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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..58cb3d5 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #66314 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/66314) diff --git a/old/66314-0.txt b/old/66314-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 6d44b9a..0000000 --- a/old/66314-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1001 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of Beware the Star Gods, by S. J. Byrne - -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: Beware the Star Gods - -Author: S. J. Byrne - -Release Date: September 15, 2021 [eBook #66314] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEWARE THE STAR GODS *** - - - - - - Kuru stood his ground bravely as the ship - flamed down from the sky. Truly this was a great - and terrible moment. He must warn his people to-- - - Beware The Star Gods - - By S. J. Byrne - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy - June 1954 - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - -Kuru paused, his stone knife poised above the half-skinned kill. He -listened, at the same time twitching his sensitive nostrils in an -effort to read the messages of the wind. But there was nothing in the -air for his nose to read. Rather, it was sound that gave him warning. - -He stood up and looked through the trees at the small valley beyond the -ridge on which he stood. He could hear the raucous cry of birds and the -tree people. - -Kuru wanted very much to run to his people, but if he should do so what -would he tell them? That he was running from that which he had not even -looked upon with his own eyes? That Kuru ran from the cry of birds and -tree people? - -Now the tree people saw him and they paused in their flight, -concentrating their numbers in the trees over his head, looking down -at him and chattering and gesticulating with their busy little furry -arms. He was aware that they recognized him as a hunter and the enemy -of the murder-beast, and he was proud, knowing that they were appealing -to him now in the face of this new and greater enemy, whatever it was. -He could see that they were pointing at the sky. - -The sky! Only the gods lived in the sky! He felt the hair along the -base of his neck stand out stiffly. - -_Something great and terrible was coming out of the sky!_ - - * * * * * - -The thing was long and rounded and shone brightly like the stars. It -sparkled in the blue-white light of the triple suns like a love-stone -brought from the Faraway Caves beyond the Great River. And it was -floating down on pillars of fire toward the valley. It was becoming -bigger and bigger, as were Kuru's large, black eyes. - -Fear began to give place to Kuru's wonder. How had such a thing ever -come to be? And what was it doing in the sky? What was it? - -It was big, far bigger than Kuru could have imagined. When it came to -the ground it crushed and burned dozens of great trees. And there it -sat, motionlessly and without sound, as though a mountain had dropped -from the sky to stay there forever. - -Suddenly, in the shining surface of the great sky-jewel a long, black -hole appeared, and even as he watched something glittering began to -emerge from it. At first it seemed that this was some sort of gigantic -cocoon, breaking open to release the wing of an unimaginable insect. -But in another moment he received the biggest surprise of all. - -"Men!" he gasped. "What are men doing in that sky-jewel? They could not -have made it and come out of the sky--unless they are gods!" - -The "man-gods" wore strange garments. They were amazingly frail and -beautiful looking people, like women in their fairness of skin and -their almost complete lack of hair on their bodies. Kuru felt that he -could have broken one of them with each hand. But what strange strength -of magic did they possess to make this shining cave that brought them -from the sky? - -He heard a ferocious roar which emanated from the region of the -sky-cave. It was a murder-beast. He saw several of the "man-gods" run -to a gleaming sort of fence at the edge of the wing that had extended -itself out of the black hole. They were looking downward. - -Now here was something Kuru could understand. In the face of the -terrifying murder-beast he would be able to tell whether or not these -people were weaklings. He saw one of them extract a small object from -his garments. When this small object was pointed downward in the -direction of the roaring murder-beast, a thin, bright line of light -appeared below it, and the murder-beast's roar was cut off. - -Kuru's teeth chattered slightly. Undoubtedly, he was looking upon the -representatives of a race of gods. They could command the powers of -lightning. - -Still, he could not run away even now, because only a female would -come screaming home to tell of what she had merely seen from afar. A -hunter like Kuru, who was already a respected member of the family -council, would investigate and have something more to tell other than -how frightened he was. On the contrary, he must show how brave he could -be. He must get closer to the sky-cave of the gods and watch them for a -while.... - - * * * * * - -"Infra-red picked it up. It's something pretty big, over in that tall -tree. Been there since before sundown." - -"Hmmm.... Patience, cunning, warm-blooded, large size. Do you think--" - -"Now don't let's get back on _that_ again!" - -"But Henderson said he saw one with his binoculars, up on that ridge, -early this afternoon." - -"Good God, Frank! Can't you realize you're being victimized by an -old complex? Why is it we _have_ to find human beings on other -worlds? We've been searching the stars unsuccessfully for more than a -millenium." - -"This is our farthest reach out into the galaxy--" - -"Yeah. By God, it's almost six hundred light years, twenty years by -chronology, and two for us even under trans-C time contraction. _That_, -my friend, is some traveling!" - -"It's a beautiful planet--just like Earth was supposed to be once. You -know, sometimes I think civilization is a disease." - -"That's a _great_ idea! So we're microbes infesting the universe!" - - * * * * * - -That night Kuru returned to his family, which consisted of his father, -his mother, his father's three other wives, his two sisters, his five -younger brothers, half-sisters, half-brothers, and dozens of uncles and -aunts and scores of cousins numbering one hundred and twenty-two males -and females. Council members from three neighboring "families" had -already gathered on Council Rock, because some had seen the shining -thing descend out of the sky. But only Kuru could tell them facts about -it, which added tremendously to his prestige. - -"It