn't let him kill. The kid and his star dream and the unsigned -license requests. The little Jovian with his idiotic sense of justice. -And there was Bates and his native priest. He could see the picture, -snow and glaciers—two men in a motor sled, as alone as a ship in -space. <i>And here was Snyder and he couldn't kill him.</i> Maybe they would -let him fit the noose about the killer's neck. Maybe he could beg them -to let him spring the trap. He could be close then and watch the body -dangle. But he would be cheated. It was second best so that Johnny and -Bates, gray-haired satanic Bates, could be first. The decision left him -weak.</p> - -<p>Snyder watched the re-holstering of the gun and his eyes narrowed. -"What's wrong? Haven't ya got the guts?"</p> - -<p>"You'll get yours."</p> - -<p>"I think you're yellow."</p> - -<p>The tiredness dissolved as Logan whirled about and showed his teeth. -"Don't push me, rat. There's a damn thin line between the worth of -killing you myself and letting you hang."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The fat man nodded and so did the mimic. They both seemed pleased. "I'm -glad it's a thin line. Do you want to know why?"</p> - -<p>"Not interested." Logan kept his eyes on the murderer while he fished -Synthetic Sleep capsules from the panel locker. He needed something to -dispel the sluggishness of his brain.</p> - -<p>"You should be," Snyder taunted. "I love death. In life there's -nothing, but there's glory in death." His tiny eyes blazed. "You're not -free, Logan. No one is until they've balanced a knife over a being's -heart and heard the breath rattle. You listen to the beat of the blood, -knowing you can stop it in a second, or make it go slower and slower -until it drains away."</p> - -<p>Logan sat frozen; incredulous.</p> - -<p>"You wonder why I say this," Snyder laughed. "It's because I'm going to -choose my death." He looked strange. "I don't want to hang. If I can't -escape and be free again, I'll <i>make you kill me</i>." He stared for a -minute, then threw back his head and laughed. The mimic laughed, high -loonish squeals.</p> - -<p>"Hah, the blaster would be good. It has drama." Then the killer and his -mimic curled up on the bunk in identical positions and went to sleep.</p> - -<p>A feeling of nausea crept over Logan. The sound of the insane babbling -struck a sickening note. Snyder was a maniac. No one had told him. At -the height of the giant's bloody career he had been in the Plutonian -hinterland. But Bates had known. He cursed the gray-haired brother of -the devil.</p> - -<p>The panel chronometer showed forty-six hours before he would reach -Earth. Forty-six hours cooped up with a madman and a squealing mimic, -his mind already foggy and with no prospect of rest. Since returning -to Jupiter he had gone a long ways in the wrong direction. His logic -was shaky and it was hard to tell what was right and wrong. A chill ran -over him. Maybe he would be as mad as Snyder before he reached Earth.</p> - -<p>Trouble first struck on the fourth hour sunward. Its nature was -mechanical and deadly. The instrument panel belched smoke. The roar of -the jet engines became erratic and jerky.</p> - -<p>The patrolman's eyes swung from the mirror. His hands jumped, the -left cutting the current with a blow to the ignition while the right -unlocked and swung open the meter studded section. He heard Snyder stir -behind him; the whimpering of the mimic. The confident drum of the -engines died. Smoke poured upward and was sucked into the dying blades -of the ventilator fans. Automatically activated, the blue emergency -lights faded on.</p> - -<p>The short was deep in the electrical maze. He knew the wiring by heart, -could close his eyes and see pages of diagrams he had had to memorize -in Patrol school. His fingers burned as he found the bare wire, flecks -of molten insulation clinging to the tips. A long jumper-wire was dug -from the panel locker.</p> - -<p>"We're drifting," Snyder yelled. "Use the auxiliaries, fool."</p> - -<p>"Shut up," Logan snapped. The ship pitched and swung end over end, -caught in the ether-tides of the asteroid belt. With the current -cut they had no detectors, repulsers—even the air could not be -replenished. Still he hesitated to expend the auxiliary jets. Their -charge was limited. In space, auxiliaries weren't an answer to fate, -only a brief postponement.</p> - -<p>The defective wire ripped out, he cut his fingers fumbling with the -connecting posts. The spacer leveled and flowed stern first. Something, -probably a meteor the size of a thumbnail, struck the hull. It shivered -and began revolving again.</p> - -<p>"For God's sake, this is no way to die," Snyder screamed. The mimic -screeched and leaped up and down.</p> - -<p>Sweat ran into Mike Logan's eyes. One copper nipple slipped into its -socket. Space develops a sixth sense and he felt the urgent nearness -of the asteroid maze. One hand reached for the auxiliary switch as the -other fought to mate nipple and post. Abruptly the nipple mated and his -fist veered to strike the ignition button. An explosive stab of power -drove them forward.