diff options
| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:56:15 -0700 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 19:56:15 -0700 |
| commit | 56c8bd3453e44ad83ae527dfc1e78b194615e4d2 (patch) | |
| tree | 2b2272bbd68fa5bffaf36551f245fa3c5c5e57cd | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31703-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 142451 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31703-h/31703-h.htm | 1305 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31703-h/images/001.png | bin | 0 -> 25924 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31703-h/images/002-1.jpg | bin | 0 -> 13845 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31703-h/images/002-2.jpg | bin | 0 -> 85615 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31703.txt | 950 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 31703.zip | bin | 0 -> 15530 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
10 files changed, 2271 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/31703-h.zip b/31703-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1091612 --- /dev/null +++ b/31703-h.zip diff --git a/31703-h/31703-h.htm b/31703-h/31703-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..87ee96d --- /dev/null +++ b/31703-h/31703-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1305 @@ +<!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 'Mid Pleasures and Palaces, by James McKimmey, Jr. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + + p {margin-top: .75em; text-align: justify; margin-bottom: .75em;} + h1,h2 {text-align: left;} + hr {width: 45%; margin: 2em auto; visibility: hidden;} + body {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .rgt {text-align: right;} + .figr {float: right; clear: right; margin: 1em 0 1em 1em; padding: 0; width: 364px;} + img {border: none;} + a:link,a:visited {text-decoration: none;} + p.cap:first-letter {float: left; margin-right: .05em; padding-top: .05em; font-size: 300%; line-height: .8em; width: auto;} + .dcap {text-transform: uppercase;} + .figt {float: left; clear: left; margin: 15px; padding: 0; width: 138px;} + .trn {border: solid 1px; margin: 3em 15%; min-height: 230px;} + .trn p {margin: 15px;} + .bk1 {margin-right: 40%;} + .bk2 {margin: 3em 0;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of 'Mid Pleasures and Palaces, by James McKimmey + +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: 'Mid Pleasures and Palaces + +Author: James McKimmey + +Illustrator: Philip Parsons + +Release Date: March 19, 2010 [EBook #31703] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 'MID PLEASURES AND PALACES *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="bk1"><p><i><big>It was, Kirk thought, like standing in a gully, watching +a boulder teeter precariously above you. It might +fall at any minute, crushing your life out instantly beneath +its weight. Your only possible defenses are your +brain and voice—but how do you argue with a boulder +which neither sees nor hears?</big></i></p></div> + +<div class="bk2"><h1>'mid pleasures and palaces</h1> + +<h2>By James McKimmey, Jr.</h2> + +<p><b>Illustrated by Philip Parsons</b></p></div> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">This planet</span> was remote and +set apart, and nothing about +it had made William Kirk think he +might find human life. Yet just beyond, +through a thorny bush shaped +like an exploding rose, Kirk had +seen eyes and nose and a flash of +yellow hair that were definitely human.</p> + +<p>Kirk poised motionless. He was +three miles from the rocket and +Leo, who was waiting inside of it. +He thought for a moment of how +Leo had told him, as they made +their landing, that this is the kind of +planet where you could go no further. +This is the kind of planet that +could be the end of twelve years, +and you'd better be careful, William, +old sport.</p> + +<p>Kirk noticed a faint breeze; his +palms were wet, and they cooled +when the breeze touched them. He +placed his palms against his jacket. +Damn you, Leo, he thought. Damn +your rotten fortune-telling. Kirk +was superstitious when he was in +space, and the memory of Leo Mason's +cool, quiet voice saying +"Watch it now, sport. Be careful, be +careful ..." seemed now like some +certain kiss of fate.</p> + +<p>The bush trembled and Kirk's +right hand flicked to his holster. His +pistol was cold against his fingers +and he let it fit loosely in his hand, +the barrel half-raised.</p> + +<p>The bush shivered again, and +then all at once the figure was rising +from behind it, a tall wide figure +with a very tan face, lined and +toughened by the sun. The shoulders, +bare like the chest, were massive, +yet somehow stretched-looking, +as though endless exposure to wind +and rain and sun had turned the +skin to brown leather.</p> + +<div class="figr"><img src="images/001.png" width="364" height="550" alt="" title="" /></div> + +<p>Kirk had his pistol pointing at +the figure's stomach now, and the +figure blinked, while the breeze +touched and ruffled the long +bleached hair.</p> + +<p>The figure raised a large hand, +palm up, and curled the fingers. +"Hello?" he said softly. Kirk was +surprised by the word and the polite +sound of it.</p> + +<p>Kirk remained motionless, pistol +pointing. "Who are you?" he said +through his teeth.</p> + +<p>"Harry," said the figure, as +though Kirk surely should know +who he was. "I'm Harry, of course."</p> + +<p>"Yes?" said Kirk carefully. +"Harry?"</p> + +<p>The figure nodded. "Harry Loren, +don't you know?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," Kirk said, his eyes +watchful. "Harry Loren." There +was something about the man's +eyes, Kirk decided. They were deep +set and very bright within their +sockets. They didn't match the softness +of the speech. Harry Loren +smiled and showed his yellow teeth. +"Who are you?" he asked politely.</p> + +<p>"I'm William," Kirk said. It was +as though he might be speaking to +a frightened child, he thought, who +held a sharp knife in his hands. +"William Kirk, of course."</p> + +<p>Harry Loren nodded apologetically. +"Oh, yes. I can't remember +everyone. It's been so long. How are +you, William?"</p> + +<p>Kirk's eyes flickered. "I'm fine."