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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/24791-h.zip b/24791-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..014c099 --- /dev/null +++ b/24791-h.zip diff --git a/24791-h/24791-h.htm b/24791-h/24791-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1dbd553 --- /dev/null +++ b/24791-h/24791-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1477 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Marooner, by Charles A. Stearns + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + h1,h2 {text-align: center; clear: both;} + hr {width: 45%; margin: 1em auto; visibility: hidden;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin: 1em 0 1em 1em; padding: 0; width: 168px; text-align: center; font-size: small;} + .trans1 {border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15%; padding: 1em; text-align: justify;} + img {border: none;} + p.cap:first-letter {float: left; margin-right: .05em; padding-top: .05em; font-size: 300%; line-height: .8em;} + .dcap {text-transform: uppercase;} + .illo {margin: 4em auto 6em; font-size: small; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;} + .tease {margin: 3em auto; padding: 1em; font-style: italic; width: 25em; border-top: solid 2px; border-bottom: solid 2px; word-spacing: .2em; text-align: justify;} + .theend {text-align: center; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 2em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Marooner, by Charles A. Stearns + +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: The Marooner + +Author: Charles A. Stearns + +Illustrator: Leo Summers + +Release Date: March 9, 2008 [EBook #24791] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MAROONER *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1><big>The<br /> +MAROONER</big></h1> + +<h2>By CHARLES A. STEARNS</h2> + +<div class="illo">ILLUSTRATOR SUMMERS</div> + +<div class="tease">Wordsley and Captain DeCastros +crossed half a universe—suffered +hardship—faced unknown dangers; +and all this for what—a breath +of rare perfume?</div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Steadily</span> they smashed the +mensurate battlements, in +blackness beyond night and +darkness without stars. Yet Mr. +Wordsley, the engineer, who was +slight, balding and ingenious, +was able to watch the firmament +from his engine room as it drifted +from bow to beam to rocket's +end. This was by virtue of banked +rows of photon collectors +which he had invented and installed +in the nose of the ship.</p> + +<div class="figright"> +<img src="images/001.png" width="168" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +<b>The creature was more pitiful +than fearsome.</b></div> + +<p>And Mr. Wordsley, at three +minutes of the hour of seventeen +over four, tuned in a white, new +star of eye-blinking magnitude +and surpassing brilliance. Discovering +new stars was a kind +of perpetual game with Mr. +Wordsley. Perhaps more than a +game.</p> + +<p>"I wish I may, I wish I +might ..." Mr. Wordsley said.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The fiddly hatch clanged. DeCastros, +that gross, terrifying +clown of a man, clumped down +the ladder from the bridge to defeat +the enchantment of the moment. +DeCastros held sway. He +was captain. He did not want +Mr. Wordsley to forget that he +was captain.</p> + +<p>The worst of Captain DeCastros +was that he had moods. Just +now he was being a sly leprechaun, +if one can imagine a +double-chinned, three-hundred +pound leprechaun. He came over +and dug his fingers into Mr. +Wordsley's shoulder. A wracking +pain in the trapezius muscle.</p> + +<p>"The ertholaters are plugged," +he said gently. "The vi-lines are +giving out a horrible stink."</p> + +<p>"I'll attend to it right away," +Mr. Wordsley said, wincing a +little as he wriggled free.</p> + +<p>"Tch, tch," DeCastros said, +"can anyone really be so asthenic +as you seem, Mr. Wordsley?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir," Mr. Wordsley said, +uncertain of his meaning.</p> + +<p>The captain winked. "Yet +there was that ruffled shirt that +I found in the laundromat last +week. It was not my shirt. There +are only the two of us aboard, +Mr. Wordsley."</p> + +<p>"It was my shirt," Mr. Wordsley +said, turning crimson. "I +bought it on Vega Four. I—I +didn't know—that is, they wear +them like that on Vega Four."</p> + +<p>"Yes, they do," DeCastros +said. "Well, well, perhaps you +are only a poet, Mr. Wordsley. +But should you happen to be a +little—well, maggoty, you positively +do not have to tell me. No +doubt we both have our secrets. +Naturally."</p> + +<p>"<i>I</i> haven't," Mr. Wordsley said +desperately.</p> + +<p>"No? Then you certainly will +not mind that I am recommending +an Ab Test for you when we +get home."</p> + +<p>Mr. Wordsley's heart stopped +beating for several seconds. He +searched Captain DeCastros' +face for a sign that he might be +fooling. He was not. He looked +too pleasant. Mr. Wordsley had +always managed to pass the +Aberrations Test by the skin of +his teeth, but he was sure that, +like most spiritual geniuses, he +was sensitively balanced, and +that the power and seniority of +a man like DeCastros must influence +the Board of Examination.</p> + +<p>"You might be decommed. Or +even committed to an institution. +We wouldn't want <i>that</i> to +happen, would we, Mr. Wordsley?"</p> + +<p>"Why are you doing this to +me?" Mr. Wordsley asked strickenly.</p> + +<p>"To tell the truth, I do not +propose to have any more of my +voyages blighted with your +moon-calfing, day-dreaming and +letting the ertholaters stink up +the bridge. Besides—" Captain +DeCastros patted his shoulder +almost affectionately. "—besides, +I can't stand you, Mr. +Wordsley."</p> + +<p>Mr. Wordsley nodded. He went +over to the screen that was like +a window of blessed outer night +and sank down on his knees before +it.</p> + +<p><i>Have the wish I wish tonight.</i></p> + +<p>"Ah, ha!" DeCastros exclaimed +with sudden ice frozen +around the rim of his voice. +"What have we here?"</p> + +<p>"A new nova," Mr. Wordsley +answered sullenly.</p> + +<p>"It is common knowledge that +no engineer can tell a nova from +the D.R. blast of an Iphonian +freighter. Let me see it." He +shoved Mr. Wordsley out of the +way and examined the screen +intently.</p> + +<p>"You fool," he said at last, +"that's a planet. It is Avis +Solis."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Now the name of Avis Solis +tingled in Mr. Wordsley's unreliable +memory, but it would not +advance to be recognized. What +planet so bright, and yet so remote +from any star by angular +measurement?</p> + +<p>"Turn it off," DeCastros ordered.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wordsley turned on him +in a sudden fury. "It's mine," +he cried. "I found it! Go back +to your bridge." Then, aghast at +what he had said, he clapped his +hand over his mouth.