diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:56:04 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:56:04 -0700 |
| commit | 10976ee0074a08fb487481e31cd8e9343fa18767 (patch) | |
| tree | 4f94b314ab767427de920a4c4f49d7ef1b68593d /31597-h | |
Diffstat (limited to '31597-h')
| -rw-r--r-- | 31597-h/31597-h.htm | 1939 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31597-h/images/001-1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 17169 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31597-h/images/001-2.jpg | bin | 0 -> 94383 bytes |
3 files changed, 1939 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/31597-h/31597-h.htm b/31597-h/31597-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d3bab7e --- /dev/null +++ b/31597-h/31597-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1939 @@ +<!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 Out of the Earth, by George Edrich + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .noin {text-indent: 0em;} + body > p {text-indent: 1em;} + h1,h2 {font-weight: normal; line-height: 2em;} + hr {width: 45%; margin: 2em auto; visibility: hidden;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + h1,h2,.rgt {text-align: right;} + .nom {margin: 0 auto;} + img {border: none;} + a:link,a:visited {text-decoration: none;} + .dcap {text-transform: uppercase;} + .figt {float: left; clear: left; margin: 15px; padding: 0; width: 147px;} + .trn {border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15%; min-height: 230px;} + .trn p {margin: 15px;} + .sp1 {margin-left: 3em;} + .bk1 {margin: 1em auto 2em; border-top: solid 2px; border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bk2 {float: left; width: 15em; margin: 1em 2em 1em 0;} + .pr1 {line-height: 1.5em; margin-top: 4em;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Out of the Earth, by George Edrich + +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: Out of the Earth + +Author: George Edrich + +Release Date: March 11, 2010 [EBook #31597] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUT OF THE EARTH *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="bk1"><p><small><i>This is not a story about the Dero! This</i> is <i>a story about a lost people—a +persuasive and haunting story about a people, in a not too distant +future, who have been forgotten by history. And it is the story of a little +group of courageous people, determined to prove that Death was a Myth!</i></small></p></div> + +<div class="bk2"><h1><b>out<br /> +of<br /> +the<br /> +earth</b></h1> + +<h2><small><i>by GEORGE EDRICH</i></small></h2> + +<p class="pr1"><big><b>Offences against the State meant elimination in the +Black Passage. Death. And these people were to die!</b></big></p></div> + +<p class="noin">First Awake, 2 Juli, 2207</p> + +<p><span class="dcap">We have</span> walked much +this awake and have stopped +now for sleep. Last City is +far behind us. Except for the +two lamps we keep lighted to +frighten away the Groles, +there is nothing but blackness +in the passage. The others are +sleeping, and close beside me, +Nina sleeps also. The sound +of her breathing is all I have +in the darkness.</p> + +<p>Thoughts are not clear +when the body is so tired, and +the things that have happened +seem unreal, like something +dreamed. The arrest—the +State Guards in their black +uniforms—coming to our cubicle +in the middle of the sleep +hours—frightening Nina.</p> + +<p>Ten awakes and sleeps of +not knowing why. Then the +trial—"Jon Farmer 8267, we +show you a copy of <i>The +Mushroom Farmers' Journal</i> +of 21 January 2204. We call +your attention to the article +<i>Experiments With Red Lake +Mushrooms in Rock Soil</i>. +This article discusses with +favor some policies of the +Dictatorium of President +Charles 27, an Enemy of the +State. Do you admit to writing +this treason?"</p> + +<p>You are not permitted to +answer the Judges in a State +trial because they know the +answers to everything they +ask you. But while they were +talking together, I thought +how different things became +with time. I remembered the +fine letter from the Secretary +of Agriculture of the Dictatorium, +and the two extra free +days they had given me. But +there was a new Dictatorium +now. President Charles and +General William had been +lowered into Copper Pit and +metallized. Now they were +mounted in the Historical +Museum in Central City. The +others of the Dictatorium had +been eliminated in Black Passage.</p> + +<p>"—Jon Farmer 8267. You +have written with favor about +Enemies of the State. You are +therefore yourself declared an +Enemy of the State. By order +of the Supreme Council +of the Dictatorium of President +Joseph 28, you are hereby +sentenced to elimination in +Black Passage."</p> + +<p>Then Nina—"Nina Farmerswife +8267, you have mated +with an Enemy of the State. +By condescension of the Supreme +Council of the Dictatorium +of President Joseph +28, you are to be permitted to +take an oath of renunciation +and separation."</p> + +<p>It is not too difficult for +the heart to be strong when +there is no decision for the +mind to make. But what +strength of heart Nina must +have had then. I was terribly +proud and terribly frightened +when she walked over and +stood with me.