diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 29132-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 202707 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 29132-h/29132-h.htm | 1407 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 29132-h/images/001.png | bin | 0 -> 54876 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 29132-h/images/002-1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 18332 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 29132-h/images/002-2.jpg | bin | 0 -> 109076 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 29132.txt | 1106 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 29132.zip | bin | 0 -> 18694 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
10 files changed, 2529 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/29132-h.zip b/29132-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ada46e3 --- /dev/null +++ b/29132-h.zip diff --git a/29132-h/29132-h.htm b/29132-h/29132-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bbd78e7 --- /dev/null +++ b/29132-h/29132-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1407 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Gun, by Philip K. Dick + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + h1,h2 {clear: both; font-weight: normal;} + hr {width: 45%; margin: 1em auto; visibility: hidden;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .bk1,.bk2,h1,h2 {text-align: center;} + .figright {float: right; clear: right; width: 300px; margin: 1em 0 1em 1em; padding: 0;} + img {border: none;} + a:link,a:visited {text-decoration: none;} + p.cap:first-letter {float: left; margin-right: .05em; padding-top: .05em; font-size: 300%; line-height: .8em; width: auto;} + .dcap {text-transform: uppercase;} + .figt {float: left; clear: left; margin: 15px; padding: 0; width: 140px;} + .trn {border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15%; min-height: 230px;} + .trn p {margin: 15px;} + .bk1 {margin: 2em auto; width: 30em;} + .bk2 {margin: 1.5em auto;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Gun, by Philip K. Dick + +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 Gun + +Author: Philip K. Dick + +Illustrator: Herman Vestal + +Release Date: June 15, 2009 [EBook #29132] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GUN *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1><big>THE GUN</big></h1> + +<h2>By PHILIP K. DICK</h2> + +<div class="bk1"><i><b><big>Nothing moved or stirred. Everything was silent, dead. Only the +gun showed signs of life ... and the trespassers had wrecked +that for all time. The return journey to pick up the treasure +would be a cinch ... they smiled.</big></b></i></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> Captain peered into the eyepiece of +the telescope. He adjusted the focus +quickly.</p> + +<p>"It was an atomic fission we saw, all +right," he said presently. He sighed and +pushed the eyepiece away. "Any of you +who wants to look may do so. But it's not a +pretty sight."</p> + +<p>"Let me look," Tance the archeologist +said. He bent down to look, squinting. +"Good Lord!" He leaped violently back, +knocking against Dorle, the Chief Navigator.</p> + +<p>"Why did we come all this way, then?" +Dorle asked, looking around at the other +men. "There's no point even in landing. +Let's go back at once."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he's right," the biologist murmured. +"But I'd like to look for myself, if I +may." He pushed past Tance and peered +into the sight.</p> + +<p>He saw a vast expanse, an endless surface +of gray, stretching to the edge of the planet. +At first he thought it was water but after a +moment he realized that it was slag, pitted, +fused slag, broken only by hills of rock jutting +up at intervals. Nothing moved or +stirred. Everything was silent, dead.</p> + +<p>"I see," Fomar said, backing away from +the eyepiece. "Well, I won't find any legumes +there." He tried to smile, but his lips +stayed unmoved. He stepped away and stood +by himself, staring past the others.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what the atmospheric sample +will show," Tance said.</p> + +<p>"I think I can guess," the Captain answered. +"Most of the atmosphere is poisoned. +But didn't we expect all this? I don't +see why we're so surprised. A fission visible +as far away as our system must be a terrible +thing."</p> + +<p>He strode off down the corridor, dignified +and expressionless. They watched him disappear +into the control room.</p> + +<p>As the Captain closed the door the young +woman turned. "What did the telescope +show? Good or bad?"</p> + +<p>"Bad. No life could possibly exist. Atmosphere +poisoned, water vaporized, all the +land fused."</p> + +<p>"Could they have gone underground?"</p> + +<p>The Captain slid back the port window so +that the surface of the planet under them +was visible. The two of them stared down, +silent and disturbed. Mile after mile of unbroken +ruin stretched out, blackened slag, +pitted and scarred, and occasional heaps of +rock.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Nasha jumped. "Look! Over +there, at the edge. Do you see it?"</p> + +<p>They stared. Something rose up, not +rock, not an accidental formation. It was +round, a circle of dots, white pellets on the +dead skin of the planet. A city? Buildings +of some kind?</p> + +<p>"Please turn the ship," Nasha said excitedly. +She pushed her dark hair from her +face. "Turn the ship and let's see what it +is!"</p> + +<p>The ship turned, changing its course. As +they came over the white dots the Captain +lowered the ship, dropping it down as much +as he dared. "Piers," he said. "Piers of some +sort of stone. Perhaps poured artificial stone. +The remains of a city."</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear," Nasha murmured. "How awful." +She watched the ruins disappear behind +them. In a half-circle the white squares +jutted from the slag, chipped and cracked, +like broken teeth.</p> + +<div class="figright"><img src="images/001.png" width="300" height="500" alt="" title="" /></div> + +<p>"There's nothing alive," the Captain said +at last. "I think we'll go right back; I know +most of the crew want to. Get the Government +Receiving Station on the sender and +tell them what we found, and that we—"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">He staggered</span>.</p> + +<p>The first atomic shell had struck +the ship, spinning it around. The Captain +fell to the floor, crashing into the control +table. Papers and instruments rained down +on him. As he started to his feet the second +shell struck. The ceiling cracked open, struts +and girders twisted and bent. The ship shuddered, +falling suddenly down, then righting +itself as automatic controls took over.</p> + +<p>The Captain lay on the floor by the +smashed control board. In the corner Nasha +struggled to free herself from the debris.</p> + +<p>Outside the men were already sealing the +gaping leaks in the side of the ship, through +which the precious air was rushing, dissipating +into the void beyond. "Help me!" +Dorle was shouting. "Fire over here, wiring +ignited." Two men came running. Tance +watched helplessly, his eyeglasses broken +and bent.</p> + +<p>"So there is life here, after all," he said, +half to himself. "But how could—"</p> + +<p>"Give us a hand," Fomar said, hurrying +past. "Give us a hand, we've got to land the +ship!"</p> + +<p>It was night. A few stars glinted above +them, winking through the drifting silt that +blew across the surface of the planet.</p> + +<p>Dorle peered out, frowning. "What a +place to be stuck in." He resumed his work, +hammering the bent metal hull of the ship +back into place. He was wearing a pressure +suit; there were still many small leaks, and +radioactive particles from the atmosphere +had already found their way into the ship.