</p> + +<p>"Dear me," said Captain DeCastros +silkily. Suddenly he +seemed to go quite berserk. He +snatched a pile-bar from its rack +and swung it at the screen. The +outer panel shattered. The +screen went dead.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wordsley grabbed at the +bar and got hold of it at the expense +of a broken finger. They +strained and tugged. The slippery +cadmium finally eluded +both of them, bounded over the +railing into the pit, struck a +nomplate far below and was +witheringly consumed in a flash +of blue flame.</p> + +<p>Then they were down and +rolling over and over, clawing +and gouging, until Captain DeCastros +inevitably emerged +upon top.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wordsley's eyes protruded +from that unbearable weight, +and he wished that there was no +such thing as artificial gravity. +He struggled vainly. A bit of +broken glass crunched beneath +his writhing heel. He went limp +and began to sob. It was not a +very manly thing to do, but Mr. +Wordsley was exercising his +poetic license.</p> + +<p>"Now then," said DeCastros, +jouncing up and down a bit. "I +trust that you have come to understand +who is master of this +ship, Mr. Wordsley?"</p> + +<p>His addressee continued to +weep silently.</p> + +<p>After awhile it occurred to +Captain DeCastros that what he +was doing was expressly forbidden +in the Rules of the Way, +Section 90-G, and might, in fact, +get him into a peck of trouble. +So he got up, helped Mr. Wordsley +to his feet, and began to +brush him off.</p> + +<p>In a kindly voice he said, "You +must have heard of Avis Solis."</p> + +<p>"I don't seem to remember it," +Mr. Wordsley said.</p> + +<p>"It's a solitaire. One of those +planets which depend upon dark, +dwarf, satellite suns for heat, +you know. It is almost always in +eclipse, and I, for one, have always +been glad of it."</p> + +<p>"Why is that?" said Mr. +Wordsley, not really caring. His +chest was giving him considerable +pain.</p> + +<p>"Because it holds the darkest +of memories for me. I lost a +brother on Avis Solis. Perhaps +you have heard of him. Malmsworth +DeCastros. He was quite +famous for certain geological +discoveries on Titan at one +time."</p> + +<p>"I don't think so."</p> + +<p>"You need not be sorry. The +wretch was a murderer and a +bad sport as well. I need not append +that my brother and I were +as unlike as night and day—though +there is no night and day +proper upon Avis Solis, of +course. I imagine you would like +to hear the story. Then you will +undoubtedly understand how it +is that I was so upset a moment +ago by the sight of Avis Solis, +and forgive me."</p> + +<p>Mr. Wordsley nodded. A birdlike, +snake-charmed nod.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"Avis Solis is a planet absolutely +unique, at least in this +galaxy. In addition to being a +solitaire, its surface is almost +solidly covered to a depth of several +meters with light-gathering +layers of crystal which give it +the brilliant, astral glow that +you saw just now. Its satellite +suns contribute hardly any light +at all. It contains ample oxygen +in its atmosphere, but hardly +any water, and so is practically +barren. An ill-advised mineralogical +expedition brought us to +Avis Solis."</p> + +<p>"Us?" Mr. Wordsley said.</p> + +<p>"There were six of us, five +men and a woman. A woman fine +and loyal and beautiful, with the +body of a consummate goddess +and the face of a tolerant angel. +I was astrological surveyor and +party chief."</p> + +<p>"I didn't know that you were +once a surveyor."</p> + +<p>"It was seventeen years ago, +and none of your business besides."</p> + +<p>"What happened then?"</p> + +<p>"Briefly, we were prospecting +for ragnite, which was in demand +at the time. We had +already given up hopes of finding +one gram of that mineral, +but decided to make a last foray +before blasting off. My brother, +Malmsworth, stayed at our base +camp. Poor Jenny—that was her +name—remained behind to care +for Malmsworth's lame ankle."</p> + +<p>Captain DeCastros was lost +for several minutes in a bleak +and desolate valley of introspection +wherein Mr. Wordsley +dared not intrude. There was a +certain grandeur about his great, +dark visage, his falciform nose +and meaty jowls as he stood +there. Mr. Wordsley began to +fidget and clear his throat.</p> + +<p>DeCastros glared at him. +"They were gone when we returned. +Gone, I tell you! She, to +her death. Malmsworth—well, +we found <i>him</i> three hours later +in the great rift which bisects +the massive plateau that is the +most outstanding feature of the +regular surface of Avis Solis. At +the end of this rift there is a +natural cave that opens into the +sheer wall of the plateau. Within +it is a bottomless chasm. It +was here that we found certain +of Jenny's garments, but of +Jenny, naturally, there was no +trace. He had seen to that."</p> + +<p>"Terrible," Mr. Wordsley said.</p> + +<p>DeCastros smiled reminiscently. +"He fled, but we caught +him. He really had a lame ankle, +you know."</p> + +<p>The mice of apprehension +scampered up and down Mr. +Wordsley's spine. "You killed +him." It was a statement of certainty.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed. That would have +been too easy. We left him there +with one portable water-maker +and all of that unpalatable but +nourishing fungus which thrives +upon Avis Solis that he could +eat. I have no doubt that he +lived until madness reduced his +ability to feed himself."</p> + +<p>"That was drastic," Mr. +Wordsley felt called upon to +say. "Perhaps—perhaps it occurred +to you later on that, in +charity to your brother, the er—woman +might not have been +altogether blameless."</p> + +<p>For a moment he thought that +Captain DeCastros was about to +strike him again. He did not. +Instead he spat at Mr. Wordsley. +He had the speed of a +cobra. There was not time to get +out of the way. Mr. Wordsley +employed a handkerchief on his +face.</p> + +<p>"She was my wife, you know, +Mr. Wordsley," Captain DeCastros +said pleasantly.</p> + +<p>At nineteen-over-four the contamination +buzzers sounded +their dread warning.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Mr. Wordsley got the alarm +first. He had been furtively repairing +the viewscreen and +thinking dark thoughts the +while. There was sick dread for +him in the contemplation of the +future, for after this last unfortunate +blunder DeCastros would +be certain to keep his promise +and have him examined. This +might very well be his last voyage, +and Mr. Wordsley had +known for quite a long time that +he could not live anywhere except +out here in the void.</p> + +<p>Only in space, where the stars +were like diamonds. Not in the +light of swirling, angry, red +suns, not upon the surface of +any planet, so drab when you +drew too near. Only in the sterile +purity of remote space where +he could maintain and nourish +the essential purity of his day-dreams. +But of course one could +not explain this to the Board of +Examiners; least of all to Captain +DeCastros.