</p> + +<p>"Please, Nina—" I said, but +she shook her head, and her +eyes told me I could say nothing +more.</p> + +<p>The Judges were angry. +"Nina Farmerswife 8267, you +are hereby declared an Enemy +of the State. By order of ..."</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>There was no one else in +the guard cubicle when they +locked us in. When the May +trials were over, five awakes +later, there were seven of us. +Doctor Dorn 394 was brought +in the awake after we were. +He had read the forbidden +books in the Chambers of the +Dead at the Historical Museum. +He was almost thirty-five +years old, and had been +third assistant physician to +the Supreme Council. This +was a very strong office and +only something as terrible as +reading the forbidden books +could have made him an Enemy +of the State.</p> + +<p>Ralf Fishcatcher and his +wife, Mari, came from Red +Lake. They were Enemies of +the State because they had +not reported all of the fish +they had caught.</p> + +<p>Except for Nina, the +youngest one of us was Theodor +Cook 3044. He was very +frightened. He told how he +had stolen mushroom bread +from the Central City Ration +Station where he worked, and +how his wife had reported +him so she wouldn't become +an Enemy of the State also.</p> + +<p>The last one to be brought +in was Bruno Oreminer 2139. +He had killed his foreman by +hitting him in the head with +a rock. He was a very big +man, and very strong. But he +talked very little and there +was a cold and dangerous look +in his eyes.</p> + +<p>Early on the sixth awake, +the guards came for us. The +march was long, almost seven +awakes. We passed through +many cities—Big City, Power +City, and Red Lake; then +Iron City, Deep Pit, and Last +City. There was only a ten-lamp-per-mile passage from +Big Pit to Last City. We +passed few people. At Last +City, we were taken to the +State Guard Station and given +small shoulder packs with +the food, water, and lamps the +law says we may have.</p> + +<p>Out of Last City the passage +was narrow and poorly +lighted, only five lamps per +mile. After a few miles the +guards became silent, and +then just up ahead we saw +what looked like a solid iron +wall. We had come to the +gate to Black Passage.</p> + +<p>One of the guards took a +paper from his pocket and +read it very quickly so that +it was hard to understand +most of the words. But every +little while we could hear +"Enemies of the State." When +he finished reading, all three +of the guards put their fingers +in some notches in the +gate and pulled with all their +strength, and the gate slid +into the side of the wall.</p> + +<p>Black Passage was before +us!</p> + +<p>Mari Fishcatcherswife +gave a little scream, and Nina +pressed up against me and +held my arm tightly. Lying +on the floor of the passage +were many dead bones.</p> + +<p>The guard who had read +the paper said we must now +go into Black Passage. For a +long time no one moved. It +is hard to be the first into a +darkness where, no matter +how far the eye searches, +there is not the faintest light. +Then Doctor Dorn struck the +flint on his oil lamp and +walked through the gate. +With the light of his lamp +ahead of us, the fear became +less and we turned on our +own lamps and followed after +him.</p> + +<p>The iron wall slid closed +behind us. We could hear the +steps of the guards as they +walked back toward Last +City. After a while we +couldn't hear them any longer.</p> + +<p>Bruno Oreminer tried to +move the gate, but the iron +was smooth on this side and +nothing happened. Theodor +Cook had put his face in his +hands so he would not have +to look at the dead bones, but +he stepped on one, and when +it cracked, he gave a little +cry.</p> + +<p>Doctor Dorn started to +walk down the passage. I took +Nina's hand and we followed +after him. It would do no +good to stay there by the gate +which would never again +open for us. If we remained, +we would just become dead +bones like the rest. The others +came along a little way +behind.</p> + +<p>After we had walked +through the passage far +enough away from the dead +bones so we could not see +them, Doctor Dorn stopped. +He said we should rest awhile +and eat a little of the food, +and then we would talk.</p> + +<p>Theodor Cook was the +first one to ask him the question +we were all thinking +about. "When will we die?" +he asked.</p> + +<p>Doctor Dorn said he didn't +know. The food and water we +had been given was supposed +to last for ten awakes and +sleeps. If we were very, very +careful, it might last for +much longer. The oil would +probably become used up +first, and when there was no +more light, then probably the +Groles would get us.</p> + +<p>Theodor asked whether +the dead bones we had seen +were people who had been +killed by the Groles.</p> + +<p>Doctor Dorn said he didn't +know, but he didn't think so. +When the Groles found someone, +there were not supposed +to be even dead bones left. +No one had ever seen a Grole +because they came only when +there was no light at all.</p> + +<p>Doctor Dorn said he was +sorry he had to say such +frightening things. But he +wanted us to know and understand +the worst before he told +us things that might give us +hope.