diff options
Diffstat (limited to '22462.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 22462.txt | 965 |
1 files changed, 965 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/22462.txt b/22462.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ea3522a --- /dev/null +++ b/22462.txt @@ -0,0 +1,965 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Slingshot, by Irving W. Lande, Illustrated by + Emsh + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Slingshot + + +Author: Irving W. Lande + + + +Release Date: August 30, 2007 [eBook #22462] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII) + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SLINGSHOT*** + + +E-text prepared by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell, and the Project Gutenberg +Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 22462-h.htm or 22462-h.zip: + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/4/6/22462/22462-h/22462-h.htm) + or + (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/4/6/22462/22462-h.zip) + + + + + +SLINGSHOT + +by + +IRVING W. LANDE + +Illustrated by Emsh + + + + + + + +[Illustration] + + + + + _The slingshot was, I believe, one of the few + weapons of history that wasn't used in the last war. + That doesn't mean it won't be used in the next!_ + + +"Got a bogey at three o'clock high. Range about six hundred miles." +Johnson spoke casually, but his voice in the intercom was thin with +tension. + +Captain Paul Coulter, commanding Space Fighter 308, 58th Squadron, 33rd +Fighter Wing, glanced up out of his canopy in the direction indicated, +and smiled to himself at the instinctive reaction. Nothing there but the +familiar starry backdrop, the moon far down to the left. If the light +wasn't right, a ship might be invisible at half a mile. He squeezed the +throttle mike button. "Any IFF?" + +"No IFF." + +"O.K., let me know as soon as you have his course." Coulter squashed out +his cigar and began his cockpit check, grinning without humor as he +noticed that his breathing had deepened and his palms were moist on the +controls. He looked down to make sure his radio was snug in its pocket +on his leg; checked the thigh harness of his emergency rocket, wrapped +in its thick belly pad; checked the paired tanks of oxygen behind him, +hanging level from his shoulders into their niche in the "cradle." He +flipped his helmet closed, locked it, and opened it again. He tossed a +sardonic salute at the photograph of a young lady who graced the side of +the cockpit. "Wish us luck, sugar." He pressed the mike button again. + +"You got anything yet, Johnny?" + +"He's going our way, Paul. Have it exact in a minute." + +Coulter scanned the full arch of sky visible through the curving panels +of the dome, thinking the turgid thoughts that always came when action +was near. His chest was full of the familiar weakness--not fear exactly, +but a tight, helpless feeling that grew and grew with the waiting. + +His eyes and hands were busy in the familiar procedure, readying the +ship for combat, checking and re-checking the details that could mean +life and death, but his mind watched disembodied, yearning back to +earth. + +Sylvia always came back first. Inviting smile and outstretched hands. +Nyloned knees, pink sweater, and that clinging, clinging white silk +skirt. A whirling montage of laughing, challenging eyes and tossing +sky-black hair and soft arms tightening around his neck. + +Then Jean, cool and self-possessed and slightly disapproving, with +warmth and humor peeping through from underneath when she smiled. A +lazy, crinkly kind of smile, like Christmas lights going on one by one. +He wished he'd acted more grown up that night they watched the rain +dance at the pueblo. For the hundredth time, he went over what he +remembered of their last date, seeing the gleam of her shoulder, and the +angry disappointment in her eyes; hearing again his awkward apologies. +She was a nice kid. Silently his mouth formed the words. "You're a nice +kid." + +_I think she loves me. She was just mad because I got drunk._ + +The tension of approaching combat suddenly blended with the memory, +welling up into a rush of tenderness and affection. He whispered her +name, and suddenly he knew that if he got back he was going to ask her +to marry him. + +He thought of his father, rocking on the porch of the Pennsylvania farm, +pipe in his mouth, the weathered old face serene, as he puffed and +listened to the radio beside him. He wished he'd written him last night, +instead of joining the usual beer and bull session in the wardroom. He +wished--. He wished. + +"I've got him, Paul. He's got two point seven miles of RV on us. Take +thirty degrees high on two point one o'clock for course to IP." + + * * * * * + +Automatically he turned the control wheel to the right and eased