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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:53:49 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:53:49 -0700 |
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diff --git a/30475-h/30475-h.htm b/30475-h/30475-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..216e3b2 --- /dev/null +++ b/30475-h/30475-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,643 @@ +<!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=UTF-8" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of With a Vengeance, by J. B. Woodley + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + h1,h2 {text-align: center;} + hr {width: 45%; margin: 2em auto; visibility: hidden;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .rgt,.figc {text-align: right;} + .figc {margin: 0 auto 1em; width: 505px;} + .poem {margin: 1em auto; text-align: left; width: 20em;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + 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: 144px;} + .trn {border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15%; min-height: 230px;} + .trn p {margin: 15px;} + .sp1 {font-size: 150%;} + .bk1 {margin: 2em auto; width: 18em;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30475 ***</div> + +<div class="figc"><img src="images/001.png" width="505" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +<b>Illustrated by KNOTH</b></div> + +<h1><span class="sp1">With a Vengeance</span></h1> + +<h2>By J. B. WOODLEY</h2> + +<div class="bk1"><p><big><b><i>Keep this in mind in teaching +apprentices: They are future +journeymen—and even masters!</i></b></big></p></div> + +<p class="rgt">October 10, 2119<br /> +New San Francisco</p> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Today</span>, at precisely 9:50 +a.m., Kyle became First +Imperator of Terra. His +coup was so fantastically direct +and facile that I am almost +tempted to believe that old cliche +"the time was right."</p> + +<p>Well, however badly it can be +expressed, I suppose the world +<i>was</i> ripe for this sort of thing. I +can remember when much the +same used to happen in elections. +One man would win over another +by a tremendous majority, and +historians would then set about +to show how "the time was right."</p> + +<p>Why do I persist in tormenting +myself with that phrase! Analytically, +I might say I resent this +new aristocracy of politics. Specifically, +I might say I resent +Kyle.</p> + +<p>And both are true, both are +true.</p> + +<p>This swing, though, to absolute +monarchy, complete with the installation +of the Kyle Dynasty—damn +him! This is something +which psychologists, not historians, +must explain. Has the age +of the Common Man, so bravely +flaunted for over one hundred +years, truly come to nothing? +Would people really prefer a figurehead +and a symbol of undisputed +authority?</p> + +<p>In this instance, one may again +conclude that "the time was +right." Contact with planets like +Mars and Venus undoubtedly had +its influence. I must confess that +the televised audiences with the +Mrit of Venus and the Znam of +Mars <i>did</i> make Terra's President—I +should say, late President—look +a bit seedy. I daresay there +is such a thing as a too common +Common Man.</p> + +<p>Kyle was such, twenty years +ago. His name wasn't Kyle then, +although it was something very +like that. I must see if any of the +old ledgers are about! I'd like to +see what the Imperator's name +was when His Most Imperial +Majesty was an apprenticed nobody!</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="rgt">October 12, 2119<br /> +New San Francisco</p> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">I found</span> it! Buried in stacks +of dust behind the old printing +press that was once the heart +of my <i>Beacon-Sentinel</i>. There +were others there too. Spent a +delightful morning with them, +reading back through those old +account books.</p> + +<p>I wonder whatever happened to +Hastings? And Drew? Best linotype +men I ever had. They became +pilots, or something, as I +recall. Too bad, too bad. They +could have had such brilliant +futures, both of them. Why they +felt they must ally themselves +with the non-thinking, muscle-flexing +variety of mankind—of +which our Ruler is an excellent +example—I'll never know.</p> + +<p>Ah, yes, Kyle! In those days +he was Kilmer Jones. I don't remember +him too well, actually, +except for the day I fired him.</p> + +<p>I suppose he was right in +changing his name. We couldn't +very well have an Imperator +named Kilmer the First, or Jones +the First. Much too common, not +at all in keeping.