is a flying cave they have built," he concluded. "They are gods -from the country of the sky." - -"This must be true," said Bortu, his father. "You say they killed a -murder-beast with lightning?" - -"As though it were a crawly-bug under their feet." - -The elder members of the council and the younger hunters all looked -at Kuru in silent admiration. But admiration was mixed with fear. The -stars above them were big with mystery and wonder. Why had the gods -come down to visit their world? - -"What do they want?" asked Gurgo, the father-chief of the Snake Lake -family. - -"I do not know. I heard them talking among each other, but it is some -strange twist of tongue that makes no meaning." - -Now Fulkudu, father-chief of the Cloud Valley family, rose to speak. -He had thrown the sacred white fur of the river-cat over his shoulder, -which meant that his was an official decision. - -"We must appease these gods," he announced. "We must show them at -once that we are friendly to them. A sacrifice must be presented." -Whereupon, he sat down again and was silent. - -The rest of them remained silent, too, because this recommendation -gave rise to a much more important question. If the other father-chiefs -agreed with Fulkudu, then someone would have to go to those powerful -gods and present the sacrifice. No one wished to be embarrassed by -having to confess his fear. Who would be brave enough to take the -sacrifice to them? - -As though by common accord, all council members slowly concentrated -their attention upon Kuru. Words were unnecessary to express the -general idea. Kuru was a very brave hunter. He alone knew more about -the gods who had come from the sky than any other among them. - -Kuru looked into the eyes of his father and saw the message written -there. He had made his father proud. To back out now was to lose all -the prestige so far gained. Kuru thought of the thin bolt of lightning -that had killed the murder-beast, and he fought to keep his teeth from -chattering. - -Slowly, he stood up, throwing his own white fur over his brawny -shoulder. "I will present the sacrifice," he said. And his own voice -sounded strange to him. It was hard to believe he had said such a brave -thing as this. - - * * * * * - -"Derla!" Kuru exclaimed. "What are you doing here?" He lowered the -heavy horny-head beast to the ground and looked at his sister in -amazement. - -She was almost his own age, and the prettiest female in the family, -with her long black hair and her large black eyes and firm young -breasts. He, himself, had killed the murder-beast whose fur encircled -her shapely hips. - -"I would be with you in this danger," she answered, pleadingly. "None -of the other males dared to go with you. Our father's pride would be -complete if a female of the Great Cliffs were as brave as Kuru." - -"But you must go back. I do not know what these gods will do. They may -kill me." - -Derla ran forward to her brother's side, placing her hands on one -of his hairy arms. "Then this is a greater reason for me to be with -you, brother!--so that your spirit will not travel alone into the sky -country." - -Kuru looked down into his sister's eyes and grinned. "You are my -favorite sister," he said. "Come! Perhaps when they see you they will -not think of killing!" He shouldered the horny-head beast again, and -the two of them continued across the floor of the valley toward the -shining sky-cave of the gods.... - - * * * * * - -"Mother of God! Frank!" - -"What is it?" - -"Seeing is believing. Look down there in that small clearing...." - -"Oh no. It can't be!" - -"Well, you were the guy that was saying they might be here!" - -"What I need is witnesses then. I'll signal general call. You get -cameras and the recorders out!" - - * * * * * - -"By God, it's incredible--yet it's true! The first extra-terrestrial -humans ever discovered, in over a thousand years of space exploration!" - -"This will be something to stir up their blood back home. People were -beginning to lose interest even in galactic exploration. This is it, -boys! We've finally discovered our own kind!" - -"I wouldn't go so far as to say that. Those are obviously primordials. -That male is half hair." - -"And the other half is all brawn. The female is surprisingly -clear-skinned. For a primordial gal she isn't bad!" - -"What are they doing down there? Looks like they're waiting for us to -do something." - -"Don't you get it? We're from the stars. Therefore we're gods. That -quadruple-horned goat-like animal at their feet is a sacrifice. We're -supposed to accept it." - -"Hell, we'll accept them all! Let's get 'em on board!" - -"Hold it a minute, men. Keep your voices down. You're gods now, not -monkeys. Take it easy. Can't you see how the female cringes behind the -male? Both of them are half scared out of their wits. By their own -evaluation, they are braving death to do us honor. We have to gain -their confidence." - -"Well, if they're defying death, itself, maybe they'd come on board if -we lowered the ladder to them." - -"We can try it, but let it down slowly--and smile! Remember, you are -benevolent gods...." - - * * * * * - -"If they intended to kill us, Derla, they would have done so by now. -See? They smile at us!" - -"Look! Something is coming down!" - -"It is a shiny-fence." - -"It is like the vine-steps for climbing cliffs." - -"That's it, Derla! Either they are coming down, or--or--" - -"Kuru! They want us to come up!" - -The two of them stood there in the small clearing, looking at the -vertical shiny-fence that had come down to them from the great ledge -where the man-gods stood, up at the top of their sky-cave. Again, -Kuru's great muscles twitched with the instinct to run. Had he been -alone, he might have done so. But in the eyes of his brave sister he -could not do this, even though it might cost him his life. Still, the -god-men looked very friendly. They were beckoning to him to come up. - -Gritting his teeth and emitting a low growl to give himself courage, -Kuru threw the horny-head beast across his shoulder and approached the -shiny-fence. "You stay here," he told his sister. - -"No, Kuru! I will come behind you, no matter what happens!" - -He shrugged, ashamed of his own fear in the presence of her surprising -courage. He grabbed cross-pieces of the shiny-fence and began to climb, -knowing that Derla was close at his heels. - -The great, smooth ledge with the shiny-fence around it was larger than -he had expected. A group of twelve man-gods stood there, waiting for -him. None of them, he noticed carefully, had a lightning stick in his -hand, although at least five of them carried the terrible weapons at -their sides. After pausing once to make sure that he was not to be -attacked, Kuru climbed