</p> + +<p>"That's nice," Harry Loren +nodded. His wild hair brushed over +his shoulders and reflected its yellowness +against the sun. The knife +then, the one that Kirk had thought +about a moment ago, appeared in +the figure's hand. "<i>Bastard</i>," Harry +Loren hissed, and he was leaping at +Kirk, the knife making a sweep toward +Kirk's stomach.</p> + +<p>Something kept Kirk from +squeezing the trigger, and instead +he swung his pistol so that it struck +the brown, weathered knuckles. +The knife flew into a thicket and +Loren, screaming, was upon Kirk, +reaching for Kirk's neck. Kirk +wrenched backward and at the +same time swung the barrel of the +pistol toward the yellow flying hair. +There was a cracking sound, and +Harry Loren, brown and wild-looking, +crumpled silently before Kirk's +feet.</p> + +<p>Kirk examined the man, then he +reached down and picked up the +knife from the thicket. It was crudely +hammered out from some kind of +alloy, but sharp nevertheless, and +it could have been deadly in a hand +like Harry Loren's.</p> + +<p>Kirk looked again at the yellow-haired +man on the ground. He was +wearing some kind of ragged cloth +about his waist and nothing else. +Across his back, Kirk could see, was +a curving scar, an inch wide and +ten or twelve inches long. It was +white and very noticeable against +the brown of the man's skin.</p> + +<p>Kirk bent down, looking at the +scar carefully. It could have been +made during a crash of a rocket, +but there were, he noticed, fine +whiter ridges running along the +length of the scar as though they +had been made by fine comb-like +teeth. A talon, perhaps. Some kind +of strange claw. Kirk straightened +quickly.</p> + +<p>It went through his head that +Harry Loren might not be the only +animal life on this planet. He tightened +his hand on his pistol, stepping +backward, his eyes darting.</p> + +<p>But he could only pivot slowly, +trying to see, to discover, and he +was much too slow when he finally +saw it. It was only a flash of yellow +and brown, making a hissing kind +of sound. He felt the ripping along +his right arm. The pistol was going +out of his hand. And a swirling +blackness got in front of his eyes.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">When he awoke</span> he saw +Harry Loren first, who was +sitting up now, silent, motionless, +with Kirk's pistol resting in his +hands.</p> + +<p>To the side of Loren and just a +little behind rested a peculiar-looking +thing. It was alive because its +head, shaped like a cone that had +been attached to its neck, kept +swaying gently back and forth. The +dark blue eyes, spaced back from +the smallest end of the cone, were +rather small with no lids. The creature's +neck was long and thin, a +multitude of shades of yellow and +brown like the head, and the rest +of the body widened out like a funnel +and this area was covered with +yellow feathers. It had what appeared +to be arms and legs, long +thin extensions of dark brown with +large bony joints. At the end of each +of these, Kirk could see a flat claw +with rows of tiny comb-like teeth.</p> + +<p>Loren reached out and ran a +hand softly along the creature's long +neck.</p> + +<p>Kirk tried to think, testing his +muscles without moving, and he remembered +then the ripping along +his right arm. He looked at the arm +and at the way his jacket had been +torn away along with the shirt beneath +it. He could see the comb-like +marking of his skin. The cut was +not deep but it bled a little and +stung. He tried to move his arm and +found that he could.</p> + +<p>Kirk looked back to Loren. Loren +stroked his hand along the thin +neck of the creature. Kirk decided +to try:</p> + +<p>"That's a nice-looking animal, +Harry."</p> + +<p>Loren's expression did not +change.</p> + +<p>Kirk paused. From the looks of +the man, Loren had been here a +long time, a very long time. It had +been a crash, probably. And all the +years afterward of loneliness, all the +time for the quiet but sure warping +of the brain.</p> + +<p>He raised a hand quickly, watching +Loren's eyes. Loren did not +change expressions or move the pistol, +but Kirk felt a comb-like claw +touching his hand, freezing it to +motionless with its razor tips. Kirk +looked at the creature. The dark +blue eyes were steady. Kirk lowered +his hand slowly and the claw was +drawn away. The creature's head +resumed it's gentle swaying, and +Loren's hand resumed its stroking.</p> + +<p>Kirk licked his lips.</p> + +<p>"Where have you been?" Loren +said, his voice sudden and hoarse +now.</p> + +<p>"Where have I been?" Kirk said, +tight and motionless.</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you come before?"</p> + +<p>Kirk considered it. The dancing +lights in the man's eyes, the high-strung +sound of his voice were +things to make you wary and careful. +Kirk closed his fingers the +slightest bit. "I didn't know you +were here."</p> + +<p>Loren's lips thinned. "Liar."</p> + +<p>Kirk thought he might try a +smile, to reassure Loren that he +was telling the truth. He decided +against it. "How long have you been +here, Harry?"</p> + +<p>"How would I know?"</p> + +<p>Kirk thought of the endless nights +and days when time ran together +and there was no more separation +of one time from another. Today +would be tomorrow and tomorrow +would be today. No changes. Endless. +"Did you crash, Harry?"</p> + +<p>"Did you crash, Harry?" Loren +mimicked, and for a moment Kirk +felt a chill dancing through him as +he watched the sarcastic leer of +Loren's mouth.</p> + +<p>Kirk kept his tone polite, patronizing. +"Was there anyone else?"</p> + +<p>Loren laughed, a laugh that +bounced over the rocks and through +the scrubs and bushes.</p> + +<p>"Was there, Harry?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," Loren said, grinning +and showing his yellow teeth. "Six. +One, two, three, four, five, six. +Would you like to see their graves? +I've kept the graves pretty. I know +where they are because I dug +them."</p> + +<p>Loren remained in a half crouch, +the fingers of one hand holding the +pistol loosely, the other keeping up +its monotonous stroking of the animal. +His eyes seemed to become vacant +for a moment, as though lost +in the memory of the digging of six +graves. Then they narrowed. +"Where have you been?"</p> + +<p>Kirk tried to match his answer +to the wants of the man. "I came +as soon as I could."