</p> - -<p>"You can stop crying, rat. We're safe." Logan looked in the mirror. His -hands shook and he reached for a cigarette despite regulations. Snyder -played with the bunk blankets; the mimic described little motions -with its eight-fingered paws. He turned wearily back to the controls, -re-setting the course. The chronometer showed forty-three more hours.</p> - -<p>Mental and physical endurance is limited and Logan's had been drained -before returning to Jupiter. The sapping in the transient prison had -found him in need of a bed, cool sheets, and a week of sleep. He hadn't -completely cracked, only been sick with strain and shock. This <i>last -chance</i> was too much. He had reached the emotional saturation point.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Something soft slid over his nose, caught and jerked him backward. The -bucket's headrest hit his spine and he struck the deck rolling and -cursing himself.</p> - -<p>Snyder's laugh boomed as he dropped the improvised blanket-rope and -caught Logan's throat in his huge hands. The Patrolman's eyes bulged as -he was dragged to the edge of the bunk.</p> - -<p>"I can feel the blood in your neck," Snyder gloated. "You're not -clever, Logan. You're not strong. Your brother could fight."</p> - -<p>The giant was master all the way. Mike could feel his face swell, -lights dancing, as the sausage fingers tightened. Somewhere a foot -found purchase. He lashed out with the other. The toe cut the edge of a -small eye, momentarily relaxing the hold and he squirmed free. Chains -crunched as Snyder lunged after him and was jerked back. He pulled -himself to his feet, blaster in hand.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> - <div class="caption"> - <p><i>He lashed out with his foot, somehow fought free.</i></p> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>"Shoot," Snyder commanded him. "I tried to escape."</p> - -<p>Instinct tightened Logan's finger on the trigger. Then he leaned -against the hull and swore to the end of his strength while the giant -laughed with crying eyes. The mimic imitated him with cracking little -screeches.</p> - -<p>At eighteen hours sunward he fed his prisoner. A stern locker opened -into a compact kitchen and produced Earth meat and beans. He handed a -plate and a dull spoon to Snyder, took one himself and sat on a stool. -He wasn't hungry.</p> - -<p>"You don't understand me, do you?" Snyder said wistfully.</p> - -<p>"Shut up."</p> - -<p>"Why don't you make me?" he demanded. "Why don't you kill me?" He -brightened. "Do you know how I killed your brother?"</p> - -<p>The blood drained from Lt. Logan's face.</p> - -<p>"It was at the Jovian Feast of the Moons," Snyder related. "I had -an argument with a Martian girl and he tried to interfere. I killed -them both. She was a little cheat and he was a threat. I had to break -both his arms before I could use the knife. He had a strong heart. He -bled...."</p> - -<p>Somehow the Patrol officer found the control bucket. He swallowed -a full handful of Synthetic Sleep capsules. The mirror blurred and -he tried to watch Snyder and think of Bates and the native and the -motorsled in the snow. He told himself he had guts, but he was too -tired and sick to hear his own thoughts. <i>He wanted to kill.</i></p> - -<p>Mars loomed up a swollen orange and swept astern. At thirty-six hours -he attached a leash to the Moon mimic's fur hidden collar. It stopped -the inane jumping.</p> - -<p>The hands of the chronometer spun and there began a series of blank -spaces which neither realization nor Synthetic Sleep could stop. He saw -Johnny and the spaceline, Bates, the lobster-faced Jovians. The roaring -jets became a lullaby.</p> - -<p>At forty-one hours he pulled out the blaster and moved to confront -Snyder. The fat man looked up with the same cynical smile.</p> - -<p>"Give it to me," Logan ordered.</p> - -<p>"What?"</p> - -<p>"The file. I've been watching you."</p> - -<p>The giant shrugged, brought the file in view and continued to saw at -his chains. "This is Oscar's donation," he said. "I hid it in his -collar. If you want it, take it with that." He nodded to the blaster.</p> - -<p>Logan hesitated, licked his lips, then brought the gun down hard along -a fleshy temple. The smile faded and the fat man folded. He took the -file, searched the surroundings, the blankets in the corner, found -nothing and returned to the controls. The odds were mounting against -him. Maybe next time....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When Edward Snyder regained consciousness an hour later, Logan's eyes -hadn't left the mirror. The giant didn't smile anymore. Shortly he -became occupied with his pet, making grabbing motions at the air.</p> - -<p>The chronometer moved faster. There was Earth to look at—green, -peaceful Earth. He had done it! A few more hours and the nightmare -would be over! Lord, how he wanted sleep! He computed his primary orbit -and tuned in the Lunar Patrol station.</p> - -<p>"Logan calling...."</p> - -<p>"Go ahead, Lieutenant." The cherub face of the Moon's radaronics -operator appeared on the scanning screen.