up onto the ledge and threw his sacrifice down. -Then he turned to help Derla up. The two of them stood facing the -people from the sky. - -Finally, Kuru said to them, "We bring you sacrifice and make peace. The -gods are welcome to this land." - -Derla tugged at his arm. "We should bow down," she advised. - -Brother and sister fell to their knees, with bowed heads. - - * * * * * - -"That ought to make a good picture for you, Henderson. They're eating -out of our hand already!" - -"Here, fellow, get to your feet. You too, black eyes!" - -"Don't forget the sacrifice. Better accept it so's they won't be -offended. Besides, maybe it's edible. We could do with some fresh -meat--maybe." - -"Maybe is right. I don't think my system could get used to real steaks -again. That looks like some sort of goat. May be just like mutton." - -"Hey Frank! That cave girl sure goes for you! Look at her take you in -with those big eyes!" - -"Guess that's because Frank's more their size. Open your shirt a little -more, Frankie old boy. Show 'em the hair on your chest!" - -"Shut up, you guys. Do you realize what this means?" - -"Yeah. Love at first sight!" - -"Men! Pipe down. Whether you like it or not, this is quite a historical -moment. Now the first problem is one of communication and contact with -the rest of their people." - -"We could get out the flier and take them home." - -"That's right. We'll do that when we've tried talking to them and taken -some more pictures and recordings. What do you make of that fellow's -language, Ken?" - -"Primitive, but with a pretty good smattering of syntax. There were -some definite inflexions. I'd say they were about ready for writing." - -"By God, that guy must have the strength of a gorilla. This sacrifice -animal weighs a ton. Give me a hand, Mike." - -"Where I come from, that expression he's wearing is a snarl. But I -guess he is trying to smile. Well? Who's going to shake hands? Okay, -Frank. You be the hero." - -"You'd think he'd never seen a hand before. He's afraid to touch you. -No, he's going to--" - -"Ouch!" - -"Yipes! If he can hurt Frank then I'm not shaking hands with him! I'll -shake hers, though. They say women used to go around like _that_ in -Bali." - -"Now just take it easy, men. I think that hairy fellow is doing a -splendid job as it is. Can't you see how nervous he is? He's broken -out into a sweat. He's watching us like a wild animal. Instinct is -struggling with intelligence. Don't make any quick moves. You'll notice -he keeps watching our guns as though he knew what they were for. That's -pretty good observation. He'll probably jump the first one who draws, -so just remember that...." - -"They're getting in because they saw you two get in, but they may not -know it's a flier. The minute you take to the air they may get panicky. -So watch yourselves! We'll follow in the other two rigs. Take it slow, -because we want to catch some aerial fotos of the terrain...." - - * * * * * - -"Say listen, Frank. These people have been entertaining us all for a -week. We've found a perfect, utterly peaceful world that has never -known war or privation. It's the biggest find in history, and here you -sit moping. I haven't seen you smile once since we got here. What's -eating you?" - -"I think you just hit the nail on the head." - -"What do you mean?" - -"We have found a perfect, utterly peaceful world that has never known -privation." - -"So?" - -"Remember what I said about civilization being a disease?" - -"Oh, so that's it! Well, they don't seem to object to the -contamination." - -"How could they? We're wonder gods, and our gadgets are magic toys. -What do they know about the rest of it? In forty or fifty years the -colony ships will arrive here and set up shop. There'll be scientific -development, mass production, regimentation. Just consider the -implications of bringing an alarm clock to this world!" - -"That's pretty good "squeezing" they make out of those roots, but don't -let it make you morbid, old boy!" - -"Within two generations those rugged brutes will be helping us build -factories here. They'll be wearing work clothes and numbers. Our -society is necessarily collective because of past history and possible -future dangers of aggression among ourselves. What do these people -need collective security for?--and mass production--only to feed us as -we come in among them and spawn more millions who will soon make it -necessary to expand again and find another world like this to spoil!" - -"Frank, you're going off your rockers. Oh! Oh! Here's something to take -your mind off of social philosophy. Look at this!" - -"What cooks? Looks like a delegation of all the best looking women in -the tribe. Guess they're going to dance for us or something." - -"There's Dark Eyes again. She's got you picked out already." - -"Picked _out_?" - -"Sure! Ken said he thought this would happen. They've made several -overtures before." - -"What are you talking about?" - -"Children of Paradise, pal! They think this is the truest form of -hospitality, and in a way--" - -"You mean--!" - -"Yeah. That's what I mean. And Dearborn says we shouldn't offend them. -So what am I going to do?" - -"But--!" - -"Don't keep Dark Eyes waiting, pal!" - - * * * * * - -"You were only supposed to please the gods, not fall in love with them, -Derla." - -"I love only one." - -"I know. It is the big one who never smiles except when he looks at you -and me. Then he smiles with sadness. But he is not liked by the other -gods. I have seen him argue with the others and shout at them and wave -his arms about--and they have stopped smiling at him. If he is in -disfavor, it is dangerous to have anything to do with him. He carries -his lightning stick at all times, and I know it is because he fears -attack from his own kind, not from us. You must stay away from him." - -"He does not seek me. I fail to please him." - -"He is a god and you are woman." - -"But Sigala, and Bulbini--" - -"I know. Some of the gods have been lonelier than the others. That is -the only reason." - -"The big one who is called Fronk--has not yet--" - -"It is just as well." - -"Not even that night when we first--" - -"Derla, you will have to forget about him and stay away from him." - -"But he was kind...." - -"And he is not liked by the other gods. Your father forbids it!" - - * * * * * - -"Frank, this obsession of yours is getting serious. The men have asked -me to have a talk with you. If you don't get hold of yourself it might -even mean the brig, man. Now I want you to tell me just what's behind -all this." - -"Well, sir, it's just that I think we're dead wrong in coming here at -all. What we ought to do is _protect_ these people from civilzation. -We discovered them. When we go back and report it, they will be the -property of modern materialism. Our supposed gifts to them will be -nothing short of exploitation. I say we erase our discovery from the -records." - -"What?