</p> + +<p>Nasha and Fomar were sitting at the +table in the control room, pale and solemn, +studying the inventory lists.</p> + +<p>"Low on carbohydrates," Fomar said. +"We can break down the stored fats if we +want to, but—"</p> + +<p>"I wonder if we could find anything outside." +Nasha went to the window. "How +uninviting it looks." She paced back and +forth, very slender and small, her face dark +with fatigue. "What do you suppose an exploring +party would find?"</p> + +<p>Fomar shrugged. "Not much. Maybe a +few weeds growing in cracks here and there. +Nothing we could use. Anything that would +adapt to this environment would be toxic, +lethal."</p> + +<p>Nasha paused, rubbing her cheek. There +was a deep scratch there, still red and swollen. +"Then how do you explain—<i>it</i>? According +to your theory the inhabitants must have +died in their skins, fried like yams. But who +fired on us? Somebody detected us, made a +decision, aimed a gun."</p> + +<p>"And gauged distance," the Captain said +feebly from the cot in the corner. He turned +toward them. "That's the part that worries +me. The first shell put us out of commission, +the second almost destroyed us. They were +well aimed, perfectly aimed. We're not +such an easy target."</p> + +<p>"True." Fomar nodded. "Well, perhaps +we'll know the answer before we leave here. +What a strange situation! All our reasoning +tells us that no life could exist; the whole +planet burned dry, the atmosphere itself +gone, completely poisoned."</p> + +<p>"The gun that fired the projectiles survived," +Nasha said. "Why not people?"</p> + +<p>"It's not the same. Metal doesn't need air +to breathe. Metal doesn't get leukemia from +radioactive particles. Metal doesn't need +food and water."</p> + +<p>There was silence.</p> + +<p>"A paradox," Nasha said. "Anyhow, in +the morning I think we should send out a +search party. And meanwhile we should +keep on trying to get the ship in condition +for the trip back."</p> + +<p>"It'll be days before we can take off," +Fomar said. "We should keep every man +working here. We can't afford to send out a +party."</p> + +<p>Nasha smiled a little. "We'll send you +in the first party. Maybe you can discover—what +was it you were so interested in?"</p> + +<p>"Legumes. Edible legumes."</p> + +<p>"Maybe you can find some of them. +Only—"</p> + +<p>"Only what?"</p> + +<p>"Only watch out. They fired on us once +without even knowing who we were or what +we came for. Do you suppose that they +fought with each other? Perhaps they +couldn't imagine anyone being friendly, +under any circumstances. What a strange +evolutionary trait, inter-species warfare. +Fighting within the race!"</p> + +<p>"We'll know in the morning," Fomar +said. "Let's get some sleep."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> sun came up chill and austere. The +three people, two men and a woman, +stepped through the port, dropping down +on the hard ground below.</p> + +<p>"What a day," Dorle said grumpily. "I +said how glad I'd be to walk on firm ground +again, but—"</p> + +<p>"Come on," Nasha said. "Up beside me. +I want to say something to you. Will you excuse +us, Tance?"</p> + +<p>Tance nodded gloomily. Dorle caught up +with Nasha. They walked together, their +metal shoes crunching the ground underfoot. +Nasha glanced at him.</p> + +<p>"Listen. The Captain is dying. No one +knows except the two of us. By the end of +the day-period of this planet he'll be dead. +The shock did something to his heart. He +was almost sixty, you know."</p> + +<p>Dorle nodded. "That's bad. I have a great +deal of respect for him. You will be captain +in his place, of course. Since you're vice-captain +now—"</p> + +<p>"No. I prefer to see someone else lead, +perhaps you or Fomar. I've been thinking +over the situation and it seems to me that I +should declare myself mated to one of you, +whichever of you wants to be captain. Then +I could devolve the responsibility."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't want to be captain. Let +Fomar do it."</p> + +<p>Nasha studied him, tall and blond, striding +along beside her in his pressure suit. +"I'm rather partial to you," she said. "We +might try it for a time, at least. But do as +you like. Look, we're coming to something."</p> + +<p>They stopped walking, letting Tance +catch up. In front of them was some sort of +a ruined building. Dorle stared around +thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"Do you see? This whole place is a natural +bowl, a huge valley. See how the rock +formations rise up on all sides, protecting +the floor. Maybe some of the great blast +was deflected here."</p> + +<p>They wandered around the ruins, picking +up rocks and fragments. "I think this was +a farm," Tance said, examining a piece of +wood. "This was part of a tower windmill."</p> + +<p>"Really?" Nasha took the stick and +turned it over. "Interesting. But let's go; we +don't have much time."</p> + +<p>"Look," Dorle said suddenly. "Off there, +a long way off. Isn't that something?" He +pointed.</p> + +<p>Nasha sucked in her breath. "The white +stones."</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>Nasha looked up at Dorle. "The white +stones, the great broken teeth. We saw them, +the Captain and I, from the control room." +She touched Dorle's arm gently. "That's +where they fired from. I didn't think we had +landed so close."</p> + +<p>"What is it?" Tance said, coming up to +them. "I'm almost blind without my glasses. +What do you see?"</p> + +<p>"The city. Where they fired from."</p> + +<p>"Oh." All three of them stood together. +"Well, let's go," Tance said. "There's no +telling what we'll find there." Dorle +frowned at him.</p> + +<p>"Wait. We don't know what we would be +getting into. They must have patrols. They +probably have seen us already, for that matter."</p> + +<p>"They probably have seen the ship itself," +Tance said. "They probably know right now +where they can find it, where they can blow +it up. So what difference does it make +whether we go closer or not?"</p> + +<p>"That's true," Nasha said. "If they really +want to get us we haven't a chance. We +have no armaments at all; you know that."</p> + +<p>"I have a hand weapon." Dorle nodded. +"Well, let's go on, then. I suppose you're +right, Tance."</p> + +<p>"But let's stay together," Tance said nervously. +"Nasha, you're going too fast."</p> + +<p>Nasha looked back. She laughed. "If we +expect to get there by nightfall we must go +fast."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">They</span> reached the outskirts of the city at +about the middle of the afternoon. The +sun, cold and yellow, hung above them in +the colorless sky. Dorle stopped at the top +of a ridge overlooking the city.</p> + +<p>"Well, there it is. What's left of it."</p> + +<p>There was not much left. The huge concrete +piers which they had noticed were not +piers at all, but the ruined foundations of +buildings. They had been baked by the +searing heat, baked and charred almost to +the ground. Nothing else remained, only +this irregular circle of white squares, perhaps +four miles in diameter.</p> + +<p>Dorle spat in disgust. "More wasted time. +A dead skeleton of a city, that's all."</p> + +<p>"But it was from here that the firing +came," Tance murmured. "Don't forget +that."</p> + +<p>"And by someone with a good eye and a +great deal of experience," Nasha added. +"Let's go."</p> + +<p>They walked into the city between the +ruined buildings. No one spoke. They +walked in silence, listening to the echo of +their footsteps.</p> + +<p>"It's macabre," Dorle muttered. "I've +seen ruined cities before but they died of +old age, old age and fatigue. This was +killed, seared to death. This city didn't die—it +was murdered."