</p> + +<p>There was the smallest +chance, Doctor Dorn said, +that Black Passage might go +to some other State where +there was life, the way Copper +Passage from Deep City +went to the State of the Savages. +Our hope was terribly +small though, because even if +the passage did go to such a +place, it would probably be +many more awakes and sleeps +away than we had oil for; and +also, the life there might be +wild the way it was in the +State of the Savages.</p> + +<p>It is strange though how +even a hope so small as to be +almost nothing can give new +strength to the heart.</p> + +<p>Doctor Dorn talked more, +telling us how we would have +to learn to live with less and +less light so that the oil +would last as long as possible. +In the beginning we would +burn four lamps. Because the +passage was not wide enough +for more than two people to +walk together, one of us +would have to walk alone. But +whoever walked alone would +always carry one of the lighted +lamps, and would never be +first or last. When we became +used to four lamps, we would +turn one off and try walking +with only three. After a while +another lamp would be turned +off and only two lamps would +be kept lighted, one at the beginning +and one at the end of +the column. During sleeps we +would keep two lamps on. +One would be enough to +frighten away the Groles, but +there was always the danger +it might go out, so it was safer +to use two.</p> + +<p>Theodor asked wouldn't we +get the Black Fear, with so +little light.</p> + +<p>Doctor Dorn said he didn't +know. It was to prevent the +Black Fear that we would +turn off the lamps gradually +instead of all at once. But +anyway, it was better to get +the Black Fear for a few +hours than to use up all of the +oil and have the Groles come.</p> + +<p>When we started walking +again, Doctor Dorn and Bruno +went first, then Ralf and +Mari, then Theodor. Nina and +I walked last. It is frightening +to be last with the blackness +behind. Later, we will +have a different position, and +others will take our place.</p> + +<p>We have walked for many +hours. Now we have stopped +for sleep and only the two +guard lamps are burning. The +light they make is hardly +enough to write by. When I +look up and see the terrible +blackness in the passage before +and behind us, a strange +and awful feeling seems to +form inside. This may be the +beginning of Black Fear. I +think it is better that I stop +writing now. I want to hold +Nina in my arms and sleep +with the warmth of her life +close to me.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="noin">Second Awake, 3 Juli 2207</p> + +<p>Since last sleep, the hours +have been slow and the walk +long, but Black Passage remains +the same. Doctor Dorn +thinks there may be no +change for many awakes and +sleeps.</p> + +<p>To walk in silence except +for the sound of our steps becomes +a fearsome thing, so we +talk much. Doctor Dorn tells +us interesting things that +have happened while he was +Physician to the Supreme +Council. When he does this, +we do not think so much of +what may be ahead for us.</p> + +<p>There is something of a +strangeness about Bruno, the +ore-miner who killed his foreman. +Although he rests when +we rest, and sleeps when we +sleep, the feeling comes that +he is not with us. He walks +always first with Doctor +Dorn, and says nothing.</p> + +<p>Sometimes Mari and Nina +walk together and talk about +woman things. Mari is twenty-two, +three years older than +Nina, and even though she +has been married to Ralf for +only five years, she has almost +borne life once. Nina +said it must be wonderful to +bear life, and Doctor Dorn +heard her and said she had +the look of one who might +bear life herself some day, +perhaps even before she was +twenty-five. Nina was very +thrilled.</p> + +<p>But it is strange to talk of +a time so far ahead. The mind +forgets sometimes there may +be only a few awakes and +sleeps left to all our lives.</p> + +<p>One feels a great sorrow +for Theodor. He does not +have someone who is a part +of him the way I have Nina +and Ralf has Mari, and he +does not have the strength of +heart of Doctor Dorn or Bruno. +Fear seems to hold his +mind more than any of us. +Many times Nina or Mari, or +Ralf or I, walk beside him so +he will not have to walk alone +always. But when we speak +to him he almost never answers.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="noin">Third Awake, 4 Juli 2207</p> + +<p>Another sleep has come and +our tiredness is greater. Doctor +Dorn thinks we are about +twenty-five miles from Lost +City.</p> + +<p>After an hour of the walk, +we turned off one of the +lamps, leaving only three on, +and the blackness of the passage +seemed to jump in toward +us. It is like a live and +evil thing, the blackness, running +in fear from the light +before us, yet following so +closely behind. Sometimes I +cannot help feeling that, like +the Groles, it is just waiting +for our last lamp to go out so +it can rush in and kill us. In +one thing we have been fortunate. +Even with only three +lamps lighted no one has had +the Black Fear. But after this +sleep we will burn only two +lamps and again the blackness +will move closer. It is not a +pleasant thought to sleep +with.