</p> + +<p>"You did?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," Kirk said. "I did."</p> + +<p>Loren's right hand stopped its +stroking and his fingers tightened +about the thin long neck of the animal. +"Eddie?" he said.</p> + +<p>Kirk saw the animal's left claw +whipping out. He ducked suddenly, +but the claw ripped along his left +arm. He tried to roll sideways, and +then he lay, half sprawled, looking +at the blood welling up from this +new set of ripped ridges in his arm. +He shifted his eyes to look at the +animal, and he was quite certain +that he could detect a small mouth +fitting around the under side of the +funnel-shaped head. It was only a +line, but Kirk thought that there +was a grinning look to it.</p> + +<p>"You didn't come as soon as you +could," Loren said, his voice an +angry trembling sound.</p> + +<p>"I did, Harry," Kirk said, still remaining +in his half sprawl. "I really +did."</p> + +<p>Loren replaced his hand on the +neck of the animal, squeezing.</p> + +<p>"No, no," Kirk said, and he tried +to keep the panic out of his voice. +"Harry, I'm telling you the truth!"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Loren's mouth</span> showed a +faint surface of his yellow teeth. +He shook his head, slowly, back and +forth, his fingers tightening about +the animal's neck.</p> + +<p>"Harry, listen," Kirk said, watching +Loren's squeezing fingers, "it's +over now. You don't have to wait +any longer. I'll take you back now. +I'll take you home!"</p> + +<p>Loren froze, staring. "Home?" he +said.</p> + +<p>"That's right," Kirk said. "That's +right, Harry."</p> + +<p>"<i>Home</i>," Loren breathed, and +his eyes were suddenly like a child's, +wide and unbelieving.</p> + +<p>"The waiting's all over," Kirk +said. "You don't have to wait any +longer."</p> + +<p>"I don't have to wait any longer," +Loren repeated softly, and his hand +dropped from the neck of the animal.</p> + +<p>Kirk watched Loren and the +swaying animal. "The rocket's +ready," he said.</p> + +<p>Loren's eyes were lost in some +distant memory. Gradually Kirk +could see the eyes turn shiny with +tears. "Is Annette waiting?" he +asked.</p> + +<p>Kirk thought quickly. He knew +that what he was going to say +shouldn't be said, because he had +no right. But he was thinking of +his own skin. "Why, yes, Harry," he +said slowly. "I imagine Annette <i>is</i> +waiting."</p> + +<p>Loren let a quick breath come +through his teeth. "Annette," he +whispered. "And Dickie?"</p> + +<p>"Dickie?" Kirk said.</p> + +<p>"Little Dickie?" Loren said and +he held his breath.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," Kirk lied. "Of +course."</p> + +<p>"I can't ask about Eddie, because +we never had the chance," Loren +said, his eyes still lost. "I always +told Annette that no kid should +ever grow up without a brother, +only we never had the chance for +Eddie." Loren reached out absently +and touched the brown and yellow +neck of the creature. "I called this +fellow Eddie, though. Do you suppose +that was all right? He's not +very pretty."</p> + +<p>Kirk nodded, looking at the waving, +funnel-shaped head of the animal. +"That was all right, Harry."</p> + +<p>"Does she still braid her hair?" +Loren asked, his eyes shiny.</p> + +<p>"What?" Kirk said.</p> + +<p>"Annette. Does she still braid her +hair?"</p> + +<p>"Why," Kirk said slowly, feeling +his palms going moist. "Why +wouldn't she, Harry?"</p> + +<p>A faint smile flickered across +Loren's lips as he remembered.</p> + +<p>Kirk watched one of the creature's +claws, out of the corners of +his eyes. He opened and closed the +fingers of one hand, testing. The +claw jerked slightly.</p> + +<p>The blood of Kirk's new wound +was drying, he knew, because it had +been only a surface cut. He wondered +how it would be if the thing +used its claws with serious intent. +Like it must have to make the cut +that had been raked into Loren's +back. Loren was bending forward +now, and Kirk could see the tip end +of that scar. Somehow Loren had +managed to stay alive and befriend +the creature. Eddie. The lidless eyes +stared.</p> + +<p>Kirk knew that he had to make +use of the moment. It could break +apart any time, the wildness could +return, the unreasoning....</p> + +<p>"Listen, Harry," he said, "we +ought to get started, you know. +There's no use waiting longer."</p> + +<p>"Started?" Loren said.</p> + +<p>"Of course," Kirk said, trying to +keep his voice matter-of-fact. +"You're going home."</p> + +<p>Loren looked at Kirk and his eyes +turned suddenly hard and his +mouth lost the faint smile. "I am," +he stated flatly.</p> + +<p>"Yes," Kirk said. "Of course."</p> + +<p>"You're a liar."</p> + +<p>"Now, Harry," Kirk said, his eyes +flickering to the waiting animal. "I +surely wouldn't lie to you."</p> + +<p>"You haven't come for me until +after all this time, and now you say +you surely wouldn't lie to me."</p> + +<p>It was like standing in a gully, +Kirk thought, watching a boulder +teetering above you. It tipped this +way and that, and you didn't know +when or if it was going to come +hurtling down. You waited. But +Kirk couldn't wait, he knew. He +had to do something.</p> + +<p>"Harry, listen. It wasn't easy to +find you, don't you see?" He hoped +he was making it sound as though +all he had done for the last dozen +years of exploring was look for +Harry Loren. He wished that the +damned thing would stop swaying +its ugly head back and forth. Loren's +hand was inching out toward +the yellow and brown neck.</p> + +<p>"Look, Harry, these things aren't +done in a day. We—"</p> + +<p>"A day!" Loren hissed. "A <i>day</i>! +All this time and you say a <i>day</i>!"</p> + +<p>"No, I'm sorry," Kirk said quickly. +He wished he could shift out +of the cramped half-lying position +he was in. "I didn't mean a day, +Harry. I meant it wasn't easy. We +didn't know where you were—" He +was talking quickly, whining almost, +and he'd never whined before.</p> + +<p>Loren's fingers were touching the +waving neck.</p> + +<p>"We'd better hurry," Kirk said +desperately. "Annette's waiting. +And Dickie, of course."</p> + +<p>Loren blinked.</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't want to keep +them waiting any longer, not after +all this time, Harry."