it +back. The gyros recorded the turn to course. + +"Hold 4 G's for one six five seconds, then coast two minutes for initial +point five hundred miles on his tail." + +"Right, Johnny. One sixty-five, then two minutes." He set the timer, +advanced the throttle to 4 G's, and stepped back an inch as the +acceleration took him snugly into the cradle. The Return-To-Station-Fuel +and Relative-Velocity-To-Station gauges did their usual double takes on +a change of course, as the ship computer recorded the new information. +He liked those two gauges--the two old ladies. + +Mrs. RSF kept track of how much more fuel they had than they needed to +get home. When they were moving away from station, she dropped in +alarmed little jumps, but when they were headed home, she inched along +in serene contentment, or if they were coasting, sneaked triumphantly +back up the dial. + +Mrs. RVS started to get jittery at about ten mps away from home, and +above fifteen, she was trembling steadily. He didn't blame the old +ladies for worrying. With one hour of fuel at 5 G's, you didn't fire a +single squirt unless there was a good reason for it. Most of their time +on a mission was spent free wheeling, in the anxiety-laden boredom that +fighting men have always known. + +_Wish the Red was coming in across our course._ It would have taken less +fuel, and the chase wouldn't have taken them so far out. But then they'd +probably have been spotted, and lost the precious element of surprise. + +He blessed the advantage of better radar. In this crazy "war," so like +the dogfights of the first world war, the better than two hundred mile +edge of American radar was more often than not the margin of victory. +The American crews were a little sharper, a little better trained, but +with their stripped down ships, and midget crewmen, with no personal +safety equipment, the Reds could accelerate longer and faster, and go +farther out. You had to get the jump on them, or it was just too bad. + +The second hand hit forty-five in its third cycle, and he stood loose in +the cradle as the power died. + +_Sixty-two combat missions but the government says there's no war._ His +mind wandered back over eight years in the service. Intelligence tests. +Physical tests. Psychological tests. Six months of emotional adjustment +in the screep. Primary training. Basic and advanced training. The pride +and excitement of being chosen for space fighters. By the time he +graduated, the United States and Russia each had several satellite +stations operating, but in 1979, the United States had won the race for +a permanent station on the Moon. What a grind it had been, bringing in +the supplies. + +A year later the Moon station had "blown up." No warning. No survivors. +Just a brand-new medium-sized crater. And six months later, the new +station, almost completed, went up again. The diplomats had buzzed like +hornets, with accusations and threats, but nothing could be +proven--there _were_ bombs stored at the station. The implication was +clear enough. There wasn't going to be any Moon station until one +government ruled Earth. Or until the United States and Russia figured +out a way to get along with each other. And so far, getting along with +Russia was like trying to get along with an octopus. + +Of course there were rumors that the psych warfare boys had some gimmick +cooked up, to turn the U. S. S. R. upside down in a revolution, the next +time power changed hands, but he'd been hearing that one for years. +Still, with four new dictators over there in the last eleven years, +there was always a chance. + +Anyway, he was just a space jockey, doing his job in this screwball +fight out here in the empty reaches. Back on Earth, there was no war. +The statesmen talked, held conferences, played international chess as +ever. Neither side bothered the other's satellites, though naturally +they were on permanent alert. There just wasn't going to be any Moon +station for a while. Nobody knew what there might be on the Moon, but if +one side couldn't have it, then the other side wasn't going to have it +either. + +And meanwhile, the struggle was growing deadlier, month by month, each +side groping for the stranglehold, looking for the edge that would give +domination of space, or make all-out war a good risk. They hadn't found +it yet, but it was getting bloodier out here all the time. For a while, +it had been a supreme achievement just to get a ship out and back, but +gradually, as the ships improved, there was a little margin left over +for weapons. Back a year ago, the average patrol was nothing but a +sightseeing tour. Not that there was much to see, when you'd been out a +few times. Now, there were Reds around practically every mission. + +_Thirteen missions to go, after today._ He wondered if he'd quit at +seventy-five. Deep inside