</p> + +<p>"I wonder what the city was called," +Nasha said. She turned aside, going up the +remains of a stairway from one of the foundations. +"Do you think we might find a +signpost? Some kind of plaque?"</p> + +<p>She peered into the ruins.</p> + +<p>"There's nothing there," Dorle said impatiently. +"Come on."</p> + +<p>"Wait." Nasha bent down, touching a +concrete stone. "There's something inscribed +on this."</p> + +<p>"What is it?" Tance hurried up. He +squatted in the dust, running his gloved +fingers over the surface of the stone. "Letters, +all right." He took a writing stick from +the pocket of his pressure suit and copied +the inscription on a bit of paper. Dorle +glanced over his shoulder. The inscription +was:</p> + +<div class="bk2">FRANKLIN APARTMENTS</div> + +<p>"That's this city," Nasha said softly. +"That was its name."</p> + +<p>Tance put the paper in his pocket and +they went on. After a time Dorle said, +"Nasha, you know, I think we're being +watched. But don't look around."</p> + +<p>The woman stiffened. "Oh? Why do you +say that? Did you see something?"</p> + +<p>"No. I can feel it, though. Don't you?"</p> + +<p>Nasha smiled a little. "I feel nothing, but +perhaps I'm more used to being stared at." +She turned her head slightly. "Oh!"</p> + +<p>Dorle reached for his hand weapon. +"What is it? What do you see?" Tance had +stopped dead in his tracks, his mouth half +open.</p> + +<p>"The gun," Nasha said. "It's the gun."</p> + +<p>"Look at the size of it. The size of the +thing." Dorle unfastened his hand weapon +slowly. "That's it, all right."</p> + +<p>The gun was huge. Stark and immense it +pointed up at the sky, a mass of steel and +glass, set in a huge slab of concrete. Even as +they watched the gun moved on its swivel +base, whirring underneath. A slim vane +turned with the wind, a network of rods +atop a high pole.</p> + +<p>"It's alive," Nasha whispered. "It's listening +to us, watching us."</p> + +<p>The gun moved again, this time clockwise. +It was mounted so that it could make +a full circle. The barrel lowered a trifle, +then resumed its original position.</p> + +<p>"But who fires it?" Tance said.</p> + +<p>Dorle laughed. "No one. No one fires it."</p> + +<p>They stared at him. "What do you +mean?"</p> + +<p>"It fires itself."</p> + +<p>They couldn't believe him. Nasha came +close to him, frowning, looking up at him. +"I don't understand. What do you mean, +it fires itself?"</p> + +<p>"Watch, I'll show you. Don't move." +Dorle picked up a rock from the ground. +He hesitated a moment and then tossed the +rock high in the air. The rock passed in +front of the gun. Instantly the great barrel +moved, the vanes contracted.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The</span> rock fell to the ground. The gun +paused, then resumed its calm swivel, its +slow circling.</p> + +<p>"You see," Dorle said, "it noticed the +rock, as soon as I threw it up in the air. It's +alert to anything that flies or moves above +the ground level. Probably it detected us as +soon as we entered the gravitational field of +the planet. It probably had a bead on us +from the start. We don't have a chance. It +knows all about the ship. It's just waiting +for us to take off again."</p> + +<p>"I understand about the rock," Nasha +said, nodding. "The gun noticed it, but not +us, since we're on the ground, not above. +It's only designed to combat objects in the +sky. The ship is safe until it takes off again, +then the end will come."</p> + +<p>"But what's this gun for?" Tance put in. +"There's no one alive here. Everyone is +dead."</p> + +<p>"It's a machine," Dorle said. "A machine +that was made to do a job. And it's doing +the job. How it survived the blast I don't +know. On it goes, waiting for the enemy. +Probably they came by air in some sort of +projectiles."</p> + +<p>"The enemy," Nasha said. "Their own +race. It is hard to believe that they really +bombed themselves, fired at themselves."</p> + +<p>"Well, it's over with. Except right here, +where we're standing. This one gun, still +alert, ready to kill. It'll go on until it wears +out."</p> + +<p>"And by that time we'll be dead," Nasha +said bitterly.</p> + +<p>"There must have been hundreds of +guns like this," Dorle murmured. "They +must have been used to the sight, guns, +weapons, uniforms. Probably they accepted +it as a natural thing, part of their lives, like +eating and sleeping. An institution, like the +church and the state. Men trained to fight, +to lead armies, a regular profession. Honored, +respected."</p> + +<p>Tance was walking slowly toward the +gun, peering nearsightedly up at it. "Quite +complex, isn't it? All those vanes and tubes. +I suppose this is some sort of a telescopic +sight." His gloved hand touched the end of +a long tube.</p> + +<p>Instantly the gun shifted, the barrel retracting. +It swung—</p> + +<p>"Don't move!" Dorle cried. The barrel +swung past them as they stood, rigid and +still. For one terrible moment it hesitated +over their heads, clicking and whirring, settling +into position. Then the sounds died out +and the gun became silent.</p> + +<p>Tance smiled foolishly inside his helmet. +"I must have put my finger over the lens. +I'll be more careful." He made his way up +onto the circular slab, stepping gingerly behind +the body of the gun. He disappeared +from view.</p> + +<p>"Where did he go?" Nasha said irritably. +"He'll get us all killed."</p> + +<p>"Tance, come back!" Dorle shouted. +"What's the matter with you?"</p> + +<p>"In a minute." There was a long silence. +At last the archeologist appeared. "I think +I've found something. Come up and I'll +show you."</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"Dorle, you said the gun was here to +keep the enemy off. I think I know why +they wanted to keep the enemy off."</p> + +<p>They were puzzled.</p> + +<p>"I think I've found what the gun is supposed +to guard. Come and give me a hand."</p> + +<p>"All right," Dorle said abruptly. "Let's +go." He seized Nasha's hand. "Come on. +Let's see what he's found. I thought something +like this might happen when I saw +that the gun was—"</p> + +<p>"Like what?" Nasha pulled her hand +away. "What are you talking about? You +act as if you knew what he's found."</p> + +<p>"I do." Dorle smiled down at her. "Do +you remember the legend that all races have, +the myth of the buried treasure, and the +dragon, the serpent that watches it, guards +it, keeping everyone away?"</p> + +<p>She nodded. "Well?"</p> + +<p>Dorle pointed up at the gun.</p> + +<p>"That," he said, "is the dragon. Come +on."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Between</span> the three of them they managed +to pull up the steel cover and lay +it to one side. Dorle was wet with perspiration +when they finished.</p> + +<p>"It isn't worth it," he grunted. He stared +into the dark yawning hole. "Or is it?"</p> + +<p>Nasha clicked on her hand lamp, shining +the beam down the stairs. The steps +were thick with dust and rubble. At the bottom +was a steel door.</p> + +<p>"Come on," Tance said excitedly. He +started down the stairs. They watched him +reach the door and pull hopefully on it +without success. "Give a hand!"</p> + +<p>"All right." They came gingerly after +him. Dorle examined the door. It was bolted +shut, locked. There was an inscription on the +door but he could not read it.</p> + +<p>"Now what?" Nasha said.</p> + +<p>Dorle took out his hand weapon. "Stand +back. I can't think of any other way." He +pressed the switch. The bottom of the door +glowed red. Presently it began to crumble. +Dorle clicked the weapon off. "I think we +can get through. Let's try."</p> + +<p>The door came apart easily. In a few minutes +they had carried it away in pieces and +stacked the pieces on the first step. Then +they went on, flashing the light ahead of +them.</p> + +<p>They were in a vault. Dust lay everywhere, +on everything, inches thick. Wood +crates lined the walls, huge boxes and crates, +packages and containers. Tance looked +around curiously, his eyes bright.