--I can see now why a couple of the boys had a fight with you. -It's insane! For over ten centuries we have looked for other humans--" - -"And now that we've found them, we plan to force them into our own way -of life, as though _we_ had found the only answer!" - -"Frank, I'm sorry to put it this way, but this is an order. Keep your -personal opinions to yourself. You're on probation and you're going to -be watched. Dismissed!" - - * * * * * - -"The big one has stones in his head, Derla. Look at him up there on the -clifftop. He has grown a beard. Each day he looks less a god and more a -man. But he drinks _qaral_-juice too much. He stays away from us and he -stays away from the other gods. What is the matter with him?" - -"I do not know, Kuru. He is very strange. Beautiful things make him -sad. I know when he is sad, because then he really drinks and goes away -to sleep it off somewhere." - -"What do you mean--beautiful things?" - -"Well, it is when we are happiest in the mornings when the suns are -still too low in the sky to drink the dew from the leaves and grasses, -when we bathe in the river and laugh and play. Or when many of us sit -around the great fires at night and listen to the old ones' stories. He -watches us then, and he drinks, and after a while he goes away. He is -very sad." - -"Soon they will all be gone. I saw them bringing many things to the sky -cave...." - -"I will be sad to see them go." - -"You will be sad to see the crazy big one go." - -"Yes. There is something in his eyes--a kindness that is for all of -us--and there is even something in his eyes for me." - -"You believe in the things you wish for. But that does not make them -true." - -"Kuru. Where do you think they go?" - -"Now _that_ is a question for a woman to ask! Is it not obvious? They -go into the sky, whence they came...." - - * * * * * - -One morning the large families of the Great Cliffs, Snake Lake and -Cloud Valley were startled out of their sleep by a shaking of the -ground and a blinding light in the sky. Before they could rub the sleep -out of their eyes, a giant, invisible hand swept over the country, -bending trees almost to the ground. And then a terrible roar smote -their ears. They did not know if the gods of the mountains had spoken -or if this were some new manifestation of powers on the part of the -sky gods who were soon to depart. When they saw the angry cloud and -the fire in the sky they fell to the ground, trembling with fear, and -praying. They did not know how they had angered these strange new gods, -but there could be no doubt that they were angered. - -Hours later, when the angry cloud began to fade away in the sky above -that valley where the sky-cave was located, the father-chiefs and -hunters gathered at Council Rock. - -"Our bravest hunters must go to appease them with great sacrifices," -announced Bortu. "They must go at once. And my son, Kuru, will lead -them." - -So it was decided. The fattest horny-head beasts were killed and -skinned. Kuru and nine other hunters shouldered their sacrifices and -started toward the Valley of the Gods, as it was now called. Over three -hundred members of the three great families stood on the Great Cliffs -and watched them go, hoping that the gods would not destroy them in -their mysterious wrath. - -Suddenly a great cry of alarm arose from the watchers. The hunters -paused on the edge of the forest. Before them stood the sky god, the -big crazy one with the beard. The one called _Fronk_. In his hand was -a lightning stick, and he pointed it at the hunters. He made signs to -them which were unmistakable. They were not to approach the Valley of -the Gods. - -Derla could not help it. She ran across the intervening space and stood -beside her brother, Kuru, staring at the god she loved, in desperation -and amazement. - -He was crying. His face and his beard were streaked with tears. He was -crying, almost screaming at them--but he would not let them pass.... - - * * * * * - -"I didn't mean to kill them! Mother of God, why didn't you take me -instead! Only wanted to cripple the power so they'd be stranded.... All -right! Keep back! You, too, Dark Eyes! Those sacrifices mean nothing -now, boys.... Just a smoking pit back there filled with radiation. But -what would you know about that? Thank God now you'll _never_ know! -That's the first and the last mushroom cloud you'll ever see. Go on -back to your Paradise. Maybe you'll never know I saved it for you.... -Go on! Beat it!" - - * * * * * - -"He killed all the other gods, Derla. In his madness he destroyed the -great sky-cave, and now not even he can return to the country of the -sky." - -"I don't think he meant to kill the others. He cried for days about it." - -"And got terribly drunk! We had to stop giving him _qaral_-juice. It -was making him sick so that he could not eat, and he grew thin." - -"But he has been gone for many, many suns. Do you think he is dead?" - -"He is a god. Perhaps he will never die. He went away because he -knew we were afraid of him. In fact, he is not welcome in any of the -families." - -"He is a lonely God. I have made up my mind, my brother. I am sad -because he is sad. If our people will not comfort him then I must. I am -going to him. I will try and make him a happy God once more." - -Derla turned away from Kuru then and walked into the dark forest. Kuru -watched her go and then shook his head. "You are a strange one, my -sister. But go to your God. You will never be happy unless you do." He -shrugged then and turned his thoughts to other more important matters. - -And Derla went to find her God. She was eager, and happy.... - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEWARE THE STAR GODS *** - -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. 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J. Byrne. - </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; -} - -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> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Beware the Star Gods, by S. J. Byrne</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. 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. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Beware the Star Gods</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: S. J. Byrne</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: September 15, 2021 [eBook #66314]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEWARE THE STAR GODS ***</div> - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<p>Kuru stood his ground bravely as the ship<br /> -flamed down from the sky. Truly this was a great<br /> -and terrible moment. He must warn his people to—</p> - -<h1>Beware The Star Gods</h1> - -<h2>By S. J. Byrne</h2> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy<br /> -June 1954<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>Kuru paused, his stone knife poised above the half-skinned kill. He -listened, at the same time twitching his sensitive nostrils in an -effort to read the messages of the wind. But there was nothing in the -air for his nose to read. Rather, it was sound that gave him warning.</p> - -<p>He stood up and looked through the trees at the small valley beyond the -ridge on which he stood. He could hear the raucous cry of birds and the -tree people.</p> - -<p>Kuru wanted very much to run to his people, but if he should do so what -would he tell them? That he was running from that which he had not even -looked upon with his own eyes? That Kuru ran from the cry of birds and -tree people?</p> - -<p>Now the tree people saw him and they paused in their flight, -concentrating their numbers in the trees over his head, looking down -at him and chattering and gesticulating with their busy little furry -arms. He was aware that they recognized him as a hunter and the enemy -of the murder-beast, and he was proud, knowing that they were appealing -to him now in the face of this new and greater enemy, whatever it was. -He could see that they were pointing at the sky.</p> - -<p>The sky! Only the gods lived in the sky! He felt the hair along the -base of his neck stand out stiffly.</p> - -<p><i>Something great and terrible was coming out of the sky!</i></p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The thing was long and rounded and shone brightly like the stars. It -sparkled in the blue-white light of the triple suns like a love-stone -brought from the Faraway Caves beyond the Great River. And it was -floating down on pillars of fire toward the valley. It was becoming -bigger and bigger, as were Kuru's large, black eyes.</p> - -<p>Fear began to give place to Kuru's wonder. How had such a thing ever -come to be? And what was it doing in the sky? What was it?</p> - -<p>It was big, far bigger than Kuru could have imagined. When it came to -the ground it crushed and burned dozens of great trees. And there it -sat, motionlessly and without sound, as though a mountain had dropped -from the sky to stay there forever.</p> - -<p>Suddenly, in the shining surface of the great sky-jewel a long, black -hole appeared, and even as he watched something glittering began to -emerge from it. At first it seemed that this was some sort of gigantic -cocoon, breaking open to release the wing of an unimaginable insect. -But in another moment he received the biggest surprise of all.</p> - -<p>"Men!" he gasped. "What are men doing in that sky-jewel? They could not -have made it and come out of the sky—unless they are gods!"</p> - -<p>The "man-gods" wore strange garments. They were amazingly frail and -beautiful looking people, like women in their fairness of skin and -their almost complete lack of hair on their bodies. Kuru felt that he -could have broken one of them with each hand. But what strange strength -of magic did they possess to make this shining cave that brought them -from the sky?</p> - -<p>He heard a ferocious roar which emanated from the region of the -sky-cave. It was a murder-beast. He saw several of the "man-gods" run -to a gleaming sort of fence at the edge of the wing that had extended -itself out of the black hole. They were looking downward.</p> - -<p>Now here was something Kuru could understand. In the face of the -terrifying murder-beast he would be able to tell whether or not these -people were weaklings. He saw one of them extract a small object from -his garments. When this small object was pointed downward in the -direction of the roaring murder-beast, a thin, bright line of light -appeared below it, and the murder-beast's roar was cut off.</p> - -<p>Kuru's teeth chattered slightly. Undoubtedly, he was looking upon the -representatives of a race of gods. They could command the powers of -lightning.</p> - -<p>Still, he could not run away even now, because only a female would -come screaming home to tell of what she had merely seen from afar. A -hunter like Kuru, who was already a respected member of the family -council, would investigate and have something more to tell other than -how frightened he was. On the contrary, he must show how brave he could -be. He must get closer to the sky-cave of the gods and watch them for a -while....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"Infra-red picked it up. It's something pretty big, over in that tall -tree. Been there since before sundown."</p> - -<p>"Hmmm.... Patience, cunning, warm-blooded, large size. Do you think—"</p> - -<p>"Now don't let's get back on <i>that</i> again!"</p> - -<p>"But Henderson said he saw one with his binoculars, up on that ridge, -early this afternoon."</p> - -<p>"Good God, Frank! Can't you realize you're being victimized by an -old complex? Why is it we <i>have</i> to find human beings on other -worlds? We've been searching the stars unsuccessfully for more than a -millenium."</p> - -<p>"This is our farthest reach out into the galaxy—"</p> - -<p>"Yeah. By God, it's almost six hundred light years, twenty years by -chronology, and two for us even under trans-C time contraction. <i>That</i>, -my friend, is some traveling!"</p> - -<p>"It's a beautiful planet—just like Earth was supposed to be once. You -know, sometimes I think civilization is a disease."</p> - -<p>"That's a <i>great</i> idea! So we're microbes infesting the universe!"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>That night Kuru returned to his family, which consisted of his father, -his mother, his father's three other wives, his two sisters, his five -younger brothers, half-sisters, half-brothers, and dozens of uncles and -aunts and scores of cousins numbering one hundred and twenty-two males -and females. Council members from three neighboring "families" had -already gathered on Council Rock, because some had seen the shining -thing descend out of the sky. But only Kuru could tell them facts about -it, which added tremendously to his prestige.</p> - -<p>"It is a flying cave they have built," he concluded. "They are gods -from the country of the sky."</p> - -<p>"This must be true," said Bortu, his father. "You say they killed a -murder-beast with lightning?"</p> - -<p>"As though it were a crawly-bug under their feet."</p> - -<p>The elder members of the council and the younger hunters all looked -at Kuru in silent admiration. But admiration was mixed with fear. The -stars above them were big with mystery and wonder. Why had the gods -come down to visit their world?