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="noin">Fourth Awake, 5 Juli 2207</p> + +<p>Except for the greater +darkness because of only two +lamps, all is the same. It is +strange not to have the City +Signals to tell us when to +sleep and when to awake. Because +we have only our tiredness +to measure awakes and +sleeps, I am no longer sure +the date I write above is the +right one.</p> + +<p>We do not talk as much +now. All of our strength must +be used for walking.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="noin">Fifth Awake, 6 Juli 2207</p> + +<p>One of the lamps went out +while we were walking, this +awake. Although we were +able to light it again in a few +seconds, we could not help +thinking how the Groles +might have come if the other +lamp hadn't been burning.</p> + +<p>Doctor Dorn says our tiredness +is so great because we +eat so little of the food. It is +very hard to be careful when +one remains so hungry; yet +not knowing how many days +are before us in Black Passage +makes the mind fearful +and the will strong.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="noin">Seventh Awake, 8 Juli 2207</p> + +<p>This awake, Theodor had +the Black Fear. We had to +hold one of the lamps in front +of his eyes for more than an +hour before he was able to +stop trembling. Then it was +almost another hour before he +was able to go on.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="noin">Eleventh Awake, 12 Juli 2207</p> + +<p>Sleep follows sleep and +nothing changes. Sometimes I +feel that we have not moved +at all, that we are still just +outside Last City. Yet Doctor +Dorn says we have come almost +one hundred miles.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="noin">Twelfth Awake, 13 Juli 2207</p> + +<p>Just before this sleep we +emptied our shoulder packs +to see how much food and +water we have used. Most of +us have used about one-fourth +of what we have been +given. Doctor Dorn says this +is not bad, but we must learn +to use even less. Theodor has +much more food left than any +of us. This is not surprising, +because during rests he eats +almost nothing.</p> + +<p>It is the little oil we have +left that worries Doctor Dorn. +He does not believe there will +be enough for even ten more +awakes and sleeps. We would +use less oil if we burned only +one lamp, but it would be a +terrible chance. We remember +how a lamp went out several +awakes ago.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="noin">Fourteenth Awake, 15 Juli +2207</p> + +<p>There was much trouble +during our last sleep. Soon +after sleep had come, a terrible +cry awoke us again. My +mind first had the thought +that the lamps had gone out +and the Groles had come. But +both lamps were still burning, +and near one of them, we +could see Bruno and Theodor +struggling together on the +floor of the passage. Bruno's +hands were around Theodor's +throat, and Theodor was no +longer able to make any +sounds. Bruno is terribly +strong, and Ralf and I and +Doctor Dorn had to use all of +our own strength to force his +hands away. Doctor Dorn +asked Bruno why he had done +this, and Bruno pointed to +where his shoulder pack was +lying open, and said, "He was +stealing." These were the +only words he had said for a +long time. When Theodor +stopped choking and was able +to speak again, Doctor Dorn +asked him if what Bruno had +said was true. Theodor said +no, and Doctor Dorn said he +should look directly into his +eyes and answer again. Theodor +said he was sleepy and +his throat hurt and he didn't +want to talk any more. Doctor +Dorn gave a big sigh, and +said he understood. He said +Theodor must promise never +to steal again. If he didn't +promise, or if he broke his +promise, then perhaps the +next time Bruno tried to kill +him, we might not hear him +in time. Theodor became very +frightened, and said all right, +he promised.</p> + +<p>When we were going back +to sleep, Nina told me she had +wondered why Theodor slept +each time near someone else. +He had probably thought by +taking a little from each +one of us, his stealing would +not be noticed.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="noin">Seventeenth Awake, 18 Juli +2207</p> + +<p>The awakes and sleeps pass +again and everything is as it +was, except that our food and +oil becomes less, and our +tiredness greater. Several +times during our walk we +have found a little water in +the passage. How wonderful +it would be if we could so +easily find more food and oil.</p> + +<p>Although Bruno shows no +sign that he wants to hurt +Theodor again, Theodor is +still terribly frightened of +him, and stays as far from +him as possible. Before each +sleep, Doctor Dorn makes +Theodor open his shoulder +pack and show him the food +he has left. His food is being +used up as fast as ours is now.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="noin">Eighteenth Awake, 19 Juli +2207</p> + +<p>Eighteen awakes and sleeps +we have walked in Black +Passage. To the mind, it is +forever.</p> + +<p>The passage has begun to +climb a little. This is not a +good thing.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="noin">Nineteenth Awake, 20 Juli +2207</p> + +<p>I write this during rest.