</p> + +<p>"What exactly are all these?" he murmured. +"Something valuable, I would +think." He picked up a round drum and +opened it. A spool fell to the floor, unwinding +a black ribbon. He examined it, holding +it up to the light.</p> + +<p>"Look at this!"</p> + +<p>They came around him. "Pictures," +Nasha said. "Tiny pictures."</p> + +<p>"Records of some kind." Tance closed the +spool up in the drum again. "Look, hundreds +of drums." He flashed the light +around. "And those crates. Let's open one."</p> + +<p>Dorle was already prying at the wood. +The wood had turned brittle and dry. He +managed to pull a section away.</p> + +<p>It was a picture. A boy in a blue garment, +smiling pleasantly, staring ahead, young and +handsome. He seemed almost alive, ready to +move toward them in the light of the hand +lamp. It was one of them, one of the ruined +race, the race that had perished.</p> + +<p>For a long time they stared at the picture. +At last Dorle replaced the board.</p> + +<p>"All these other crates," Nasha said. +"More pictures. And these drums. What +are in the boxes?"</p> + +<p>"This is their treasure," Tance said, almost +to himself. "Here are their pictures, +their records. Probably all their literature is +here, their stories, their myths, their ideas +about the universe."</p> + +<p>"And their history," Nasha said. "We'll +be able to trace their development and find +out what it was that made them become +what they were."</p> + +<p>Dorle was wandering around the vault. +"Odd," he murmured. "Even at the end, +even after they had begun to fight they still +knew, someplace down inside them, that +their real treasure was this, their books and +pictures, their myths. Even after their big +cities and buildings and industries were destroyed +they probably hoped to come back +and find this. After everything else was +gone."</p> + +<p>"When we get back home we can agitate +for a mission to come here," Tance said. +"All this can be loaded up and taken back. +We'll be leaving about—"</p> + +<p>He stopped.</p> + +<p>"Yes," Dorle said dryly. "We'll be leaving +about three day-periods from now. +We'll fix the ship, then take off. Soon we'll +be home, that is, if nothing happens. Like +being shot down by that—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, stop it!" Nasha said impatiently. +"Leave him alone. He's right: all this must +be taken back home, sooner or later. We'll +have to solve the problem of the gun. We +have no choice."</p> + +<p>Dorle nodded. "What's your solution, +then? As soon as we leave the ground we'll +be shot down." His face twisted bitterly. +"They've guarded their treasure too well. +Instead of being preserved it will lie here +until it rots. It serves them right."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you see? This was the only way +they knew, building a gun and setting it up +to shoot anything that came along. They +were so certain that everything was hostile, +the enemy, coming to take their possessions +away from them. Well, they can keep +them."</p> + +<p>Nasha was deep in thought, her mind +far away. Suddenly she gasped. "Dorle," +she said. "What's the matter with us? We +have no problem. The gun is no menace at +all."</p> + +<p>The two men stared at her.</p> + +<p>"No menace?" Dorle said. "It's already +shot us down once. And as soon as we take +off again—"</p> + +<p>"Don't you see?" Nasha began to laugh. +"The poor foolish gun, it's completely harmless. +Even I could deal with it alone."</p> + +<p>"You?"</p> + +<p>Her eyes were flashing. "With a crowbar. +With a hammer or a stick of wood. Let's go +back to the ship and load up. Of course +we're at its mercy in the air: that's the way it +was made. It can fire into the sky, shoot +down anything that flies. But that's all! +Against something on the ground it has no +defenses. Isn't that right?"</p> + +<p>Dorle nodded slowly. "The soft underbelly +of the dragon. In the legend, the +dragon's armor doesn't cover its stomach." +He began to laugh. "That's right. That's +perfectly right."</p> + +<p>"Let's go, then," Nasha said. "Let's get +back to the ship. We have work to do here."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">It was</span> early the next morning when +they reached the ship. During the night +the Captain had died, and the crew had +ignited his body, according to custom. They +had stood solemnly around it until the last +ember died. As they were going back to +their work the woman and the two men appeared, +dirty and tired, still excited.</p> + +<p>And presently, from the ship, a line of +people came, each carrying something in his +hands. The line marched across the gray +slag, the eternal expanse of fused metal. +When they reached the weapon they all fell +on the gun at once, with crowbars, hammers, +anything that was heavy and hard.</p> + +<p>The telescopic sights shattered into bits. +The wiring was pulled out, torn to shreds. +The delicate gears were smashed, dented.</p> + +<p>Finally the warheads themselves were +carried off and the firing pins removed.</p> + +<p>The gun was smashed, the great weapon +destroyed. The people went down into the +vault and examined the treasure. With its +metal-armored guardian dead there was no +danger any longer. They studied the pictures, +the films, the crates of books, the +jeweled crowns, the cups, the statues.</p> + +<p>At last, as the sun was dipping into the +gray mists that drifted across the planet they +came back up the stairs again. For a moment +they stood around the wrecked gun looking +at the unmoving outline of it.</p> + +<p>Then they started back to the ship. There +was still much work to be done. The ship +had been badly hurt, much had been damaged +and lost. The important thing was to +repair it as quickly as possible, to get it into +the air.</p> + +<p>With all of them working together it took +just five more days to make it spaceworthy.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Nasha</span> stood in the control room, +watching the planet fall away behind +them. She folded her arms, sitting down on +the edge of the table.</p> + +<p>"What are you thinking?" Dorle said.</p> + +<p>"I? Nothing."</p> + +<p>"Are you sure?"</p> + +<p>"I was thinking that there must have been +a time when this planet was quite different, +when there was life on it."</p> + +<p>"I suppose there was. It's unfortunate +that no ships from our system came this far, +but then we had no reason to suspect intelligent +life until we saw the fission glow in +the sky."</p> + +<p>"And then it was too late."</p> + +<p>"Not quite too late. After all, their possessions, +their music, books, their pictures, +all of that will survive. We'll take them +home and study them, and they'll change us. +We won't be the same afterwards. Their +sculpturing, especially. Did you see the one +of the great winged creature, without a head +or arms? Broken off, I suppose. But those +wings— It looked very old. It will change +us a great deal."</p> + +<p>"When we come back we won't find the +gun waiting for us," Nasha said. "Next +time it won't be there to shoot us down. We +can land and take the treasure, as you call +it." She smiled up at Dorle. "You'll lead us +back there, as a good captain should."</p> + +<p>"Captain?" Dorle grinned. "Then you've +decided."</p> + +<p>Nasha shrugged. "Fomar argues with me +too much. I think, all in all, I really prefer +you."</p> + +<p>"Then let's go," Dorle said. "Let's go +back home."</p> + +<p>The ship roared up, flying over the ruins +of the city. It turned in a huge arc and then +shot off beyond the horizon, heading into +outer space.