</p> + +<p>Loren stroked his fingers slowly +down the long neck of the animal.</p> + +<p>"I think," Kirk said, almost +hoarsely, "now that I really remember +it, Annette <i>was</i> still wearing her +hair braided. I remember that now, +Harry. Positively."</p> + +<p>Loren froze the motion of his +hand and stared at Kirk. His lips +trembled, and then suddenly he put +his hands in front of his face. He +bent forward, and Kirk felt his +nerves jumping, watching the man +start to cry.</p> + +<p>The animal turned its stare away +from Kirk for the first time. It +looked at Loren and then slowly +raised a claw, touching Loren's +shoulder carefully. It made a sound +then, a peculiar hissing sound, soft, +barely audible. There was no danger +in it, or menace, only a pitiful +sound.</p> + +<p>Loren raised his head a little and +brought his hands away from his +face. Tears had cut through dust +and grime and his face was +streaked.</p> + +<p>"Shall we go, Harry?" Kirk said.</p> + +<p>Loren wiped at his eyes, stupidly, +without knowing what he was doing. +Then he brought his hands +down and wiped them across his +chest.</p> + +<p>"All right," he said. "Let's go." +He picked up Kirk's pistol from +where he had dropped it on the +ground and held it out.</p> + +<p>Kirk looked at the gun and at the +animal. The claw had been drawn +away from Loren's shoulder and +again it was poised, ready. "You +keep it, Harry," he said.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes. Of course," Loren said. +There was a moment of silence as +Loren stuck the pistol absently into +the waist of his ragged cloth covering, +beside the knife. The three of +them waited then, Kirk, Loren, and +the animal.</p> + +<p>"Eddie?" Loren said finally. "Are +you ready?"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">Kirk felt</span> himself smiling in +the direction of the animal. He +remembered when he was a small +boy, going by a house where there +had been a mongrel with a flat head +and large teeth. He had smiled at +that animal as he was doing now. +The dog had sensed his fear in spite +of the smile.</p> + +<p>Loren was standing up slowly, +and the animal's head swayed in +slow circling motions.</p> + +<p>"All right?" Loren said.</p> + +<p>Kirk glanced at the man, saw the +wild, nearly vacant look of the face, +the polite tilt of the head. Kirk's +palms were wet. Goddamn it, he +thought, and he stood up suddenly.</p> + +<p>The animal extended a claw, +slowly, turning it so that it seemed +to wind and circle as it came toward +Kirk.</p> + +<p>"<i>Eddie</i>," Loren said.</p> + +<p>The claw came away. Kirk +caught his breath.</p> + +<p>"Shall we go?" Loren said, his +eyes shining.</p> + +<p>"Yes," Kirk said. "We'll go, +Harry." He turned slowly, so that +his back was to Loren and the animal. +He thought about the comb-like +claws and the scar on Loren's +back. He thought about Loren's +knife and about the pistol.</p> + +<p>He wanted to look back as he +walked. He wanted to talk, to hear +Loren's answer and so know just +where he was. More than anything +he wanted to break into a run and +get into that rocket and get out of +here.</p> + +<p>He could see the gleam of the +rocket finally, but he didn't look +back yet. He kept moving. As he +got closer he could see Leo, standing +near the base of the ship, tall, +leaning carelessly against the silver +surface, smoking. He wanted to +shout to Leo, to tell him for God's +sake to wake up and protect him.</p> + +<p>They reached the edge of the +clearing and Leo, whose careless +body had stiffened, waited motionless, +one hand on his pistol. Kirk +stopped. "There it is, Harry," he +said, not turning around. "There's +the ship." He waited, half-closing +his eyes, breathing slowly.</p> + +<p>There was no sound.</p> + +<p>"That's Leo, my friend, Harry," +Kirk said, putting his palms flat +against his thighs. "Your friend, +Harry."</p> + +<p>Leo, Kirk could see, was still +frozen, his eyes slitted to narrow +brightness. Kirk began to step into +the clearing. "Hello, there, Leo," he +said, his voice a tense, grating +sound. "I've brought some friends."</p> + +<p>Leo was lifting his pistol out of +its holster, inchingly.</p> + +<p>"<i>Friends</i>," Kirk rasped.</p> + +<p>Leo's thin eyes flickered and the +pistol slid back into the holster.</p> + +<p>Kirk turned around slowly, and +he saw that Loren had stopped just +inside the clearing. The animal remained +beside him, its head making +its slow circles. Loren was staring +up at the rocket and the sun reflecting +from the bright surface, came +down and shown on Loren's face, +deepening the lines there.</p> + +<p>"Leo," Kirk said slowly, "this is +Harry Loren and his friend, Eddie. +Harry's been here quite a while, +waiting for us."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes?" said Leo, still not +moving.</p> + +<p>"That's right, Leo," Kirk said. +"Quite a while. What year was it, +Harry?" he said across the clearing. +"What year did you crash?"</p> + +<p>Loren blinked and there were +tears again in his eyes. He reached +out slowly, and the animal shifted +so that its head touched Loren's +hand. "Twenty-four-nineteen."</p> + +<p>Kirk put his teeth together. +"Twenty-four-nineteen," he said.</p> + +<p>Loren nodded slowly, his eyes +still upon the rocket.</p> + +<p>"Eighteen years," Leo said softly.</p> + +<p>"A long time, Leo," Kirk said. +He thought of a girl with her hair +braided about her head, looking up, +while Loren had shot into the +depths of sky and space. He thought +of a little boy called Dickie, standing +there, too, watching a fast-disappearing +blackness in the sky. He +thought about eighteen years, and +the fading of youth. A boy becoming +a man. Braided hair becoming +gray. Memories fading and minds +adjusting. New love, new dedication. +A world shifting, a universe +shifting.</p> + +<p>Kirk looked at Eddie, the animal, +real and alive, waiting patiently at +the tips of Loren's fingers. "Eddie's +been with Harry for a long time," +he said.</p> + +<p>"Oh?" said Leo quietly.</p> + +<p>Loren's hand stroked the brown +and yellow head.</p> + +<p>"Harry," Kirk said. "We're going +to leave now. Are you ready?"</p> + +<p>Loren was silent.</p> + +<p>"You go up first, will you, Leo?" +Kirk said.