</p> - -<p>"Requesting landing instructions from Earth via Moon." His set was too -small to receive through Earth's atmosphere. The Moon acted as a relay -station.</p> - -<p>"Make ground contact at—"</p> - -<p>"Do it—do it." The mental command aimed at the Moon mimic hit Logan's -brain like a hot iron. Its hairy little arm shot past him, grabbed the -ignition jumper wire as it had watched Snyder grab air, and jerked it -loose. As the engines died and the blue emergency lights faded on, -Snyder laughed and the mimic screeched, jumping about, waving its prize -and dragging the frayed leash the killer had broken.</p> - -<p>Logan hit the auxiliary switch. They were within the Moon's -gravitational pull and he had no choice. He was exhausted and felt like -crying. Lord, was there no end to it? Would the lunatic never stop? -Hadn't he paid enough for his own relapse?</p> - -<p>The startled face of the radaronics operator flashed on the screen -again. "Prepare for crash," Logan shouted at him, then cut the power to -conserve fuel.</p> - -<p>Through the steering port he could see the soiled craters of the Moon -leaping up at him and the Patrol spacer began to whine and vibrate -as it hit the three pound air pressure. He sweat over the auxiliary -controls, nursing the fuel in short bursts, breaking the rate of fall, -juggling the angle. They were west of the Mountains of Caucasus and -directly above a narrow strip of plains. Within a thousand feet he hit -the jet activator and held it. A single explosive roar sounded; died. -There was nothing more he could do. He closed his eyes and began to -pray.</p> - -<p>The Patrol spacer hit and dug a furrow across the plain for three -miles, eight inches of the finest steel fighting lava rock and meteor -metal. The base of the Alps range was within leaping distance when the -battered hull shivered to a halt. The deck was twisted and friction -smoke filled the air.</p> - -<p>Logan got up. His legs didn't want to hold him, but he got up anyhow. -There was blood on his face and more oozing from his thigh. He heard -the high whine of escaping air, moved to a stern locker and pulled out -two pressure suits. His arms and legs were like lead. He wanted to lie -down on the floor, say to-hell-with-everything—maybe die.</p> - -<p>Edward Snyder was quiet but alive and conscious. A trickle of blood -ran from his nose and dripped from the second chin. The monkey-like -mimic moaned up and down the scale.</p> - -<p>"Put this on," Logan whispered. He tossed one of the suits on the bunk. -Enough air had escaped to hamper breathing and affect his voice.</p> - -<p>"I'm chained," Snyder snarled. "For God's sake, why don't you kill me?"</p> - -<p>For a moment Logan stared at him, then swayed and caught himself on the -bulkhead. He had reached the end and he knew it. He lifted the blaster -toward his captive.</p> - -<p>Snyder's expression was ethereal. He threw back his shoulders and -braced himself. Then the massive face turned blank as the leg chains -were carried away. The second blast freed one arm. Logan dropped the -piece of file on the bunk. The fat man stared dumbly, then snatched it -up and sawed at the remaining chain with savage joy.</p> - -<p>Lt. Mike Logan crawled numbly into his pressure suit, slipped out an -escape hatch and dropped to the Moon's cold crust. He couldn't let -Snyder die; he couldn't stay with the insane killer free. There was no -end to it.</p> - -<p>He struck off toward the towering crags of the Alps. His lead wouldn't -be much. Snyder with his twisted brain would be after him in a few -minutes, but he didn't care how it ended anymore. The giant couldn't -escape from the Moon. They'd get him again. But he, Logan, wasn't going -to kill.</p> - -<p>The horizon was foggy. He could see Bates and the motorsled.</p> - -<p><i>They'd know he'd had the guts</i>....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>It was a nightmare, falling, getting up, falling again. He had made it -to the first row of foothills when Edward Snyder caught him. The giant -had found a knife in the galley and he brandished it over his head, -narrowing the distance between them with long leaps. Logan's normal -thirty foot Moon strides had fallen to ten. There was nothing left in -him. He felt the impact of weight against his back, an arm tighten -about his neck and they fell to the rocks. Only a trick of the gravity -saved him from the first dipping of the knife.</p> - -<p>How long they fought there was no reckoning. Logan could see the giant -laughing within his plastic helmet and he thought of Johnny and found -the strength to fight. He held his blaster club fashion and struck -feebly. He knew it couldn't last long. Nothing as uneven, as unfair as -this ever did.</p> - -<p>The two pressure-suited bodies bounced over the rocky surface, Snyder's -mad thrashing tossing them yards into the air. When they lit the last -time something snapped and Logan's arm twisted queerly.