</p> + +<p>We have come to a Dead +City. No lamps are lighted in +the dark street passages and +all the cubicles are empty. +We have found many other +passages going out of the +City, and we must now decide +which is the best to try. I do +not think this will be difficult. +One of the passages +seems newer than any of the +others, much newer and larger +than Black Passage +through which we have +walked for so long. There are +lamps in this passage, and +even though they are not +lighted, they would not have +been put there unless the +passage went to some other +City. Although this other city +may be dead also, hope is now +a little greater. Doctor Dorn +calls this passage Hope Passage. +Another thing that adds +to hope is the way the passage +goes down so steeply.</p> + +<p>Hope Passage was found +many hours ago, sleep time +has now come, and yet a decision +has not been made. +Much of this is because of +Nina. Although she has spoken +very little, the things she +has said have made Doctor +Dorn behave very strangely.</p> + +<p>When he asked each of us +if we thought Hope Passage +would be the best one to follow, +everyone but Nina said +yes right away. Even Bruno +nodded. But when he asked +Nina, she did not answer so +quickly. Then she said if we +all thought Hope Passage was +the best, it was probably so.</p> + +<p>But Doctor Dorn was not +satisfied. Did she not think so +herself, he asked. Was there +something about Hope Passage +she did not like? Was +there some other passage she +thought might be better?</p> + +<p>I could feel Nina's fingers +tighten on my arm the way +they did whenever she became +very frightened or worried +or disturbed. It was not +something her mind thought, +she said. It was just a feeling +she had which she couldn't +understand or explain.</p> + +<p>Doctor Dorn's voice became +very gentle. He said Nina +shouldn't try to understand or +explain her feeling. But +would she try to describe +what it was like, even a little.</p> + +<p>Nina looked at me very +troubled and I put my arm +around her shoulders, and +said she didn't have to answer +if she didn't want to. But +then she took a little breath +and said in a very low voice +that as far back as she could +remember, even when she was +a tiny girl, she always had a +good feeling when she was +going up and a bad feeling +when she was going down. It +was a strange way to be, she +knew, and she had never told +anyone before. But that was +why she did not like Hope +Passage, which went down so +fast. The passage she had +liked best was the one near +the old statue. The way it +went up gave her a good feeling.</p> + +<p>Doctor Dorn asked didn't +she know the passage by the +statue was the oldest one we +had found, and therefore it +should have the smallest +chance of going to a live city.</p> + +<p>Nina said she knew, and her +mind understood everything +Doctor Dorn said. But the +things her mind knew and understood +were not able to +change the way she felt. She +said she was sorry she had +made us all lose so much +time. She would not talk +about it any more.</p> + +<p>Doctor Dorn asked Nina +would she please answer just +one more question. Did she +have this good feeling while +we were walking up the little +climb near the end of Black +Passage.</p> + +<p>Nina nodded her head yes, +and Doctor Dorn said it was +very interesting. Then in a +different voice, he said that +Hope Passage was our best +chance of finding life, and +after this sleep we would continue +our walk there.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="noin">Twentieth Awake, 21 Juli +2207</p> + +<p>A few hours ago we said +goodbye to Ralf and Mari and +Bruno, and watched them +start down Hope Passage. I +think they may find life +again soon.</p> + +<p>Even now, I do not understand +clearly why we are not +with them; why we are climbing +in this old rough passage +which rises so steeply we +must stop every little while +to rest.</p> + +<p>Many thoughts must have +come to Doctor Dorn during +our last sleep, because when +we awoke he was different +from any way he had been before. +For a little while, he +just walked up and back rubbing +his chin as if he were +thinking very hard. Then all +of a sudden he stopped and +came over to Nina. He asked +Nina whether if we were not +here, if she had to decide +only for herself, knowing all +he had told her, would she +still take the old passage?</p> + +<p>Nina said yes, she would. +Doctor Dorn sat down. He +said he was going to say +strong words. He was going +to tell us some of the things +he had read in the Forbidden +Books.</p> + +<p>For thousands of years Man +had first lived on Earth Surface, +the books said. But then +great wars had come and Man +had studied hard and learned +ways to kill each other millions +at a time. But some of +the men who did not want to +die had dug deep into the +earth to live. Everyone in the +earth, the books said, came +from these first men from +Earth Surface.</p> + +<p>Doctor Dorn stopped to let +us think about what he had +told us. <i>Earth Surface</i>—nothing +above but nothing—and +nothing beyond nothing—the +thought is more than the +mind can hold. That men +could have lived on such a +place is too much to be believed.