</p> + +<p>Moreover, he was afraid that +Avis Solis, which he had been +permitted to behold for only a +few seconds, would be out of +range before he got the scanner +to working again. The aspect of +this magnificent gem diminishing +forever into the limitless +night brought a lump to his +throat.</p> + +<p>But then, at last, the screen +came alive once more, and there +it loomed, more brilliant than +ever, now so huge that it filled +the screen, and it had not become +drab, neither gray-green or +brown. No, it was cake frosting, +and icicles, and raindrops +against the sun, and all of the +bright, unattainable Christmas +tree ornaments of his childhood.</p> + +<p>So rapt was he that he scarcely +heard the alarm. Yet he responded +automatically to the +sound that now sent him scrambling +into his exposure suit. He +fitted one varium-protected oxy-tank +to his helmet and tucked +another one under his arm for +Captain DeCastros.</p> + +<p>This was superfluous, for DeCastros +not only had donned his +rig; he had managed to recall to +memory a few dozen vile, degrading +swear words gleaned +from the sin-pits of Marronn, to +hurl at Mr. Wordsley.</p> + +<p>No one could have helped it, +really. Ships under the Drive are +insulated from contamination +clouds and everything else in +normal space. The substance polluting +the ventilation system, +therefore, must have been trapped +within their field since +Vega. Now it had entered the +ship through some infinitesimal +opening in the hull.</p> + +<p>It was the engineer's job to +find that break. It was not +easy, especially with DeCastros +breathing down one's neck. Mr. +Wordsley began to perspire +heavily, and the moisture ran +down and puddled in his boots.</p> + +<p>An hour passed that was like +an age. The prognosis became +known and was not reassuring. +This was one of the toxic space +viruses, dormant at absolute +zero, but active under shipboard +conditions. A species, in fact, of +the dread, oxygen-eating <i>dryorus</i>, +which multiplies with explosive +rapidity, and kills upon +penetration of the human respiratory +system.</p> + +<p>Because of the leak in the +hull, the decontaminators could +not even hold their own. Mr. +Wordsley shuddered to note that +ominous, rust-colored cobwebs—countless +trillions of <i>dryori</i>—already +festooned the stringers of +the hull.</p> + +<p>Another precious hour was +taken from them. Mr. Wordsley +emerged wearily from the last +inspection hole.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"Well?" DeCastros snapped. +"Well—well?" His face was +greenish from the effects of the +special, contamination resistant +mixture that they were breathing.</p> + +<p>"I found the leak," Mr. Wordsley +said.</p> + +<p>"Did you fix it?"</p> + +<p>"It was one of the irmium alloy +plugs in the outer hull beneath +the pile. They were +originally placed there, I believe, +for the installation of a radiation +tester. The plug is missing, +and I am sorry to say that we +have no extras. Anything other +than irmium would melt at +once, of course."</p> + +<p>"We have less than eight +hours of pure air in the tanks," +DeCastros said. "Have you +thought of that, you rattle-head?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir," Mr. Wordsley said. +"And if I might be allowed to +speculate, Captain, I would say +that we are finished unless we +can make a planetfall. Only then +would I be able to remove the +lower port tube, weld the cavity, +seal the ship and fumigate."</p> + +<p>"We're four weeks from the +nearest star, Fomalhaut; you +know that as well as I do."</p> + +<p>"I was thinking," said Mr. +Wordsley, with a sudden, suffused +glow in his cheeks, "of +Avis Solis."</p> + +<p>Mr. Wordsley shut his eyes as +they were going down, because +he wanted to open them and surprise +himself, at the moment of +landing. But the cold, white +glare was more intense than he +had expected, and he had to shut +them again and turn on the +polarizer.</p> + +<p>He buckled on his tools and +the carbo-torch, and went down +the ladder. He dropped at once +to his knees, not because of the +gravity, which was not bad, but +because of a compulsion to get +his face as near to the surface +of Avis Solis as possible. It was +even lovelier than when seen +from space. He trod upon a +sea of diamonds. A million +tiny winkings and scintillations +emanated from each crystal. A +million crystals lay beneath the +sole of his boot. He would rather +not have stepped on them, but +it could not be helped. They +were everywhere. Mr. Wordsley +gloated.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>DeCastros dropped like a +huge slug from the ladder behind +him. "What are you doing?" +he said. "Picnicking?"</p> + +<p>"I was tying my shoe," Mr. +Wordsley said, and got to work +with an alacrity that was wholly +false.</p> + +<p>The dark sun-satellites rose by +twos and threes over the horizon, +felt rather than clearly seen. +There was a dry wind that blew +from the glittering wasteland +and whistled around the base of +the rockets as Mr. Wordsley labored +on and on.</p> + +<p>Captain DeCastros had withdrawn +to a level outcropping of +igneous rock and sat staring at +the nothing where the greenish-black +sky met the pale gray +horizon.</p> + +<p>The tube was loosened on its +shackles and presently fell, with +a tinkling sound, upon the surface +of Avis Solis. The opening +was sealed and welded. Mr. +Wordsley was practically finished, +but he did not hurry. Instead, +he went around to the +opposite side of the ship on a +pretense of inspection, and sat +down where DeCastros could +not see him.</p> + +<p>For awhile he stared at the +many-faceted depths of the +crystals; then he leaned over and +touched them with his lips. +They were smooth and exciting. +They cut his lip.</p> + +<p>But he had the distinct feeling +that there was something wrong +with this idyll. It seemed to him +that he was being spied upon. +He sneaked a furtive glance behind +him. DeCastros was still +sitting where he had been, with +his back to him.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wordsley slowly lifted his +gaze to the plateau of shimmering +glass that was before him. +At its rim, a hundred feet above +him, a silent figure stood gazing +down upon him.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>A man even six feet tall might +easily have frightened Mr. +Wordsley into a nervous breakdown +by staring at him with +that gaunt, hollow-eyed stare, +but this creature, though manlike, +was fully fifty feet tall, incredibly +elongated, and stark +naked. Its hair was long and +matted; its cheeks sunken, its +lips pulled back in an expression +which might have been anything +from a smile to a cannibalistic +snarl.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wordsley cried out.