</p> + +<p>Gawky fellow—that Kilmer. +When Bard brought me a sample +of his work—I guess I'll have to +call it that—we both had a good +laugh over it! Atrocious spelling! +Couldn't follow the proofreader's +marks. Indeed, I wonder if the +fellow could even read! The +punctuation! And the grammar!</p> + +<p>I called the boy to the office +that morning—or was it the next +day? No matter. I called him in +and told him, as kindly as possible, +that I thought there were +other vocations to which he might +be better suited. The irony of it! +Kilmer Jones—Kyle I!</p> + +<p>And he stood there, I remember, +with those seventeen-year-old +hands that were all knuckles +and bone and chapped skin, +twisting those hands and shifting +his weight from one foot to the +other.</p> + +<p>"Please, Mr. Booth," he said, +his voice cracking. "I ain't got no +other job in mind. I wanna be a +noospaper man. I ain't got no—"</p> + +<p>If not for that "ain't got no," I +think I might have relented. But +no one is going to ruin the English +language as he did! Not in +my offices!</p> + +<p>I took him to task severely for +his offensive usage, outlined a +correct example of what he had +attempted to say, gave him a +brief lesson in the history of the +tongue, and explained why it had +been chosen as the official Terran +speech. I think my conclusion +was, "You'll be much better off +in a position which requires you +to quote neither Milton nor +Shakespeare nor any author save +possibly those who write the +comic strips."</p> + +<p>"Got no training," he said +softly. (I supposed it was to keep +his voice from exhibiting its +usual adolescent gymnastics.)</p> + +<p>I shuddered slightly, I remember. +"You mean, 'I <i>have</i> no training.'"</p> + +<p>"Yeah ..." softly again. "Yeah, +Mr. Booth."</p> + +<p>"<i>Yes!</i>" I cried impatiently. +"Not 'yeah,' but <i>yes</i>!"</p> + +<p>I searched for his severance pay +on my desk, wondering who the +devil had hired him in the first +place. Gave him three weeks pay, +as I recall it, one more than +necessary.</p> + +<p>Unmannerly pup! He just stood +there for a minute and then finally +left without even a "Thank +you," or "Good-by."</p> + +<p>And this is the man who is +Kyle the First, Ruler of Terra at +the age of thirty-seven! I wonder +what he is like now....</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="rgt">January 1, 1<br /> +New San Francisco</p> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">There</span> is no longer any need +to wonder. Surprisingly few +heads have rolled, but apparently +Jonesy chooses to exhibit his +power in other ways.</p> + +<p>Thanksgiving Day, a custom +preserved in certain portions of +the Directorate of North America, +is three weeks away—even +though it is January.</p> + +<p>The Year One. There used to +be some childish joke about the +Year One. Don't remember it just +now.</p> + +<p>Thanksgiving harvest in January. +Christmas celebration in +February. Spring planting in +July! To say nothing of the inconvenience +this has caused in +my bookkeeping department! I +suppose the man will now try to +change the weather to suit his +new calendar!</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="rgt">January 8, 1<br /> +New San Francisco</p> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">He</span> can't last! He can't! A dictator +is one thing. A monarch is +another. But Kyle is something +else!</p> + +<p>Naturally he had to remove +certain persons from his way. And +his summer palace in the plains +region of America—that's all +right, that's all right! An authority +of Kyle's stature is expected +to remove undesirables, +and to have a summer palace, +and a winter palace, and anything +else he wants! Of course!</p> + +<p>But why this? Why <i>this</i> of all +things!</p> + +<p>No newspapers! Just like that! +<i>He</i> waves an edict, and just like +that, <i>no newspapers</i>! The <i>Beacon-Sentinel</i> +has been a great paper +for the last twenty-five years! It +was nothing, and I was nothing, +and together we became a Voice! +And now again, we are nothing!</p> + +<p>Oh, I see what's behind it! It's +revenge, that's what it is! Because +he once couldn't become a +"noospaper" man, he's taking his +vengeance this way.</p> + +<p>A man as petty as that shall +be overthrown! Mark my words! +And the clumsiness of it!</p> + +<p>I see what he is! I know him! +He's still that pup of seventeen, +playing king with the world, +twisting his hands in glee over his +childish triumph.</p> + +<p>No subtlety! Just a direct +pushing over an applecart he +couldn't steer! Doesn't matter +whose apples you destroy, does +it, Jonesy? Just push it over—push +it over!