diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32254-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 135858 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32254-h/32254-h.htm | 1344 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32254-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 49930 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32254-h/images/image_001.jpg | bin | 0 -> 52289 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32254-h/images/image_j.jpg | bin | 0 -> 4261 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32254-h/images/image_m.jpg | bin | 0 -> 5227 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32254-h/images/image_t.jpg | bin | 0 -> 4639 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32254.txt | 1238 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 32254.zip | bin | 0 -> 20920 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
12 files changed, 2598 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/32254-h.zip b/32254-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c0fc8c2 --- /dev/null +++ b/32254-h.zip diff --git a/32254-h/32254-h.htm b/32254-h/32254-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..584f52a --- /dev/null +++ b/32254-h/32254-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1344 @@ +<!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 World Without War, by E. G. Von Wald + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; background-color: #FFFFFF; +} + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +.tr {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; margin-top: 5%; margin-bottom: 5%; padding: 2em; background-color: #f6f2f2; color: black; border: dotted black 1px;} + +.img1 {border:solid 1px; } + +.blockquot { + margin-left: 5%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + +/* Images */ +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; +} + +.figleft { + float: left; + clear: left; + margin-left: 0; + margin-bottom: 0em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-right: 0.25em; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +.figright { + float: right; + clear: right; + margin-left: 0.5em; + margin-bottom: + 0.5em; + margin-top: 0.5em; + margin-right: 0; + padding: 0; + text-align: center; +} + +/* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of World Without War, by E. G. von Wald + +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: World Without War + +Author: E. G. von Wald + +Illustrator: Ed Emsh + +Release Date: May 5, 2010 [EBook #32254] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WORLD WITHOUT WAR *** + + + + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="tr"><p class="center">Transcriber's Note:</p> +<p class="center">This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction September 1954. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.</p></div> +<p> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img class="img1" src="images/cover.jpg" width="400" height="531" alt="" title="" /> +</div> +<p> </p> +<h1>World Without War</h1> +<p> </p> + +<h2>BY E. G. VON WALD</h2> +<p> </p> + +<h3><i>Illustrated by Ed Emsh</i></h3> +<p> </p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p><i>Cooperation was all right back in the dark ages but this +was an era of super culture and hi-psi intelligence. And +love was no laughing matter. People who cooperated, even +biologically, were unlawful and....</i></p></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_m.jpg" alt="M" width="43" height="40" /></div> +<p>ark knew he shouldn't stop. He was already late for Jennette's +birthday party, but the sight of three people out in the open like +this was too much.</p> + +<p>He pulled around and hovered over the undulating flow of glassy magma, +frozen on its way to the long, dry Potomac river bed, with its shallow +caverns and fascinating mile-wide potholes. Just under an overhanging +cliff of half-vitrified soil were two cars, obviously damaged. The +three men were standing beside them.</p> + +<p>Mark laughed out loud. It was not often that one found three people at +once. And so close to each other. The scene there, with the long, +slanting rays of milky sunlight glancing off the ribbing of the flats +and sparkling through the million brittle shards of collapsed debris, +filled him with a certain poetic exultation.</p> + +<p>"By the stars," he murmured to himself happily.</p> + +<p>Bubbling with good humor, he slipped down a little closer to the hole, +staying up hard against the overhanging cliff. He was feeling too +cheerful to use his rightful advantage over them, and decided to use a +handgun, since they had nothing better.</p> + +<p>This was a mistake, of course. He was only moving along at a hundred +miles an hour now. Too slow for safe shooting, particularly with the +bumpy air in the hole. But he happily disregarded this, as he pushed +open a view port and blazed away with a zuzz pistol.</p> + +<p>Almost immediately the ship lurched in the uneven air, and he could +see the tiny thin trace of violet as it swept up and away off the +targets. One of the men went down, sliced cleanly in two. But the +others had seen him.</p> + +<p>Mark cursed mildly, some of his high good humor gone, and pulled the +car about for another run. The chronometer pinged warningly at him, +notifying him that he was now a full hour late for Jennette's birthday +party, but the code required the second try.</p> + +<p>There was nothing that required handweapons for this, however, and he +slipped his strong young hands around the main gun control. A single +burst of violet, and one of the men vanished in a puff of steam. Good +and clean, he told himself with satisfaction. But the last man opened +his pistol onto broad-beam, burning a red flare of general destruction +at him.</p> + +<p>Mark veered around and bore down sharply for the last burst. He had to +get it over with and on to Jennette. But the deadly broad beam swept +below the car, evacuating the air and throwing the vehicle momentarily +out of control. Close behind, the cliff became suddenly alive as the +beam engaged it, bubbling and spewing out huge gouts of molten rock. +The aircar burst into a brief, brilliant, sodium-colored fire and +fell, with Mark burning inside of it, yelling and screaming in pain.</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/image_001.jpg" width="300" height="935" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p>It took almost five seconds before the charred brain of Mark's body +stopped functioning. Then it released him.</p> + +<p> </p> + +<p>He was conscious of the humming of his transmitter. Almost immediately +the remembered pain brought perspiration running down inside the +helmet into his eyes. He reached up and removed the headpiece with +unsteady hands, groaning softly.</p> + +<p>It had been some decades since he had last been involved in trouble +like this. Killed, yes—but in a painless, fair fight. Being burned to +death was no joke. And that body had been one of his best, with the +finest reflex sensory system manufactured.</p> + +<p>The machine purred softly beside him. He thought suddenly and emptily +of Jennette, and stood up.</p> + +<p>"Damn," he muttered, crossing the floor, feeling the pleasant warmth +of the soft plastic under his feet. "Damn, damn, damn." He stopped +before the transparent cover of a storage cabinet, gazing sourly at +its contents.</p> + +<p>Eleven humanoid forms were stiffly erect behind the cover, all broadly +resembling him in feature, and differing only in such minor things as +height, hair, perhaps the color of the eyes. Each bore the scars of +some past clumsiness or accident.</p> + +<p>"Damn," Mark said again. "That was the only decent body I had to wear. +Now what do I do?"</p> + +<p>He went into the next room and bathed himself in the tepid perfumed +mist that fell perpetually from its domed ceiling. If it were anybody +but Jennette, there would be no problem. He just would have to shoot +off a quick RT, explaining the situation and excusing himself. Nobody +would have minded, least of all himself. Particularly a no-fight +affair like this one was supposed to be.</p> + +<p>But not Jennette. Ohhh, Jennette.</p> + +<p>Mark grinned and rubbed the pleasant fluid over his well-cared-for +skin. Oh yes, Jennette. There was something about Jennette that he +could not quite put his finger on, but it was good. It was wonderously +good. Like the bodies she wore. No matter what it was, it was always +perfect. She just had the knack of dressing well.</p> + +<p>Idly he wondered what her protobody was like. There must be some +resemblance, of course. That was the law. Identification was very +important, and few manufacturers would violate that, even as a simple +matter of good taste. But there still would be considerable +difference.</p> + +<p>As he thought about it, he got a strange wistful feeling that he did +not quite understand. There was a sort of sadness about it. Jennette +seemed oddly different from other people. He liked her much too much.</p> + +<p>Guiltily he brushed the thoughts aside. Anyway, it didn't matter, he +told himself. Due to his carelessness in that last fight, he probably +wouldn't even see her tonight, since he had nothing to wear.