</p> + +<p>There were some things +written in the Forbidden +Books that could not be true, +Doctor Dorn said, like the +plants called trees that grew +to be many times taller than +a man; or lakes called oceans +that were larger than a thousand +Red Lakes together. But +even though these and some +other things the books said +were not possible, there was +something about the story of +men living on Earth Surface +that made him wonder. All +sleep he had not slept, but +had thought how the old passage +we had found near the +statue might be one of the +surface passages the books +told about. He could not imagine +any City in the Earth +building a passage so steep +and so rough.</p> + +<p>Doctor Dorn stopped talking +for a moment, and he +looked at me. He seemed very +excited. "Jon," he said, "my +own feeling now is to take +Surface Passage. I cannot do +this alone with one lamp. +You know how Nina feels. +Will you and Nina come with +me?"</p> + +<p>My thoughts must have +been like those of the lost-mind +men in the hospital at +Central City. Even now I do +not know why I said we +would. Maybe it was because +of the way Nina's eyes shone +when Doctor Dorn talked +about Earth Surface. Nina is +a wonderful girl and I love +her very much, but sometimes +I think I do not understand +her completely.</p> + +<p>Ralf and Mari talked together +for a long time. Then +Ralf told Doctor Dorn he +thought Hope Passage was +the best chance for finding +life. They would not come +with us.</p> + +<p>Doctor Dorn said he understood. +He was sorry we had +to separate now, but each +must do what was in his own +thoughts and heart. Then he +asked Bruno if he was coming +with us, and Bruno shook +his head no, and did not say +anything.</p> + +<p>Theodor thought for even +a longer time than Ralf and +Mari. He kept biting the nails +on his fingers and every little +while his eyes would look at +Bruno. I knew he was afraid +to come with us; but also he +was afraid to be alone with +Bruno with only Ralf to help +him if anything happened. +Finally, in a very low voice, +he said he would come with +us.</p> + +<p>Doctor Dorn said fine, now +there was one more thing we +must do before we started. +We must take the oil from +one of the lamps and put it +in the other six lamps so +there would be the same +amount in each one. Then +each group would take three +lamps.</p> + +<p>Theodor said this was not +fair. There were four of us +so we should have four lamps. +Doctor Dorn said four people +needed no more light than +three people.</p> + +<p>It was very sad when we +had to separate. Mari and +Nina cried a little. For a long +time after we found Surface +Passage and were climbing in +it, no one said anything. Perhaps +after next sleep, our +sadness may be less.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="noin">Twenty-First Awake, 22 Juli +2207</p> + +<p>The passage is still climbing +and we rest often. I write +a little during some of our +rests.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>There is very little oil +left. Doctor Dorn says we +must take a dangerous chance. +No lamp has gone out for a +long time. If we burn only +one lamp, we can have light +for almost four more awakes +and sleeps. If this is really a +Surface Passage, and if what +is written in the forbidden +books is true, this time may +be enough for us to reach +Earth Surface.</p> + +<p>We have been burning only +one lamp since our last rest. +How bright does the light +from the two lamps seem now. +Nina says she feels she can +reach out and touch the +blackness.</p> + +<p>Theodor is very frightened. +Over and over he says we +must go back and take the +other passage, that if we go +on we shall all be dead bones. +I think Doctor Dorn would +become angry if he did not +understand how frightened +Theodor is.</p> + +<p>During rest, Theodor spoke +words that made Nina feel +very sad. He said it was because +of her that we would all +die. I became very angry, and +told him if he said anything +like that again, I would finish +what Bruno had started. He +knows I would not do this, +but now he talks very little.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="noin">Twenty-Second Awake, 23 +Juli 2207</p> + +<p>We walk up Surface Passage +still, but there is a difference. +Before last sleep there +was much hope in our hearts. +Now our hope is almost nothing.</p> + +<p>It was Nina who knew first. +She brought me out of sleep, +shaking my shoulder and saying +my name, until my mind +was awake enough to understand.</p> + +<p>Theodor was gone!</p> + +<p>He had left us the one +lamp that was burning. The +other two lamps he had taken; +and all of our food and +water. But our hunger may +never become too great. With +one lamp, there will be light +until only a few hours after +next sleep.</p> + +<p>Doctor Dorn blames himself. +He says he should have +been able to tell that Theodor +might do something like this. +But Doctor Dorn feels the +same tiredness that is in us +all, making our thoughts like +shadows.</p> + +<p>Sleep time has come, but we +do not stop. We will walk on +and rest when we must. When +the end of life is so near, the +will finds strength.