diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:15:09 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-15 02:15:09 -0700 |
| commit | 154c05af1a36594888b03b0e062dd5b66143dd8e (patch) | |
| tree | e6443c96516c1a3d15dffec406ae9b3a79f6df3f | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24973-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 50920 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24973-h/24973-h.htm | 987 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24973-h/images/001.png | bin | 0 -> 35334 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24973-page-images/f0001.png | bin | 0 -> 3022226 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24973-page-images/p0053-image.png | bin | 0 -> 3042282 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24973-page-images/p0053.png | bin | 0 -> 95416 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24973-page-images/p0054a.png | bin | 0 -> 57138 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24973-page-images/p0054b.png | bin | 0 -> 60175 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24973-page-images/p0055a.png | bin | 0 -> 54841 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24973-page-images/p0055b.png | bin | 0 -> 59327 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24973-page-images/p0056a.png | bin | 0 -> 57011 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24973-page-images/p0056b.png | bin | 0 -> 57967 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24973-page-images/p0057a.png | bin | 0 -> 56987 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24973-page-images/p0057b.png | bin | 0 -> 58287 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24973-page-images/p0058a.png | bin | 0 -> 19576 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24973-page-images/p0058b.png | bin | 0 -> 18122 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24973.txt | 756 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 24973.zip | bin | 0 -> 14088 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
21 files changed, 1759 insertions, 0 deletions
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/24973-h.zip b/24973-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..376fdd8 --- /dev/null +++ b/24973-h.zip diff --git a/24973-h/24973-h.htm b/24973-h/24973-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..11370ad --- /dev/null +++ b/24973-h/24973-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,987 @@ +<!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 Sun King, by Gaston Derreaux + </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; clear: both; visibility: hidden;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .figcenter {margin: 0 auto 3em; text-align: left; width: 700px; font-size: small;} + .trn {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;} + .tease {margin: 2em auto; font-size: large; width: 22em; 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 Sun King, by Gaston Derreaux + +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 Sun King + +Author: Gaston Derreaux + +Release Date: April 1, 2008 [EBook #24973] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SUN KING *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1><big>The SUN KING</big></h1> + +<h2>By GASTON DERREAUX</h2> + +<p class="tease"><b>The people of Par'si'ya forgot their God, and +worshipped only murder, and sin. But then the +virgin Too-che gave birth to a male child....</b></p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/001.png" width="700" height="374" alt="" title="" /> +<b>When the soldiers of the city Oas saw that their +King had not the backbone to enforce his own decree +when it hurt himself, they one and all took +up stones, and they stoned King So-qi to death.</b></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Before</span> the flood, even before +Egypt's greatness, the world was +divided into three main countries, +named Jaffeth, Shem and +Arabin'ya. There were other less populated +lands and places; Uropa in the +west, Heleste in the north, and the two +great lands of the far west, called North +and South Guatama.</p> + +<p>Now, at the juncture of the borders +of the three greatest countries, lay a +mighty city, named Oas. It was the +capital city of the Arabin'yan nation +called Par'si'ya.</p> + +<p>Its Temple of Skulls was the greatest +known to any traveler, but the temples +built to the god, Mazda, and his son, +Ihua'Mazda, were empty and unadorned—the +people had forgotten God.</p> + +<p>So-qi, King of Oas, sent out his +armies throughout Jaffeth (China), +conquering and slaying, bringing back +ever more skulls for the Golgotha temples, +more gold and more slaves for the +enriching of King So-qi. His harem +was the greatest of buildings of the +mighty city, and his wives beyond +man's ability to count.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Too-che</span> was one of the finest ornaments +of the city of Oas. Too-che +was slim, her breasts were two mounds +of magic, her eyes were pools of mystic +green depths, her legs were subtle, sinuous +beauty.</p> + +<p>But Too-che was a virgin, and in all +that city of a million sinful souls, she +alone held aloof from the sins of the +flesh.