</p> + +<p>He stalked out of the shower and gazed again at the bodies in the +store room. The only halfway decent one there was that six foot black +fellow with the little ears. It used to be his favorite, until he got +it smashed one night during a party at his nearest neighbor's. A half +smile tugged at Mark's lips as he recalled the incident. That had been +a no-fight party, too; but he had managed to smuggle in a small bomb, +and set it off right in the middle of the main bedroom. There were at +least ten couples there, since it was a big party, and none of them +lived. The trouble was, Mark had been pretty badly smashed up himself, +and just managed to get away without losing his body.</p> + +<p>Now the thing was all scarred up and practically useless for anything +except manual labor.</p> + +<p>Mark shook his head disgustedly. There was nothing to do but send off +the RT to Jennette.</p> + +<p>But this was her birthday—</p> + +<p>He caught a glimpse of himself in the reflection from his transmitter +housing and automatically straightened his shoulders a little, then +laughed at his image.</p> + +<p>Then he stopped and contemplated himself further. There was one thing +he could do. Many years before, he had an exact duplicate of himself +produced, when the vogue for copper colored bodies was at its height. +Since then the fashion had changed back to the pink, but that old job +must still be around somewhere.</p> + +<p>He hated to do it, though. He had never liked that body. It had been +just too accurate, and every time he wore it, it embarrassed him. It +had been almost as if he were going outside in his protobody. Which, +of course, nobody did. People used their own bodies hundreds of years +ago, but it was most uncivilized. Besides, it was tiring, and +dangerous, too. Yet—was it more fun? He wondered.</p> + +<p>He simply had to make Jennette's party. Otherwise he wouldn't see her +for months at least, and the thought of that made him feel funny in +his stomach.</p> + +<p>Mark grinned again, admiring her image in his mind, and set about his +catalogue to find the fundamental frequency of that old copy of +himself. Fuse it, he told himself resolutely. Nobody would know it was +an exact duplicate.</p> + +<p>He located the data and set it up in the transmitter. He had no idea +where the body was, but that would take care of itself if it were +still in good shape. Placing the helmet on his head, he punched the +controls and relaxed back on the table.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="36" height="40" /></div> + +<p>wo levels below, under a pile of dust-covered trash, the body became +suddenly conscious. Mark opened his eyes and looked around, +recognition slowly returning. He had forgotten all about this old +room, but then—one could hardly remember everything about a full +shelter system, what with the hundreds of compartments, endless +automatic equipment and innumerable connecting passages. Whoever it +was who built this one sure had liked complexity.</p> + +<p>He bathed and carefully braided the long, blueblack hair, simulating +somewhat the fashion of the day, and spent some time adjusting a +purple scarf over his left shoulder. The purple scarf was sort of a +trade mark with him, and Jennette always admired it. Purple was her +favorite color. He made a joke out of it and called it Their color, +which was typical of the strange, dangerous behavior she engendered in +him.</p> + +<p>Mark was a little worried as he plunged up toward the stratosphere in +his extra car. This time he kept clearly in his mind the fact that +this was his last serviceable body, and he could take no chances with +it getting ruined. Even if he saw a whole multitude of people, all +clustered together, he would ignore them, he told himself.</p> + +<p>Halfway there, however, he spotted a peculiar marking on the scope, +and detoured. The peculiar marking followed him.</p> + +<p>Anxiously, he looked out a clear view panel, but could see nothing in +the cold, mist-laden night. The marking grew more definite as he +hesitated. It was another car, and there could be no question what it +was after. A shot at Mark.</p> + +<p>He cursed and sucked in his breath, making quick calculations. There +was a rolling billow of cobalt fog off to one side, a whole bank of +the stuff. Somebody apparently had been having a little game nearby. +It was still hot enough, according to his indicators, to discharge +anything the other car sent after him, and he would have the added +advantage of being invisible to the other man's instruments. The only +trouble was, once in the fog, he couldn't see anything either, and +could be ambushed without difficulty on the way out.</p> + +<p>The marking on the scope became more definite, and the question +settled itself as the other car came between Mark and the cloud. +Growling with irritation, Mark swung around and sent a wide angle beam +in the direction of his pursuer, watching nervously as the indicators +described the pitiful short range of his fire at this setting.</p> + +<p>The assailant veered off, however, scurrying into the cobalt cloud. +Mark grinned. He knew the man would expect him to wait for him to come +out, so he swooped down at max acceleration toward the surface. In +five minutes he was signaling into Jennette's shelter for permission +to enter.</p> + +<p>There were servants everywhere—mechanical things, controlled by +electronics and not alive, although they looked it. This was +Jennette's specialty. She owned a factory that manufactured them for +mining on the scalding plains of Mercury, and these had been +superficially remodelled to act as servants. There was the usual +government man there, too, running the party. He strutted around under +his official sash with ill-concealed self-importance.</p> + +<p>"Hey you, there—wait a minute," he called to Mark, waving a zuzz +pistol in his direction.</p> + +<p>"Yes?" Mark hesitated, eyed the pistol, and obeyed.</p> + +<p>"That scarf—get it off," the man ordered sternly as he approached. +The zuzz pistol was level and steady.</p> + +<p>"Why?" Mark demanded. "It's just a scarf. I always wear one."</p> + +<p>"You know why," the other man said coldly. "This is a tetotal party. +If I let somebody slip a weapon or something in, it would be an awful +brawl in no time. You know how people are."</p> + +<p>The man was right, of course. You can conceal a lot of things in the +fabric of a sheer scarf. Reluctantly, Mark undid the catch and handed +it over.</p> + +<p>"Okay. You can pick it up at the entrance when you leave." The +officer's amused eyes wrinkled as he looked Mark up and down. "Say, +that's a pretty nice job you've got there, man. Mind if I ask who made +it?"</p> + +<p>"It's pretty good." Mark said cautiously. "It's custom made to a +private specification."</p> + +<p>The officer grinned goodnaturedly. "Sure, I understand. That's all +right. I'm not from the revenue department. I don't have to do +anything about bootlegging."</p> + +<p>"I don't mean that." Mark protested. "There's nothing illegal—"</p> + +<p>The man waved his disregard anyway. "Forget it. It's a nice one, +though. And that copper color is coming back soon, too. These fashions +run in cycles, you know."</p> + +<p>"Yes," Mark murmured diffidently. "I thought so, too."</p> + +<p>"Sure." The officer eyed it speculatively for a moment. "Two point oh +one centimeter naval, isn't it? They're the best, of course." Mark +nodded shortly, looking away from the talkative officer, hoping he +would stop. But the man went on. "And I don't have any use for these +new non-feeders they've been coming out with recently."</p> + +<p>"No," Mark mumbled.</p> + +<p>"It's all right to fix it so that the food is not necessary, and it +really is a bother to have to feed those old models whether you want +to or not. But sometimes you like to eat something just for the fun of +it, and with the non-feeder models there's no receptacle for it."</p> + +<p>Mark nodded, his eyes searching the huge anteroom, gazing hopefully +between the moving ranks of robot servants. Then he saw her and caught +his breath.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_j.jpg" alt="J" width="22" height="40" /></div> +<p>ennette. His lips formed a low whistle in time-honored acclamation of +excellence. The officer followed his gaze and agreed.</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said in a low voice, "that girl is really something. Private +spec for everything, and she sure knows how to use it. Take that +little golden job she's wearing tonight. Nothing to it. But with her, +it's terrific."</p> + +<p>He was right. Jennette was wearing a slender, soft-looking golden +little body that Mark had never seen before. But it was a real prize. +Being hostess, she could have clothes on, and sported a half dozen +little bracelets and a jet black bandana around her throat. The thing +was draped down over her left breast, and the whole effect was really +quite stunning.</p> + +<p>"Oh Mark!" she exclaimed, running up with an odd sort of +breathlessness. "You're late."</p> + +<p>"Sorry Jennette," he replied. "Ran into a little trouble and had to go +back for another body."</p> + +<p>"You must have missed," she said with amused accusation. "I'm +surprised at you."