him, the old pride and excitement were still +strong. He still got a kick out of the way the girls looked at the +silver rocket on his chest. But he didn't feel as lucky as he used to. +Twenty-nine years old, and he was starting to feel like an old man. He +pictured himself lecturing to a group of eager kids. + +_Had a couple of close calls, those last two missions._ That Red had +looked easy, the way he was wandering around. He hadn't spotted them +until they were well into their run, but when he got started he'd made +them look like slow motion, just the same. If he hadn't tried that +harebrained sudden deceleration.... Coulter shook his head at the +memory. And on the last mission they'd been lucky to get a draw. Those +boys were good shots. + + * * * * * + +"We're crossing his track, Paul. Turn to nine point five o'clock and +hold 4 G's for thirty-two seconds, starting on the count ... +five--four--three--two--one--go!" He completed the operation in silence, +remarking to himself how lucky he was to have Johnson. The boy loved a +chase. He navigated like a hungry hawk, though you had to admit his +techniques were a bit irregular. + +Coulter chuckled at the ad lib way they operated, remembering the +courses, the tests, the procedures practiced until they could do them +backwards blindfolded. When they tangled with a Red, the Solter +co-ordinates went out the hatch. They navigated by the enemy. There were +times during a fight when he had no more idea of his position than what +the old ladies told him, and what he could see of the Sun, the Earth, +and the Moon. + +And using "right side up" as a basis for navigation. He chuckled again. +Still, the service had had to concede on "right side up," in designing +the ships, so there was something to be said for it. They hadn't been +able to simulate gravity without fouling up the ships so they had to +call the pilot's head "up." There was something comforting about it. +He'd driven a couple of the experimental jobs, one with the cockpit set +on gimbals, and one where the whole ship rotated, and he hadn't cared +for them at all. Felt disoriented, with something nagging at his mind +all the time, as though the ships had been sabotaged. A couple of pilots +had gone nuts in the "spindizzy," and remembering his own feelings as he +watched the sky go by, it was easy to understand. + +Anyway, "right side up" tied in perfectly with the old "clock" system +Garrity had dug out of those magazines he was always reading. Once they +got used to it, it had turned out really handy. Old Doc Hoffman, his +astrogation prof, would have turned purple if he'd ever dreamed they'd +use such a conglomeration. But it worked. And when you were in a hurry, +it worked in a hurry, and that was good enough for Coulter. He'd +submitted a report on it to Colonel Silton. + +"You've got him, Paul. We're dead on his tail, five hundred miles back, +and matching velocity. Turn forty-two degrees right, and you're lined up +right on him." Johnson was pleased with the job he'd done. + +Coulter watched the pip move into his sightscreen. It settled less than +a degree off dead center. He made the final corrections in course, set +the air pressure control to eight pounds, and locked his helmet. + +"Nice job, Johnny. Let's button up. You with us, Guns?" + +Garrity sounded lazy as a well-fed tiger. "Ah'm with yew, cap'n." + +Coulter advanced the throttle to 5 G's. And with the hiss of power, SF +308 began the deadly, intricate, precarious maneuver called a combat +pass--a maneuver inherited from the aerial dogfight--though it often +turned into something more like the broadside duels of the old sailing +ships--as the best and least suicidal method of killing a spaceship. To +start on the enemy's tail, just out of his radar range. To come up his +track at 2 mps relative velocity, firing six .30 caliber machine guns +from fifty miles out. In the last three or four seconds, to break out +just enough to clear him, praying that he won't break in the same +direction. _And to keep on going._ + +_Four minutes and thirty-four seconds to the break._ Sixty seconds at 5 +G's; one hundred ninety-two seconds of free wheeling; and then, if they +were lucky, the twenty-two frantic seconds they were out here +for--throwing a few pounds of steel slugs out before them in one +unbroken burst, groping out fifty miles into the darkness with steel and +radar fingers to kill a duplicate of themselves. + +_This is the worst. These three minutes are the worst._ One hundred +ninety-two eternal seconds of waiting, of deathly silence and deathly +calm, feeling and hearing nothing but the slow pounding of their own +heartbeats. Each time he got back, it faded away, and all he remembered +was the excitement. But each time he went through it, it was worse. Just +standing and waiting in the silence, praying