</p> + +<p>Which was very strange, for Too-che +became big with child, though she had +not been with a man!</p> + +<p>Which came to the ears of So-qi, +upon his great black throne supported +on a tower of human skulls, in his palace +of Gran, across from the great +Golgotha, which was built entirely of +human skulls—the skulls of people conquered +by the armies of Par'si'ya, over +which the city of Oas reigned.</p> + +<p>So-qi shook his big belly under the +lion's skin, let slip his serpent skin +headdress, and let the battle axe that +was his symbol of office drop from his +hand as he shook with mirth at the +great and thumping lie told by Too-che.</p> + +<p>"I suppose her child was fathered by +Mazda, peering into her womb with his +All-light," laughed So-qi, for in Oas it +was not the fashion to worship the God +Mazda anymore. The great skull temples +had their priests and their sacrifices, +but no more did people bow down +in the temples of Mazda, or have anything +but ridicule for those few who did +still worship in the old way.</p> + +<p>His serpent skin headdress and battle +axe scepter, too, were relics from the +past. Just as the belief in Mazda. But +more <i>potent</i> relics, by far. With them +he was the Sun King, Lord of Battles, +Master of Life and Death, Creator of +the Universe, Lord of Souls, Maker of +the Law, etc. Without them he was +just old So-qi, getting fatter and more +stupid every day.</p> + +<p>"Bring this harlot before me, to see +if she can produce a miracle to prove +her child is not a common one. If she +cannot, she will be stoned to death at +once, do you hear! I have no time to +be bothered with the lies of every sinning +woman who seeks to hide her bastard's +origin."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Asha</span>, the philosopher who had told +his king of the birth of the child, +nodded his head sadly and left the presence. +Why did kings have to get so +blown up as to be inhuman? He sympathized +with the girl and her predicament. +If it had been his to say, he +would have had the child proclaimed +divine a thousand times in preference +to shedding one drop of her blood. But +then, he had seen Too-che sauntering +home from the well, with her water jar +on her head, and her hips the focal point +of all eyes in the street. Asha smiled, +and took his grey-headed, bent, unnoticed +figure down the back streets to the +house of Too-che.</p> + +<p>As he went, he pondered gloomily on +the fate of this great city under the +heartless and ignorant So-qi. Surely +something dreadful would happen to +Par'si'ya, lying as it did at the juncture +of the lands of the three mightiest kingdoms +of the world. Jaffeth (China), +Shem (Africa) and Arabin'ya. Any one +of them could crush them, did they get +themselves organized for it. And So-qi +preyed upon them all ruthlessly, knowing +they could never stop warring interiorly +long enough to attack him.</p> + +<p>Old Asha thought of the future, +which his star studies were supposed to +give him power to foretell, and of the +great flood that was to come and wipe +out all the old boundaries and nations. +He thought of the peculiar grey-blue +sky, which the Wise men had taught +him bore up within its whirling self vast +oceans of water, waiting for the time to +drop the whirling water-shell upon them +all. He thought of Uropa, the great +land in the west, and all her peoples. He +thought of Heleste, that mighty and +gracious land in the North, and all her +beautiful and strong and courageous +people. And he thought of the two +great lands of the far west, called North +and South Guatama. And he was sad, +for they were all to die in the great +deluge to come! But the time was not +yet come.</p> + +<p>Sadly he pushed among the stalwart +copper-colored men of Oas, gazing a +little wistfully at the women's proud +breasts and the strong young thews of +their lovers beside them. If only he +were young again.... Asha sighed, +and knocked upon the low, rude door +of the house of Too-che.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> smile of the beautiful Too-che +made him welcome, very proud to +have the wise man from the court inquire +after her child.</p> + +<p>"He worries me, wise Asha," said +Too-che, moving slim and supple as a +panther to sit protectively beside the +little cradle of bent ash bows lashed together +with strips of hide. "He talks +like a man grown, and him not yet +weaned!"</p> + +<p>"Hmmm." Old Asha looked down +upon the over-large infant solemnly +looking back at him. He nearly fainted +when the tiny red lips opened, and a +strange, small voice, cultured and adult, +said:</p> + +<p>"I am not the child you see, but your +God, Mazda, speaking through the +child's lips!"</p> + +<p>Asha pondered for only a moment, +then turned in anger upon the woman, +Too-che.</p> + +<p>"I pitied you, harlot, because the +King has ordered your death if you did +not produce a miracle. But I did not +think you would hide a man behind the +child's cradle to befool me, old Asha! +What do you take me for?"</p> + +<p>Too-che broke into tears, bending her +graceful neck and sobbing to hear that +the king had decreed death for her. But +the peculiar voice came again from the +child's mouth.