</p> + +<p>"Aw, there were three of them," he protested. "And the last one used a +broad beam."</p> + +<p>"Never mind. I forgive you," she told him. "Come along. Let's go look +at my garden."</p> + +<p>Mark grinned happily. "Wonderful idea. But what about your guests? Are +you just going to leave them like that?"</p> + +<p>"This is my birthday," she said. "They can amuse themselves."</p> + +<p>Then she pulled him down and put her lips to his ear. "Besides," she +whispered. "I've got an identical copy with electronic works. No one +will even know I've left, unless they get too friendly with it."</p> + +<p>"Pretty clever," Mark admitted thoughtfully. "But I wouldn't always be +so ready to break the law like that."</p> + +<p>"Who's to know except you, Mark?" She looked up at him with burning, +gold-flecked eyes. "You wouldn't tell anybody, would you?"</p> + +<p>Mark shook his head uncomfortably.</p> + +<p>"All right, then."</p> + +<p>They entered the elevator that took them down another half mile to the +central living quarters of the ancient shelter. It had been built +early in the flux period and remodelled several times. It was one of +the best equipped on the planet.</p> + +<p>"Tell me," Jennette said, gazing appreciatively at the heavy bronze +shoulders, "where on earth did you get that?"</p> + +<p>"I—Oh, it was just lying around somewhere," Mark mumbled.</p> + +<p>"I bet," she said. "But it's nice. I like it."</p> + +<p>Mark just grinned at her, happy for the moment, secure in the +knowledge that it would be impossible for her ever to know that it was +really identical with his protobody. Not that it would matter, just so +long as it was artificial. He listened to the humming of the elevator +for a few minutes. When it stopped the door vanished, and the two of +them moved out into a sea of wild, colorful beauty. High above them +was a simulated sun that made as good a substitute for the real thing +as had been developed since the underground movement.</p> + +<p>"Bright," Mark commented.</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's right. I've been forcing some Venerian puffers and scent +flowers, and raised the radiation level ten decibels. They always do +well under a strong sun, you know." She left his arm and moved to a +control panel beside the entrance to the elevator. She manipulated +something and the sun dimmed a little. "There," she turned around. +"Better?"</p> + +<p>Mark looked at the landscape, then back to her. He grinned. "Too much +light."</p> + +<p>"Oh you—" she murmured. She touched the controls, and the sun +disappeared, being replaced by a huge, mellow moon that sailed +majestically on the simulated horizon. It was impossible to tell it +from the real thing.</p> + +<p>"How's that?"</p> + +<p>"A little dark."</p> + +<p>Ignoring his comment, she came back and took his arm, and they went +strolling across the flowers and grass. "Don't you like my moon, +Mark?"</p> + +<p>"Sure. It's fine. Sort of aphrodisiac, of course, but—"</p> + +<p>"Isn't that what it's for?" Jennette asked innocently.</p> + +<p>"I dunno. I never had a moon."</p> + +<p>"Let's sit down here," she said abruptly.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_t.jpg" alt="T" width="36" height="40" /></div> + +<p>hey were eating pomegranates, biting briefly into them and sucking on +the sour juices. The moon had risen higher during the past hour, +becoming a little smaller in appearance. It was a peaceful, +contemplative scene. Jennette snuggled up against Mark, thoughtfully +tracing a design with fruit juice on his arm.</p> + +<p>"This is fun," she said softly. "So much more fun than the usual +things a person has to do."</p> + +<p>"Mmmm?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you know. Checking reports from the factory, making sure there is +plenty of ammunition all the time, pestering the body manufacturers so +you'll always have something decent to wear. Always watching or +somebody will sneak in and blow up part of your shelter."</p> + +<p>"Yeah. Well, guess that's life."</p> + +<p>Jennette sighed and picked up another fruit. "It gets so tiresome, +always having to keep on the look-out and fighting people. Don't you +get bored by it."</p> + +<p>"Sure, sometimes. It's gotta be done though. Otherwise you couldn't +tell what might happen."</p> + +<p>"Mark—" Jennette said hesitantly.</p> + +<p>"Yes?"</p> + +<p>"Mark, would you shoot me if you found me outside your shelter?" She +looked coyly up at him.</p> + +<p>"Well, sure, unless you had a proper, government-authorized permit to +be there." Mark turned astonished eyes on her. "What else could I do?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, but you <i>know</i> I wouldn't do anything to harm your place."</p> + +<p>"Aw, Jennette," Mark said uncomfortably, "of course you would. Anybody +would. If people started acting like that, the whole balance would be +upset."</p> + +<p>She gently stroked his arm where the fruit juice had dried. Her face +crinkled up and she giggled. "Maybe you just don't know me."</p> + +<p>"Let's talk about something else," Mark suggested.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter? Do I shock you?"</p> + +<p>Mark laughed and brushed his lips against her shoulder. "I'm pretty +hard to shock. Especially by you."</p> + +<p>"See?" she replied archly. "You're just as anti-social as I am."</p> + +<p>Mark's face clouded. "It's nothing to brag about, though."</p> + +<p>"I'm not bragging." She sighed again, and resumed her fruit. Eying it +speculatively, she said, "I guess I'm just bored with life, that's +all. Sometimes things seem so silly. Like all the times you have to +get a new body. You'd think the manufacturers were giving them away +free."</p> + +<p>"Yeah. Not like it used to be. Guess business is pretty good."</p> + +<p>"Something ought to be done about it."</p> + +<p>Mark grinned mischievously. "What do you suggest? Build another +factory?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you know you can't do that. Somebody is always blowing it up."</p> + +<p>"Well, don't worry. In another hundred years or so, people will start +dying off again. These protobodies aren't as serviceable as the +manufactured kind."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but if they keep producing new people in the Decanting Centers, +what good is that going to do?"</p> + +<p>"I dunno. Blow up the Decanting Centers, maybe."</p> + +<p>"Maybe," Jennette said, glancing impishly at the man beside her, "we +ought to just stop wearing these silly old manufactured bodies +entirely."</p> + +<p>"Yes?" Mark tasted a pomegranate, made a face, and tried another. +"Just what do you suggest people wear?"</p> + +<p>"They could go around in their protobodies."</p> + +<p>"What?" Mark looked swiftly and searchingly at her, alarm on his face.</p> + +<p>"Why Mark," she laughed disarmingly. "You're such a righteous beast, +aren't you?"</p> + +<p>"Great Atoms, Jennette," he said, gazing intently at her +golden-flecked eyes, wondering what strange things went on inside that +lovely head. "You mean go around all the time as if we were savages? +Why that's illegal, immoral, and besides—besides, it's dangerous. +Suppose somebody took a shot at you? You've only got one protobody, +you know."</p> + +<p>"A clever fighter like you shouldn't have too much trouble with that, +if you're careful," she said gaily. "And I'm pretty good at that +myself."</p> + +<p>Mark took a slow deep breath as he decided that she was just teasing +him. "I'm surprised at you, Jennette."</p> + +<p>She shrugged. "I'm bored, I guess. I'd like to try something new, just +for excitement. Personally, sometimes I think the whole social system +we have is pretty silly, anyway."</p> + +<p>"Atoms," Mark mumbled.</p> + +<p>"No need to swear about it," she chided him. "Come on, Mark. Just +think about it for a minute. And be consistent."</p> + +<p>"Consistency is all right for a free psi," he said. "It sure doesn't +do a protobody any good."</p> + +<p>Jennette laughed scornfully. "I'll bet you believe all that stuff they +feed you in the Decanting Center about ancient history."</p> + +<p>"'Course not," Mark said defensively.</p> + +<p>"All right then. Why follow all these rules of social conduct if +there's no good basis for them?"</p> + +<p>"Aw, but there is," he replied seriously. "There was a big war—way +back centuries before we were decanted out at Center."</p> + +<p>"Hah," said Jennette.</p> + +<p>"Sure. And it was a whole lot of people who cooperated with each other +in it. There must have been hundreds of them—it was an awfully big +war. Hundreds of people, all on one side, all fighting together +against the other side."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe it."</p> + +<p>"It's true, I tell you," Mark insisted religiously. "Hundreds and +hundreds of people. Maybe even as many as a thousand, all dressed +alike—with clothes, I mean. And they didn't shoot each other—they +just killed the people they were fighting—the hundreds of people on +the other side."</p> + +<p>"Other side of what?"</p> + +<p>Mark frowned. "Oh, I guess that is just an expression. But that's what +happened, anyway. Before civilization got started, people cooperated +like that."