</p> + +<p>Captain DeCastros heard and +came running across the intervening +distance with swiftness +incredible in one of his bulk at +this gravity. His blizzer was out. +It was one of the very latest +models of blizzers. Very destructive. +Mr. Wordsley had always +been afraid to touch it.</p> + +<p>He fired, and part of the plateau +beneath the titan's feet fell +away in a sparkling shower. The +creature vanished.</p> + +<p>DeCastros was red-faced and +wheezing. "That was Malmsworth," +he said. "Now how the +devil do you suppose he managed +to stick it out all these years!"</p> + +<p>"If that was Malmsworth," +Mr. Wordsley said, "he must be +a very tall man."</p> + +<p>"That was merely dimensional +mirage. Come along. We'll have +to hurry if we catch him."</p> + +<p>"Why do we want to catch +him?" Mr. Wordsley said.</p> + +<p>Captain DeCastros made a +sound of sober surprise. Even of +pious wonder. "Malmsworth is +my only brother," he said.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wordsley wanted to say, +"Yes, but you shot at him." He +did not, because there was no +time. He had to hurry to catch +up with DeCastros, who was +even now scrambling up the +steep slope.</p> + +<p>From the rim they could see +Malmsworth out there on the +flat. He was making good time, +but Captain DeCastros proceeded +to demonstrate that he was +no mean hiker, himself. Mr. +Wordsley's side began to hurt, +and his breath came with difficulty. +He might have died, if he +had not feared to incur DeCastros' +anger.</p> + +<p>At times the naked man was +a broad, flat monster upon that +shimmering tableland. Again he +seemed almost invisible; then +gigantic and tenuous.</p> + +<p>Presently he disappeared altogether.</p> + +<p>"Oho!" DeCastros said, "If I +am not mistaken, old Malmsworth +has holed up in that very +same rift where we caught him +at his dirty business seventeen +years ago. He's as mad as a +Martian; you can lay to that. +He'd have to be."</p> + +<p>The rift, when they arrived at +its upper reaches, was cool and +shadowy. In its depths nothing +sparkled. It was ordinary limestone. +The walls were covered +with a dull yellow moss, except +for great, raw wounds where it +had been torn off.</p> + +<p>"That's Malmsworth's work," +Captain DeCastros said. "In +seventeen years, Mr. Wordsley, +one will consume a lot of moss, +I daresay. Shall we descend?"</p> + +<p>The rift had reached its depth +quite gradually, so that Mr. +Wordsley scarcely realized that +they were going down until the +surface glare was suddenly gone, +and the green-walled gloom surrounded +them. It might have +been a pleasant place, but Mr. +Wordsley did not like it.</p> + +<p>Captain DeCastros was taking +his time now, resting frequently. +There was not the slightest +chance of Malmsworth's getting +away, for at the other end of the +rift lay the cave and the abyss +containing, at least, one ghost +of Malmsworth's terrible past.</p> + +<p>But though it might seem drab +after the plateau and the plain, +the rift had its points of interest. +Along the walls, everywhere, +as high as a tall man might +reach, the moss had been torn or +scraped from the surface. There +was no second growth.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Every quarter of a mile or so +they came upon the former +campsites of the castaway, each +marked by a flat-topped cairn of +small stones three or four feet +in height. DeCastros was at a +loss to explain this. Mr. Wordsley +supposed that it was one of +the marks of a diseased mind.</p> + +<p>Not that he actually understood +the workings of a diseased +mind. Privately, he suspected +that DeCastros was a little mad. +Certainly he was subject to violent, +unreasonable tempers which +could not be explained. The unfortunate +strain might have +cropped up more strongly in his +brother.</p> + +<p>Might not these walls have +rung with lunatic screams after +months and years of hollow-eyed +watching for the ship that never +came? It might have been different, +of course, had Malmsworth +been able to appreciate +the aesthetic values of life, as +Mr. Wordsley did. But doubtless +these lovely miles and miles of +crystalline oceans had been but +a desert to the castaway.</p> + +<p>Eventually the rift widened a +little, and they came to a dead +end, beyond which lay the cave. +It must have been formed ages +ago by trickling waters before +Avis Solis lost its clouds and +rivers.</p> + +<p>Here they found the last of +the cairns, and the answer to +their construction. The water-maker +which the expedition had +left with Malmsworth seventeen +years ago rested upon this neat +platform, and below it a delicate +basin, eighteen inches or so in +depth, had been constructed of +stones and chinked with moss. +Fit monument for the god, machine.</p> + +<p>It was filled with water, and +quite obviously a bathtub.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Captain DeCastros sneered. +This proved beyond doubt that +Malmsworth was mad, for in the +old days he had been the very +last to care about his bath. In +fact, DeCastros said, Malmsworth +occasionally stank.</p> + +<p>This was probably not true, +but it seemed curious, nonetheless.</p> + +<p>Captain DeCastros set to work +kicking the tub to pieces. He +kicked so hard that one stone +whistled past the head of Mr. +Wordsley, who ducked handily. +Soon the basin lay in rubble, and +the water-maker, its supports +collapsed, listed heavily to the +right.</p> + +<p>"He must be in the cave," +Captain DeCastros said. He cupped +his hands to his mouth. +"Come out, Malmsworth, we +know you're in there!"</p> + +<p>But there was no answer, and +Malmsworth did not come out, +so Captain DeCastros, blizzer in +hand, went in, with Mr. Wordsley +following at a cautious interval.</p> + +<p>Presently they stood upon the +edge of something black and +yawning, but there was still no +sign of the exile, who seemed, +like Elijah, to have been called +directly to his Maker without +residue.</p> + +<p>Beyond the gulf, however, Mr. +Wordsley had glimpsed a ragged +aperture filled with the purest +light. It seemed inconceivable to +him—attracted as he had always +been by radiance—that this +should be inaccessible.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, he lay down +upon his belly and stretched his +hand as far down as he could +reach. His fingers brushed a level +surface which appeared to extend +outwards for two or three +feet. Gingerly he lowered himself +to this ledge and began to +feel his way along the wall. Nor +was he greatly surprised (for +hardly anything surprised Mr. +Wordsley any more) that it +neatly circumnavigated the pit +and deposited him safely upon +the other side, where he quickly +groped toward the mouth of the +cavern and stood gazing out +upon a scene that was breathtaking.</p> + +<p>From this vantage the easily +accessible slope led to the foot +of the plateau. Beyond lay the +grandeur of Avis Solis.