</p> + +<p>"Take me in your arms, Asha."</p> + +<p>Feeling very foolish, but unable to +refuse for some mysterious reason, +Asha bent and picked up the child.</p> + +<p>"O man, temper thy judgment with +patience and wisdom."</p> + +<p>Asha knew now that it was the child's +voice truly, and at last asked:</p> + +<p>"Why do you come in such a weak +and helpless guise, O Lord Mazda? I +had hoped to see a God appear in +stronger shape."</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless, through this helpless +child in your arms, this city shall be +overthrown, yourself made King of +Kings, and I shall deliver all the slaves +and strike off all the bonds from the +old time. Mazda will have this city for +his own, or it will be destroyed forever."</p> + +<p>Now Asha was filled with wonder, +and asked the babe of many abstruse +things, receiving answers beyond his +understanding. So, at last convinced, +he put the babe down, turned to Too-che.</p> + +<p>"Listen, maiden who in my eyes is +without fault. I cannot go to my King +and tell him one word of what this child +has revealed, for I would only die with +both of you as a liar and worse. You +must take this child and hide him away +from the eyes and the ears of the men +of this city. You in your innocence do +not understand the ways of kings and +courts and warriors and such things. +Flee, for if you are here tomorrow, you +will die and your child will die with +you."</p> + +<p>Asha took himself out, then, and +made his way sadly along the crowded +streets to his home. There he packed +up a few belongings and left to go into +hiding himself; for he knew better than +to try to tell So-qi any such cock-and-bull +story. Yet if he went at all to +So-qi, he had to tell something, and +either way someone would be doomed, +if not himself.</p> + +<p>Too-che took up the babe and fled +through the city by night to the home +of one Chojon, a maker of songs. This +man had long made love to her with his +poetry and his voice from afar, and she +knew he would hide her and protect her. +Her heart was in her throat, because +she wondered if he would believe in her +virtue now that she had a child, or in +her love for him when he felt that +another had given her child when he +had been denied the privilege.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Slender</span> and dark-eyed and handsome +he stood in his doorway, looking +upon this girl who had come to him +with her babe in her arms. A babe by +another! His heart was hurt, tears +came unbidden to his eyes as he turned +and allowed her to enter. For a long +time he could not speak, the shame and +the hurt and pride and the strange new +sudden emotions in him not suffering +him to talk. At last he said:</p> + +<p>"Too-che, I love you and I cannot +deny you anything. If you put this +shame upon me, I will bear it as my +own. Consider this your home, and me +as your slave. If I did not love you, I +would not bear this, but I do."</p> + +<p>Too-che saw the conflicting emotions +upon his face, how his dark red lips +struggled to remain firm, how his thin, +wide nostrils trembled, how his eyes +were wet with unshed tears, how his +shoulders bowed as with a sudden burden.</p> + +<p>"Oh my dear Chojon, I have no other +friend to whom I can turn—and that I +thought of you, who has only loved me +from afar with your eyes and your soft, +sad songs, should tell you that I bring +you no shame or insult. This is not the +child of another man, for I have been +with no man, ever. This is a child of +the legends, a son of a God in the skies, +our God, Mazda. He is a miracle, as +hard for me to believe as for you, but +it is true."</p> + +<p>Too-che could not stand the unbelieving +eyes of Chojon, who thought +that Too-che lied, and looked down at +the sleeping babe in her arms, saying +with a pitiful voice ...</p> + +<p>"Please, little stranger who talks like +a wise man, wake and tell my Chojon +that you are not the son of a man, but +the son of one whom no maid could resist +or run away from, ever. Tell him, +little one!"</p> + +<p>And Mazda heard Too-che imploring +speech of her child and made it to speak +with his own voice.</p> + +<p>"Chojon, what my mother says is +true. I am the child of the All-light, +endowed with powers beyond ordinary +men to accomplish my Lord's mysterious +purposes here on earth. Do not +hold my mother the less for my birth."</p> + +<p>Chojon sank slowly to his knees, realization +stealing over him as he heard +the adult words issue from the suckling +babe's mouth. The unshed tears began +to pour from his eyes in relief, for he +knew now that Too-che might not love +him yet as she would when she learned +love, but at least she had given herself +to no other mortal man. And the miracle +of the Child of a God there before +him lighted up his face as his inward +soul, so that he took up his lute and +lifted his rich, deep voice in a joyous +song—the Song of Zarathustra. For +the legend of their people had the name +of the babe-to-come as Zarathustra, and +Chojon knew that its name was thus, +now.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Too-che</span> dwelt for some time in the +house of Chojon, and the songs of +Chojon were circulated among all the +singers of the city, so that everyone +knew he sheltered the Child of the God, +Mazda, in his home.