</p> - -<p>"What do they want?" asked Gurgo, the father-chief of the Snake Lake -family.</p> - -<p>"I do not know. I heard them talking among each other, but it is some -strange twist of tongue that makes no meaning."</p> - -<p>Now Fulkudu, father-chief of the Cloud Valley family, rose to speak. -He had thrown the sacred white fur of the river-cat over his shoulder, -which meant that his was an official decision.</p> - -<p>"We must appease these gods," he announced. "We must show them at -once that we are friendly to them. A sacrifice must be presented." -Whereupon, he sat down again and was silent.</p> - -<p>The rest of them remained silent, too, because this recommendation -gave rise to a much more important question. If the other father-chiefs -agreed with Fulkudu, then someone would have to go to those powerful -gods and present the sacrifice. No one wished to be embarrassed by -having to confess his fear. Who would be brave enough to take the -sacrifice to them?</p> - -<p>As though by common accord, all council members slowly concentrated -their attention upon Kuru. Words were unnecessary to express the -general idea. Kuru was a very brave hunter. He alone knew more about -the gods who had come from the sky than any other among them.</p> - -<p>Kuru looked into the eyes of his father and saw the message written -there. He had made his father proud. To back out now was to lose all -the prestige so far gained. Kuru thought of the thin bolt of lightning -that had killed the murder-beast, and he fought to keep his teeth from -chattering.</p> - -<p>Slowly, he stood up, throwing his own white fur over his brawny -shoulder. "I will present the sacrifice," he said. And his own voice -sounded strange to him. It was hard to believe he had said such a brave -thing as this.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"Derla!" Kuru exclaimed. "What are you doing here?" He lowered the -heavy horny-head beast to the ground and looked at his sister in -amazement.</p> - -<p>She was almost his own age, and the prettiest female in the family, -with her long black hair and her large black eyes and firm young -breasts. He, himself, had killed the murder-beast whose fur encircled -her shapely hips.</p> - -<p>"I would be with you in this danger," she answered, pleadingly. "None -of the other males dared to go with you. Our father's pride would be -complete if a female of the Great Cliffs were as brave as Kuru."</p> - -<p>"But you must go back. I do not know what these gods will do. They may -kill me."</p> - -<p>Derla ran forward to her brother's side, placing her hands on one -of his hairy arms. "Then this is a greater reason for me to be with -you, brother!—so that your spirit will not travel alone into the sky -country."</p> - -<p>Kuru looked down into his sister's eyes and grinned. "You are my -favorite sister," he said. "Come! Perhaps when they see you they will -not think of killing!" He shouldered the horny-head beast again, and -the two of them continued across the floor of the valley toward the -shining sky-cave of the gods....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"Mother of God! Frank!"</p> - -<p>"What is it?"</p> - -<p>"Seeing is believing. Look down there in that small clearing...."</p> - -<p>"Oh no. It can't be!"</p> - -<p>"Well, you were the guy that was saying they might be here!"</p> - -<p>"What I need is witnesses then. I'll signal general call. You get -cameras and the recorders out!"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"By God, it's incredible—yet it's true! The first extra-terrestrial -humans ever discovered, in over a thousand years of space exploration!"</p> - -<p>"This will be something to stir up their blood back home. People were -beginning to lose interest even in galactic exploration. This is it, -boys! We've finally discovered our own kind!"</p> - -<p>"I wouldn't go so far as to say that. Those are obviously primordials. -That male is half hair."</p> - -<p>"And the other half is all brawn. The female is surprisingly -clear-skinned. For a primordial gal she isn't bad!"</p> - -<p>"What are they doing down there? Looks like they're waiting for us to -do something."</p> - -<p>"Don't you get it? We're from the stars. Therefore we're gods. That -quadruple-horned goat-like animal at their feet is a sacrifice. We're -supposed to accept it."</p> - -<p>"Hell, we'll accept them all! Let's get 'em on board!"</p> - -<p>"Hold it a minute, men. Keep your voices down. You're gods now, not -monkeys. Take it easy. Can't you see how the female cringes behind the -male? Both of them are half scared out of their wits. By their own -evaluation, they are braving death to do us honor. We have to gain -their confidence."</p> - -<p>"Well, if they're defying death, itself, maybe they'd come on board if -we lowered the ladder to them."</p> - -<p>"We can try it, but let it down slowly—and smile! Remember, you are -benevolent gods...."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"If they intended to kill us, Derla, they would have done so by now. -See? They smile at us!"</p> - -<p>"Look! Something is coming down!"</p> - -<p>"It is a shiny-fence."</p> - -<p>"It is like the vine-steps for climbing cliffs."</p> - -<p>"That's it, Derla! Either they are coming down, or—or—"</p> - -<p>"Kuru! They want us to come up!"</p> - -<p>The two of them stood there in the small clearing, looking at the -vertical shiny-fence that had come down to them from the great ledge -where the man-gods stood, up at the top of their sky-cave. Again, -Kuru's great muscles twitched with the instinct to run. Had he been -alone, he might have done so. But in the eyes of his brave sister he -could not do this, even though it might cost him his life. Still, the -god-men looked very friendly. They were beckoning to him to come up.</p> - -<p>Gritting his teeth and emitting a low growl to give himself courage, -Kuru threw the horny-head beast across his shoulder and approached the -shiny-fence. "You stay here," he told his sister.</p> - -<p>"No, Kuru! I will come behind you, no matter what happens!"</p> - -<p>He shrugged, ashamed of his own fear in the presence of her surprising -courage. He grabbed cross-pieces of the shiny-fence and began to climb, -knowing that Derla was close at his heels.</p> - -<p>The great, smooth ledge with the shiny-fence around it was larger than -he had expected. A group of twelve man-gods stood there, waiting for -him. None of them, he noticed carefully, had a lightning stick in his -hand, although at least five of them carried the terrible weapons at -their sides. After pausing once to make sure that he was not to be -attacked, Kuru climbed up onto the ledge and threw his sacrifice down. -Then he turned to help Derla up. The two of them stood facing the -people from the sky.