</p> + +<p>"That's just a whole lot of theory," Jennette insisted. "Nobody's +going to make me ever believe people used to act like that. Besides, +there just aren't enough people around to have all those mythical +wars."</p> + +<p>Patiently, Mark continued. "I'm telling you, Jennette, this is more +than theory. There are still some records left from those days."</p> + +<p>"Prove it."</p> + +<p>"All right. That's not hard. Somebody had to build the factories, +didn't they? And the Decanting Centers?"</p> + +<p>"Robots."</p> + +<p>"Who built the first robot factory?"</p> + +<p>Jennette considered. Then she shrugged petulantly. "Oh all right. +Maybe a few people did cooperate. But not hundreds of them. People +just don't act like that."</p> + +<p>"Well, they did. And, of course, the obvious thing happened. Since +they cooperated in some things, they cooperated in a lot of things, +even fighting. That's how they could make war, you know—not the nice, +social sort of fighting we do now. And you can imagine what happened. +You can kill an awful lot of people awful fast, if a gang gets +together on it like that. If they didn't have the artificial bodies +and the psi transfer transmitters to make them come alive, there +wouldn't have been anybody left after a while. That cooperation is +rough stuff."</p> + +<p>"Obviously," she commented dryly.</p> + +<p>"Well, that's the reason for everything, then. Pretty soon the +factories couldn't turn out hypnobodies fast enough and people had to +fight in their protobodies sometimes. But after a few centuries, the +leaders began to get civilized, and decided to put an end to all this +cooperative killing. I guess they all got together and agreed not to +cooperate with each other in anything in the future."</p> + +<p>"It stands to reason," Mark concluded, "people had to learn to be +civilized. They weren't just born that way. It's—it's culture."</p> + +<p>"Pouf," said Jennette critically.</p> + +<p>"All right," he growled, biting viciously into a pomegranate. "Let's +hear your big story if it's so good."</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<div class="figleft"><img src="images/image_j.jpg" alt="J" width="22" height="40" /></div> +<p>ennette stretched out her legs and contemplated her wiggling toes. +"Oh, I don't know. I don't have any real ideas. But I know better than +to believe that sort of nonsense. People just aren't like that, and +you know it." She hesitated thoughtfully, then continued. "Maybe a few +of them got together now and then for a party or something like this. +But not hundreds of them."</p> + +<p>When Mark did not reply, she laughed and said, "I guess I'm just +feeling risque tonight."</p> + +<p>"You sure are," he mumbled.</p> + +<p>"Of course there are parts of the old mythology that seem rather +interesting—beautiful, even—"</p> + +<p>"It's not mythology."</p> + +<p>"Like the part that deals with marriage."</p> + +<p>She waited. Mark dutifully echoed, "Deals with what?"</p> + +<p>"Marriage."</p> + +<p>Mark considered it. Then he shook his head. "What's that?"</p> + +<p>"See?" she taunted him. "You don't know everything like you think you +do. Marriage," she explained, "was a sort of cooperative agreement +that the ancient people were supposed to have entered into."</p> + +<p>"Sure, just like I said," Mark stated with assurance. "Hundreds of +people did it. They got involved in this marriage agreement, and made +war on each other with it."</p> + +<p>"What a dope. Marriage was an agreement between just two people. And +that much I might believe. Hundreds is too much."</p> + +<p>"It was hundreds," Mark insisted.</p> + +<p>"It was not. It was just two. And what's more, it was between a man +and a woman. They lived together with their protobodies and agreed to +cooperate together, and they made children and took care of them until +they grew up."</p> + +<p>"Why that's thirty or forty years," Mark exclaimed. "Even the wars +didn't last that long. That's really nonsense. Besides, you can only +make children in the Decanting Centers. And it's all done by +machines."</p> + +<p>"Well, maybe it is a little far fetched. But I think it's cute."</p> + +<p>"Humph."</p> + +<p>There was a few minutes silence. Then Jennette said softly, "Mark—"</p> + +<p>"Yes?"</p> + +<p>"Mark, you like me a lot, don't you?"</p> + +<p>Mark squirmed uncomfortably, and stared at the artificial moon.</p> + +<p>"Don't you?" she insisted. "More than you ever have anybody else?"</p> + +<p>"Well, guess that's right," he admitted lamely. "A whole lot more than +I should."</p> + +<p>She reassuringly patted his hand with her little one. "That's all +right, Mark. I won't tell anybody. Besides, I feel just the same way +about you."</p> + +<p>Mark nodded without speaking, worriedly studying the vague markings on +the bright luminous disk in the simulated sky.</p> + +<p>"Mark, don't you ever want to see the real me?" she inquired urgently. +"Don't you sometimes feel kind of empty because you can never really +have me—know me, because all you ever see is a manufactured thing +that only somewhat resembles what I am really like?"</p> + +<p>Mark blushed. She had come a little too close to the uncomfortable +truth. But he refused to admit it, at least to her. He mumbled an +indistinct denial.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure?" she said, grabbing his hands, gazing intently into his +eyes, forcing him to look at her. "Wouldn't you sometime like to come +down to my transmitter quarters?"</p> + +<p>"But—"</p> + +<p>"And see and touch my protobody—the thing I really am?"</p> + +<p>"Aw—"</p> + +<p>"Scared?"</p> + +<p>"Maybe I am."</p> + +<p>"That's silly."</p> + +<p>Mark swallowed and said stiffly, "Just because there is a no-fight +clause in your invitation tonight doesn't necessarily mean I have to +follow it, you know. You don't need weapons. I could strangle your +protobody easily."</p> + +<p>"You wouldn't," she said confidently.</p> + +<p>"You sure don't think much of me, do you?"</p> + +<p>"I think just the same of you as you do of me," she said simply.</p> + +<p>With impulsive hunger, Mark threw his arms around her, holding her +tightly against him, nuzzling her, smelling the perfume of her hair, +incoherently mumbling into her ear. "Jennette, Jennette," he sang, "I +think more of you than anything. I love you. I know it's wrong, but I +would never even shoot you, because sometimes it hurts you, and I +wouldn't want you to feel even the slightest discomfort." He stopped, +took a deep breath, and added meekly, "I'm sorry."</p> + +<p>"But Mark," she whispered. "Why is it really so wrong?"</p> + +<p>"You know."</p> + +<p>"Suppose I told you that this body is my protobody right now?" she +asked earnestly.</p> + +<p>"But it isn't."</p> + +<p>"It is," she said faintly.</p> + +<p>Mark's breath hissed as he gasped. Jennette was blushing all over her +body, heightening the golden color of it. He let her go, and she slid +off his lap onto the shadowed grass beside him. She bit her lip. "I +didn't really mean to tell you—yet."</p> + +<p>There was silence. Mark said quietly, "That's all right, Jennette."</p> + +<p>"You aren't angry with me, are you?"</p> + +<p>"No," he said slowly. "Not angry."</p> + +<p>"Mark—"</p> + +<p>"Yes?"</p> + +<p>"Now that we're into this thing," she asked hopefully, "why don't we +try this marriage agreement—you know, like the ancients did. It seems +like such a beautiful thing to do when two people like us—you know."</p> + +<p>"I don't know." Mark shook his head doubtfully. "I just don't know +about it."</p> + +<p>"Why not? You wouldn't have to really stay here. It could be just a +secret agreement between us. And you could come and see me whenever +you liked."</p> + +<p>"It all seems so unreal," he muttered.</p> + +<p>They lapsed into thought, both avoiding looking at the other. There +was no sound except a faint sighing of wind in the leaves of the well +trimmed shrubbery.</p> + +<p>"Suppose," Mark said finally, "suppose other people started doing this +thing? This cooperative agreement? Lots of people must want to, just +like we do."</p> + +<p>"I suppose so," she admitted.</p> + +<p>"I went through this once before," he went on absently. "About ninety +years ago I met this woman—she was awfully nice. Clever. Understood +things. Not like you, of course, but still she was very nice. I +thought about it then."</p> + +<p>"What happened to her?" Jennette asked numbly.</p> + +<p>"She died after a while. She was pretty old. Oh, we didn't do +anything," he hastened to add. "We kept it all on a perfectly moral +and honest plane—never saw each other except at authorized government +sex parties, like this, and all. Fought whenever we ran across each +other outside. But I remember thinking at the time that some sort of +agreement would be nice. We got along awfully well. I could never +understand what she saw in me."</p> + +<p>"I can," Jennette whispered.</p> + +<p>"This is just the same, only a lot more so," Mark went on +thoughtfully. "And it's wrong. You know it's wrong. Suppose a lot of +people started it. First thing you know, whole groups of people would +be cooperating with each other again. And when they got into trouble +outside, or planned an innocent little raid on somebody's shelter, +they would all work together on it. And pretty soon, there would be +other groups cooperating in fighting back again. They'd have to.