</p> + +<p>Leo looked at him, a faint frown +touching his brow, then he began +moving up the ladder to the air +lock. Kirk waited until Leo had disappeared +into the rocket, then he +repeated, "We're going to leave +now, Harry. Are you ready?"</p> + +<p>Loren remained motionless, his +hand touching the animal's head. +Suddenly he turned then and began +moving slowly away through the +brush, the brown and yellow creature +bobbing beside him with queer +rocker-like jumps.</p> + +<p>"Goodby, Harry," Kirk said. +Finally he turned and climbed up +the ladder. When he had gotten +into his seat, he said, "Let's go, +Leo," and he moved his hands to +the controls.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p class="cap"><span class="dcap">The rocket</span> settled into the quiet +motion of its course through space.</p> + +<p>"But I don't get it," Leo said. "I +really don't. All that time, and then +all he has to do is walk a dozen +yards and get into the rocket and +he's going home. That's all he +would have to do."</p> + +<p>"Why?" Kirk said.</p> + +<p>"Why?" said Leo, frowning.</p> + +<p>Kirk nodded, looking at the man. +"Why?"</p> + +<p class="rgt"><b>... THE END</b></p> + +<div class="trn"><div class="figt"><a href="images/002-2.jpg"><img src="images/002-1.jpg" width="138" height="200" alt="" title="" /></a></div> + +<p><b><big>Transcriber's Note:</big></b></p> + +<p>This etext was produced from <i>If: Worlds of Science Fiction</i> March 1954. +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 Project Gutenberg's 'Mid Pleasures and Palaces, by James McKimmey + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 'MID PLEASURES AND PALACES *** + +***** This file should be named 31703-h.htm or 31703-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/7/0/31703/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/31703-h/images/001.png b/31703-h/images/001.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c7fb14a --- /dev/null +++ b/31703-h/images/001.png diff --git a/31703-h/images/002-1.jpg b/31703-h/images/002-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..620db8f --- /dev/null +++ b/31703-h/images/002-1.jpg diff --git a/31703-h/images/002-2.jpg b/31703-h/images/002-2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b975ca7 --- /dev/null +++ b/31703-h/images/002-2.jpg diff --git a/31703.txt b/31703.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d31941a --- /dev/null +++ b/31703.txt @@ -0,0 +1,950 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of 'Mid Pleasures and Palaces, by James McKimmey + +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: 'Mid Pleasures and Palaces + +Author: James McKimmey + +Illustrator: Philip Parsons + +Release Date: March 19, 2010 [EBook #31703] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 'MID PLEASURES AND PALACES *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + _It was, Kirk thought, like standing in a gully, watching a boulder + teeter precariously above you. It might fall at any minute, crushing + your life out instantly beneath its weight. Your only possible + defenses are your brain and voice--but how do you argue with a + boulder which neither sees nor hears?_ + + +'mid pleasures and palaces + +By James McKimmey, Jr. + +Illustrated by Philip Parsons + + +This planet was remote and set apart, and nothing about it had made +William Kirk think he might find human life. Yet just beyond, through a +thorny bush shaped like an exploding rose, Kirk had seen eyes and nose +and a flash of yellow hair that were definitely human. + +Kirk poised motionless. He was three miles from the rocket and Leo, who +was waiting inside of it. He thought for a moment of how Leo had told +him, as they made their landing, that this is the kind of planet where +you could go no further. This is the kind of planet that could be the +end of twelve years, and you'd better be careful, William, old sport. + +Kirk noticed a faint breeze; his palms were wet, and they cooled when +the breeze touched them. He placed his palms against his jacket. Damn +you, Leo, he thought. Damn your rotten fortune-telling. Kirk was +superstitious when he was in space, and the memory of Leo Mason's cool, +quiet voice saying "Watch it now, sport. Be careful, be careful ..." +seemed now like some certain kiss of fate. + +The bush trembled and Kirk's right hand flicked to his holster. His +pistol was cold against his fingers and he let it fit loosely in his +hand, the barrel half-raised. + +The bush shivered again, and then all at once the figure was rising from +behind it, a tall wide figure with a very tan face, lined and +toughened by the sun. The shoulders, bare like the chest, were massive, +yet somehow stretched-looking, as though endless exposure to wind and +rain and sun had turned the skin to brown leather. + +[Illustration] + +Kirk had his pistol pointing at the figure's stomach now, and the figure +blinked, while the breeze touched and ruffled the long bleached hair. + +The figure raised a large hand, palm up, and curled the fingers. +"Hello?" he said softly. Kirk was surprised by the word and the polite +sound of it. + +Kirk remained motionless, pistol pointing. "Who are you?" he said +through his teeth. + +"Harry," said the figure, as though Kirk surely should know who he was. +"I'm Harry, of course." + +"Yes?" said Kirk carefully. "Harry?" + +The figure nodded. "Harry Loren, don't you know?" + +"Oh, yes," Kirk said, his eyes watchful. "Harry Loren." There was +something about the man's eyes, Kirk decided. They were deep set and +very bright within their sockets. They didn't match the softness of the +speech. Harry Loren smiled and showed his yellow teeth. "Who are you?" +he asked politely. + +"I'm William," Kirk said. It was as though he might be speaking to a +frightened child, he thought, who held a sharp knife in his hands. +"William Kirk, of course." + +Harry Loren nodded apologetically. "Oh, yes. I can't remember everyone. +It's been so long. How are you, William?" + +Kirk's eyes flickered. "I'm fine." + +"That's nice," Harry Loren nodded. His wild hair brushed over his +shoulders and reflected its yellowness against the sun. The knife then, +the one that Kirk had thought about a moment ago, appeared in the +figure's hand. "_Bastard_," Harry Loren hissed, and he was leaping at +Kirk, the knife making a sweep toward Kirk's stomach. + +Something kept