</p> + +<p>The songs of Chojon came at last to +the King's ears, and as one of the songs +proclaimed Zarathustra as stronger in +one finger than all the power of So-qi, +he let out a great oath and set his soldiers +to find Too-che and the babe. But +Chojon heard of the search. He took +Too-che and her babe out of the gates +in the night and went off into the forest +and joined a band of Listians, who are +raisers of goats, and a fine, strong people.</p> + +<p>Now when the search failed to find +the babe, So-qi proclaimed that every +male child of the City Oas would be +slain if the child was not found. And +within a week So-qi was sorry, because +his own wife gave birth to a little son +whose life was already forfeited by +royal decree unless Too-che and her +child were found. And they were not +to be found in all Par'si'ya.</p> + +<p>Asha, the old philosopher, who had +been in hiding all this time, now came +out of his hole and went to the King to +give him counsel.</p> + +<p>As Asha progressed through the city, +mothers with male children in their +arms on all sides were making their way +through the streets to the gates to flee +the city. For no decree of a King of +Oas may be repealed, but is law forevermore.</p> + +<p>The King sat upon his throne of +skulls, gnawing his nails off his fingers, +for he had either to slay his own son or +say that a law once made by a king +could be un-made.</p> + +<p>If he allowed the law to be thus +abused even by himself, such was the +nature of his people they would have +no respect for him, and might even kill +him for a fool who could not enforce +his own decrees when they hurt him a +little.</p> + +<p>So it was that when Asha presented +himself before the King, So-qi asked:</p> + +<p>"What shall I do, O Asha? My son +has smiled in my face!"</p> + +<p>Asha was prepared for this, and answered:</p> + +<p>"Thou shalt send me and thy son and +thy daughter's son and every male infant +to the slaughter pens, and have us +all beheaded and cast into the fire! +Otherwise it will come true as the infant +Zarathustra prophesied: his hand +will smite Oas city, and it will fall as +a heap of straw."</p> + +<p>So the king appointed a day for the +slaughter, and ninety thousand male infants +were adjudged to death.</p> + +<p>Chojon, from the safety of the forest, +made a scornful song about the tyrant +of Oas who went to war against babes, +and it was sung everywhere in the city, +and the king could do nothing about it, +for it was cleverly worded, seeming to +approve, though in satire only.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">When</span> the day for the slaughter arrived, +there were but a thousand +appeared with their babes out of the +ninety thousand adjudged to death—all +the rest having fled to the forest as had +Chojon.</p> + +<p>The King saw an excuse in this to +get out of killing his own son, and stood +pondering how to escape his own decree. +His wife, Betraj, came before +him, holding out her son, saying:</p> + +<p>"Here, oh King, take thou thy flesh +and blood and prove the inexorable +justice of the King's decrees."</p> + +<p>But the King said:</p> + +<p>"Let the officers go and collect all +the others who have fled beyond the +walls, and until all are gathered here +before me, no matter how long it takes, +let the decree be suspended."</p> + +<p>Now the God, Mazda, moved the soldiers' +minds to see that their King had +not the backbone to enforce his own +decree when it hurt himself and they, +one and all, took up stones and stoned +the King to death.</p> + +<p>Asha, standing stripped for the +slaughter, was made King by the +clamor of the men who stoned So-qi to +death.</p> + +<p>A great voice came out of the sky +and announced to the people that God +had given them a new and righteous +ruler. Asha bowed his head and accepted +the task put upon him. The +people gave thanks to Mazda, the God, +and Asha proclaimed him to all the city.</p> + +<p>Off in the forest, Too-che lifted her +eyes to those of Chojon and thanked +him for saving her son. And Chojon +touched her with his fingertips, and +kissed her on her lips, and the child +crowed lustily to see their love.</p> + +<p>These two walked through the Forest +of the Goats, Too-che bringing beauty +like a spring breeze with her, and +Chojon singing and touching his harp +with magic fingers, so that joy and love +walked before them, announcing them +to the Listians—the people of the forest.</p> + +<p>When Zarathustra, the infant child +the woman bore in her arms, lifted up +his piping voice and spoke to these rude +wild people, their worship sprang into +life—for surely these were Gods come +to them. And thus, all the people gave +up the worship of murder and became +Zarathustrians.</p> + +<p class="theend">THE END</p> + +<div class="trn"><b>Transcriber's Note:</b><br /> +This etext was produced from <i>Amazing Stories</i> April 1949. +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 Sun King, by Gaston Derreaux + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SUN KING *** + +***** This file should be named 24973-h.htm or 24973-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/9/7/24973/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +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://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.