</p> + +<p>"And that, of course, would be the end of civilization. Pretty soon, +there would be nothing left, and everybody would be dead."</p> + +<p>Jennette did not reply when he stopped. She turned her head away, but +Mark could hear her uneven breathing.</p> + +<p>"We have a responsibility toward society at large. We know it. We've +been well educated and we aren't savages. Neither one of us can get +away from it. It might be wonderful at first, but our conscience would +come out sooner or later, and the whole thing would be ruined."</p> + +<p>She rubbed her face with her cupped hands, shaking her head. "I +suppose—" she murmured unhappily.</p> + +<p>"You'd hate yourself for it after a while," he said.</p> + +<p>For a few minutes, Jennette stared at the grass before her feet, +pulling up little blades of it one by one. Then Mark stood up, and she +flashed him a small, wistful, damp smile. Together they walked back +toward the elevator, stepping quietly and almost furtively on the soft +ground. "If it weren't for that—" he started.</p> + +<p>"I understand," she replied quickly. Taking hold of his arm, she said, +"I'm sorry."</p> + +<p>"Sure." Mark grinned affectionately at her. "Come on. Let's see if +they've been having any good fights upstairs." They stepped into the +elevator and disappeared. The artificial moon continued its regular +motion through the simulated sky.</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of World Without War, by E. G. von Wald + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WORLD WITHOUT WAR *** + +***** This file should be named 32254-h.htm or 32254-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/2/5/32254/ + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, 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/32254-h/images/cover.jpg b/32254-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d5dd545 --- /dev/null +++ b/32254-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/32254-h/images/image_001.jpg b/32254-h/images/image_001.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c1a7a90 --- /dev/null +++ b/32254-h/images/image_001.jpg diff --git a/32254-h/images/image_j.jpg b/32254-h/images/image_j.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a974198 --- /dev/null +++ b/32254-h/images/image_j.jpg diff --git a/32254-h/images/image_m.jpg b/32254-h/images/image_m.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cc6da0a --- /dev/null +++ b/32254-h/images/image_m.jpg diff --git a/32254-h/images/image_t.jpg b/32254-h/images/image_t.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f842a67 --- /dev/null +++ b/32254-h/images/image_t.jpg diff --git a/32254.txt b/32254.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..77f2cf8 --- /dev/null +++ b/32254.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1238 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of World Without War, by E. G. von Wald + +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: World Without War + +Author: E. G. von Wald + +Illustrator: Ed Emsh + +Release Date: May 5, 2010 [EBook #32254] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WORLD WITHOUT WAR *** + + + + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + Transcriber's Note: + + This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction September + 1954. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. + copyright on this publication was renewed. + + + World Without War + + + BY E. G. VON WALD + + + _Illustrated by Ed Emsh_ + + + _Cooperation was all right back in the dark ages but this + was an era of super culture and hi-psi intelligence. And + love was no laughing matter. People who cooperated, even + biologically, were unlawful and...._ + + * * * * * + + + + +Mark knew he shouldn't stop. He was already late for Jennette's +birthday party, but the sight of three people out in the open like +this was too much. + +He pulled around and hovered over the undulating flow of glassy magma, +frozen on its way to the long, dry Potomac river bed, with its shallow +caverns and fascinating mile-wide potholes. Just under an overhanging +cliff of half-vitrified soil were two cars, obviously damaged. The +three men were standing beside them. + +Mark laughed out loud. It was not often that one found three people at +once. And so close to each other. The scene there, with the long, +slanting rays of milky sunlight glancing off the ribbing of the flats +and sparkling through the million brittle shards of collapsed debris, +filled him with a certain poetic exultation. + +"By the stars," he murmured to himself happily. + +Bubbling with good humor, he slipped down a little closer to the hole, +staying up hard against the overhanging cliff. He was feeling too +cheerful to use his rightful advantage over them, and decided to use a +handgun, since they had nothing better. + +This was a mistake, of course. He was only moving along at a hundred +miles an hour now. Too slow for safe shooting, particularly with the +bumpy air in the hole. But he happily disregarded this, as he pushed +open a view port and blazed away with a zuzz pistol. + +Almost immediately the ship lurched in the uneven air, and he could +see the tiny thin trace of violet as it swept up and away off the +targets. One of the men went down, sliced cleanly in two. But the +others had seen him. + +Mark cursed mildly, some of his high good humor gone, and pulled the +car about for another run. The chronometer pinged warningly at him, +notifying him that he was now a full hour late for Jennette's birthday +party, but the code required the second try. + +There was nothing that required handweapons for this, however, and he +slipped his strong young hands around the main gun control. A single +burst of violet, and one of the men vanished in a puff of steam. Good +and clean, he told himself with satisfaction. But the last man opened +his pistol onto broad-beam, burning a red flare of general destruction +at him. + +Mark veered around and bore down sharply for the last burst. He had to +get it over with and on to Jennette. But the deadly broad beam swept +below the car, evacuating the air and throwing the vehicle momentarily +out of control. Close behind, the cliff became suddenly alive as the +beam engaged it, bubbling and spewing out huge gouts of molten rock. +The aircar burst into a brief, brilliant, sodium-colored fire and +fell, with Mark burning inside of it, yelling and screaming in pain. + +[Illustration:] + +It took almost five seconds before the charred brain of Mark's body +stopped functioning. Then it released him. + + +He was conscious of the humming of his transmitter. Almost immediately +the remembered pain brought perspiration running down inside the +helmet into his eyes. He reached up and removed the headpiece with +unsteady hands, groaning softly. + +It had been some decades since he had last been involved in trouble +like this. Killed, yes--but in a painless, fair fight. Being burned to +death was no joke. And that body had been one of his best, with the +finest reflex sensory system manufactured. + +The machine purred softly beside him. He thought suddenly and emptily +of Jennette, and stood up. + +"Damn," he muttered, crossing the floor, feeling the pleasant warmth +of the soft plastic under his feet. "Damn, damn, damn." He stopped +before the transparent cover of a storage cabinet, gazing sourly at +its contents. + +Eleven humanoid forms were stiffly erect behind the cover, all broadly +resembling him in feature, and differing only in such minor things as +height, hair, perhaps the color of the eyes. Each bore the scars of +some past clumsiness or accident. + +"Damn," Mark said again. "That was the only decent body I had to wear. +Now what do I do?" + +He went into the next room and bathed himself in the tepid perfumed +mist that fell perpetually from its domed ceiling. If it were anybody +but Jennette, there would be no problem. He just would have to shoot +off a quick RT, explaining the situation and excusing himself. Nobody +would have minded, least of all himself. Particularly a no-fight +affair like this one was supposed to be. + +But not Jennette. Ohhh, Jennette. + +Mark grinned and rubbed the pleasant fluid over his well-cared-for +skin. Oh yes, Jennette. There was something about Jennette that he +could not quite put his finger on, but it was good. It was wonderously +good. Like the bodies she wore. No matter what it was, it was always +perfect. She just had the knack of dressing well. + +Idly he wondered what her protobody was like. There must be some +resemblance, of course. That was the law. Identification was very +important, and few manufacturers would violate that, even as a simple +matter of good taste. But there still would be considerable +difference. + +As he thought about it, he got a strange wistful feeling that he did +not quite understand. There was a sort of sadness about it. Jennette +seemed oddly different from other people. He liked her much too much. + +Guiltily he brushed the thoughts aside. Anyway, it didn't matter, he +told himself. Due to his carelessness in that last fight, he probably +wouldn't even see her tonight, since he had nothing to wear. + +He stalked out of the shower and gazed again at the bodies in the +store room. The only halfway decent one