Kirk from squeezing the trigger, and instead he swung his +pistol so that it struck the brown, weathered knuckles. The knife flew +into a thicket and Loren, screaming, was upon Kirk, reaching for Kirk's +neck. Kirk wrenched backward and at the same time swung the barrel of +the pistol toward the yellow flying hair. There was a cracking sound, +and Harry Loren, brown and wild-looking, crumpled silently before Kirk's +feet. + +Kirk examined the man, then he reached down and picked up the knife from +the thicket. It was crudely hammered out from some kind of alloy, but +sharp nevertheless, and it could have been deadly in a hand like Harry +Loren's. + +Kirk looked again at the yellow-haired man on the ground. He was wearing +some kind of ragged cloth about his waist and nothing else. Across his +back, Kirk could see, was a curving scar, an inch wide and ten or twelve +inches long. It was white and very noticeable against the brown of the +man's skin. + +Kirk bent down, looking at the scar carefully. It could have been made +during a crash of a rocket, but there were, he noticed, fine whiter +ridges running along the length of the scar as though they had been +made by fine comb-like teeth. A talon, perhaps. Some kind of strange +claw. Kirk straightened quickly. + +It went through his head that Harry Loren might not be the only animal +life on this planet. He tightened his hand on his pistol, stepping +backward, his eyes darting. + +But he could only pivot slowly, trying to see, to discover, and he was +much too slow when he finally saw it. It was only a flash of yellow and +brown, making a hissing kind of sound. He felt the ripping along his +right arm. The pistol was going out of his hand. And a swirling +blackness got in front of his eyes. + + * * * * * + +When he awoke he saw Harry Loren first, who was sitting up now, silent, +motionless, with Kirk's pistol resting in his hands. + +To the side of Loren and just a little behind rested a peculiar-looking +thing. It was alive because its head, shaped like a cone that had been +attached to its neck, kept swaying gently back and forth. The dark blue +eyes, spaced back from the smallest end of the cone, were rather small +with no lids. The creature's neck was long and thin, a multitude of +shades of yellow and brown like the head, and the rest of the body +widened out like a funnel and this area was covered with yellow +feathers. It had what appeared to be arms and legs, long thin extensions +of dark brown with large bony joints. At the end of each of these, Kirk +could see a flat claw with rows of tiny comb-like teeth. + +Loren reached out and ran a hand softly along the creature's long neck. + +Kirk tried to think, testing his muscles without moving, and he +remembered then the ripping along his right arm. He looked at the arm +and at the way his jacket had been torn away along with the shirt +beneath it. He could see the comb-like marking of his skin. The cut was +not deep but it bled a little and stung. He tried to move his arm and +found that he could. + +Kirk looked back to Loren. Loren stroked his hand along the thin neck of +the creature. Kirk decided to try: + +"That's a nice-looking animal, Harry." + +Loren's expression did not change. + +Kirk paused. From the looks of the man, Loren had been here a long time, +a very long time. It had been a crash, probably. And all the years +afterward of loneliness, all the time for the quiet but sure warping of +the brain. + +He raised a hand quickly, watching Loren's eyes. Loren did not change +expressions or move the pistol, but Kirk felt a comb-like claw touching +his hand, freezing it to motionless with its razor tips. Kirk looked at +the creature. The dark blue eyes were steady. Kirk lowered his hand +slowly and the claw was drawn away. The creature's head resumed it's +gentle swaying, and Loren's hand resumed its stroking. + +Kirk licked his lips. + +"Where have you been?" Loren said, his voice sudden and hoarse now. + +"Where have I been?" Kirk said, tight and motionless. + +"Why didn't you come before?" + +Kirk considered it. The dancing lights in the man's eyes, the +high-strung sound of his voice were things to make you wary and careful. +Kirk closed his fingers the slightest bit. "I didn't know you were +here." + +Loren's lips thinned. "Liar." + +Kirk thought he might try a smile, to reassure Loren that he was telling +the truth. He decided against it. "How long have you been here, Harry?" + +"How would I know?" + +Kirk thought of the endless nights and days when time ran together and +there was no more separation of one time from another. Today would be +tomorrow and tomorrow would be today. No changes. Endless. "Did you +crash, Harry?" + +"Did you crash, Harry?" Loren mimicked, and for a moment Kirk felt a +chill dancing through him as he watched the sarcastic leer of Loren's +mouth. + +Kirk kept his tone polite, patronizing. "Was there anyone else?" + +Loren laughed, a laugh that bounced over the rocks and through the +scrubs and bushes. + +"Was there, Harry?" + +"Oh, yes," Loren said, grinning and showing his yellow teeth. "Six. One, +two, three, four, five, six. Would you like to see their graves? I've +kept the graves pretty. I know where they are because I dug them." + +Loren remained in a half crouch, the fingers of one hand holding the +pistol loosely, the other keeping up its monotonous stroking of the +animal. His eyes seemed to become vacant for a moment, as though lost in +the memory of the digging of six graves. Then they narrowed. "Where have +you been?" + +Kirk tried to match his answer to the wants of the man. "I came as soon +as I could." + +"You did?" + +"Yes," Kirk said. "I did." + +Loren's right hand stopped its stroking and his fingers tightened about +the thin long neck of the animal. "Eddie?" he said. + +Kirk saw the animal's left claw whipping out. He ducked suddenly, but +the claw ripped along his left arm. He tried to roll sideways, and then +he lay, half sprawled, looking at the blood welling up from this new set +of ripped ridges in his arm. He shifted his eyes to look at the animal, +and he was quite certain that he could detect a small mouth fitting +around the under side of the funnel-shaped head. It was only a line, but +Kirk thought that there was a grinning look to it. + +"You didn't