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. 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://pglaf.org + +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://pglaf.org + +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 including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For 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. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/24973-h/images/001.png b/24973-h/images/001.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0367344 --- /dev/null +++ b/24973-h/images/001.png diff --git a/24973-page-images/f0001.png b/24973-page-images/f0001.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8e860df --- /dev/null +++ b/24973-page-images/f0001.png diff --git a/24973-page-images/p0053-image.png b/24973-page-images/p0053-image.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a365395 --- /dev/null +++ b/24973-page-images/p0053-image.png diff --git a/24973-page-images/p0053.png b/24973-page-images/p0053.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bddb9ce --- /dev/null +++ b/24973-page-images/p0053.png diff --git a/24973-page-images/p0054a.png b/24973-page-images/p0054a.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..41c8a08 --- /dev/null +++ b/24973-page-images/p0054a.png diff --git a/24973-page-images/p0054b.png b/24973-page-images/p0054b.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..57e073a --- /dev/null +++ b/24973-page-images/p0054b.png diff --git a/24973-page-images/p0055a.png b/24973-page-images/p0055a.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6d2a885 --- /dev/null +++ b/24973-page-images/p0055a.png diff --git a/24973-page-images/p0055b.png b/24973-page-images/p0055b.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d0f8122 --- /dev/null +++ b/24973-page-images/p0055b.png diff --git a/24973-page-images/p0056a.png b/24973-page-images/p0056a.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ac5455e --- /dev/null +++ b/24973-page-images/p0056a.png diff --git a/24973-page-images/p0056b.png b/24973-page-images/p0056b.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c219273 --- /dev/null +++ b/24973-page-images/p0056b.png diff --git a/24973-page-images/p0057a.png b/24973-page-images/p0057a.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e4d1d8b --- /dev/null +++ b/24973-page-images/p0057a.png diff --git a/24973-page-images/p0057b.png b/24973-page-images/p0057b.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..63b432e --- /dev/null +++ b/24973-page-images/p0057b.png diff --git a/24973-page-images/p0058a.png b/24973-page-images/p0058a.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..af984d3 --- /dev/null +++ b/24973-page-images/p0058a.png diff --git a/24973-page-images/p0058b.png b/24973-page-images/p0058b.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c1b8757 --- /dev/null +++ b/24973-page-images/p0058b.png diff --git a/24973.txt b/24973.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..80b52cf --- /dev/null +++ b/24973.txt @@ -0,0 +1,756 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Sun King, by Gaston Derreaux + +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 Sun King + +Author: Gaston Derreaux + +Release Date: April 1, 2008 [EBook #24973] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SUN KING *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +The SUN KING + +By GASTON DERREAUX + + + The people of Par'si'ya forgot their God, and + worshipped only murder, and sin. But then the + virgin Too-che gave birth to a male child.... + + +Before the flood, even before Egypt's greatness, the world was divided +into three main countries, named Jaffeth, Shem and Arabin'ya. There were +other less populated lands and places; Uropa in the west, Heleste in the +north, and the two great lands of the far west, called North and South +Guatama. + +Now, at the juncture of the borders of the three greatest countries, lay +a mighty city, named Oas. It was the capital city of the Arabin'yan +nation called Par'si'ya. + +Its Temple of Skulls was the greatest known to any traveler, but the +temples built to the god, Mazda, and his son, Ihua'Mazda, were empty and +unadorned--the people had forgotten God. + +So-qi, King of Oas, sent out his armies throughout Jaffeth (China), +conquering and slaying, bringing back ever more skulls for the Golgotha +temples, more gold and more slaves for the enriching of King So-qi. His +harem was the greatest of buildings of the mighty city, and his wives +beyond man's ability to count. + + * * * * * + +Too-che was one of the finest ornaments of the city of Oas. Too-che was +slim, her breasts were two mounds of magic, her eyes were pools of +mystic green depths, her legs were subtle, sinuous beauty. + +But Too-che was a virgin, and in all that city of a million sinful +souls, she alone held aloof from the sins of the flesh. + +[Illustration: When the soldiers of the city Oas saw that their King had +not the backbone to enforce his own decree when it hurt himself, they +one and all took up stones, and they stoned King So-qi to