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="noin">Twenty-Third Awake, 24 Juli +2207</p> + +<p>We have walked through +sleep and we have slept while +we walked. The rise is steeper. +Our oil lamp is still burning +and our shadows fall behind +us into the blackness. +There will be light for perhaps +ten more hours.</p> + +<p>There is a dampness now in +the passage, like that of the +passage to Red Lake. Our +tiredness is so great we become +afraid sometimes that +after one of our rests we may +not be able to go on. I am +worried about Nina. She says +nothing, but I think for a +long while now she has been +walking on heart strength +alone. We have seven hours +of light before us.</p> + +<p>The passage has ended. +For a moment the thought +came that we were on Earth +Surface. But Doctor Dorn +says we are in a great cavern, +larger even than the Cavern +of Red Lake. Our one light is +as nothing in this great blackness, +and we walk close to the +wall so we will not become +lost. In some places the walls +are like glass as if from a +very great heat. There are +more passages in the sides of +this cavern than the mind can +imagine. But after this rest +there is nothing else we can +do but try one of them.</p> + +<p>For five hours we have been +lost in passages that curve +and turn and join with each +other as madly as if they were +made by lost-mind men. Now +we have found our way back +to the Great Cavern. We shall +stay here the two hours longer +our light and lives will +last.</p> + +<p>It is easier now that our +hope is nothing.</p> + +<p>We can rest and wait, and +even our fear becomes less in +our tiredness.</p> + +<p>The time has gone slowly, +but the light from the lamp is +becoming less now. In a few +seconds it will go out, and the +Groles will come, and our +lives will be over. Perhaps +for an instant before we die, +we shall know what the +Groles are; or perhaps it happens +so quickly we will never +know anything. This may be +the better way. Nina trembles +in my arms.</p> + +<p>We wait in the blackness. +The lamp has been out for +many minutes but the Groles +have not come.</p> + +<p>How can this be? Can the +mind conceive that there are +no such things as Groles, that, +like so many other things, +they are only a lie of the State?</p> + +<p>These last words I write +now.</p> + +<p>The Groles are coming! We +can hear their murmuring +sounds through the passages. +We say goodbye to each other.</p> + +<p>They are very close now—very—</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="noin">ALVAREZ COUNTY DAILY RECORD</p> + +<p><i>Inhabitants of Earth's Interior Come to Alvarez</i><br /> +<span class="sp1">by Franklin Williams, Staff Writer</span></p> + +<p>Alvarez, May 9, 2204.—An +almost unbelievable event of +the greatest significance not +only to Alvarez, or the United +States of the Western +Hemisphere, but to the entire +world, occurred in our Alvarez +County yesterday. Visitors +on the early morning +tour through Alvarez Caverns, +came upon an astonishing +spectacle. Two men and +a young girl of indescribable +strangeness of manner and +dress were seated on the floor +of Atom Cave. All were in the +last stages of exhaustion and +exposure, and even the little +light from the electric hand +lamps seemed to blind them. +Fortunately, in the tour was +Dr. and Mrs. Ferguson of +New Washington, and Dr. +Ferguson, appraising himself +rapidly of the situation, led +the trio out of the Caverns +and drove them to Alvarez +Hospital. Dr. Ferguson says +they seemed completely dazed +and unable to speak. They +came with him without resistance.</p> + +<p>After an examination by +Dr. Stutfeldt of Alvarez Hospital +which completely confirmed +Dr. Ferguson's earlier +diagnosis, the strange visitors +were put in a darkened room, +in which they surprisingly +had no difficulty seeing, and +were given simple nourishment.</p> + +<p>Late in the evening, after +they had slept and rested +for many hours, they were +questioned. In the presence of +a distinguished group which +included Mayor Whitehead, +Professor Lorraine Johnson (a +very charming young lady) of +the Alvarez University, J. W. +Wilson, Chairman of the Alvarez +Chamber of Commerce, +and your reporter, they told +an amazing, but according to +Professor Johnson, entirely +credible story.</p> + +<p>Speaking slowly with an accent +strongly reminiscent of +twenty-first century North +American, but with somewhat +peculiar grammatical formations, +the oldest of the group +told of their having walked +for many weeks from their +State deep within the Earth.</p> + +<p>Undoubtedly, they will +have much more of interest to +tell, but Dr. Stutfeldt refused +to let them talk for more than +a few minutes. He says it will +be many weeks before they +will regain their strength, +and much longer before they +will be able to adjust to the +tremendous differences between +their old life and life +on the surface of the earth. It +is entirely possible, Dr. Stutfeldt +says, that they may never +be able to make this adjustment.</p> + +<p>An interesting sidelight of +their within-the-earth civilization +is that, although they +apparently have the same calendar +system as ours, in some +way their time seems to have +gotten out of step. According +to their reckoning it is now +some three years and two +months later than it is.