come as soon as you could," Loren said, his voice an angry +trembling sound. + +"I did, Harry," Kirk said, still remaining in his half sprawl. "I really +did." + +Loren replaced his hand on the neck of the animal, squeezing. + +"No, no," Kirk said, and he tried to keep the panic out of his voice. +"Harry, I'm telling you the truth!" + + * * * * * + +Loren's mouth showed a faint surface of his yellow teeth. He shook his +head, slowly, back and forth, his fingers tightening about the animal's +neck. + +"Harry, listen," Kirk said, watching Loren's squeezing fingers, "it's +over now. You don't have to wait any longer. I'll take you back now. +I'll take you home!" + +Loren froze, staring. "Home?" he said. + +"That's right," Kirk said. "That's right, Harry." + +"_Home_," Loren breathed, and his eyes were suddenly like a child's, +wide and unbelieving. + +"The waiting's all over," Kirk said. "You don't have to wait any +longer." + +"I don't have to wait any longer," Loren repeated softly, and his hand +dropped from the neck of the animal. + +Kirk watched Loren and the swaying animal. "The rocket's ready," he +said. + +Loren's eyes were lost in some distant memory. Gradually Kirk could see +the eyes turn shiny with tears. "Is Annette waiting?" he asked. + +Kirk thought quickly. He knew that what he was going to say shouldn't be +said, because he had no right. But he was thinking of his own skin. +"Why, yes, Harry," he said slowly. "I imagine Annette _is_ waiting." + +Loren let a quick breath come through his teeth. "Annette," he +whispered. "And Dickie?" + +"Dickie?" Kirk said. + +"Little Dickie?" Loren said and he held his breath. + +"Oh, yes," Kirk lied. "Of course." + +"I can't ask about Eddie, because we never had the chance," Loren said, +his eyes still lost. "I always told Annette that no kid should ever grow +up without a brother, only we never had the chance for Eddie." Loren +reached out absently and touched the brown and yellow neck of the +creature. "I called this fellow Eddie, though. Do you suppose that was +all right? He's not very pretty." + +Kirk nodded, looking at the waving, funnel-shaped head of the animal. +"That was all right, Harry." + +"Does she still braid her hair?" Loren asked, his eyes shiny. + +"What?" Kirk said. + +"Annette. Does she still braid her hair?" + +"Why," Kirk said slowly, feeling his palms going moist. "Why wouldn't +she, Harry?" + +A faint smile flickered across Loren's lips as he remembered. + +Kirk watched one of the creature's claws, out of the corners of his +eyes. He opened and closed the fingers of one hand, testing. The claw +jerked slightly. + +The blood of Kirk's new wound was drying, he knew, because it had been +only a surface cut. He wondered how it would be if the thing used its +claws with serious intent. Like it must have to make the cut that had +been raked into Loren's back. Loren was bending forward now, and Kirk +could see the tip end of that scar. Somehow Loren had managed to stay +alive and befriend the creature. Eddie. The lidless eyes stared. + +Kirk knew that he had to make use of the moment. It could break apart +any time, the wildness could return, the unreasoning.... + +"Listen, Harry," he said, "we ought to get started, you know. There's no +use waiting longer." + +"Started?" Loren said. + +"Of course," Kirk said, trying to keep his voice matter-of-fact. +"You're going home." + +Loren looked at Kirk and his eyes turned suddenly hard and his mouth +lost the faint smile. "I am," he stated flatly. + +"Yes," Kirk said. "Of course." + +"You're a liar." + +"Now, Harry," Kirk said, his eyes flickering to the waiting animal. "I +surely wouldn't lie to you." + +"You haven't come for me until after all this time, and now you say you +surely wouldn't lie to me." + +It was like standing in a gully, Kirk thought, watching a boulder +teetering above you. It tipped this way and that, and you didn't know +when or if it was going to come hurtling down. You waited. But Kirk +couldn't wait, he knew. He had to do something. + +"Harry, listen. It wasn't easy to find you, don't you see?" He hoped he +was making it sound as though all he had done for the last dozen years +of exploring was look for Harry Loren. He wished that the damned thing +would stop swaying its ugly head back and forth. Loren's hand was +inching out toward the yellow and brown neck. + +"Look, Harry, these things aren't done in a day. We--" + +"A day!" Loren hissed. "A _day_! All this time and you say a _day_!" + +"No, I'm sorry," Kirk said quickly. He wished he could shift out of the +cramped half-lying position he was in. "I didn't mean a day, Harry. I +meant it wasn't easy. We didn't know where you were--" He was talking +quickly, whining almost, and he'd never whined before. + +Loren's fingers were touching the waving neck. + +"We'd better hurry," Kirk said desperately. "Annette's waiting. And +Dickie, of course." + +Loren blinked. + +"You wouldn't want to keep them waiting any longer, not after all this +time, Harry." + +Loren stroked his fingers slowly down the long neck of the animal. + +"I think," Kirk said, almost hoarsely, "now that I really remember it, +Annette _was_ still wearing her hair braided. I remember that now, +Harry. Positively." + +Loren froze the motion of his hand and stared at Kirk. His lips +trembled, and then suddenly he put his hands in front of his face. He +bent forward, and Kirk felt his nerves jumping, watching the man start +to cry. + +The animal turned its stare away from Kirk for the first time. It looked +at Loren and then slowly raised a claw, touching Loren's shoulder +carefully. It made a sound then, a peculiar hissing sound, soft, barely +audible. There was no danger in it, or menace, only a pitiful sound. + +Loren raised his head a little and brought his hands away from his face. +Tears had cut through dust and grime and his face was streaked. + +"Shall we go, Harry?" Kirk said. + +Loren wiped at his eyes, stupidly, without knowing what he was doing. +Then he brought his hands down and wiped them across his chest. + +"All right," he said. "Let's go." He picked up Kirk's pistol from where +he had dropped it on the ground and held it out. + +Kirk looked at the gun and at the animal. The claw had been drawn away +from Loren's shoulder and again it was poised, ready. "You