they weren't +spotted--staring at the unmoving firmament and knowing he was a +projectile hurtling two miles each second straight at a clump of metal +and flesh that was the enemy. Knowing the odds were twenty to one +against their scoring a kill ... unless they ran into him. + + * * * * * + +At eighty-five seconds, he corrected slightly to center the pip. The +momentary hiss of the rockets was a relief. He heard the muffled +yammering as Guns fired a short burst from the .30's standing out of +their compartments around the sides of the ship. They were practically +recoilless, but the burst drifted him forward against the cradle +harness. + +And suddenly the waiting was over. The ship filled with vibration as +Guns opened up. _Twenty-five seconds to target._ His eyes flicked from +the sightscreen to the sky ahead, looking for the telltale flare of +rockets--ready to follow like a ferret. + +_There he is!_ At eighteen miles from target, a tiny blue light +flickered ahead. He forgot everything but the sightscreen, concentrating +on keeping the pip dead center. The guns hammered on. It seemed they'd +been firing for centuries. At ten-mile range, the combat radar kicked +the automatics in, turning the ship ninety degrees to her course in one +and a half seconds. He heard the lee side firing cut out, as Garrity +hung on with two, then three guns. + +He held it as long as he could. Closer than he ever had before. At four +miles he poured 12 G's for two seconds. + +They missed ramming by something around a hundred yards. The enemy ship +flashed across his tail in a fraction of a second, already turned around +and heading up its own track, yet it seemed to Paul he could make out +every detail--the bright red star, even the tortured face of the pilot. +Was there something lopsided in the shape of that rocket plume, or was +he just imagining it in the blur of their passing? And did he hear a +_ping_ just at that instant, feel the ship vibrate for a second? + +He continued the turn in the direction the automatics had started, +bringing his nose around to watch the enemy's track. And as the shape of +the plume told him the other ship was still heading back toward Earth, +he brought the throttle back up to 12 G's, trying to overcome the lead +his pass had given away. + +Guns spoke quietly to Johnson. "Let me know when we kill his RV. Ah may +get another shot at him." + +And Johnny answered, hurt, "What do you think I'm doing down +here--reading one of your magazines?" + +Paul was struggling with hundred-pound arms, trying to focus the +telescope that swiveled over the panel. As the field cleared, he could +see that the plume was flaring unevenly, flickering red and orange along +one side. Quietly and viciously, he was talking to himself. "Blow! +Blow!" + + * * * * * + +And she blew. Like a dirty ragged bit of fireworks, throwing tiny +handfuls of sparks into the blackness. Something glowed red for a while, +and slowly faded. + +_There, but for the grace of God...._ Paul shuddered in a confused +mixture of relief and revulsion. + +He cut back to 4 G's, noting that RVS registered about a mile per second +away from station, and suddenly became aware that the red light was on +for loss of air. The cabin pressure gauge read zero, and his heart +throbbed into his throat as he remembered that _pinging_ sound, just as +they passed the enemy ship. He told Garrity to see if he could locate +the loss, and any other damage, and was shortly startled by a low amazed +whistle in his earphones. + +"If Ah wasn't lookin' at it, Ah wouldn't believe it. Musta been one of +his shells went right around the fuel tank and out again, without +hittin' it. There's at least three inches of tank on a line between the +holes! He musta been throwin' curves at us. Man, cap'n, this is our +lucky day!" + +[Illustration] + +Paul felt no surprise, only relief at having the trouble located. The +reaction to the close call might not come till hours later. "This kind +of luck we can do without. Can you patch the holes?" + +"Ah can patch the one where it came in, but it musta been explodin' on +the way out. There's a hole Ah could stick mah head through." + +"That's a good idea." Johnson was not usually very witty, but this was +one he couldn't resist. + +"Never mind, Guns. A patch that big wouldn't be safe to hold air." + + * * * * * + +They were about eighty thousand miles out. He set course for Earth at +about five and a half mps, which Johnson calculated to bring them in on +the station on the "going away" side of its orbit, and settled back for +the tedious two hours of free wheeling. For ten or fifteen minutes, the +interphone crackled with the gregariousness born of recent peril, and +gradually the ship fell silent as each man returned to his own private +thoughts. + +Paul was wondering about the men on the other