death.] + +Which was very strange, for Too-che became big with child, though she +had not been with a man! + +Which came to the ears of So-qi, upon his great black throne supported +on a tower of human skulls, in his palace of Gran, across from the great +Golgotha, which was built entirely of human skulls--the skulls of people +conquered by the armies of Par'si'ya, over which the city of Oas +reigned. + +So-qi shook his big belly under the lion's skin, let slip his serpent +skin headdress, and let the battle axe that was his symbol of office +drop from his hand as he shook with mirth at the great and thumping lie +told by Too-che. + +"I suppose her child was fathered by Mazda, peering into her womb with +his All-light," laughed So-qi, for in Oas it was not the fashion to +worship the God Mazda anymore. The great skull temples had their priests +and their sacrifices, but no more did people bow down in the temples of +Mazda, or have anything but ridicule for those few who did still worship +in the old way. + +His serpent skin headdress and battle axe scepter, too, were relics from +the past. Just as the belief in Mazda. But more _potent_ relics, by far. +With them he was the Sun King, Lord of Battles, Master of Life and +Death, Creator of the Universe, Lord of Souls, Maker of the Law, etc. +Without them he was just old So-qi, getting fatter and more stupid every +day. + +"Bring this harlot before me, to see if she can produce a miracle to +prove her child is not a common one. If she cannot, she will be stoned +to death at once, do you hear! I have no time to be bothered with the +lies of every sinning woman who seeks to hide her bastard's origin." + + * * * * * + +Asha, the philosopher who had told his king of the birth of the child, +nodded his head sadly and left the presence. Why did kings have to get +so blown up as to be inhuman? He sympathized with the girl and her +predicament. If it had been his to say, he would have had the child +proclaimed divine a thousand times in preference to shedding one drop of +her blood. But then, he had seen Too-che sauntering home from the well, +with her water jar on her head, and her hips the focal point of all eyes +in the street. Asha smiled, and took his grey-headed, bent, unnoticed +figure down the back streets to the house of Too-che. + +As he went, he pondered gloomily on the fate of this great city under +the heartless and ignorant So-qi. Surely something dreadful would happen +to Par'si'ya, lying as it did at the juncture of the lands of the three +mightiest kingdoms of the world. Jaffeth (China), Shem (Africa) and +Arabin'ya. Any one of them could crush them, did they get themselves +organized for it. And So-qi preyed upon them all ruthlessly, knowing +they could never stop warring interiorly long enough to attack him. + +Old Asha thought of the future, which his star studies were supposed to +give him power to foretell, and of the great flood that was to come and +wipe out all the old boundaries and nations. He thought of the peculiar +grey-blue sky, which the Wise men had taught him bore up within its +whirling self vast oceans of water, waiting for the time to drop the +whirling water-shell upon them all. He thought of Uropa, the great land +in the west, and all her peoples. He thought of Heleste, that mighty and +gracious land in the North, and all her beautiful and strong and +courageous people. And he thought of the two great lands of the far +west, called North and South Guatama. And he was sad, for they were all +to die in the great deluge to come! But the time was not yet come. + +Sadly he pushed among the stalwart copper-colored men of Oas, gazing a +little wistfully at the women's proud breasts and the strong young thews +of their lovers beside them. If only he were young again.... Asha +sighed, and knocked upon the low, rude door of the house of Too-che. + + * * * * * + +The smile of the beautiful Too-che made him welcome, very proud to have +the wise man from the court inquire after her child. + +"He worries me, wise Asha," said Too-che, moving slim and supple as a +panther to sit protectively beside the little cradle of bent ash bows +lashed together with strips of hide. "He talks like a man grown, and him +not yet weaned!" + +"Hmmm." Old Asha looked down upon the over-large infant solemnly looking +back at him. He nearly fainted when the tiny red lips opened, and a +strange, small voice, cultured and adult, said: + +"I am not the child you see, but your God, Mazda, speaking through the +child's lips!" + +Asha pondered for only a moment, then turned in anger upon the woman, +Too-che. + +"I pitied you, harlot, because the King has ordered your death if you +did not produce a miracle. But I did not think you would hide a man +behind the child's cradle to befool me, old Asha! What do you take me +for?" + +Too-che broke into tears, bending her graceful neck and sobbing to hear +that the king had decreed death for her. But the peculiar voice came +again from the child's mouth. + +"Take me in your arms, Asha." + +Feeling very foolish, but unable to refuse for some mysterious reason, +Asha bent and picked up the child. + +"O man, temper thy judgment with patience and wisdom." + +Asha knew now that it was the child's voice