</p> - -<p>Above them, on a projection of rock, he saw the mimic waving the knife -it had acquired to imitate its insane master. Logan summoned all his -strength in a desperate gamble on the creature's one virtue. "Do it! Do -it! Damn it, do it!"</p> - -<p>Snyder grinned and raised his knife for aim.</p> - -<p>The blue-furred Moon native hesitated, uncertain, then teetered and -dropped downward. It landed on Snyder's shoulder, the knife describing -an awkward arc. The giant's pressure suit exploded as a six inch -gash was opened behind the neck. The mad leer disappeared and the -fat man gasped at the scant air. He flailed about, rolling over and -over, pulling Logan with him, then lay still; his eyes pushed upward, -fighting to breathe.</p> - -<p>A shower of lights hit Logan's brain. A chant pounded accompaniment. -"Can't kill 'im. Can't kill 'im. Can't—" The plastic helmet of the -mad Cyclops had shattered on the rocks and he found himself hammering -feebly at the loose features, tears of exhaustion streaming down his -face. The mimic continued to slash with the knife and the Patrolman's -suit dissolved, the left shoulder laid open. It grew very dark....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>There was a bed and sheets and the smell of tobacco smoke when he came -to. The room was in semi-darkness, but he could make out two figures.</p> - -<p>"Cigarette?" one of them asked and held a match. The other occupant -opened the shades and light filtered in. Immediately he recognized the -first. The long thin face and the bright eyes belonged to General -Winkham, commanding general of the Patrol.</p> - -<p>"Sir—" He tried to sit up, but the arm cast held him.</p> - -<p>"No need for formality, Logan." The general smiled. "The radaronics -operator tracked your ship down. You were near dead when the searching -party spotted that mimic." He chuckled. "They had the devil's own time -disarming the little beast."</p> - -<p>"What—what about Snyder?"</p> - -<p>The general sobered. "You've been asleep for two days. Snyder was -hanged yesterday."</p> - -<p>The other officer drew himself up stiffly. He wore a captain's bars and -was obviously the post commandant. "I think I should point out that the -prisoner was assaulted, General. Charges will have to be made."</p> - -<p>Winkham frowned. "Is that right, Lieutenant?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know." He swallowed hard and then told it from the -beginning—Johnny, Bates—everything. "I remember thinking at the last -that I couldn't kill him. Maybe I hit him; I don't know."</p> - -<p>"The situation is obvious," the captain summarized coldly. "The -prisoner was already subdued and therefore the beating was unnecessary -and in violation of the Conduct Code. You'll sit on the court martial, -of course, General?" The inner planets were hurtfully strict on -regulations.</p> - -<p>"Get out of here," Winkham snapped. When the other had fled he turned -to Logan. "I'm sorry about this, Lieutenant, but the captain is within -his rights. I don't hold with these teaparty technicalities, but you -can see my position. Why didn't you kill the blasted maniac? It would -have been self-defense."</p> - -<p>Logan experienced a wave of bitterness. The hell had been for nothing. -Something he didn't even remember clearly had caused him to fail Bates, -fail Johnny. "Bates told me he had brought in the native that tortured -his mother to death," he said weakly. "I tried to show as much guts. I -guess I haven't got it."</p> - -<p>"Bates, eh?" Winkham mused and looked out the window. "I was his -commanding officer then. The native was alive all right, but we always -wondered how his ears got sliced off and stuffed in his mouth. We -questioned him but couldn't make out his language."</p> - -<p>"Neptunian priests all speak English," Logan contradicted.</p> - -<p>"I know, but none of us did," the General returned with a wry grin. -"And I don't think anyone on this post will either. Even if I have to -break a captain to a hangar-monkey." He got up and paced the room. -"Bates says you want to start a space line. Says you're a good man with -ideas—"</p> - -<p>There was a growing spot of warmth in Logan's abdomen as he smoked and -listened to the famous "Winks". It was pride at belonging with men as -great as Bates and Johnny and Winkham. He could say it to Johnny, now, -softly. "Don't worry, kid. I'll pick up the pieces...."</p> - -<pre style='margin-top:6em'> -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ORDEAL IN SPACE *** - -This file should be named 63869-h.htm or 63869-h.zip - -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: -http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/8/6/63869/ - -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 will 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/63869-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/63869-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 46a1f93..0000000 --- a/old/63869-h/images/cover.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/63869-h/images/illus.jpg b/old/63869-h/images/illus.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 4bac897..0000000 --- a/old/63869-h/images/illus.jpg +++ /dev/null |