</p> - -<p>Finally, Kuru said to them, "We bring you sacrifice and make peace. The -gods are welcome to this land."</p> - -<p>Derla tugged at his arm. "We should bow down," she advised.</p> - -<p>Brother and sister fell to their knees, with bowed heads.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"That ought to make a good picture for you, Henderson. They're eating -out of our hand already!"</p> - -<p>"Here, fellow, get to your feet. You too, black eyes!"</p> - -<p>"Don't forget the sacrifice. Better accept it so's they won't be -offended. Besides, maybe it's edible. We could do with some fresh -meat—maybe."</p> - -<p>"Maybe is right. I don't think my system could get used to real steaks -again. That looks like some sort of goat. May be just like mutton."</p> - -<p>"Hey Frank! That cave girl sure goes for you! Look at her take you in -with those big eyes!"</p> - -<p>"Guess that's because Frank's more their size. Open your shirt a little -more, Frankie old boy. Show 'em the hair on your chest!"</p> - -<p>"Shut up, you guys. Do you realize what this means?"</p> - -<p>"Yeah. Love at first sight!"</p> - -<p>"Men! Pipe down. Whether you like it or not, this is quite a historical -moment. Now the first problem is one of communication and contact with -the rest of their people."</p> - -<p>"We could get out the flier and take them home."</p> - -<p>"That's right. We'll do that when we've tried talking to them and taken -some more pictures and recordings. What do you make of that fellow's -language, Ken?"</p> - -<p>"Primitive, but with a pretty good smattering of syntax. There were -some definite inflexions. I'd say they were about ready for writing."</p> - -<p>"By God, that guy must have the strength of a gorilla. This sacrifice -animal weighs a ton. Give me a hand, Mike."</p> - -<p>"Where I come from, that expression he's wearing is a snarl. But I -guess he is trying to smile. Well? Who's going to shake hands? Okay, -Frank. You be the hero."</p> - -<p>"You'd think he'd never seen a hand before. He's afraid to touch you. -No, he's going to—"</p> - -<p>"Ouch!"</p> - -<p>"Yipes! If he can hurt Frank then I'm not shaking hands with him! I'll -shake hers, though. They say women used to go around like <i>that</i> in -Bali."</p> - -<p>"Now just take it easy, men. I think that hairy fellow is doing a -splendid job as it is. Can't you see how nervous he is? He's broken -out into a sweat. He's watching us like a wild animal. Instinct is -struggling with intelligence. Don't make any quick moves. You'll notice -he keeps watching our guns as though he knew what they were for. That's -pretty good observation. He'll probably jump the first one who draws, -so just remember that...."</p> - -<p>"They're getting in because they saw you two get in, but they may not -know it's a flier. The minute you take to the air they may get panicky. -So watch yourselves! We'll follow in the other two rigs. Take it slow, -because we want to catch some aerial fotos of the terrain...."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"Say listen, Frank. These people have been entertaining us all for a -week. We've found a perfect, utterly peaceful world that has never -known war or privation. It's the biggest find in history, and here you -sit moping. I haven't seen you smile once since we got here. What's -eating you?"</p> - -<p>"I think you just hit the nail on the head."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean?"</p> - -<p>"We have found a perfect, utterly peaceful world that has never known -privation."</p> - -<p>"So?"</p> - -<p>"Remember what I said about civilization being a disease?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, so that's it! Well, they don't seem to object to the -contamination."</p> - -<p>"How could they? We're wonder gods, and our gadgets are magic toys. -What do they know about the rest of it? In forty or fifty years the -colony ships will arrive here and set up shop. There'll be scientific -development, mass production, regimentation. Just consider the -implications of bringing an alarm clock to this world!"</p> - -<p>"That's pretty good "squeezing" they make out of those roots, but don't -let it make you morbid, old boy!"</p> - -<p>"Within two generations those rugged brutes will be helping us build -factories here. They'll be wearing work clothes and numbers. Our -society is necessarily collective because of past history and possible -future dangers of aggression among ourselves. What do these people -need collective security for?—and mass production—only to feed us as -we come in among them and spawn more millions who will soon make it -necessary to expand again and find another world like this to spoil!"</p> - -<p>"Frank, you're going off your rockers. Oh! Oh! Here's something to take -your mind off of social philosophy. Look at this!"</p> - -<p>"What cooks? Looks like a delegation of all the best looking women in -the tribe. Guess they're going to dance for us or something."</p> - -<p>"There's Dark Eyes again. She's got you picked out already."</p> - -<p>"Picked <i>out</i>?"</p> - -<p>"Sure! Ken said he thought this would happen. They've made several -overtures before."</p> - -<p>"What are you talking about?"</p> - -<p>"Children of Paradise, pal! They think this is the truest form of -hospitality, and in a way—"</p> - -<p>"You mean—!"</p> - -<p>"Yeah. That's what I mean. And Dearborn says we shouldn't offend them. -So what am I going to do?"</p> - -<p>"But—!"</p> - -<p>"Don't keep Dark Eyes waiting, pal!"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"You were only supposed to please the gods, not fall in love with them, -Derla."</p> - -<p>"I love only one."</p> - -<p>"I know. It is the big one who never smiles except when he looks at you -and me. Then he smiles with sadness. But he is not liked by the other -gods. I have seen him argue with the others and shout at them and wave -his arms about—and they have stopped smiling at him. If he is in -disfavor, it is dangerous to have anything to do with him. He carries -his lightning stick at all times, and I know it is because he fears -attack from his own kind, not from us. You must stay away from him."</p> - -<p>"He does not seek me. I fail to please him."</p> - -<p>"He is a god and you are woman."</p> - -<p>"But Sigala, and Bulbini—"</p> - -<p>"I know. Some of the gods have been lonelier than the others. That is -the only reason."</p> - -<p>"The big one who is called Fronk—has not yet—"</p> - -<p>"It is just as well."</p> - -<p>"Not even that night when we first—"</p> - -<p>"Derla, you will have to forget about him and stay away from him."</p> - -<p>"But he was kind...."</p> - -<p>"And he is not liked by the other gods. Your father forbids it!"