truly, and at last asked: + +"Why do you come in such a weak and helpless guise, O Lord Mazda? I had +hoped to see a God appear in stronger shape." + +"Nevertheless, through this helpless child in your arms, this city shall +be overthrown, yourself made King of Kings, and I shall deliver all the +slaves and strike off all the bonds from the old time. Mazda will have +this city for his own, or it will be destroyed forever." + +Now Asha was filled with wonder, and asked the babe of many abstruse +things, receiving answers beyond his understanding. So, at last +convinced, he put the babe down, turned to Too-che. + +"Listen, maiden who in my eyes is without fault. I cannot go to my King +and tell him one word of what this child has revealed, for I would only +die with both of you as a liar and worse. You must take this child and +hide him away from the eyes and the ears of the men of this city. You in +your innocence do not understand the ways of kings and courts and +warriors and such things. Flee, for if you are here tomorrow, you will +die and your child will die with you." + +Asha took himself out, then, and made his way sadly along the crowded +streets to his home. There he packed up a few belongings and left to go +into hiding himself; for he knew better than to try to tell So-qi any +such cock-and-bull story. Yet if he went at all to So-qi, he had to tell +something, and either way someone would be doomed, if not himself. + +Too-che took up the babe and fled through the city by night to the home +of one Chojon, a maker of songs. This man had long made love to her with +his poetry and his voice from afar, and she knew he would hide her and +protect her. Her heart was in her throat, because she wondered if he +would believe in her virtue now that she had a child, or in her love for +him when he felt that another had given her child when he had been +denied the privilege. + + * * * * * + +Slender and dark-eyed and handsome he stood in his doorway, looking upon +this girl who had come to him with her babe in her arms. A babe by +another! His heart was hurt, tears came unbidden to his eyes as he +turned and allowed her to enter. For a long time he could not speak, the +shame and the hurt and pride and the strange new sudden emotions in him +not suffering him to talk. At last he said: + +"Too-che, I love you and I cannot deny you anything. If you put this +shame upon me, I will bear it as my own. Consider this your home, and me +as your slave. If I did not love you, I would not bear this, but I do." + +Too-che saw the conflicting emotions upon his face, how his dark red +lips struggled to remain firm, how his thin, wide nostrils trembled, how +his eyes were wet with unshed tears, how his shoulders bowed as with a +sudden burden. + +"Oh my dear Chojon, I have no other friend to whom I can turn--and that +I thought of you, who has only loved me from afar with your eyes and +your soft, sad songs, should tell you that I bring you no shame or +insult. This is not the child of another man, for I have been with no +man, ever. This is a child of the legends, a son of a God in the skies, +our God, Mazda. He is a miracle, as hard for me to believe as for you, +but it is true." + +Too-che could not stand the unbelieving eyes of Chojon, who thought that +Too-che lied, and looked down at the sleeping babe in her arms, saying +with a pitiful voice ... + +"Please, little stranger who talks like a wise man, wake and tell my +Chojon that you are not the son of a man, but the son of one whom no +maid could resist or run away from, ever. Tell him, little one!" + +And Mazda heard Too-che imploring speech of her child and made it to +speak with his own voice. + +"Chojon, what my mother says is true. I am the child of the All-light, +endowed with powers beyond ordinary men to accomplish my Lord's +mysterious purposes here on earth. Do not hold my mother the less for my +birth." + +Chojon sank slowly to his knees, realization stealing over him as he +heard the adult words issue from the suckling babe's mouth. The unshed +tears began to pour from his eyes in relief, for he knew now that +Too-che might not love him yet as she would when she learned love, but +at least she had given herself to no other mortal man. And the miracle +of the Child of a God there before him lighted up his face as his inward +soul, so that he took up his lute and lifted his rich, deep voice in a +joyous song--the Song of Zarathustra. For the legend of their people had +the name of the babe-to-come as Zarathustra, and Chojon knew that its +name was thus, now. + + * * * * * + +Too-che dwelt for some time in the house of Chojon, and the songs of +Chojon were circulated among all the singers of the city, so that +everyone knew he sheltered the Child of the God, Mazda, in his home. + +The songs of Chojon came at last to the King's ears, and as one of the +songs proclaimed Zarathustra as stronger in one finger than all the +power of So-qi, he let out a great oath and set his soldiers to find +Too-che and the babe. But Chojon heard of the search. He took Too-che +and her babe out of the gates in the night and went off into the forest +and joined a band of Listians, who are raisers of goats, and a fine, +strong people. + +Now when the