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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/31597-h.zip b/31597-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..267dd38 --- /dev/null +++ b/31597-h.zip 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. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Out of the Earth + +Author: George Edrich + +Release Date: March 11, 2010 [EBook #31597] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** 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 + + + + + + + + + + _This is not a story about the Dero! This _is_ 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!_ + + + out + of + the + earth + + _by GEORGE EDRICH_ + + + Offences against the State meant elimination in the + Black Passage. Death. And these people were to die! + + +First Awake, 2 Juli, 2207 + +We have 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. + +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. + +Ten awakes and sleeps of not knowing why. Then the trial--"Jon Farmer +8267, we show you a copy of _The Mushroom Farmers' Journal_ of 21 +January 2204. We call your attention to the article _Experiments With +Red Lake Mushrooms in Rock Soil_. 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?" + +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. + +"--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." + +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." + +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. + +"Please, Nina--" I said, but she shook her head, and her eyes told me I +could say nothing more. + +The Judges were angry. "Nina Farmerswife 8267, you are hereby declared +an Enemy of the State. By order of ..." + + * * * * * + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Black Passage was before us! + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Theodor Cook was the first one to ask him the question we were all +thinking about. "When will we die?" he asked. + +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. + +Theodor asked whether the dead bones we had seen were people who had +been killed by the Groles. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +It is strange though how even a hope so small as to be almost nothing +can give new strength to the heart. + +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. + +Theodor asked wouldn't we get the Black Fear, with so little light. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + * * * * * + +Second Awake, 3 Juli 2207 + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + * * * * * + +Third Awake, 4 Juli 2207 + +Another sleep has come and our tiredness is greater. Doctor Dorn thinks +we are about twenty-five miles from Lost City. + +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. + + * * * * * + +Fourth Awake, 5 Juli 2207 + +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. + +We do not talk as much now. All of our strength must be used for +walking. + + * * * * * + +Fifth Awake, 6 Juli 2207 + +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. + +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. + + * * * * * + +Seventh Awake, 8 Juli 2207 + +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. + + * * * * * + +Eleventh Awake, 12 Juli 2207 + +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. + + * * * * * + +Twelfth Awake, 13 Juli 2207 + +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. + +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. + + * * * * * + +Fourteenth Awake, 15 Juli 2207 + +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. + +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. + + * * * * * + +Seventeenth Awake, 18 Juli 2207 + +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. + +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. + + * * * * * + +Eighteenth Awake, 19 Juli 2207 + +Eighteen awakes and sleeps we have walked in Black Passage. To the mind, +it is forever. + +The passage has begun to climb a little. This is not a good thing. + + * * * * * + +Nineteenth Awake, 20 Juli 2207 + +I write this during rest. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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? + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + * * * * * + +Twentieth Awake, 21 Juli 2207 + +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. + +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. + +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? + +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. + +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. + +Doctor Dorn stopped to let us think about what he had told us. _Earth +Surface_--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. + +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. + +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?" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + * * * * * + +Twenty-First Awake, 22 Juli 2207 + +The passage is still climbing and we rest often. I write a little during +some of our rests. + + * * * * * + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + * * * * * + +Twenty-Second Awake, 23 Juli 2207 + +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. + +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. + +Theodor was gone! + +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. + +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. + +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. + + * * * * * + +Twenty-Third Awake, 24 Juli 2207 + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +It is easier now that our hope is nothing. + +We can rest and wait, and even our fear becomes less in our tiredness. + +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. + +We wait in the blackness. The lamp has been out for many minutes but the +Groles have not come. + +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? + +These last words I write now. + +The Groles are coming! We can hear their murmuring sounds through the +passages. We say goodbye to each other. + +They are very close now--very-- + + * * * * * + +ALVAREZ COUNTY DAILY RECORD + + _Inhabitants of Earth's Interior Come to Alvarez_ + by Franklin Williams, Staff Writer + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + * * * * * + +NEW WASHINGTON SUN + + What's New Under the Sun + by Dick Richard + +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. + + * * * * * + +_UNITED STATES OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE DEPARTMENT OF STATE DIVISION OF +INVESTIGATION_ + +Report on Supernatural Phenomena: File No. B5138. + +Subject: Subterranean Inhabitants. + +Reference: Alvarez County Record, News Item of May 9, 2204, et al. (See +File). + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +A verbatim account of all questions and answers pertaining to the above +investigation is affixed hereto. + +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. + + Respectfully submitted, + Clarence B. Pendergast, + Special Investigator of Supernatural Phenomena + DEPARTMENT OF STATE + January 5, 2206. + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from _Fantastic Universe_ 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. + + + + + +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.txt or 31597.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. 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