keep it, +Harry," he said. + +"Oh, yes. Of course," Loren said. There was a moment of silence as Loren +stuck the pistol absently into the waist of his ragged cloth covering, +beside the knife. The three of them waited then, Kirk, Loren, and the +animal. + +"Eddie?" Loren said finally. "Are you ready?" + + * * * * * + +Kirk felt himself smiling in the direction of the animal. He remembered +when he was a small boy, going by a house where there had been a mongrel +with a flat head and large teeth. He had smiled at that animal as he was +doing now. The dog had sensed his fear in spite of the smile. + +Loren was standing up slowly, and the animal's head swayed in slow +circling motions. + +"All right?" Loren said. + +Kirk glanced at the man, saw the wild, nearly vacant look of the face, +the polite tilt of the head. Kirk's palms were wet. Goddamn it, he +thought, and he stood up suddenly. + +The animal extended a claw, slowly, turning it so that it seemed to wind +and circle as it came toward Kirk. + +"_Eddie_," Loren said. + +The claw came away. Kirk caught his breath. + +"Shall we go?" Loren said, his eyes shining. + +"Yes," Kirk said. "We'll go, Harry." He turned slowly, so that his back +was to Loren and the animal. He thought about the comb-like claws and +the scar on Loren's back. He thought about Loren's knife and about the +pistol. + +He wanted to look back as he walked. He wanted to talk, to hear Loren's +answer and so know just where he was. More than anything he wanted to +break into a run and get into that rocket and get out of here. + +He could see the gleam of the rocket finally, but he didn't look back +yet. He kept moving. As he got closer he could see Leo, standing near +the base of the ship, tall, leaning carelessly against the silver +surface, smoking. He wanted to shout to Leo, to tell him for God's sake +to wake up and protect him. + +They reached the edge of the clearing and Leo, whose careless body had +stiffened, waited motionless, one hand on his pistol. Kirk stopped. +"There it is, Harry," he said, not turning around. "There's the ship." +He waited, half-closing his eyes, breathing slowly. + +There was no sound. + +"That's Leo, my friend, Harry," Kirk said, putting his palms flat +against his thighs. "Your friend, Harry." + +Leo, Kirk could see, was still frozen, his eyes slitted to narrow +brightness. Kirk began to step into the clearing. "Hello, there, Leo," +he said, his voice a tense, grating sound. "I've brought some friends." + +Leo was lifting his pistol out of its holster, inchingly. + +"_Friends_," Kirk rasped. + +Leo's thin eyes flickered and the pistol slid back into the holster. + +Kirk turned around slowly, and he saw that Loren had stopped just inside +the clearing. The animal remained beside him, its head making its slow +circles. Loren was staring up at the rocket and the sun reflecting from +the bright surface, came down and shown on Loren's face, deepening the +lines there. + +"Leo," Kirk said slowly, "this is Harry Loren and his friend, Eddie. +Harry's been here quite a while, waiting for us." + +"Oh, yes?" said Leo, still not moving. + +"That's right, Leo," Kirk said. "Quite a while. What year was it, +Harry?" he said across the clearing. "What year did you crash?" + +Loren blinked and there were tears again in his eyes. He reached out +slowly, and the animal shifted so that its head touched Loren's hand. +"Twenty-four-nineteen." + +Kirk put his teeth together. "Twenty-four-nineteen," he said. + +Loren nodded slowly, his eyes still upon the rocket. + +"Eighteen years," Leo said softly. + +"A long time, Leo," Kirk said. He thought of a girl with her hair +braided about her head, looking up, while Loren had shot into the depths +of sky and space. He thought of a little boy called Dickie, standing +there, too, watching a fast-disappearing blackness in the sky. He +thought about eighteen years, and the fading of youth. A boy becoming a +man. Braided hair becoming gray. Memories fading and minds adjusting. +New love, new dedication. A world shifting, a universe shifting. + +Kirk looked at Eddie, the animal, real and alive, waiting patiently at +the tips of Loren's fingers. "Eddie's been with Harry for a long time," +he said. + +"Oh?" said Leo quietly. + +Loren's hand stroked the brown and yellow head. + +"Harry," Kirk said. "We're going to leave now. Are you ready?" + +Loren was silent. + +"You go up first, will you, Leo?" Kirk said. + +Leo looked at him, a faint frown touching his brow, then he began moving +up the ladder to the air lock. Kirk waited until Leo had disappeared +into the rocket, then he repeated, "We're going to leave now, Harry. Are +you ready?" + +Loren remained motionless, his hand touching the animal's head. Suddenly +he turned then and began moving slowly away through the brush, the brown +and yellow creature bobbing beside him with queer rocker-like jumps. + +"Goodby, Harry," Kirk said. Finally he turned and climbed up the ladder. +When he had gotten into his seat, he said, "Let's go, Leo," and he moved +his hands to the controls. + + * * * * * + +The rocket settled into the quiet motion of its course through space. + +"But I don't get it," Leo said. "I really don't. All that time, and then +all he has to do is walk a dozen yards and get into the rocket and he's +going home. That's all he would have to do." + +"Why?" Kirk said. + +"Why?" said Leo, frowning. + +Kirk nodded, looking at the man. "Why?" + + ... THE END + + + + +Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from _If: Worlds of Science Fiction_ March + 1954. 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 Project Gutenberg's 'Mid Pleasures and Palaces, by James McKimmey + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 'MID PLEASURES AND PALACES *** + +***** This file should be named 31703.txt or 31703.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/1/7/0/31703/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Stephen Blundell and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/31703.zip b/31703.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..282ec16 --- /dev/null +++ b/31703.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..58d9bb3 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #31703 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/31703) |