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Down</span> below, in the center of the ruined +city, a single half-broken detector vane +moved slightly, catching the roar of the ship. +The base of the great gun throbbed painfully, +straining to turn. After a moment a +red warning light flashed on down inside +its destroyed works.</p> + +<p>And a long way off, a hundred miles +from the city, another warning light flashed +on, far underground. Automatic relays flew +into action. Gears turned, belts whined. On +the ground above a section of metal slag +slipped back. A ramp appeared.</p> + +<p>A moment later a small cart rushed to the +surface.</p> + +<p>The cart turned toward the city. A second +cart appeared behind it. It was loaded with +wiring cables. Behind it a third cart came, +loaded with telescopic tube sights. And behind +came more carts, some with relays, +some with firing controls, some with tools +and parts, screws and bolts, pins and nuts. +The final one contained atomic warheads.</p> + +<p>The carts lined up behind the first one, +the lead cart. The lead cart started off, across +the frozen ground, bumping calmly along, +followed by the others. Moving toward the +city.</p> + +<p>To the damaged gun.</p> + +<div class="trn"><div class="figt"><a href="images/002-2.jpg"><img src="images/002-1.jpg" width="140" height="200" alt="" title="" /></a></div> + +<p><b><big>Transcriber's Note:</big></b></p> + +<p>This etext was produced from <i>Planet Stories</i> September 1952. +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.</p></div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Gun, by Philip K. Dick + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GUN *** + +***** This file should be named 29132-h.htm or 29132-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/1/3/29132/ + +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 are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation 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/29132-h/images/001.png b/29132-h/images/001.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7f9da2a --- /dev/null +++ b/29132-h/images/001.png diff --git a/29132-h/images/002-1.jpg b/29132-h/images/002-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..11c8654 --- /dev/null +++ b/29132-h/images/002-1.jpg diff --git a/29132-h/images/002-2.jpg b/29132-h/images/002-2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..80f6fe8 --- /dev/null +++ b/29132-h/images/002-2.jpg diff --git a/29132.txt b/29132.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c6275fc --- /dev/null +++ b/29132.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1106 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Gun, by Philip K. Dick + +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 Gun + +Author: Philip K. Dick + +Illustrator: Herman Vestal + +Release Date: June 15, 2009 [EBook #29132] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GUN *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + +THE GUN + +By PHILIP K. DICK + + + _Nothing moved or stirred. Everything was silent, dead. Only the gun + showed signs of life ... and the trespassers had wrecked that for + all time. The return journey to pick up the treasure would be a + cinch ... they smiled._ + + +The Captain peered into the eyepiece of the telescope. He adjusted the +focus quickly. + +"It was an atomic fission we saw, all right," he said presently. He +sighed and pushed the eyepiece away. "Any of you who wants to look may +do so. But it's not a pretty sight." + +"Let me look," Tance the archeologist said. He bent down to look, +squinting. "Good Lord!" He leaped violently back, knocking against +Dorle, the Chief Navigator. + +"Why did we come all this way, then?" Dorle asked, looking around at the +other men. "There's no point even in landing. Let's go back at once." + +"Perhaps he's right," the biologist murmured. "But I'd like to look for +myself, if I may." He pushed past Tance and peered into the sight. + +He saw a vast expanse, an endless surface of gray, stretching to the +edge of the planet. At first he thought it was water but after a moment +he realized that it was slag, pitted, fused slag, broken only by hills +of rock jutting up at intervals. Nothing moved or stirred. Everything +was silent, dead. + +"I see," Fomar said, backing away from the eyepiece. "Well, I won't find +any legumes there." He tried to smile, but his lips stayed unmoved. He +stepped away and stood by himself, staring past the others. + +"I wonder what the atmospheric sample will show," Tance said. + +"I think I can guess," the Captain answered. "Most of the atmosphere is +poisoned. But didn't we expect all this? I don't see why we're so +surprised. A fission visible as far away as our system must be a +terrible thing." + +He strode off down the corridor, dignified and expressionless. They +watched him disappear into the control room. + +As the Captain closed the door the young woman turned. "What did the +telescope show? Good or bad?" + +"Bad. No life could possibly exist. Atmosphere poisoned, water +vaporized, all the land fused." + +"Could they have gone underground?" + +The Captain slid back the port window so that the surface of the planet +under them was visible. The two of them stared down, silent and +disturbed. Mile after mile of unbroken ruin stretched out, blackened +slag, pitted and scarred, and occasional heaps of rock. + +Suddenly Nasha jumped. "Look! Over there, at the edge. Do you see it?" + +They stared. Something rose up, not rock, not an accidental formation. +It was round, a circle of dots, white pellets on the dead skin of the +planet. A city? Buildings of some kind? + +"Please turn the ship," Nasha said excitedly. She pushed her dark hair +from her face. "Turn the ship and let's see what it is!" + +The ship turned, changing its course. As they came over the white dots +the Captain lowered the ship, dropping it down as much as he dared. +"Piers," he said. "Piers of some sort of stone. Perhaps poured +artificial stone. The remains of a city." + +"Oh, dear," Nasha murmured. "How awful." She watched the ruins disappear +behind them. In a half-circle the white squares jutted from the slag, +chipped and cracked, like broken teeth. + +"There's nothing alive," the Captain said at last. "I think we'll go +right back; I know most of the crew want to. Get the Government +Receiving Station on the sender and tell them what we found, and that +we--" + +[Illustration] + + * * * * * + +He staggered. + +The first atomic shell had struck the ship, spinning it around. The +Captain fell to the floor, crashing into the control table. Papers and +instruments rained down on him. As he started to his feet the second +shell struck. The ceiling cracked open, struts and girders twisted and +bent. The ship shuddered, falling suddenly down, then righting itself as +automatic controls took over. + +The Captain lay on the floor by the smashed control board. In the corner +Nasha struggled to free herself from the debris. + +Outside the men were already sealing the gaping leaks in the side of the +ship, through which the precious air was rushing, dissipating into the +void beyond. "Help me!" Dorle was shouting. "Fire over here, wiring +ignited." Two men came running. Tance watched helplessly, his eyeglasses +broken and bent. + +"So there is life here, after all," he said, half to himself. "But how +could--" + +"Give us a hand," Fomar said, hurrying past. "Give us a hand, we've got +to land the ship!" + +It was night. A few stars glinted above them, winking through the +drifting silt that blew across the surface of the planet. + +Dorle peered out, frowning. "What a place to be stuck in." He resumed +his work, hammering the bent metal hull of the ship back into place. He +was wearing a pressure suit; there were still many small leaks, and +radioactive particles from the atmosphere had already found their way +into the ship. + +Nasha and Fomar were sitting at the table in the control room, pale and +solemn, studying the