search failed to find the babe, So-qi proclaimed that every +male child of the City Oas would be slain if the child was not found. +And within a week So-qi was sorry, because his own wife gave birth to a +little son whose life was already forfeited by royal decree unless +Too-che and her child were found. And they were not to be found in all +Par'si'ya. + +Asha, the old philosopher, who had been in hiding all this time, now +came out of his hole and went to the King to give him counsel. + +As Asha progressed through the city, mothers with male children in their +arms on all sides were making their way through the streets to the gates +to flee the city. For no decree of a King of Oas may be repealed, but is +law forevermore. + +The King sat upon his throne of skulls, gnawing his nails off his +fingers, for he had either to slay his own son or say that a law once +made by a king could be un-made. + +If he allowed the law to be thus abused even by himself, such was the +nature of his people they would have no respect for him, and might even +kill him for a fool who could not enforce his own decrees when they hurt +him a little. + +So it was that when Asha presented himself before the King, So-qi asked: + +"What shall I do, O Asha? My son has smiled in my face!" + +Asha was prepared for this, and answered: + +"Thou shalt send me and thy son and thy daughter's son and every male +infant to the slaughter pens, and have us all beheaded and cast into +the fire! Otherwise it will come true as the infant Zarathustra +prophesied: his hand will smite Oas city, and it will fall as a heap of +straw." + +So the king appointed a day for the slaughter, and ninety thousand male +infants were adjudged to death. + +Chojon, from the safety of the forest, made a scornful song about the +tyrant of Oas who went to war against babes, and it was sung everywhere +in the city, and the king could do nothing about it, for it was cleverly +worded, seeming to approve, though in satire only. + + * * * * * + +When the day for the slaughter arrived, there were but a thousand +appeared with their babes out of the ninety thousand adjudged to +death--all the rest having fled to the forest as had Chojon. + +The King saw an excuse in this to get out of killing his own son, and +stood pondering how to escape his own decree. His wife, Betraj, came +before him, holding out her son, saying: + +"Here, oh King, take thou thy flesh and blood and prove the inexorable +justice of the King's decrees." + +But the King said: + +"Let the officers go and collect all the others who have fled beyond the +walls, and until all are gathered here before me, no matter how long it +takes, let the decree be suspended." + +Now the God, Mazda, moved the soldiers' minds to see that their King had +not the backbone to enforce his own decree when it hurt himself and +they, one and all, took up stones and stoned the King to death. + +Asha, standing stripped for the slaughter, was made King by the clamor +of the men who stoned So-qi to death. + +A great voice came out of the sky and announced to the people that God +had given them a new and righteous ruler. Asha bowed his head and +accepted the task put upon him. The people gave thanks to Mazda, the +God, and Asha proclaimed him to all the city. + +Off in the forest, Too-che lifted her eyes to those of Chojon and +thanked him for saving her son. And Chojon touched her with his +fingertips, and kissed her on her lips, and the child crowed lustily to +see their love. + +These two walked through the Forest of the Goats, Too-che bringing +beauty like a spring breeze with her, and Chojon singing and touching +his harp with magic fingers, so that joy and love walked before them, +announcing them to the Listians--the people of the forest. + +When Zarathustra, the infant child the woman bore in her arms, lifted up +his piping voice and spoke to these rude wild people, their worship +sprang into life--for surely these were Gods come to them. And thus, all +the people gave up the worship of murder and became Zarathustrians. + + +THE END + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from _Amazing Stories_ April 1949. 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 Sun King, by Gaston Derreaux + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE SUN KING *** + +***** This file should be named 24973.txt or 24973.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/9/7/24973/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +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://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.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. 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://pglaf.org + +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://pglaf.org + +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 including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For 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. diff --git a/24973.zip b/24973.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7126e9f --- /dev/null +++ b/24973.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6f051cd --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #24973 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24973) |