there was that six foot black +fellow with the little ears. It used to be his favorite, until he got +it smashed one night during a party at his nearest neighbor's. A half +smile tugged at Mark's lips as he recalled the incident. That had been +a no-fight party, too; but he had managed to smuggle in a small bomb, +and set it off right in the middle of the main bedroom. There were at +least ten couples there, since it was a big party, and none of them +lived. The trouble was, Mark had been pretty badly smashed up himself, +and just managed to get away without losing his body. + +Now the thing was all scarred up and practically useless for anything +except manual labor. + +Mark shook his head disgustedly. There was nothing to do but send off +the RT to Jennette. + +But this was her birthday-- + +He caught a glimpse of himself in the reflection from his transmitter +housing and automatically straightened his shoulders a little, then +laughed at his image. + +Then he stopped and contemplated himself further. There was one thing +he could do. Many years before, he had an exact duplicate of himself +produced, when the vogue for copper colored bodies was at its height. +Since then the fashion had changed back to the pink, but that old job +must still be around somewhere. + +He hated to do it, though. He had never liked that body. It had been +just too accurate, and every time he wore it, it embarrassed him. It +had been almost as if he were going outside in his protobody. Which, +of course, nobody did. People used their own bodies hundreds of years +ago, but it was most uncivilized. Besides, it was tiring, and +dangerous, too. Yet--was it more fun? He wondered. + +He simply had to make Jennette's party. Otherwise he wouldn't see her +for months at least, and the thought of that made him feel funny in +his stomach. + +Mark grinned again, admiring her image in his mind, and set about his +catalogue to find the fundamental frequency of that old copy of +himself. Fuse it, he told himself resolutely. Nobody would know it was +an exact duplicate. + +He located the data and set it up in the transmitter. He had no idea +where the body was, but that would take care of itself if it were +still in good shape. Placing the helmet on his head, he punched the +controls and relaxed back on the table. + + * * * * * + +Two levels below, under a pile of dust-covered trash, the body became +suddenly conscious. Mark opened his eyes and looked around, +recognition slowly returning. He had forgotten all about this old +room, but then--one could hardly remember everything about a full +shelter system, what with the hundreds of compartments, endless +automatic equipment and innumerable connecting passages. Whoever it +was who built this one sure had liked complexity. + +He bathed and carefully braided the long, blueblack hair, simulating +somewhat the fashion of the day, and spent some time adjusting a +purple scarf over his left shoulder. The purple scarf was sort of a +trade mark with him, and Jennette always admired it. Purple was her +favorite color. He made a joke out of it and called it Their color, +which was typical of the strange, dangerous behavior she engendered in +him. + +Mark was a little worried as he plunged up toward the stratosphere in +his extra car. This time he kept clearly in his mind the fact that +this was his last serviceable body, and he could take no chances with +it getting ruined. Even if he saw a whole multitude of people, all +clustered together, he would ignore them, he told himself. + +Halfway there, however, he spotted a peculiar marking on the scope, +and detoured. The peculiar marking followed him. + +Anxiously, he looked out a clear view panel, but could see nothing in +the cold, mist-laden night. The marking grew more definite as he +hesitated. It was another car, and there could be no question what it +was after. A shot at Mark. + +He cursed and sucked in his breath, making quick calculations. There +was a rolling billow of cobalt fog off to one side, a whole bank of +the stuff. Somebody apparently had been having a little game nearby. +It was still hot enough, according to his indicators, to discharge +anything the other car sent after him, and he would have the added +advantage of being invisible to the other man's instruments. The only +trouble was, once in the fog, he couldn't see anything either, and +could be ambushed without difficulty on the way out. + +The marking on the scope became more definite, and the question +settled itself as the other car came between Mark and the cloud. +Growling with irritation, Mark swung around and sent a wide angle beam +in the direction of his pursuer, watching nervously as the indicators +described the pitiful short range of his fire at this setting. + +The assailant veered off, however, scurrying into the cobalt cloud. +Mark grinned. He knew the man would expect him to wait for him to come +out, so he swooped down at max acceleration toward the surface. In +five minutes he was signaling into Jennette's shelter for permission +to enter. + +There were servants everywhere--mechanical things, controlled by +electronics and not alive, although they looked it. This was +Jennette's specialty. She owned a factory that manufactured them for +mining on the scalding plains of Mercury, and these had been +superficially remodelled to act as servants. There was the usual +government man there, too, running the party. He strutted around under +his official sash with ill-concealed self-importance. + +"Hey you, there--wait a minute," he called to Mark, waving a zuzz +pistol in his direction. + +"Yes?" Mark hesitated, eyed the pistol, and obeyed. + +"That scarf--get it off," the man ordered sternly as he approached. +The zuzz pistol was level and steady. + +"Why?" Mark demanded. "It's just a scarf. I always wear one." + +"You know why," the other man said coldly. "This is a tetotal party. +If I let somebody slip a weapon or something in, it would be an awful +brawl in no time. You know how people are." + +The man was right, of course. You can conceal a lot of things in the +fabric of a sheer scarf. Reluctantly, Mark undid the catch and handed +it over. + +"Okay. You can pick it up at the entrance when you leave." The +officer's amused eyes wrinkled as he looked Mark up and down. "Say, +that's a pretty nice job you've got there, man. Mind if I ask who made +it?" + +"It's pretty good." Mark said cautiously. "It's custom made to a +private specification." + +The officer grinned goodnaturedly. "Sure, I understand. That's all +right. I'm not from the revenue department. I don't have to do +anything about bootlegging." + +"I don't mean that." Mark protested. "There's nothing illegal--" + +The man waved his disregard anyway. "Forget it. It's a nice one, +though. And that copper color is coming back soon, too. These fashions +run in cycles, you know." + +"Yes," Mark murmured diffidently. "I thought so, too." + +"Sure." The officer eyed it speculatively for a moment. "Two point oh +one centimeter naval, isn't it? They're the best, of course." Mark +nodded shortly, looking away from the talkative officer, hoping he +would stop. But the man went on. "And I don't have any use for these +new non-feeders they've been coming out with recently." + +"No," Mark mumbled. + +"It's all right to fix it so that the food is not necessary, and it +really is a bother to have to feed those old models whether you want +to or not. But sometimes you like to eat something just for the fun of +it, and with the non-feeder models there's no receptacle for it." + +Mark nodded, his eyes searching the huge anteroom, gazing hopefully +between the moving ranks of robot servants. Then he saw her and caught +his breath. + + * * * * * + +Jennette. His lips formed a low whistle in time-honored acclamation of +excellence. The officer followed his gaze and agreed. + +"Yes," he said in a low voice, "that girl is really something. Private +spec for everything, and she sure knows how to use it. Take that +little golden job she's wearing tonight. Nothing to it. But with her, +it's terrific." + +He was right. Jennette was wearing a slender, soft-looking golden +little body that Mark had never seen before. But it was a real prize. +Being hostess, she could have clothes on, and sported a half dozen +little bracelets and a jet black bandana around her throat. The thing +was draped down over her left breast, and the whole effect was really +quite stunning. + +"Oh Mark!" she exclaimed, running up with an odd sort of +breathlessness. "You're late." + +"Sorry Jennette," he replied. "Ran into a little trouble and had to go +back for another body." + +"You must have missed," she said with amused accusation. "I'm +surprised at you." + +"Aw, there were three of them," he protested. "And the last one used a +broad beam." + +"Never mind. I forgive you," she told him. "Come along. Let's go look +at my garden." + +Mark grinned happily. "Wonderful idea. But what about your guests? Are +you just going to leave them like that?" + +"This is my birthday," she said. "They can amuse themselves." + +Then she pulled him down and put her lips to his ear. "Besides," she +whispered. "I've got an identical copy with electronic works. No one +will even know I've left, unless they get too friendly with it." + +"Pretty