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"Frank, this obsession of yours is getting serious. The men have asked -me to have a talk with you. If you don't get hold of yourself it might -even mean the brig, man. Now I want you to tell me just what's behind -all this."</p> - -<p>"Well, sir, it's just that I think we're dead wrong in coming here at -all. What we ought to do is <i>protect</i> these people from civilzation. -We discovered them. When we go back and report it, they will be the -property of modern materialism. Our supposed gifts to them will be -nothing short of exploitation. I say we erase our discovery from the -records."</p> - -<p>"What?—I can see now why a couple of the boys had a fight with you. -It's insane! For over ten centuries we have looked for other humans—"</p> - -<p>"And now that we've found them, we plan to force them into our own way -of life, as though <i>we</i> had found the only answer!"</p> - -<p>"Frank, I'm sorry to put it this way, but this is an order. Keep your -personal opinions to yourself. You're on probation and you're going to -be watched. Dismissed!"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"The big one has stones in his head, Derla. Look at him up there on the -clifftop. He has grown a beard. Each day he looks less a god and more a -man. But he drinks <i>qaral</i>-juice too much. He stays away from us and he -stays away from the other gods. What is the matter with him?"</p> - -<p>"I do not know, Kuru. He is very strange. Beautiful things make him -sad. I know when he is sad, because then he really drinks and goes away -to sleep it off somewhere."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean—beautiful things?"</p> - -<p>"Well, it is when we are happiest in the mornings when the suns are -still too low in the sky to drink the dew from the leaves and grasses, -when we bathe in the river and laugh and play. Or when many of us sit -around the great fires at night and listen to the old ones' stories. He -watches us then, and he drinks, and after a while he goes away. He is -very sad."</p> - -<p>"Soon they will all be gone. I saw them bringing many things to the sky -cave...."</p> - -<p>"I will be sad to see them go."</p> - -<p>"You will be sad to see the crazy big one go."</p> - -<p>"Yes. There is something in his eyes—a kindness that is for all of -us—and there is even something in his eyes for me."</p> - -<p>"You believe in the things you wish for. But that does not make them -true."</p> - -<p>"Kuru. Where do you think they go?"</p> - -<p>"Now <i>that</i> is a question for a woman to ask! Is it not obvious? They -go into the sky, whence they came...."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>One morning the large families of the Great Cliffs, Snake Lake and -Cloud Valley were startled out of their sleep by a shaking of the -ground and a blinding light in the sky. Before they could rub the sleep -out of their eyes, a giant, invisible hand swept over the country, -bending trees almost to the ground. And then a terrible roar smote -their ears. They did not know if the gods of the mountains had spoken -or if this were some new manifestation of powers on the part of the -sky gods who were soon to depart. When they saw the angry cloud and -the fire in the sky they fell to the ground, trembling with fear, and -praying. They did not know how they had angered these strange new gods, -but there could be no doubt that they were angered.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>Hours later, when the angry cloud began to fade away in the sky above -that valley where the sky-cave was located, the father-chiefs and -hunters gathered at Council Rock.</p> - -<p>"Our bravest hunters must go to appease them with great sacrifices," -announced Bortu. "They must go at once. And my son, Kuru, will lead -them."</p> - -<p>So it was decided. The fattest horny-head beasts were killed and -skinned. Kuru and nine other hunters shouldered their sacrifices and -started toward the Valley of the Gods, as it was now called. Over three -hundred members of the three great families stood on the Great Cliffs -and watched them go, hoping that the gods would not destroy them in -their mysterious wrath.</p> - -<p>Suddenly a great cry of alarm arose from the watchers. The hunters -paused on the edge of the forest. Before them stood the sky god, the -big crazy one with the beard. The one called <i>Fronk</i>. In his hand was -a lightning stick, and he pointed it at the hunters. He made signs to -them which were unmistakable. They were not to approach the Valley of -the Gods.</p> - -<p>Derla could not help it. She ran across the intervening space and stood -beside her brother, Kuru, staring at the god she loved, in desperation -and amazement.</p> - -<p>He was crying. His face and his beard were streaked with tears. He was -crying, almost screaming at them—but he would not let them pass....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"I didn't mean to kill them! Mother of God, why didn't you take me -instead! Only wanted to cripple the power so they'd be stranded.... All -right! Keep back! You, too, Dark Eyes! Those sacrifices mean nothing -now, boys.... Just a smoking pit back there filled with radiation. But -what would you know about that? Thank God now you'll <i>never</i> know! -That's the first and the last mushroom cloud you'll ever see. Go on -back to your Paradise. Maybe you'll never know I saved it for you.... -Go on! Beat it!"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"He killed all the other gods, Derla. In his madness he destroyed the -great sky-cave, and now not even he can return to the country of the -sky."</p> - -<p>"I don't think he meant to kill the others. He cried for days about it."</p> - -<p>"And got terribly drunk! We had to stop giving him <i>qaral</i>-juice. It -was making him sick so that he could not eat, and he grew thin."</p> - -<p>"But he has been gone for many, many suns. Do you think he is dead?"</p> - -<p>"He is a god. Perhaps he will never die. He went away because he -knew we were afraid of him. In fact, he is not welcome in any of the -families."</p> - -<p>"He is a lonely God. I have made up my mind, my brother. I am sad -because he is sad. If our people will not comfort him then I must. I am -going to him. I will try and make him a happy God once more."</p> - -<p>Derla turned away from Kuru then and walked into the dark forest. Kuru -watched her go and then shook his head. "You are a strange one, my -sister. But go to your God. You will never be happy unless you do." He -shrugged then and turned his thoughts to other more important matters.</p> - -<p>And Derla went to find her God. 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