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="noin">NEW WASHINGTON SUN</p> + +<p>What's New Under the Sun<br /> +<span class="sp1">by Dick Richard</span></p> + +<p>The (very) little furor that +has been caused by the recent +report from Alvarez +County of the arrival of visitors +from inside the earth +shows signs of abating completely. +Very likely it is just +a case of poor timing, (three +reports of flying saucers and +one of Saturnian birdmen in +less than a month has pretty +well saturated the gullibility +market). But perhaps it is +just as well. Not that we are +skeptical by nature, but we +cannot help wondering at the +somewhat amazing coincidence +of the Alvarez report +being issued just two weeks +before the start of the Alvarez +County Festival.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="noin"><i>UNITED STATES OF THE +WESTERN HEMISPHERE +DEPARTMENT OF STATE +DIVISION OF INVESTIGATION</i></p> + +<p class="noin">Report on Supernatural Phenomena: +File No. B5138.<br /> +Subject: Subterranean Inhabitants.<br /> +Reference: Alvarez County +Record, News Item of May 9, +2204, et al. (See File).</p> + +<p>On January 3, 2206, in performance +of the subject investigation, +a visit was made +to the Alvarez Hospital at +Alvarez, Alvarez County. Dr. +Ernest Stutfeldt was contacted, +and upon being questioned, +expressed surprise and +some annoyance that an investigation +was being conducted, +in his words, "so damned long +after everything was over." It +was pointed out to Dr. Stutfeldt +that qualified investigative +personnel was limited, +that these matters had to be +taken in their proper turn, +and that a year and a half interval +for an investigation of +this nature was not considered +excessive. The information +was then elicited from +Dr. Stutfeldt that the "earth +visitors" were no longer patients +at the hospital, that +two of them, a Mr. and Mrs. +Jon Farmer, were living on +their farm about ten miles out +of Alvarez, and that the +third, a Dr. Dorn Smith, was +studying medicine at Alvarez +University.</p> + +<p>Transportation to the university +was thereupon obtained, +and after considerable +time and difficulty, Dr. Dorn +Smith was located. When +asked for some proof of his +subterranean origin, the doctor +was unable to provide +same. His descriptions of the +life and government of his +claimed underground "State" +could with a little imagination, +have been derived from +any textbook on the absolute +governments of the twenty-first +century.</p> + +<p>A certain measure of authenticity +was temporarily ascribed +to Dr. Dorn Smith's +statements, when these were +termed as "entirely credible" +by Professor Lorraine Johnson +of the university. However, +the explanation for Professor +Johnson's corroboration +became obvious when it +was learned that the professor +and Dr. Dorn Smith were engaged +to be married.</p> + +<p>Although it was apparent +by this time that the claims +made by the subject investigatees +had no information in +fact, in order to insure a +completely comprehensive inquiry, +a visit was made to the +Farmers' domicile. Obviously +alerted by a phonovision from +Dr. Dorn Smith, Mr. and Mrs. +Farmer were cordial, but no +more informative than their +three-month-old baby daughter. +The inquiry was then +terminated.</p> + +<p>A verbatim account of all +questions and answers pertaining +to the above investigation +is affixed hereto.</p> + +<p>Therefore, and in consequence +of this inquiry, it is +recommended that the subject +supernatural phenomenon be +classified as "Not Verified," +and that the file be closed.</p> + +<p class="nom rgt">Respectfully submitted,<br /> +Clarence B. Pendergast,<br /> +Special Investigator of Supernatural Phenomena</p> + +<p class="noin nom">DEPARTMENT OF STATE<br /> +January 5, 2206.</p> + +<div class="trn"><div class="figt"><a href="images/001-2.jpg"><img src="images/001-1.jpg" width="147" height="200" alt="" title="" /></a></div> + +<p><b><big>Transcriber's Note:</big></b></p> + +<p>This etext was produced from <i>Fantastic Universe</i> August 1957. +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 Out of the Earth, by George Edrich + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK OUT OF THE EARTH *** + +***** This file should be named 31597-h.htm or 31597-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/5/9/31597/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://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 +http://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 http://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 +http://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 http://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 http://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 checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is 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: + + http://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/31597-h/images/001-1.jpg b/31597-h/images/001-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ab5cf63 --- /dev/null +++ b/31597-h/images/001-1.jpg diff --git a/31597-h/images/001-2.jpg b/31597-h/images/001-2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d89f132 --- /dev/null +++ b/31597-h/images/001-2.jpg |