clever," Mark admitted thoughtfully. "But I wouldn't always be +so ready to break the law like that." + +"Who's to know except you, Mark?" She looked up at him with burning, +gold-flecked eyes. "You wouldn't tell anybody, would you?" + +Mark shook his head uncomfortably. + +"All right, then." + +They entered the elevator that took them down another half mile to the +central living quarters of the ancient shelter. It had been built +early in the flux period and remodelled several times. It was one of +the best equipped on the planet. + +"Tell me," Jennette said, gazing appreciatively at the heavy bronze +shoulders, "where on earth did you get that?" + +"I--Oh, it was just lying around somewhere," Mark mumbled. + +"I bet," she said. "But it's nice. I like it." + +Mark just grinned at her, happy for the moment, secure in the +knowledge that it would be impossible for her ever to know that it was +really identical with his protobody. Not that it would matter, just so +long as it was artificial. He listened to the humming of the elevator +for a few minutes. When it stopped the door vanished, and the two of +them moved out into a sea of wild, colorful beauty. High above them +was a simulated sun that made as good a substitute for the real thing +as had been developed since the underground movement. + +"Bright," Mark commented. + +"Oh, that's right. I've been forcing some Venerian puffers and scent +flowers, and raised the radiation level ten decibels. They always do +well under a strong sun, you know." She left his arm and moved to a +control panel beside the entrance to the elevator. She manipulated +something and the sun dimmed a little. "There," she turned around. +"Better?" + +Mark looked at the landscape, then back to her. He grinned. "Too much +light." + +"Oh you--" she murmured. She touched the controls, and the sun +disappeared, being replaced by a huge, mellow moon that sailed +majestically on the simulated horizon. It was impossible to tell it +from the real thing. + +"How's that?" + +"A little dark." + +Ignoring his comment, she came back and took his arm, and they went +strolling across the flowers and grass. "Don't you like my moon, +Mark?" + +"Sure. It's fine. Sort of aphrodisiac, of course, but--" + +"Isn't that what it's for?" Jennette asked innocently. + +"I dunno. I never had a moon." + +"Let's sit down here," she said abruptly. + + * * * * * + +They were eating pomegranates, biting briefly into them and sucking on +the sour juices. The moon had risen higher during the past hour, +becoming a little smaller in appearance. It was a peaceful, +contemplative scene. Jennette snuggled up against Mark, thoughtfully +tracing a design with fruit juice on his arm. + +"This is fun," she said softly. "So much more fun than the usual +things a person has to do." + +"Mmmm?" + +"Oh, you know. Checking reports from the factory, making sure there is +plenty of ammunition all the time, pestering the body manufacturers so +you'll always have something decent to wear. Always watching or +somebody will sneak in and blow up part of your shelter." + +"Yeah. Well, guess that's life." + +Jennette sighed and picked up another fruit. "It gets so tiresome, +always having to keep on the look-out and fighting people. Don't you +get bored by it." + +"Sure, sometimes. It's gotta be done though. Otherwise you couldn't +tell what might happen." + +"Mark--" Jennette said hesitantly. + +"Yes?" + +"Mark, would you shoot me if you found me outside your shelter?" She +looked coyly up at him. + +"Well, sure, unless you had a proper, government-authorized permit to +be there." Mark turned astonished eyes on her. "What else could I do?" + +"Oh, but you _know_ I wouldn't do anything to harm your place." + +"Aw, Jennette," Mark said uncomfortably, "of course you would. Anybody +would. If people started acting like that, the whole balance would be +upset." + +She gently stroked his arm where the fruit juice had dried. Her face +crinkled up and she giggled. "Maybe you just don't know me." + +"Let's talk about something else," Mark suggested. + +"What's the matter? Do I shock you?" + +Mark laughed and brushed his lips against her shoulder. "I'm pretty +hard to shock. Especially by you." + +"See?" she replied archly. "You're just as anti-social as I am." + +Mark's face clouded. "It's nothing to brag about, though." + +"I'm not bragging." She sighed again, and resumed her fruit. Eying it +speculatively, she said, "I guess I'm just bored with life, that's +all. Sometimes things seem so silly. Like all the times you have to +get a new body. You'd think the manufacturers were giving them away +free." + +"Yeah. Not like it used to be. Guess business is pretty good." + +"Something ought to be done about it." + +Mark grinned mischievously. "What do you suggest? Build another +factory?" + +"Oh, you know you can't do that. Somebody is always blowing it up." + +"Well, don't worry. In another hundred years or so, people will start +dying off again. These protobodies aren't as serviceable as the +manufactured kind." + +"Yes, but if they keep producing new people in the Decanting Centers, +what good is that going to do?" + +"I dunno. Blow up the Decanting Centers, maybe." + +"Maybe," Jennette said, glancing impishly at the man beside her, "we +ought to just stop wearing these silly old manufactured bodies +entirely." + +"Yes?" Mark tasted a pomegranate, made a face, and tried another. +"Just what do you suggest people wear?" + +"They could go around in their protobodies." + +"What?" Mark looked swiftly and searchingly at her, alarm on his face. + +"Why Mark," she laughed disarmingly. "You're such a righteous beast, +aren't you?" + +"Great Atoms, Jennette," he said, gazing intently at her +golden-flecked eyes, wondering what strange things went on inside that +lovely head. "You mean go around all the time as if we were savages? +Why that's illegal, immoral, and besides--besides, it's dangerous. +Suppose somebody took a shot at you? You've only got one protobody, +you know." + +"A clever fighter like you shouldn't have too much trouble with that, +if you're careful," she said gaily. "And I'm pretty good at that +myself." + +Mark took a slow deep breath as he decided that she was just teasing +him. "I'm surprised at you, Jennette." + +She shrugged. "I'm bored, I guess. I'd like to try something new, just +for excitement. Personally, sometimes I think the whole social system +we have is pretty silly, anyway." + +"Atoms," Mark mumbled. + +"No need to swear about it," she chided him. "Come on, Mark. Just +think about it for a minute. And be consistent." + +"Consistency is all right for a free psi," he said. "It sure doesn't +do a protobody any good." + +Jennette laughed scornfully. "I'll bet you believe all that stuff they +feed you in the Decanting Center about ancient history." + +"'Course not," Mark said defensively. + +"All right then. Why follow all these rules of social conduct if +there's no good basis for them?" + +"Aw, but there is," he replied seriously. "There was a big war--way +back centuries before we were decanted out at Center." + +"Hah," said Jennette. + +"Sure. And it was a whole lot of people who cooperated with each other +in it. There must have been hundreds of them--it was an awfully big +war. Hundreds of people, all on one side, all fighting together +against the other side." + +"I don't believe it." + +"It's true, I tell you," Mark insisted religiously. "Hundreds and +hundreds of people. Maybe even as many as a thousand, all dressed +alike--with clothes, I mean. And they didn't shoot each other--they +just killed the people they were fighting--the hundreds of people on +the other side." + +"Other side of what?" + +Mark frowned. "Oh, I guess that is just an expression. But that's what +happened, anyway. Before civilization got started, people cooperated +like that." + +"That's just a whole lot of theory," Jennette insisted. "Nobody's +going to make me ever believe people used to act like that. Besides, +there just aren't enough people around to have all those mythical +wars." + +Patiently, Mark continued. "I'm telling you, Jennette, this is more +than theory. There are still some records left from those days." + +"Prove it." + +"All right. That's not hard. Somebody had to build the factories, +didn't they? And the Decanting Centers?" + +"Robots." + +"Who built the first robot factory?" + +Jennette considered. Then she shrugged petulantly. "Oh all right. +Maybe a few people did cooperate. But not hundreds of them. People +just don't act like that." + +"Well, they did. And, of course, the obvious thing happened. Since +they cooperated in some things, they cooperated in a lot of things, +even fighting. That's how they could make war, you know--not the nice, +social sort of fighting we do now. And you can imagine what happened. +You can kill an awful lot of people awful fast, if a gang gets +together on it like that. If they didn't have the artificial bodies +and the psi transfer transmitters to make them come alive, there +wouldn't have been anybody left after a while. That cooperation is +rough stuff." + +"Obviously," she commented dryly. + +"Well, that's the reason for everything, then. Pretty soon the +factories couldn't turn out hypnobodies fast enough and people had to +fight in their protobodies sometimes. But