</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="rgt">January 16, 1<br /> +New San Francisco</p> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Closed</span> the <i>Beacon-Sentinel</i> +yesterday. My savings are enough +to take care of me for a few +years. After that—ah, well, I am +no longer a young man. I am +glad that Elsa is not here to see +this.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="rgt">February 12, 1<br /> +New San Francisco</p> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Received</span> a letter this morning, +requesting me to appear +at the chambers of His Most +Imperial Majesty, Kyle the First, +on Tuesday of next week. His +Most Imperial Majesty can see +me between 10:15 and 10:25 on +that morning.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes—rather a brief +spell in which to roll another +head.</p> + +<p>I find myself amazed, though. +Is this man so truly powerful +that he needs no police to make +his arrests for him? Can he really +send messages via jetmail and be +certain his enemies will not try +to escape?</p> + +<p>I don't want to attempt flight. +Life without my work is no longer +life.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="rgt">February 17, 1<br /> +Kyleton Palace, North America</p> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">I don't</span> understand. I've gone +over it twice, and I don't +understand. If only Elsa were +still with me! I could talk to her. +She would help me decipher what +it's all about.</p> + +<p>This morning, at 10:15 sharp, +I was taken to the public audience +chamber in the palace.</p> + +<p>His Majesty was seated behind +a desk facing the doors. Behind +him, on the wall, was His +Coat of Arms.</p> + +<p>He stood up and walked toward +me, waving away the +guards. "How are you, Mr. +Booth?" he said. And offered me +His Hand!</p> + +<p>I recovered my presence of +mind, of course, and replied as +was fitting.</p> + +<p>And then He said it! "I shall +be at liberty later this week to +discuss more fully the details of +these past years." (Shades of +"ain't got no!") "Meanwhile, my +secretary will give you a complete +dossier on my planned Official +Bulletin." He lighted a cigarette +after offering me one. "I +should deem it an honor," he continued, +"to have a man of your +literary versatility and—I must +add—your vast practical experience +become Chief Editor of that +Bulletin. The publication, which +I should enjoy christening <i>The +Terran Beacon-Sentinel</i>—with +your permission, sir—shall be +more than my official organ. It +shall set the standards for the +coming newspaper world."</p> + +<p>He cocked an eyebrow at me +and smiled. "I believe we are in +perfect accord about certain +standards, are we not, Mr. +Booth? The deplorable grammatical +practices of some newspapers! +Well, really, Mr. Booth! I +feel assured of your agreement!"</p> + +<p>He led me around the desk and +pointed to the Coat of Arms. As +He stood silent, I felt obliged to +look more closely. I had seen it +before, of course, but seeing it +now, greatly enlarged, I was able +to make out its detail.</p> + +<p>What I had thought was a mere +decorative border, I now realized +was a motif I have seen all my +life! A tiny lighthouse sending +forth a beam! The trademark of +my paper!</p> + +<p>As I stood there, gaping, His +Majesty laughed softly and said, +"That, Mr. Booth, I felt impelled +to include. For, without your +most fortuitous termination of +my apprenticeship in your organization, +I should not have +risen to my present position."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Again</span> He took my hand and +shook it, warmly. His hair is +just a bit gray at the temples, and +there are signs of strain on His +finely featured face. Those awkward +hands are now strong and +purposeful.</p> + +<p>He apologized that He must return +to His duties, and went with +me to the door. "My secretary will +fill in further details about your +new position. Newspapers shall +once again be published. No—don't +say a word, Mr. Booth! I +know what you are thinking.</p> + +<p>"Your salary," he continued as +we stood at the open door, "shall, +of course, be commensurate to +your high authority in this new +field. Allow me, now, to thank +you most deeply and sincerely +for your unwitting aid in my +youth. I assure you, Mr. Booth, +I have often thought of that day +we talked. And I hope to repay +you, in some measure, for what +you did."</p> + +<p>He said more, mostly polite +phrases of good-by. And then I +was outside after being handed a +folder by some man.</p> + +<p>An official jetmobile took me +to my residence—which turned +out to be in the East Wing. Here +I am, and I don't understand. I +came prepared to suffer heaven +only knows what as part of Kilmer +Jones's childish pattern for +revenge.