inventory lists. + +"Low on carbohydrates," Fomar said. "We can break down the stored fats +if we want to, but--" + +"I wonder if we could find anything outside." Nasha went to the window. +"How uninviting it looks." She paced back and forth, very slender and +small, her face dark with fatigue. "What do you suppose an exploring +party would find?" + +Fomar shrugged. "Not much. Maybe a few weeds growing in cracks here and +there. Nothing we could use. Anything that would adapt to this +environment would be toxic, lethal." + +Nasha paused, rubbing her cheek. There was a deep scratch there, still +red and swollen. "Then how do you explain--_it_? According to your +theory the inhabitants must have died in their skins, fried like yams. +But who fired on us? Somebody detected us, made a decision, aimed a +gun." + +"And gauged distance," the Captain said feebly from the cot in the +corner. He turned toward them. "That's the part that worries me. The +first shell put us out of commission, the second almost destroyed us. +They were well aimed, perfectly aimed. We're not such an easy target." + +"True." Fomar nodded. "Well, perhaps we'll know the answer before we +leave here. What a strange situation! All our reasoning tells us that no +life could exist; the whole planet burned dry, the atmosphere itself +gone, completely poisoned." + +"The gun that fired the projectiles survived," Nasha said. "Why not +people?" + +"It's not the same. Metal doesn't need air to breathe. Metal doesn't get +leukemia from radioactive particles. Metal doesn't need food and water." + +There was silence. + +"A paradox," Nasha said. "Anyhow, in the morning I think we should send +out a search party. And meanwhile we should keep on trying to get the +ship in condition for the trip back." + +"It'll be days before we can take off," Fomar said. "We should keep +every man working here. We can't afford to send out a party." + +Nasha smiled a little. "We'll send you in the first party. Maybe you can +discover--what was it you were so interested in?" + +"Legumes. Edible legumes." + +"Maybe you can find some of them. Only--" + +"Only what?" + +"Only watch out. They fired on us once without even knowing who we were +or what we came for. Do you suppose that they fought with each other? +Perhaps they couldn't imagine anyone being friendly, under any +circumstances. What a strange evolutionary trait, inter-species warfare. +Fighting within the race!" + +"We'll know in the morning," Fomar said. "Let's get some sleep." + + * * * * * + +The sun came up chill and austere. The three people, two men and a +woman, stepped through the port, dropping down on the hard ground below. + +"What a day," Dorle said grumpily. "I said how glad I'd be to walk on +firm ground again, but--" + +"Come on," Nasha said. "Up beside me. I want to say something to you. +Will you excuse us, Tance?" + +Tance nodded gloomily. Dorle caught up with Nasha. They walked together, +their metal shoes crunching the ground underfoot. Nasha glanced at him. + +"Listen. The Captain is dying. No one knows except the two of us. By the +end of the day-period of this planet he'll be dead. The shock did +something to his heart. He was almost sixty, you know." + +Dorle nodded. "That's bad. I have a great deal of respect for him. You +will be captain in his place, of course. Since you're vice-captain +now--" + +"No. I prefer to see someone else lead, perhaps you or Fomar. I've been +thinking over the situation and it seems to me that I should declare +myself mated to one of you, whichever of you wants to be captain. Then I +could devolve the responsibility." + +"Well, I don't want to be captain. Let Fomar do it." + +Nasha studied him, tall and blond, striding along beside her in his +pressure suit. "I'm rather partial to you," she said. "We might try it +for a time, at least. But do as you like. Look, we're coming to +something." + +They stopped walking, letting Tance catch up. In front of them was some +sort of a ruined building. Dorle stared around thoughtfully. + +"Do you see? This whole place is a natural bowl, a huge valley. See how +the rock formations rise up on all sides, protecting the floor. Maybe +some of the great blast was deflected here." + +They wandered around the ruins, picking up rocks and fragments. "I think +this was a farm," Tance said, examining a piece of wood. "This was part +of a tower windmill." + +"Really?" Nasha took the stick and turned it over. "Interesting. But +let's go; we don't have much time." + +"Look," Dorle said suddenly. "Off there, a long way off. Isn't that +something?" He pointed. + +Nasha sucked in her breath. "The white stones." + +"What?" + +Nasha looked up at Dorle. "The white stones, the great broken teeth. We +saw them, the Captain and I, from the control room." She touched Dorle's +arm gently. "That's where they fired from. I didn't think we had landed +so close." + +"What is it?" Tance said, coming up to them. "I'm almost blind without +my glasses. What do you see?" + +"The city. Where they fired from." + +"Oh." All three of them stood together. "Well, let's go," Tance said. +"There's no telling what we'll find there." Dorle frowned at him. + +"Wait. We don't know what we would be getting into. They must have +patrols. They probably have seen us already, for that matter." + +"They probably have seen the ship itself," Tance said. "They probably +know right now where they can find it, where they can blow it up. So +what difference does it make whether we go closer or not?" + +"That's true," Nasha said. "If they really want to get us we haven't a +chance. We have no armaments at all; you know that." + +"I have a hand weapon." Dorle nodded. "Well, let's go on, then. I +suppose you're right, Tance." + +"But let's stay together," Tance said nervously. "Nasha, you're going +too fast." + +Nasha looked back. She laughed. "If we expect to get there by nightfall +we must go fast." + + * * * * * + +They reached the outskirts of the city at about the middle of the +afternoon. The sun, cold and yellow, hung above them in the colorless +sky. Dorle stopped at the top of a ridge overlooking the city. + +"Well, there it is. What's left of it." + +There was not much left. The huge concrete piers which they had noticed +were not piers at all, but the ruined foundations of buildings. They had +been baked by the searing heat, baked and charred almost to the ground. +Nothing else remained, only this irregular circle of white squares, +perhaps four miles in diameter. + +Dorle spat in disgust. "More wasted time. A dead skeleton of a city, +that's all." + +"But it was from here that the firing came," Tance murmured. "Don't +forget that." + +"And by someone with a good eye and a great deal of experience," Nasha +added. "Let's go." + +They walked into the city between the ruined buildings. No one spoke. +They walked in silence, listening to the echo of their footsteps. + +"It's macabre," Dorle muttered. "I've seen ruined cities before but they +died of old age, old age and fatigue. This was killed, seared to death. +This city didn't die--it was murdered." + +"I wonder what the city was called," Nasha said. She turned aside, going +up the remains of a stairway from one of the foundations. "Do you think +we might find a signpost? Some kind of plaque?" + +She peered into the ruins. + +"There's nothing there," Dorle said impatiently. "Come on." + +"Wait." Nasha bent down, touching a concrete stone. "There's something +inscribed on this." + +"What is it?" Tance hurried up. He squatted in the dust, running his +gloved fingers over the surface of the stone. "Letters, all right." He +took a writing stick from the pocket of his pressure suit and copied the +inscription on a bit of paper. Dorle glanced over his shoulder. The +inscription was: + + FRANKLIN APARTMENTS + +"That's this city," Nasha said softly. "That was its name." + +Tance put