</p> + +<p>Captain DeCastros was soon +beside him. "A very clever trick, +that ledge," he said. "Malmsworth +thinks to elude us, but he +never shall, eh, Mr. Wordsley?" +There were tears of frustration +in his eyes.</p> + +<p>It embarrassed Mr. Wordsley, +who could only point to the pall +of gleaming dust where their +ship had lain, and to the silver +needle which glinted for a moment +in the sky and was gone.</p> + +<p>"Malmsworth would not do +that to me," Captain DeCastros +said.</p> + +<p>But he had.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>"We may be here quite a long +while," Mr. Wordsley said, and +could not contrive to sound +downhearted about it.</p> + +<p>But Captain DeCastros had +already turned away and was +feeling his way back along the +ledge.</p> + +<p>Mr. Wordsley waited just a +moment longer; then he took +from his pocket a heavy object +and dropped it upon the slope +and it rolled over and over, down +and down, until its metallic +sheen was lost in that superior +glare.</p> + +<p>It was a spare irmium alloy +plug.</p> + +<p>He made his way back to the +water-maker. They would have +to take good care of it from now +on.</p> + +<p>He was not concerned with the +basin. However, in the soft, +damp sand beside the basin, +plainly imprinted there, as if +someone's raiding party had interrupted +<i>someone's</i> bathing +party, there remained a single, +small and dainty footprint.</p> + +<p>One could almost imagine +that a faint breath of perfume +still lingered upon the sheltered +air of the rift, but, of course, +only things which glittered interested +Mr. Wordsley.</p> + +<p class="theend">THE END</p> + +<div class="trans1"><b>Transcriber's Note:</b><br /> +This etext was produced from <i>Amazing Science Fiction Stories</i> September +1958. 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.</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Marooner, by Charles A. 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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: The Marooner + +Author: Charles A. Stearns + +Illustrator: Leo Summers + +Release Date: March 9, 2008 [EBook #24791] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MAROONER *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + The + MAROONER + + By CHARLES A. STEARNS + + + ILLUSTRATOR SUMMERS + + + _Wordsley and Captain DeCastros + crossed half a universe--suffered + hardship--faced unknown dangers; + and all this for what--a breath + of rare perfume?_ + + +[Illustration: The creature was more pitiful than fearsome.] + +Steadily they smashed the mensurate battlements, in blackness beyond +night and darkness without stars. Yet Mr. Wordsley, the engineer, who +was slight, balding and ingenious, was able to watch the firmament from +his engine room as it drifted from bow to beam to rocket's end. This was +by virtue of banked rows of photon collectors which he had invented and +installed in the nose of the ship. + +And Mr. Wordsley, at three minutes of the hour of seventeen over four, +tuned in a white, new star of eye-blinking magnitude and surpassing +brilliance. Discovering new stars was a kind of perpetual game with Mr. +Wordsley. Perhaps more than a game. + +"I wish I may, I wish I might ..." Mr. Wordsley said. + + * * * * * + +The fiddly hatch clanged. DeCastros, that gross, terrifying clown of a +man, clumped down the ladder from the bridge to defeat the enchantment +of the moment. DeCastros held sway. He was captain. He did not want Mr. +Wordsley to forget that he was captain. + +The worst of Captain DeCastros was that he had moods. Just now he was +being a sly leprechaun, if one can imagine a double-chinned, +three-hundred pound leprechaun. He came over and dug his fingers into +Mr. Wordsley's shoulder. A wracking pain in the trapezius muscle. + +"The ertholaters are plugged," he said gently. "The vi-lines are giving +out a horrible stink." + +"I'll attend to it right away," Mr. Wordsley said, wincing a little as +he wriggled free. + +"Tch, tch," DeCastros said, "can anyone really be so asthenic as you +seem, Mr. Wordsley?" + +"No, sir," Mr. Wordsley said, uncertain of his meaning. + +The captain winked. "Yet there was that ruffled shirt that I found in +the laundromat last week. It was not my shirt. There are only the two of +us aboard, Mr. Wordsley." + +"It was my shirt," Mr. Wordsley said, turning crimson. "I bought it on +Vega Four. I--I didn't know--that is, they wear them like that on Vega +Four." + +"Yes, they do," DeCastros said. "Well, well, perhaps you are only a +poet, Mr. Wordsley. But should you happen to be a little--well, maggoty, +you positively do not have to tell me. No doubt we both have our +secrets. Naturally." + +"_I_ haven't," Mr. Wordsley said desperately. + +"No? Then you certainly will not mind that I am recommending an Ab Test +for you when we get home." + +Mr. Wordsley's heart stopped beating for several seconds. He searched +Captain DeCastros' face for a sign that he might be fooling. He was not. +He looked too pleasant. Mr. Wordsley had always managed to pass the +Aberrations Test by the skin of his teeth, but he was sure that, like +most spiritual geniuses, he was sensitively balanced, and that the power +and seniority of a man like DeCastros must influence the Board of +Examination. + +"You might be decommed. Or even committed to an institution. We wouldn't +want _that_ to happen, would we, Mr. Wordsley?" + +"Why are you doing this to me?" Mr. Wordsley asked strickenly. + +"To tell the truth, I do not propose to have any more of my voyages +blighted with your moon-calfing, day-dreaming and letting the +ertholaters stink up the bridge. Besides--" Captain DeCastros patted his +shoulder almost affectionately. "--besides, I can't stand you, Mr. +Wordsley." + +Mr. Wordsley nodded. He went over to the screen that was like a window +of blessed outer night and sank down on his knees before it. + +_Have the wish I wish tonight._ + +"Ah, ha!" DeCastros exclaimed with sudden ice frozen around the rim of +his voice. "What have we here?" + +"A new nova," Mr. Wordsley answered sullenly. + +"It is common knowledge that no engineer can tell a nova from the D.R. +blast of an Iphonian freighter. Let me see it." He shoved Mr. Wordsley +out of the way and examined the screen intently. + +"You fool," he said at last, "that's a planet. It is Avis Solis." + + * * * * * + +Now the name of Avis Solis tingled in Mr. Wordsley's unreliable memory, +but it would not advance to be recognized. What planet so bright, and +yet so remote from any star by angular measurement? + +"Turn it off," DeCastros ordered. + +Mr. Wordsley turned on him in a sudden fury. "It's mine," he cried. "I +found it! Go back to your bridge." Then, aghast at what he had said, he +clapped his hand over his mouth. + +"Dear me," said Captain DeCastros silkily. Suddenly he seemed to go +quite berserk. He snatched a pile-bar from its rack and swung it at the +screen. The outer panel shattered. The screen went