</p> + +<p>Instead, here I am, head of the +Official Bulletin, titular ruler and +ruler-in-fact of the future journalism +of the world!</p> + +<p>There is something behind this—I +keep feeling there is. But +what? What? Or is he truly generous, +to a degree never before +known among absolute monarchs?</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="rgt">February 13, 1<br /> +Kyleton Palace, North America</p> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">I am</span> a suspicious and most +humble old man. I see now +that Kyle's generosity amazed +me only because I myself would +have been incapable of such an +action.</p> + +<p>Just now, I fear for His Majesty. +I was right, before, when +I said there was no subtlety in +the man. He is too open, too fair, +too forgiving. A ruler with such +greatness of heart might easily +allow some small insignificant +person in too far, too close. I fear +for him!</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="rgt">February 14, 1<br /> +Kyleton Palace, North America</p> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Tomorrow</span> we begin publication! +The pressroom is magnificent! +I can hardly wait. It's been +a long time since I've felt such +exuberance.</p> + +<p>This afternoon I am to conduct +a conference of some eight +hundred editors! His Majesty's +secretary has sent me an outline +on Journalistic Standards, which +I shall study after lunch.</p> + +<p>There was a note attached, in +His Majesty's handwriting—such +beautiful penmanship, too. "A +mere formality," it said, "for, of +course, you and I know full well +what the future of journalism +shall be, Mr. Booth."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="rgt">Later—</p> + +<p>How wrong can one man be +in one lifetime?</p> + +<p>I wonder now <i>why</i> he changed +the calendar. I wonder now what +poor devil he destroyed then. But +<i>I'll</i> cheat him!</p> + +<p>I'll cheat him yet!</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="rgt">Obituary, <i>Trran Bacon-Sntinl</i>,<br /> +Fbruary 16, 1</p> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Th</span> unfortunat and untimly +dmis of Gorg W. Booth is +hrby notd with sorrow by thos +who knw and lovd him.</p> + +<p>Mr. Booth, formr ditor and +publishr of th <i>Bacon-Sntinl</i> of +Nw San Francisco, Dirctorat of +North Amrica, had apparntly bn +in poor helth for som tim. It is +blivd that worry ovr th succss +of his nw policy-stting <i>Trran +Bacon-Sntinl</i> was a contributing +factor in his suicid lat in th aftrnoon +of Fbruary 14.</p> + +<p>His Most Imprial Majsty Kyl +th First has ordrd a fitting monumnt +to his lat lamntd frind. A +simpl shaft of granit shall b rctd +in th gardn facing th Ast Wing +of Kylton Palac, whr Mr. Booth +mad his residnc. On th shaft shall +b inscribd th lgnd:</p> + +<div class="poem"> +<span class="i0">"How bautous mankind is! Oh brav nw world,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That has much peepl in't!"<br /></span> +</div> + +<p>Th quotation is from <i>Th +Tmpst</i>. Mr. Booth was a grat +admirr of Shakspar.</p> + +<p>An vn mor fitting and long-livd +mmorial is xprssd in th dict +rlasd through th offics of His +Majsty on th vry day of Mr. +Booth's dath. It reeds in part:</p> + +<div class="poem"><p>"Th nw linguistic policy on +Trra, as dmonstratd in th +<i>Trran Bacon-Sntinl</i>, shall hncforth +b known as Boothtalk."</p></div> + +<p>Mr. Booth bfrindd Our Imprial +Rulr in His youngr days, and, as +w all know, His Majsty nvr forgts +a frind.</p> + +<p class="rgt"><b>—J. B. WOODLEY</b></p> + +<div class="trn"><div class="figt"><a href="images/002-2.jpg"><img src="images/002-1.jpg" width="144" height="200" alt="" title="" /></a></div> + +<p><big><b>Transcriber's Note:</b></big></p> + +<p>This etext was produced from <i>Galaxy Science Fiction</i> October 1953. +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. Calendar +dates remain as printed, and, based on the narrative, may be +intentional.</p></div> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30475 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/30475-h/images/001.png b/30475-h/images/001.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2f7f953 --- /dev/null +++ b/30475-h/images/001.png diff --git a/30475-h/images/002-1.jpg b/30475-h/images/002-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..103d197 --- /dev/null +++ b/30475-h/images/002-1.jpg diff --git a/30475-h/images/002-2.jpg b/30475-h/images/002-2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2dc70bf --- /dev/null +++ b/30475-h/images/002-2.jpg |