the paper in his pocket and they went on. After a time Dorle +said, "Nasha, you know, I think we're being watched. But don't look +around." + +The woman stiffened. "Oh? Why do you say that? Did you see something?" + +"No. I can feel it, though. Don't you?" + +Nasha smiled a little. "I feel nothing, but perhaps I'm more used to +being stared at." She turned her head slightly. "Oh!" + +Dorle reached for his hand weapon. "What is it? What do you see?" Tance +had stopped dead in his tracks, his mouth half open. + +"The gun," Nasha said. "It's the gun." + +"Look at the size of it. The size of the thing." Dorle unfastened his +hand weapon slowly. "That's it, all right." + +The gun was huge. Stark and immense it pointed up at the sky, a mass of +steel and glass, set in a huge slab of concrete. Even as they watched +the gun moved on its swivel base, whirring underneath. A slim vane +turned with the wind, a network of rods atop a high pole. + +"It's alive," Nasha whispered. "It's listening to us, watching us." + +The gun moved again, this time clockwise. It was mounted so that it +could make a full circle. The barrel lowered a trifle, then resumed its +original position. + +"But who fires it?" Tance said. + +Dorle laughed. "No one. No one fires it." + +They stared at him. "What do you mean?" + +"It fires itself." + +They couldn't believe him. Nasha came close to him, frowning, looking up +at him. "I don't understand. What do you mean, it fires itself?" + +"Watch, I'll show you. Don't move." Dorle picked up a rock from the +ground. He hesitated a moment and then tossed the rock high in the air. +The rock passed in front of the gun. Instantly the great barrel moved, +the vanes contracted. + + * * * * * + +The rock fell to the ground. The gun paused, then resumed its calm +swivel, its slow circling. + +"You see," Dorle said, "it noticed the rock, as soon as I threw it up in +the air. It's alert to anything that flies or moves above the ground +level. Probably it detected us as soon as we entered the gravitational +field of the planet. It probably had a bead on us from the start. We +don't have a chance. It knows all about the ship. It's just waiting for +us to take off again." + +"I understand about the rock," Nasha said, nodding. "The gun noticed it, +but not us, since we're on the ground, not above. It's only designed to +combat objects in the sky. The ship is safe until it takes off again, +then the end will come." + +"But what's this gun for?" Tance put in. "There's no one alive here. +Everyone is dead." + +"It's a machine," Dorle said. "A machine that was made to do a job. And +it's doing the job. How it survived the blast I don't know. On it goes, +waiting for the enemy. Probably they came by air in some sort of +projectiles." + +"The enemy," Nasha said. "Their own race. It is hard to believe that +they really bombed themselves, fired at themselves." + +"Well, it's over with. Except right here, where we're standing. This one +gun, still alert, ready to kill. It'll go on until it wears out." + +"And by that time we'll be dead," Nasha said bitterly. + +"There must have been hundreds of guns like this," Dorle murmured. "They +must have been used to the sight, guns, weapons, uniforms. Probably they +accepted it as a natural thing, part of their lives, like eating and +sleeping. An institution, like the church and the state. Men trained to +fight, to lead armies, a regular profession. Honored, respected." + +Tance was walking slowly toward the gun, peering nearsightedly up at it. +"Quite complex, isn't it? All those vanes and tubes. I suppose this is +some sort of a telescopic sight." His gloved hand touched the end of a +long tube. + +Instantly the gun shifted, the barrel retracting. It swung-- + +"Don't move!" Dorle cried. The barrel swung past them as they stood, +rigid and still. For one terrible moment it hesitated over their heads, +clicking and whirring, settling into position. Then the sounds died out +and the gun became silent. + +Tance smiled foolishly inside his helmet. "I must have put my finger +over the lens. I'll be more careful." He made his way up onto the +circular slab, stepping gingerly behind the body of the gun. He +disappeared from view. + +"Where did he go?" Nasha said irritably. "He'll get us all killed." + +"Tance, come back!" Dorle shouted. "What's the matter with you?" + +"In a minute." There was a long silence. At last the archeologist +appeared. "I think I've found something. Come up and I'll show you." + +"What is it?" + +"Dorle, you said the gun was here to keep the enemy off. I think I know +why they wanted to keep the enemy off." + +They were puzzled. + +"I think I've found what the gun is supposed to guard. Come and give me +a hand." + +"All right," Dorle said abruptly. "Let's go." He seized Nasha's hand. +"Come on. Let's see what he's found. I thought something like this might +happen when I saw that the gun was--" + +"Like what?" Nasha pulled her hand away. "What are you talking about? +You act as if you knew what he's found." + +"I do." Dorle smiled down at her. "Do you remember the legend that all +races have, the myth of the buried treasure, and the dragon, the serpent +that watches it, guards it, keeping everyone away?" + +She nodded. "Well?" + +Dorle pointed up at the gun. + +"That," he said, "is the dragon. Come on." + + * * * * * + +Between the three of them they managed to pull up the steel cover and +lay it to one side. Dorle was wet with perspiration when they finished. + +"It isn't worth it," he grunted. He stared into the dark yawning hole. +"Or is it?" + +Nasha clicked on her hand lamp, shining the beam down the stairs. The +steps were thick with dust and rubble. At the bottom was a steel door. + +"Come on," Tance said excitedly. He started down the stairs. They +watched him reach the door and pull hopefully on it without success. +"Give a hand!" + +"All right." They came gingerly after him. Dorle examined the door. It +was bolted shut, locked. There was an inscription on the door but he +could not read it. + +"Now what?" Nasha said. + +Dorle took out his hand weapon. "Stand back. I can't think of any other +way." He pressed the switch. The bottom of the door glowed red. +Presently it began to crumble. Dorle clicked the weapon off. "I think we +can get through. Let's try." + +The door came apart easily. In a few minutes they had carried it away in +pieces and stacked the pieces on the first step. Then they went on, +flashing the light ahead of them. + +They were in a vault. Dust lay everywhere, on everything, inches thick. +Wood crates lined the walls, huge boxes and crates, packages and +containers. Tance looked around curiously, his eyes bright. + +"What exactly are all these?" he murmured. "Something valuable, I would +think." He picked up a round drum and opened it. A spool fell to the +floor, unwinding a black ribbon. He examined it, holding it up to the +light. + +"Look at this!" + +They came around him. "Pictures," Nasha said. "Tiny pictures." + +"Records of some kind." Tance closed the spool up in the drum again. +"Look, hundreds of drums." He flashed the light around. "And those +crates. Let's open one." + +Dorle was already prying at the wood. The wood had turned brittle and +dry. He managed to pull a section away. + +It was a picture. A boy in a blue garment, smiling pleasantly, staring +ahead, young and handsome. He seemed almost alive, ready to move toward +them in the light of the hand lamp. It was one of them, one of the +ruined race, the race that had perished. + +For a long time they stared at the picture. At last Dorle replaced the +board. + +"All these other crates," Nasha said. "More pictures. And these drums. +What are in the boxes?" + +"This is their treasure," Tance said, almost to himself. "Here are their +pictures, their records. Probably all their literature is here, their +stories, their myths, their ideas about the universe." + +"And their history," Nasha said. "We'll be able to trace their +development and find out what it was that made them become what they +were." + +Dorle was wandering around the vault. "Odd," he murmured. "Even at the +end, even after they had begun to fight they still knew, someplace down +inside them, that their real treasure was this, their books and +pictures, their myths. Even after their big cities and buildings and +industries were destroyed they probably hoped to come back and find +this. After everything else was gone." + +"When we get back home we can agitate for a mission to come here," Tance +said. "All this can be loaded up and taken back. We'll be leaving +about--" + +He stopped. + +"Yes," Dorle said dryly. "We'll be leaving about three day-periods from +now. We'll fix the ship, then take off. Soon we'll be home, that is, if +nothing happens. Like being shot down by that--" + +"Oh, stop it!" Nasha said impatiently. "Leave him alone. He's right: all +this must be taken back home, sooner or later. We'll have to solve the +problem of the gun. We have no choice." + +Dorle nodded. "What's your solution, then? As soon as we leave the +ground we'll be shot down." His face twisted bitterly. "They've guarded +their treasure too well. Instead of being preserved it will lie here +until it rots. It serves them right." + +"How?" + +"Don't you see? This was the only way they knew, building a gun and +setting it up to shoot anything that came along. They were so certain +that everything was hostile, the enemy, coming to take their possessions +away from them. Well, they can keep them." + +Nasha was deep in thought, her mind far away. Suddenly she gasped. +"Dorle," she said. "What's the matter with us? We have no problem. The +gun is no menace at all." + +The two men stared at her. + +"No menace?" Dorle said. "It's already shot us down once. And as soon as +we take off again--" + +"Don't you see?" Nasha began to laugh. "The poor foolish gun, it's +completely harmless. Even I could deal with it alone." + +"You?" + +Her eyes were flashing. "With a crowbar. With a hammer or a stick of +wood. Let's go back to the ship and load up. Of course we're at its +mercy in the air: that's the way it was made. It can fire into the sky, +shoot down anything that flies. But that's all! Against something on the +ground it has no defenses. Isn't that right?" + +Dorle nodded slowly. "The soft underbelly of the dragon. In the legend, +the dragon's armor doesn't cover its stomach." He began to laugh. +"That's right. That's perfectly right." + +"Let's go, then," Nasha said. "Let's get back to the ship. We have work +to do here." + + * * * * * + +It was early the next morning when they reached the ship. During the +night the Captain had died, and the crew had ignited his body, according +to custom. They had stood solemnly around it until the last ember died. +As they were going back to their work the woman and the two men +appeared, dirty and tired, still excited. + +And presently, from the ship, a line of people came, each carrying +something in his hands. The line marched across the gray slag, the +eternal expanse of fused metal. When they reached the weapon they all +fell on the gun at once, with crowbars, hammers, anything that was heavy +and hard. + +The telescopic sights shattered into bits. The wiring was pulled out, +torn to shreds. The delicate gears were smashed, dented. + +Finally the warheads themselves were carried off and the firing pins +removed. + +The gun was smashed, the great weapon destroyed. The people went down +into the vault and examined the treasure. With its metal-armored +guardian dead there was no danger any longer. They studied the pictures, +the films, the crates of books, the jeweled crowns, the cups, the +statues. + +At last, as the sun was dipping into the gray mists that drifted across +the planet they came back up the stairs again. For a moment they stood +around the wrecked gun looking at the unmoving outline of it. + +Then they started back to the ship. There was still much work to be +done. The ship had been badly hurt, much had been damaged and lost. The +important thing was to repair it as quickly as possible, to get it into +the air. + +With all of them working together it took just five more days to make it +spaceworthy. + + * * * * * + +Nasha stood in the control room, watching the planet fall away behind +them. She folded her arms, sitting down on the edge of the table. + +"What are you thinking?" Dorle said. + +"I? Nothing." + +"Are you sure?" + +"I was thinking that there must have been a time when this planet was +quite different, when there was life on it." + +"I suppose there was. It's unfortunate that no ships from our system +came this far, but then we had no reason to suspect intelligent life +until we saw the fission glow in the sky." + +"And then it was too late." + +"Not quite too late. After all, their possessions, their music, books, +their pictures, all of that will survive. We'll take them home and study +them, and they'll change us. We won't be the same afterwards. Their +sculpturing, especially. Did you see the one of the great winged +creature, without a head or arms? Broken off, I suppose. But those +wings-- It looked very old. It will change us a great deal." + +"When we come back we won't find the gun waiting for us," Nasha said. +"Next time it won't be there to shoot us down. We can land and take the +treasure, as you call it." She smiled up at Dorle. "You'll lead us back +there, as a good captain should." + +"Captain?" Dorle grinned. "Then you've decided." + +Nasha shrugged. "Fomar argues with me too much. I think, all in all, I +really prefer you." + +"Then let's go," Dorle said. "Let's go back home." + +The ship roared up, flying over the ruins of the city. It turned in a +huge arc and then shot off beyond the horizon, heading into outer space. + + * * * * * + +Down below, in the center of the ruined city, a single half-broken +detector vane moved slightly, catching the roar of the ship. The base of +the great gun throbbed painfully, straining to turn. After a moment a +red warning light flashed on down inside its destroyed works. + +And a long way off, a hundred miles from the city, another warning light +flashed on, far underground. Automatic relays flew into action. Gears +turned, belts whined. On the ground above a section of metal slag +slipped back. A ramp appeared. + +A moment later a small cart rushed to the surface. + +The cart turned toward the city. A second cart appeared behind it. It +was loaded with wiring cables. Behind it a third cart came, loaded with +telescopic tube sights. And behind came more carts, some with relays, +some with firing controls, some with tools and parts, screws and bolts, +pins and nuts. The final one contained atomic warheads. + +The carts lined up behind the first one, the lead cart. The lead cart +started off, across the frozen ground, bumping calmly along, followed by +the others. Moving toward the city. + +To the damaged gun. + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from _Planet Stories_ September 1952. + 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 Gun, by Philip K. Dick + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GUN *** + +***** This file should be named 29132.txt or 29132.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/1/3/29132/ + +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 are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation 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/29132.zip b/29132.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..19d9b63 --- /dev/null +++ b/29132.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..7a09903 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #29132 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/29132) |