ship--whether any of them +were still alive. Eighty thousand miles to fall. That was a little +beyond the capacity of an emergency rocket--about 2 G's for sixty +seconds--even if they had them. What a way to go home! He wondered what +he'd do if it happened to him. Would he wait out his time, or just +unlock his helmet. + +Guns' drawl broke into his reverie. "Say, cap'n, Ah've been readin' in +this magazine about a trick they used to use, called skip bombin'. +They'd hang a bomb on the bottom of one of these airplanes, and fly +along the ground, right at what they wanted to hit. Then they'd let the +bomb go and get out of there, and the bomb would sail right on into the +target. You s'pose we could fix this buggy up with an A bomb or an H +bomb we could let go a few hundred miles out? Stick a proximity fuse on +it, and a time fuse, too, in case we missed. Just sittin' half a mile +apart and tradin' shots like we did on that last mission is kinda hard +on mah nerves, and it's startin' to happen too often." + +"Nice work if we could get it. I'm not crazy about those broadside +battles myself. You'd think they'd have found something better than +these thirty caliber popguns by now, but the odds say we've got to throw +as many different chunks of iron as we can, to have a chance of hitting +anything, and even then it's twenty to one against us. You wouldn't have +one chance in a thousand of scoring a hit with a bomb at that distance, +even if they didn't spot it and take off. What you'd need would be a +rocket that could chase them, with the bomb for a head. And there's no +way we could carry that size rocket, or fire it if we could. Some day +these crates will come with men's rooms, and we'll have a place to carry +something like that." + +"How big would a rocket like that be?" + +"Five, six feet, by maybe a foot. Weigh at least three hundred pounds." + +It was five minutes before Guns spoke again. "Ah been thinkin', cap'n. +With a little redecoratin', Ah think Ah could get a rocket that size in +here with me. We could weld a rail to one of the gun mounts that would +hold it up to five or six G's. Then after we got away from station, Ah +could take it outside and mount it on the rail." + +"Forget it, lad. If they ever caught us pulling a trick like that, +they'd have us on hydroponic duty for the next five years. They just +don't want us playing around with bombs, till the experts get all the +angles figured out, and build ships to handle them. And besides, who do +you think will rig a bomb like that, without anybody finding out? And +where do you think we'd get a bomb in the first place? They don't leave +those things lying around. Kovacs watches them like a mother hen. I +think he counts them twice a day." + +"Sorry, cap'n. Ah just figured if you could get hold of a bomb, Ah know +a few of the boys who could rig the thing up for us and keep their +mouths shut." + +"Well, forget about it. It's not a bad idea, but we haven't any bomb." + +"Right, cap'n." + + * * * * * + +But it was Paul who couldn't forget about it. All the rest of the way +back to station, he kept seeing visions of a panel sliding aside in the +nose of a sleek and gleaming ship, while a small rocket pushed its +deadly snout forward, and then streaked off at tremendous acceleration. + +Interrogation was brief. The mission had turned up nothing new. Their +kill made eight against seven for Doc Miller's crew, and they made sure +Miller and the boys heard about it. They were lightheaded with the +elation that followed a successful mission, swapping insults with the +rest of the squadron, and reveling in the sheer contentment of being +back safe. + +It wasn't until he got back to his stall, and started to write his +father a long overdue letter, that he remembered he had heard Kovacs say +he was going on leave. + +When he finished the letter, he opened the copy of "Lady Chatterley's +Lover" he had borrowed from Rodriguez's limited but colorful library. He +couldn't keep his mind on it. He kept thinking of the armament officer. + +Kovacs was a quiet, intelligent kid, devoted to his work. Coulter wasn't +too intimate with him. He wasn't a spaceman, for one thing. One of those +illogical but powerful distinctions that sub-divided the men of the +station. And he was a little too polite to be easy company. + +Paul remembered the time he had walked into the Muroc Base Officer's +Club with Marge Halpern on his arm. The hunger that had lain undisguised +on Kovacs' face the moment he first saw them. Marge was a striking +blonde with a direct manner, who liked men, especially orbit station +men. He hadn't thought about the incident since then, but the look in +Kovacs' eyes kept coming back to him as he tried to read. + +He wasn't sure how he got there, or why, when he found himself walking +into Colonel Silton's office to