after a few centuries, the +leaders began to get civilized, and decided to put an end to all this +cooperative killing. I guess they all got together and agreed not to +cooperate with each other in anything in the future." + +"It stands to reason," Mark concluded, "people had to learn to be +civilized. They weren't just born that way. It's--it's culture." + +"Pouf," said Jennette critically. + +"All right," he growled, biting viciously into a pomegranate. "Let's +hear your big story if it's so good." + + * * * * * + +Jennette stretched out her legs and contemplated her wiggling toes. +"Oh, I don't know. I don't have any real ideas. But I know better than +to believe that sort of nonsense. People just aren't like that, and +you know it." She hesitated thoughtfully, then continued. "Maybe a few +of them got together now and then for a party or something like this. +But not hundreds of them." + +When Mark did not reply, she laughed and said, "I guess I'm just +feeling risque tonight." + +"You sure are," he mumbled. + +"Of course there are parts of the old mythology that seem rather +interesting--beautiful, even--" + +"It's not mythology." + +"Like the part that deals with marriage." + +She waited. Mark dutifully echoed, "Deals with what?" + +"Marriage." + +Mark considered it. Then he shook his head. "What's that?" + +"See?" she taunted him. "You don't know everything like you think you +do. Marriage," she explained, "was a sort of cooperative agreement +that the ancient people were supposed to have entered into." + +"Sure, just like I said," Mark stated with assurance. "Hundreds of +people did it. They got involved in this marriage agreement, and made +war on each other with it." + +"What a dope. Marriage was an agreement between just two people. And +that much I might believe. Hundreds is too much." + +"It was hundreds," Mark insisted. + +"It was not. It was just two. And what's more, it was between a man +and a woman. They lived together with their protobodies and agreed to +cooperate together, and they made children and took care of them until +they grew up." + +"Why that's thirty or forty years," Mark exclaimed. "Even the wars +didn't last that long. That's really nonsense. Besides, you can only +make children in the Decanting Centers. And it's all done by +machines." + +"Well, maybe it is a little far fetched. But I think it's cute." + +"Humph." + +There was a few minutes silence. Then Jennette said softly, "Mark--" + +"Yes?" + +"Mark, you like me a lot, don't you?" + +Mark squirmed uncomfortably, and stared at the artificial moon. + +"Don't you?" she insisted. "More than you ever have anybody else?" + +"Well, guess that's right," he admitted lamely. "A whole lot more than +I should." + +She reassuringly patted his hand with her little one. "That's all +right, Mark. I won't tell anybody. Besides, I feel just the same way +about you." + +Mark nodded without speaking, worriedly studying the vague markings on +the bright luminous disk in the simulated sky. + +"Mark, don't you ever want to see the real me?" she inquired urgently. +"Don't you sometimes feel kind of empty because you can never really +have me--know me, because all you ever see is a manufactured thing +that only somewhat resembles what I am really like?" + +Mark blushed. She had come a little too close to the uncomfortable +truth. But he refused to admit it, at least to her. He mumbled an +indistinct denial. + +"Are you sure?" she said, grabbing his hands, gazing intently into his +eyes, forcing him to look at her. "Wouldn't you sometime like to come +down to my transmitter quarters?" + +"But--" + +"And see and touch my protobody--the thing I really am?" + +"Aw--" + +"Scared?" + +"Maybe I am." + +"That's silly." + +Mark swallowed and said stiffly, "Just because there is a no-fight +clause in your invitation tonight doesn't necessarily mean I have to +follow it, you know. You don't need weapons. I could strangle your +protobody easily." + +"You wouldn't," she said confidently. + +"You sure don't think much of me, do you?" + +"I think just the same of you as you do of me," she said simply. + +With impulsive hunger, Mark threw his arms around her, holding her +tightly against him, nuzzling her, smelling the perfume of her hair, +incoherently mumbling into her ear. "Jennette, Jennette," he sang, "I +think more of you than anything. I love you. I know it's wrong, but I +would never even shoot you, because sometimes it hurts you, and I +wouldn't want you to feel even the slightest discomfort." He stopped, +took a deep breath, and added meekly, "I'm sorry." + +"But Mark," she whispered. "Why is it really so wrong?" + +"You know." + +"Suppose I told you that this body is my protobody right now?" she +asked earnestly. + +"But it isn't." + +"It is," she said faintly. + +Mark's breath hissed as he gasped. Jennette was blushing all over her +body, heightening the golden color of it. He let her go, and she slid +off his lap onto the shadowed grass beside him. She bit her lip. "I +didn't really mean to tell you--yet." + +There was silence. Mark said quietly, "That's all right, Jennette." + +"You aren't angry with me, are you?" + +"No," he said slowly. "Not angry." + +"Mark--" + +"Yes?" + +"Now that we're into this thing," she asked hopefully, "why don't we +try this marriage agreement--you know, like the ancients did. It seems +like such a beautiful thing to do when two people like us--you know." + +"I don't know." Mark shook his head doubtfully. "I just don't know +about it." + +"Why not? You wouldn't have to really stay here. It could be just a +secret agreement between us. And you could come and see me whenever +you liked." + +"It all seems so unreal," he muttered. + +They lapsed into thought, both avoiding looking at the other. There +was no sound except a faint sighing of wind in the leaves of the well +trimmed shrubbery. + +"Suppose," Mark said finally, "suppose other people started doing this +thing? This cooperative agreement? Lots of people must want to, just +like we do." + +"I suppose so," she admitted. + +"I went through this once before," he went on absently. "About ninety +years ago I met this woman--she was awfully nice. Clever. Understood +things. Not like you, of course, but still she was very nice. I +thought about it then." + +"What happened to her?" Jennette asked numbly. + +"She died after a while. She was pretty old. Oh, we didn't do +anything," he hastened to add. "We kept it all on a perfectly moral +and honest plane--never saw each other except at authorized government +sex parties, like this, and all. Fought whenever we ran across each +other outside. But I remember thinking at the time that some sort of +agreement would be nice. We got along awfully well. I could never +understand what she saw in me." + +"I can," Jennette whispered. + +"This is just the same, only a lot more so," Mark went on +thoughtfully. "And it's wrong. You know it's wrong. Suppose a lot of +people started it. First thing you know, whole groups of people would +be cooperating with each other again. And when they got into trouble +outside, or planned an innocent little raid on somebody's shelter, +they would all work together on it. And pretty soon, there would be +other groups cooperating in fighting back again. They'd have to. + +"And that, of course, would be the end of civilization. Pretty soon, +there would be nothing left, and everybody would be dead." + +Jennette did not reply when he stopped. She turned her head away, but +Mark could hear her uneven breathing. + +"We have a responsibility toward society at large. We know it. We've +been well educated and we aren't savages. Neither one of us can get +away from it. It might be wonderful at first, but our conscience would +come out sooner or later, and the whole thing would be ruined." + +She rubbed her face with her cupped hands, shaking her head. "I +suppose--" she murmured unhappily. + +"You'd hate yourself for it after a while," he said. + +For a few minutes, Jennette stared at the grass before her feet, +pulling up little blades of it one by one. Then Mark stood up, and she +flashed him a small, wistful, damp smile. Together they walked back +toward the elevator, stepping quietly and almost furtively on the soft +ground. "If it weren't for that--" he started. + +"I understand," she replied quickly. Taking hold of his arm, she said, +"I'm sorry." + +"Sure." Mark grinned affectionately at her. "Come on. Let's see if +they've been having any good fights upstairs." They stepped into the +elevator and disappeared. The artificial moon continued its regular +motion through the simulated sky. + + * * * * * + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of World Without War, by E. G. von Wald + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WORLD WITHOUT WAR *** + +***** This file should be named 32254.txt or 32254.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/2/2/5/32254/ + +Produced by Sankar Viswanathan, Greg Weeks, 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/32254.zip b/32254.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5e52a02 --- /dev/null +++ b/32254.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..1472136 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #32254 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/32254) |