dead. + +Mr. Wordsley grabbed at the bar and got hold of it at the expense of a +broken finger. They strained and tugged. The slippery cadmium finally +eluded both of them, bounded over the railing into the pit, struck a +nomplate far below and was witheringly consumed in a flash of blue +flame. + +Then they were down and rolling over and over, clawing and gouging, +until Captain DeCastros inevitably emerged upon top. + +Mr. Wordsley's eyes protruded from that unbearable weight, and he wished +that there was no such thing as artificial gravity. He struggled vainly. +A bit of broken glass crunched beneath his writhing heel. He went limp +and began to sob. It was not a very manly thing to do, but Mr. Wordsley +was exercising his poetic license. + +"Now then," said DeCastros, jouncing up and down a bit. "I trust that +you have come to understand who is master of this ship, Mr. Wordsley?" + +His addressee continued to weep silently. + +After awhile it occurred to Captain DeCastros that what he was doing was +expressly forbidden in the Rules of the Way, Section 90-G, and might, in +fact, get him into a peck of trouble. So he got up, helped Mr. Wordsley +to his feet, and began to brush him off. + +In a kindly voice he said, "You must have heard of Avis Solis." + +"I don't seem to remember it," Mr. Wordsley said. + +"It's a solitaire. One of those planets which depend upon dark, dwarf, +satellite suns for heat, you know. It is almost always in eclipse, and +I, for one, have always been glad of it." + +"Why is that?" said Mr. Wordsley, not really caring. His chest was +giving him considerable pain. + +"Because it holds the darkest of memories for me. I lost a brother on +Avis Solis. Perhaps you have heard of him. Malmsworth DeCastros. He was +quite famous for certain geological discoveries on Titan at one time." + +"I don't think so." + +"You need not be sorry. The wretch was a murderer and a bad sport as +well. I need not append that my brother and I were as unlike as night +and day--though there is no night and day proper upon Avis Solis, of +course. I imagine you would like to hear the story. Then you will +undoubtedly understand how it is that I was so upset a moment ago by the +sight of Avis Solis, and forgive me." + +Mr. Wordsley nodded. A birdlike, snake-charmed nod. + + * * * * * + +"Avis Solis is a planet absolutely unique, at least in this galaxy. In +addition to being a solitaire, its surface is almost solidly covered to +a depth of several meters with light-gathering layers of crystal which +give it the brilliant, astral glow that you saw just now. Its satellite +suns contribute hardly any light at all. It contains ample oxygen in its +atmosphere, but hardly any water, and so is practically barren. An +ill-advised mineralogical expedition brought us to Avis Solis." + +"Us?" Mr. Wordsley said. + +"There were six of us, five men and a woman. A woman fine and loyal and +beautiful, with the body of a consummate goddess and the face of a +tolerant angel. I was astrological surveyor and party chief." + +"I didn't know that you were once a surveyor." + +"It was seventeen years ago, and none of your business besides." + +"What happened then?" + +"Briefly, we were prospecting for ragnite, which was in demand at the +time. We had already given up hopes of finding one gram of that mineral, +but decided to make a last foray before blasting off. My brother, +Malmsworth, stayed at our base camp. Poor Jenny--that was her +name--remained behind to care for Malmsworth's lame ankle." + +Captain DeCastros was lost for several minutes in a bleak and desolate +valley of introspection wherein Mr. Wordsley dared not intrude. There +was a certain grandeur about his great, dark visage, his falciform nose +and meaty jowls as he stood there. Mr. Wordsley began to fidget and +clear his throat. + +DeCastros glared at him. "They were gone when we returned. Gone, I tell +you! She, to her death. Malmsworth--well, we found _him_ three hours +later in the great rift which bisects the massive plateau that is the +most outstanding feature of the regular surface of Avis Solis. At the +end of this rift there is a natural cave that opens into the sheer wall +of the plateau. Within it is a bottomless chasm. It was here that we +found certain of Jenny's garments, but of Jenny, naturally, there was no +trace. He had seen to that." + +"Terrible," Mr. Wordsley said. + +DeCastros smiled reminiscently. "He fled, but we caught him. He really +had a lame ankle, you know." + +The mice of apprehension scampered up and down Mr. Wordsley's spine. +"You killed him." It was a statement of certainty. + +"No, indeed. That would have been too easy. We left him there with one +portable water-maker and all of that unpalatable but nourishing fungus +which thrives upon Avis Solis that he could eat. I have no doubt that he +lived until madness reduced his ability to feed himself." + +"That was drastic," Mr. Wordsley felt called upon to say. +"Perhaps--perhaps it occurred to you later on that, in charity to your +brother, the er--woman might not have been altogether blameless." + +For a moment he thought that Captain DeCastros was about to strike him +again. He did not. Instead he spat at Mr. Wordsley. He had the speed of +a cobra. There was not time to get out of the way. Mr. Wordsley employed +a handkerchief on his face. + +"She was my wife, you know, Mr. Wordsley," Captain DeCastros said +pleasantly. + +At nineteen-over-four the contamination buzzers sounded their dread +warning. + + * * * * * + +Mr. Wordsley got the alarm first. He had been furtively repairing the +viewscreen and thinking dark thoughts the while. There was sick dread +for him in the contemplation of the future, for after this last +unfortunate blunder DeCastros would be certain to keep his promise and +have him examined. This might very well be his last voyage, and Mr. +Wordsley had known for quite a long time that he could not live anywhere +except out here in the void. + +Only in space, where the stars were like diamonds. Not in the light of +swirling, angry, red suns, not upon the surface of any planet, so drab +when you drew too near. Only in the sterile purity of remote space +where he could maintain and nourish the essential purity of his +day-dreams. But of course one could not explain this to the Board of +Examiners; least of all to Captain DeCastros. + +Moreover, he was afraid that Avis Solis, which he had been permitted to +behold for only a few seconds, would be out of range before he got the +scanner to working again. The aspect of this magnificent gem diminishing +forever into the limitless night brought a lump to his throat. + +But then, at last, the screen came alive once more, and there it loomed, +more brilliant than ever, now so huge that it filled the screen, and it +had not become drab, neither gray-green or brown. No, it was cake +frosting, and icicles, and raindrops against the sun, and all of the +bright, unattainable Christmas tree ornaments of his childhood. + +So rapt was he that he scarcely heard the alarm. Yet he responded +automatically to the sound that now sent him scrambling into his +exposure suit. He fitted one varium-protected oxy-tank to his helmet and +tucked another one under his arm for Captain DeCastros. + +This was superfluous, for DeCastros not only had donned his rig; he had +managed to recall to memory a few dozen vile, degrading swear words +gleaned from the sin-pits of Marronn, to hurl at Mr. Wordsley. + +No one could have helped it, really. Ships under the Drive are insulated +from contamination clouds and everything else in normal space. The +substance polluting the ventilation system, therefore, must have been +trapped within their field since Vega. Now it had entered the ship +through some infinitesimal opening in the hull. + +It was the engineer's job to find that break. It was not easy, +especially with DeCastros breathing down one's neck. Mr. Wordsley began +to perspire heavily, and the moisture ran down and puddled in his boots. + +An hour passed that was like an age. The prognosis became known and was +not reassuring. This was one of the toxic space viruses, dormant at +absolute zero, but active under shipboard conditions. A species, in +fact, of the dread, oxygen-eating _dryorus_, which multiplies with +explosive rapidity, and kills upon penetration of the human respiratory +system. + +Because of the leak in the hull, the decontaminators could not even hold +their own. Mr. Wordsley shuddered to note that ominous, rust-colored +cobwebs--countless trillions of _dryori_--already festooned the +stringers of the hull. + +Another precious hour was taken from them. Mr. Wordsley emerged wearily +from the last inspection hole. + + * * * * * + +"Well?" DeCastros snapped. "Well--well?" His face was greenish from the +effects of the special, contamination resistant mixture that they were +breathing. + +"I found the leak," Mr. Wordsley said. + +"Did you fix it?" + +"It was one of the irmium alloy plugs in the outer hull beneath the +pile. They were originally placed there, I believe, for the installation +of a radiation tester. The plug is missing, and I am sorry to say that +we have no extras. Anything other than irmium would melt at once, of +course." + +"We have less than eight hours of pure air in the tanks," DeCastros +said. "Have you thought of that, you rattle-head?" + +"Yes, sir," Mr. Wordsley said. "And if I might be allowed to speculate, +Captain, I would say that we are finished unless we can make a +planetfall. Only then would I be able to remove the lower port tube, +weld the cavity, seal the ship and fumigate." + +"We're four weeks from the nearest star, Fomalhaut; you know that as +well as I do." + +"I was thinking," said Mr. Wordsley, with a sudden, suffused glow in his +cheeks, "of Avis Solis." + +Mr. Wordsley shut his eyes as they were going down, because he wanted to +open them and surprise himself, at the moment of landing. But the cold, +white glare was more intense than he had expected, and he had to shut +them again and turn on the polarizer. + +He buckled on his tools and the carbo-torch, and went down the ladder. +He dropped at once to his knees, not because of the gravity, which was +not bad, but because of a compulsion to get his face as near to the +surface of Avis Solis as possible. It was even lovelier than when seen +from space. He trod upon a sea of diamonds. A million tiny winkings and +scintillations emanated from each crystal. A million crystals lay +beneath the sole of his boot. He would rather not have stepped on them, +but it could not be helped. They were everywhere. Mr. Wordsley gloated. + + * * * * * + +DeCastros dropped like a huge slug from the ladder behind him. "What are +you doing?" he said. "Picnicking?" + +"I was tying my shoe," Mr. Wordsley said, and got to work with an +alacrity that was wholly false. + +The dark sun-satellites rose by twos and threes over the horizon, felt +rather than clearly seen. There was a dry wind that blew from the +glittering wasteland and whistled around the base of the rockets as Mr. +Wordsley labored on and on. + +Captain DeCastros had withdrawn to a level outcropping of igneous rock +and sat staring at the nothing where the greenish-black sky met the pale +gray horizon. + +The tube was loosened on its shackles and presently fell, with a +tinkling sound, upon the surface of Avis Solis. The opening was sealed +and welded. Mr. Wordsley was practically finished, but he did not hurry. +Instead, he went around to the opposite side of the ship on a pretense +of inspection, and sat down where DeCastros could not see him. + +For awhile he stared at the many-faceted depths of the crystals; then he +leaned over and touched them with his lips. They were smooth and +exciting. They cut his lip. + +But he had the distinct feeling that there was something wrong with this +idyll. It seemed to him that he was being spied upon. He sneaked a +furtive glance behind him. DeCastros was still sitting where he had +been, with his back to him. + +Mr. Wordsley slowly lifted his gaze to the plateau of shimmering glass +that was before him. At its rim, a hundred feet above him, a silent +figure stood gazing down upon him. + + * * * * * + +A man even six feet tall might easily have frightened Mr. Wordsley into +a nervous breakdown by staring at him with that gaunt, hollow-eyed +stare, but this creature, though manlike, was fully fifty feet tall, +incredibly elongated, and stark naked. Its hair was long and matted; its +cheeks sunken, its lips pulled back in an expression which might have +been anything from a smile to a cannibalistic snarl. + +Mr. Wordsley cried out. + +Captain DeCastros heard and came running across the intervening distance +with swiftness incredible in one of his bulk at this gravity. His +blizzer was out. It was one of the very latest models of blizzers. Very +destructive. Mr. Wordsley had always been afraid to touch it. + +He fired, and part of the plateau beneath the titan's feet fell away in +a sparkling shower. The creature vanished. + +DeCastros was red-faced and wheezing. "That was Malmsworth," he said. +"Now how the devil do you suppose he managed to stick it out all these +years!" + +"If that was Malmsworth," Mr. Wordsley said, "he must be a very tall +man." + +"That was merely dimensional mirage. Come along. We'll have to hurry if +we catch him." + +"Why do we want to catch him?" Mr. Wordsley said. + +Captain DeCastros made a sound of sober surprise. Even of pious wonder. +"Malmsworth is my only brother," he said. + +Mr. Wordsley wanted to say, "Yes, but you shot at him." He did not, +because there was no time. He had to hurry to catch up with DeCastros, +who was even now scrambling up the steep slope. + +From the rim they could see Malmsworth out there on the flat. He was +making good time, but Captain DeCastros proceeded to demonstrate that he +was no mean hiker, himself. Mr. Wordsley's side began to hurt, and his +breath came with difficulty. He might have died, if he had not feared +to incur DeCastros' anger. + +At times the naked man was a broad, flat monster upon that shimmering +tableland. Again he seemed almost invisible; then gigantic and tenuous. + +Presently he disappeared altogether. + +"Oho!" DeCastros said, "If I am not mistaken, old Malmsworth has holed +up in that very same rift where we caught him at his dirty business +seventeen years ago. He's as mad as a Martian; you can lay to that. He'd +have to be." + +The rift, when they arrived at its upper reaches, was cool and shadowy. +In its depths nothing sparkled. It was ordinary limestone. The walls +were covered with a dull yellow moss, except for great, raw wounds where +it had been torn off. + +"That's Malmsworth's work," Captain DeCastros said. "In seventeen years, +Mr. Wordsley, one will consume a lot of moss, I daresay. Shall we +descend?" + +The rift had reached its depth quite gradually, so that Mr. Wordsley +scarcely realized that they were going down until the surface glare was +suddenly gone, and the green-walled gloom surrounded them. It might have +been a pleasant place, but Mr. Wordsley did not like it. + +Captain DeCastros was taking his time now, resting frequently. There was +not the slightest chance of Malmsworth's getting away, for at the other +end of the rift lay the cave and the abyss containing, at least, one +ghost of Malmsworth's terrible past. + +But though it might seem drab after the plateau and the plain, the rift +had its points of interest. Along the walls, everywhere, as high as a +tall man might reach, the moss had been torn or scraped from the +surface. There was no second growth. + + * * * * * + +Every quarter of a mile or so they came upon the former campsites of the +castaway, each marked by a flat-topped cairn of small stones three or +four feet in height. DeCastros was at a loss to explain this. Mr. +Wordsley supposed that it was one of the marks of a diseased mind. + +Not that he actually understood the workings of a diseased mind. +Privately, he suspected that DeCastros was a little mad. Certainly he +was subject to violent, unreasonable tempers which could not be +explained. The unfortunate strain might have cropped up more strongly in +his brother. + +Might not these walls have rung with lunatic screams after months and +years of hollow-eyed watching for the ship that never came? It might +have been different, of course, had Malmsworth been able to appreciate +the aesthetic values of life, as Mr. Wordsley did. But doubtless these +lovely miles and miles of crystalline oceans had been but a desert to +the castaway. + +Eventually the rift widened a little, and they came to a dead end, +beyond which lay the cave. It must have been formed ages ago by +trickling waters before Avis Solis lost its clouds and rivers. + +Here they found the last of the cairns, and the answer to their +construction. The water-maker which the expedition had left with +Malmsworth seventeen years ago rested upon this neat platform, and below +it a delicate basin, eighteen inches or so in depth, had been +constructed of stones and chinked with moss. Fit monument for the god, +machine. + +It was filled with water, and quite obviously a bathtub. + + * * * * * + +Captain DeCastros sneered. This proved beyond doubt that Malmsworth was +mad, for in the old days he had been the very last to care about his +bath. In fact, DeCastros said, Malmsworth occasionally stank. + +This was probably not true, but it seemed curious, nonetheless. + +Captain DeCastros set to work kicking the tub to pieces. He kicked so +hard that one stone whistled past the head of Mr. Wordsley, who ducked +handily. Soon the basin lay in rubble, and the water-maker, its supports +collapsed, listed heavily to the right. + +"He must be in the cave," Captain DeCastros said. He cupped his hands to +his mouth. "Come out, Malmsworth, we know you're in there!" + +But there was no answer, and Malmsworth did not come out, so Captain +DeCastros, blizzer in hand, went in, with Mr. Wordsley following at a +cautious interval. + +Presently they stood upon the edge of something black and yawning, but +there was still no sign of the exile, who seemed, like Elijah, to have +been called directly to his Maker without residue. + +Beyond the gulf, however, Mr. Wordsley had glimpsed a ragged aperture +filled with the purest light. It seemed inconceivable to him--attracted +as he had always been by radiance--that this should be inaccessible. + +Accordingly, he lay down upon his belly and stretched his hand as far +down as he could reach. His fingers brushed a level surface which +appeared to extend outwards for two or three feet. Gingerly he lowered +himself to this ledge and began to feel his way along the wall. Nor was +he greatly surprised (for hardly anything surprised Mr. Wordsley any +more) that it neatly circumnavigated the pit and deposited him safely +upon the other side, where he quickly groped toward the mouth of the +cavern and stood gazing out upon a scene that was breathtaking. + +From this vantage the easily accessible slope led to the foot of the +plateau. Beyond lay the grandeur of Avis Solis. + +Captain DeCastros was soon beside him. "A very clever trick, that +ledge," he said. "Malmsworth thinks to elude us, but he never shall, +eh, Mr. Wordsley?" There were tears of frustration in his eyes. + +It embarrassed Mr. Wordsley, who could only point to the pall of +gleaming dust where their ship had lain, and to the silver needle which +glinted for a moment in the sky and was gone. + +"Malmsworth would not do that to me," Captain DeCastros said. + +But he had. + + * * * * * + +"We may be here quite a long while," Mr. Wordsley said, and could not +contrive to sound downhearted about it. + +But Captain DeCastros had already turned away and was feeling his way +back along the ledge. + +Mr. Wordsley waited just a moment longer; then he took from his pocket a +heavy object and dropped it upon the slope and it rolled over and over, +down and down, until its metallic sheen was lost in that superior glare. + +It was a spare irmium alloy plug. + +He made his way back to the water-maker. They would have to take good +care of it from now on. + +He was not concerned with the basin. However, in the soft, damp sand +beside the basin, plainly imprinted there, as if someone's raiding party +had interrupted _someone's_ bathing party, there remained a single, +small and dainty footprint. + +One could almost imagine that a faint breath of perfume still lingered +upon the sheltered air of the rift, but, of course, only things which +glittered interested Mr. Wordsley. + + +THE END + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from _Amazing Science Fiction Stories_ + September 1958. 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 of The Marooner, by Charles A. 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