ask for the leave he'd passed up at his +fiftieth mission. He'd considered taking it several times, but the +thought of leaving the squadron, even for a couple of weeks, had made +him feel guilty, as though he were quitting. + +Once he had his papers, he started to get excited about it. As he +cleaned up his paper work and packed his musette, his hands were +fumbling, and his mind was full of Sylvia. + + * * * * * + +The vastness of Muroc Base was as incredible as ever. Row on uncounted +row of neat buildings, each resting at the top of its own hundred-yard +deep elevator shaft. A pulsing, throbbing city, dedicated to the long +slow struggle to get into space and stay there. The service crew eyed +them with studied indifference, as they writhed out of the small hatch +and stepped to the ground. They drew a helijet at operations, and headed +immediately for Los Angeles. + +Kovacs had been impressed when Paul asked if he'd care to room together +while they were on leave. He was quiet on the flight, as he had been on +the way down, listening contentedly, while Paul talked combat and women +with Bob Parandes, another pilot going on leave. + +They parked the helijet at Municipal Field and headed for the public PV +booths, picking up a coterie of two dogs and five assorted children on +the way. The kids followed quietly in their wake, ecstatic at the sight +of their uniforms. + +Paul squared his shoulders, as befitted a hero, and tousled a couple of +uncombed heads as they walked. The kids clustered around the booths, as +Kovacs entered one to locate a hotel room, and Paul another, to call +Sylvia. + +"Honey, I've been so scared you weren't coming back. Where are you? When +will I see you? Why didn't you write?..." She sputtered to a stop as he +held up both hands in defense. + +"Whoa, baby. One thing at a time. I'm at the airport. You'll see me +tonight, and I'll tell you the rest then. That is, if you're free +tonight. And tomorrow. And the day after, and the day after that. Are +you free?" + +Her hesitation was only momentary. "Well, I was going out--with a girl +friend. But she'll understand. What's up?" + +He took a deep breath. "I'd like to get out of the city for a few days, +where we can take things easy and be away from the crowds. And there is +another guy I'd like to bring along." + +"We could take my helijet out to my dad's cottage at--_What did you +say?_" + +It was a ticklish job explaining about Kovacs, but when she understood +that he just wanted to do a friend a favor, and she'd still have Paul +all to herself, she calmed down. They made their arrangements quickly, +and switched off. + +He hesitated a minute before he called Marge. She was quite a dish to +give up. Once she'd seen him with Sylvia, he'd be strictly _persona non +grata_--that was for sure. It was an unhappy thought. Well, maybe it was +in a good cause. He shrugged and called her. + +She nearly cut him off when she first heard his request, but he did some +fast talking. The idea of several days at the cottage intrigued her, and +when he described how smitten Kovacs had been, she brightened up and +agreed to come. He switched off, adjusted the drape of his genuine silk +scarf, and stepped out of the booth. + +Kovacs and the kids were waiting. The armament officer had apparently +been telling them of Paul's exploits. They glowed with admiration. The +oldest boy, about eleven, had true worship in his eyes. He hesitated a +moment, then asked gravely: "Would you tell us how you kill a Red, sir?" + +Paul eyed the time-honored weapon that dangled from the youngster's +hand. He bent over and tapped it with his finger. His voice was warm and +confiding, but his eyes were far away. + +"I think next we're going to try a slingshot," he said. + + +THE END + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + +This etext was produced from _Astounding Science Fiction_ November 1955. +Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright +on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and typographical errors +have been corrected without note. + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SLINGSHOT*** + + +******* This file should be named 22462.txt or 22462.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/4/6/22462 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://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 in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/pglaf. + + +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 located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://www.gutenberg.org/about/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 https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/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: +https://www.gutenberg.org/fundraising/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + |