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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf 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..8bc4542 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #50702 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50702) diff --git a/old/50702-h.zip b/old/50702-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index f53e1e9..0000000 --- a/old/50702-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/50702-h/50702-h.htm b/old/50702-h/50702-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 0d591c6..0000000 --- a/old/50702-h/50702-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5732 +0,0 @@ -<!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=us-ascii" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of venus Boy, by Lee Sutton. - </title> - - <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2 { - text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} -hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; -} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.right {text-align: right;} - -.caption {font-weight: bold;} - -/* Images */ -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -.poetry .stanza -{ - margin: 1em auto; -} - -.poetry .verse -{ - padding-left: 3em; -} - -.poetry .indent2 -{ - text-indent: 2em; -} - -div.titlepage { - text-align: center; - page-break-before: always; - page-break-after: always; -} - -div.titlepage p { - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0em; - font-weight: bold; - line-height: 1.5; - margin-top: 3em; -} - -.ph1, .ph2, .ph3, .ph4 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; } -.ph1 { font-size: xx-large; margin: .67em auto; } -.ph2 { font-size: x-large; margin: .75em auto; } -.ph3 { font-size: large; margin: .83em auto; } -.ph4 { font-size: medium; margin: 1.12em auto; } - - - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Venus Boy, by Lee Sutton - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world 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. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Venus Boy - -Author: Lee Sutton - -Release Date: December 15, 2015 [EBook #50702] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VENUS BOY *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/cover.jpg" width="318" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1><i>Venus Boy</i></h1> - -<p>BY LEE SUTTON</p> - -<p><i>Illustrated by Richard Floethe</i></p> - -<p><i>LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO., INC.</i><br /> -NEW YORK</p> - -<p>Copyright, 1955, by Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co., Inc.</p> - -<p>Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 54-7882</p> - -<p>Printed in the U.S.A.</p> - -<p>All rights reserved</p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: Extensive research did not uncover any<br /> -evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><i>To Mildred and Blake</i></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>"Everything that lives is Holy."<br /> -OLD MARVA SAYING.</p> - -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus1.jpg" width="405" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><i>A Hero of Venus</i></h2> - - -<p>If you ever make a trip to the green planet of Venus, the first thing -you'll see will be the fifty-foot high statue of Venus' greatest hero. -It stands on the very top of towering New Plymouth Rock at the edge of -the old colony of New Plymouth. Even from the rocket cradle, anyone -can tell that the statue is of a twelve-year-old boy smiling up at the -Venusian jewel bear perched on his shoulder. Cut into the huge rock -below the statue are the words,</p> - -<p class="ph4">"Virgil Dare (Johnny) Watson<br /> -And the Marva, Baba.<br /> -May their Friendship Endure!"</p> - -<p>Virgil Dare Watson, called Johnny by his friends, was the first human -being born on Venus. He was named after Virginia Dare, the first -pioneer child born in North America, and for a long time he was the -only child on all Venus. And that would have been a lonely thing to be -if it had not been for Baba. Baba, the bear, was not only Johnny's pet, -but his best friend, too, and the only one who knew about his three -secrets.</p> - -<p>Because of these secrets, Johnny got himself, his jewel bear, Baba, and -the whole colony of New Plymouth into desperate trouble. And because -of these secrets, he also became a hero worthy of a statue—Venus' -greatest hero.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><i>Contents</i></h2> - -<div class="center"> -<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_ONE">I</a></td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The First Two Secrets</span> </td><td align="right">1</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_TWO">II</a></td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Treasure of Venus</span> </td><td align="right">9</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_THREE">III</a></td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Dangerous Target</span> </td><td align="right">18</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_FOUR">IV</a></td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Third Secret</span> </td><td align="right">25</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_FIVE">V</a></td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Mystery Indeed!</span> </td><td align="right">34</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_SIX">VI</a></td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Inside New Plymouth</span> </td><td align="right">45</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_SEVEN">VII</a></td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Rhinosaur Stampede</span> </td><td align="right">54</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_EIGHT">VIII</a></td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">One Secret is Revealed!</span> </td><td align="right">66</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_NINE">IX</a></td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Price of a Brother</span> </td><td align="right">71</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_TEN">X</a></td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Alone in the Jungle</span> </td><td align="right">81</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_ELEVEN">XI</a></td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Friends are Separated</span> </td><td align="right">97</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_TWELVE">XII</a></td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Price of a Boy</span> </td><td align="right">107</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_THIRTEEN">XIII</a></td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Outwitting the Outlaws</span> </td><td align="right">116</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_FOURTEEN">XIV</a></td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Captured!</span> </td><td align="right">129</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_FIFTEEN">XV</a></td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">A City in the Trees</span> </td><td align="right">140</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_SIXTEEN">XVI</a></td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">The Thunder of Rhinosaur Hooves</span> </td><td align="right">155</td></tr> -<tr><td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_SEVENTEEN">XVII</a></td><td align="left"><span class="smcap">Teachers Can't Play Hookey</span> </td><td align="right">172</td></tr> -<tr><td></td><td align="left"><a href="#Facts_About_Venus"><span class="smcap">Facts About Venus</span></a> </td><td align="right">178</td></tr> -</table></div> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_ONE" id="CHAPTER_ONE">CHAPTER ONE</a><br /> -<small><i>The First Two Secrets</i></small></h2> - - -<p>It was rocket day on Venus!—the day the yearly rocket from Earth -arrived, and it was like Christmas, Fourth of July and your birthday -all rolled into one!</p> - -<p>In the windowless, one-room New Plymouth school, Johnny Watson, a -stocky twelve-year-old, sat toward the back of the room, a big Venus -geography propped up in front of him. Johnny was supposed to be -studying. Every time Mrs. Hadley, the teacher, glanced his way, a page -of the book slowly turned. The teacher was much too busy with the half -dozen squirming, excited first graders to notice that a small black paw -fastened to a furry blue arm was really turning the pages.</p> - -<p>On Johnny's lap sat Baba, a perky-faced little blue bear with stand-up -ears and bright blue eyes. To fool the teacher, the little bear, his -eyes twinkling, flipped the pages one by one.</p> - -<p>"We gotta do something quick, Baba!" Johnny whispered to his bouncing, -jewel bear cub in a tight worried voice. "It's only two hours till -school's out."</p> - -<p>The little bear peered over at the clock on the wall. He lay a tiny -black paw on his blue button nose and cocked his head as if he were -trying to tell the time.</p> - -<p>When school was out everyone would go to the rocket field. Johnny knew -that above all, he and his bouncing bear must not be there! Why Johnny -and Baba dared not go was one of Johnny's three secrets.</p> - -<p>There was only one thing to do, Johnny thought. He would have to behave -so badly that as punishment he would be forbidden to go.</p> - -<p>"Nudge me when Mrs. Hadley turns around," Johnny whispered. "We're -gonna get out of here!"</p> - -<p>The little bear shoved his furry blue snout around the geography and -peered from behind it. His bright eyes followed every move the teacher -made.</p> - -<p>The instant Mrs. Hadley turned to write on the blackboard Baba gave the -boy a kick. Johnny slipped down on to his hands and knees in the aisle -and Baba hopped upon his back. Rapidly and silently Johnny crawled -toward the armor room. Behind him a little girl kindergartner began to -giggle.</p> - -<p>"Look at the horsie!" she yelled.</p> - -<p>Johnny heard the teacher call, "Quiet, children!" The little girl -giggled louder. But he hadn't been seen! He scurried into the armor -room.</p> - -<p>As Johnny jumped to his feet and grabbed for his suit of rhinosaur-hide -armor, Baba leaped toward the wall and hooked his claws into the -concrete. Then he scurried straight up the wall like a fly and snatched -up Johnny's headglobe in his tiny black paws. While Johnny wriggled -into the armor Baba fitted the headglobe over the boy's tow head.</p> - -<p>Without waiting to zip up, Johnny started toward the door. Baba jumped -from the headglobe shelf and landed on his shoulder with a smack. The -boy's hand was scarcely on the latch when the teacher turned around, -her mouth making an O of surprise. Quickly, Johnny jerked open the door -and dashed through, slamming it closed. There was a space of a few feet -and then another door. Holding the second door open, Johnny snapped -tight his headglobe, while Baba's small fingers pushed and pulled at -the zippers fastening the armor. Both of them scanned the sky.</p> - -<p>No arrow-birds.</p> - -<p>Johnny grabbed a stone from beside the step and wedged it in the outer -door so it could not close. To keep out these murderous flying lizards, -all buildings were windowless and had double doors. When one door was -open the other automatically locked.</p> - -<p>"Johnny, Johnny! You come right back in here!" a muffled voice called. -Johnny sighed regretfully as he slipped out of the schoolhouse into the -pearly green light of Venus.</p> - -<p>Baba on his shoulder, he started out at a dead run through the -collection of windowless buildings that made up colony headquarters. -The two had barely made it to the foot of a tall heavily leafed tree -when the door of the main headquarters building began to open.</p> - -<p>"Up the meat tree!" Johnny yelled.</p> - -<p>Baba leaped from Johnny's shoulder and rolled himself into a furry blue -ball as he fell. The little bear smacked the ground with the sound of -a bouncing basketball and bounced high into the air! At the top of his -bounce his arms and legs shot out; he hooked his claws into the trunk -half way up the meat tree. Baba wasn't called a bouncing bear for -nothing!</p> - -<p>Johnny jumped for the nearest branch. Weighed down by his arrow-bird -armor, he was slow pulling himself up—too slow. Baba scurried down the -trunk like a squirrel, his claws scattering bits of bark on Johnny. -Hanging on with three paws he reached out and hooked his claws into -Johnny's armor. One pull from that tiny but powerful arm and Johnny was -sitting on the branch. From there up it was easy. The branches made a -perfect ladder. Soon they were entirely surrounded by green shadowy -leaves.</p> - -<p>Johnny carefully pushed aside a green fruit the size of a cantaloup and -looked out. Striding across the dusty road came a tall man in headglobe -and black armor—Captain Thompson of the colony guard. The teacher must -have phoned for help. The man's square face was set in anger as he -kicked the rock away from the schoolhouse door. The teacher stepped out -and Johnny could hear their angry voices.</p> - -<p>After a moment Mrs. Hadley went back inside and the guard captain -strode purposefully away toward Mayor Watson's office.</p> - -<p>Sitting on a branch swinging his legs, Baba winked a shiny blue eye. He -reached over and patted Johnny on the spot where the boy was likely to -pay for his pranks.</p> - -<p>"I think we've done it this time," Johnny whispered. "I hope it's not -just another spanking." Johnny spoke with deep feeling. He had had -three spankings in three days.</p> - -<p>The little bear looked sadly down his blue muzzle and made an odd deep -clicking noise in the back of his throat.</p> - -<p>"Sure," Johnny said, as if answering the bear's clicks, "I want to go -to the planet-fall, but we just can't."</p> - -<p>The bear clicked again.</p> - -<p>"I know," Johnny went on, "I know the earthies would give you -chocolate. Besides I was going to have a job." Johnny's eyes began to -shine with tears he wouldn't let come. For the first time he would have -been working on the rocket field with the men instead of being on the -sidelines watching with the women and little kids.</p> - -<p>The little bear patted him on the shoulder and clicked in low tones.</p> - -<p>"All right, I won't be sad if you won't." Johnny shook the tears away -and tried to make a joke. "Gosh, Baba, you talk funny since <i>you know -what</i>." Johnny screwed up his face. "You're such a mushmouth now I can -hardly understand what you say."</p> - -<p>Baba stuck out his long blue tongue.</p> - -<p>This was Johnny's first secret. His little bear could talk!</p> - -<p>Baba's clicks were really the words of his own language. Although he -couldn't make the sounds of the human voice, he could understand people -perfectly. Johnny could both understand what the bear said and speak in -the same clicking language.</p> - -<p>This hadn't started out to be a secret at all. As a little boy, Johnny -thought everyone knew that those clicks were Baba's words. When Baba -came to live with him, the little bear cub already knew his own -language, but Johnny was just learning to talk. He learned human words -and click words at the same time, and thought everyone understood them. -When he was almost five, Johnny discovered to his amazement that no one -understood Baba but him. He then went proudly spreading the news that -he and his bear could talk together. When the first person laughed, -Johnny didn't mind. But when everybody laughed at him he began to get a -little mad. The crowning insult was being spanked for lying.</p> - -<p>After that, Johnny decided if telling grownups that Baba could talk -only got him licked and laughed at, it might as well be a secret. -Besides, it was fun keeping it secret.</p> - -<p>After a few minutes of waiting, Baba scurried along a branch and hung -by his black claws while he thrust his blue button nose through the -twigs and leaves. Johnny followed along another branch.</p> - -<p>"Looks clear," Baba clicked. "Let's go!"</p> - -<p>"Wait a minute." A quick movement in the distance caught Johnny's eye. -Four men came out of a long grey building marked Hunters Hotel.</p> - -<p>Johnny was instantly alert. Colonists always kept a sharp eye on such -men. These were the dangerous marva hunters, whose only law was an -ato-tube gun.</p> - -<p>Johnny swung to a branch where he could see better.</p> - -<p>"What's up?" Baba clicked.</p> - -<p>"Hunters!" clicked Johnny. "They're watching the guard change at the -old stockade."</p> - -<p>"Oh."</p> - -<p>The two looked at each other. Both knew what was in the stockade, -locked away in the big safe. Marva teeth and claws. Jewel claws and -teeth from grown-up bears just like the cub Baba!</p> - -<p>"Come on, Baba." Johnny shinnied back to a place where branches forked -from the trunk of the meat tree. "We'd better check your nails 'fore we -go down."</p> - -<p>After making sure no arrow-birds were feeding on the meat fruit, he -undid one of his armor zippers and pulled a bottle of black liquid and -a small brush from an inside pocket. Baba plopped down on his lap.</p> - -<p>"Smile," Johnny commanded.</p> - -<p>Baba pulled back his lips, showing black teeth. Johnny looked at them -carefully, grunted, and then picked up one of the little bear's paws. -All the nails seemed perfectly black, but on the tip of one of them -there sparkled a point of bright blue.</p> - -<p>"Dang it, we gotta find something better than this nail polish. A -little climbing and it's all scraped off." Johnny scowled and dipped -the little brush in the bottle of black liquid. Carefully he painted -the tip of the claw. Looking over the little bear's paws he found four -more claws that showed blue. He painted them, too.</p> - -<p>"Now don't climb down when we go, Baba! When the polish is dry, jump."</p> - -<p>The little bear nodded.</p> - -<p>This was Johnny's second secret. Everyone thought Baba still had his -valueless black baby claws and teeth. But, under the coating of black -nail polish, each of Baba's claws was really a precious blue jewel.</p> - -<p>Johnny Watson owned a million dollar pet!</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TWO" id="CHAPTER_TWO">CHAPTER TWO</a><br /> -<small><i>The Treasure of Venus</i></small></h2> - - -<p>Yes, a million dollars, maybe even more, and all for one little bear!</p> - -<p>Johnny sighed shakily at the thought and hugged his bear to him.</p> - -<p>"What's the matter, Johnny?" Baba clicked, waving his claws to dry -them, like a lady getting ready for a party.</p> - -<p>"You know," Johnny said, "I was just wishing for the good old days when -you had your baby black nails and your pretty squeaky voice, and we -didn't have to be afraid of anything."</p> - -<p>"I'm sorry," Baba clicked. "I couldn't help it. I just grew." Baba -looked so sorrowfully down his nose that Johnny laughed, swung the -little bear up above his head and sat him down on a branch.</p> - -<p>"You're a silly," Johnny said. "I know you couldn't help it. I was just -wishing."</p> - -<p>Most of all he was wishing that bouncing bears didn't have jewels for -claws at all. But he knew that was a silly wish, too.</p> - -<p>Grabbing a branch, Johnny swung himself back to a spot where he could -see the hunters. As he watched, more were arriving. About a mile away a -battered hunting tank came lumbering through the sliding doors of the -fifty-foot high concrete wall surrounding the colony. Outside those -walls, Johnny knew, lay the murderous animal life of the jungle planet.</p> - -<p>Every living thing on Venus attacked men. Not just the huge rhinosaurs -and the horned river snakes, but even tiny scarlet apes and pigmy -antelope. Johnny knew the colonists and hunters would never have come -to such a savage place at all without the lure of tremendous wealth to -be made from bouncing bears' claws.</p> - -<p>Harder than diamonds and just as clear, these magical jewels shone -soft blue in the night and were blindingly bright in the sun. But that -wasn't the only reason claws were valuable. A tiny piece of claw, or -even of the duller teeth, melted in thousands of tons of plastic, made -that plastic tough enough to be used for the hulls of rocket ships. Men -called it marvaplast.</p> - -<p>With such a treasure beckoning, man could not stay away from Venus. -Rockets came hurtling across space filled with hunters. Traders -followed. After the traders came the colonists, led by Johnny's father -and mother.</p> - -<p>Johnny sighed again.</p> - -<p>"Don't be so sad," Baba clicked. "We've been real lucky so far."</p> - -<p>"I suppose so." Johnny had to admit they'd both been lucky. Baba had -been lucky not to be killed as his mother and brother had been. And -Johnny had been lucky to get Baba at all. If there had been any other -way of raising the bear until his black baby claws turned blue, Johnny -never would have gotten him. All other young marva that had been -captured had died. They refused to eat or drink. They simply squatted -down and whimpered piteously until they died of what seemed to be -loneliness and heartbreak.</p> - -<p>When Baba had been captured, Mrs. Watson brought him home, hoping to -save his life. Two-year-old Virgil Dare, as Johnny was called then, was -fascinated.</p> - -<p>"Ba-ba," he had cried, trying to say bear, and had thrown his arms -around it. Surprisingly, the little bear had stopped whimpering and had -hugged Johnny back. A few minutes later it had eaten some diamond-wood -nuts.</p> - -<p>After a week, the colonists had decided that the little bear would -live and he was taken away and put in a small diamond-wood cage for -safe keeping. The little bear promptly refused to eat and almost died, -whimpering over and over a sound that was just like "Johnny, Johnny, -Johnny." It was the only sound he could make beside the clicking noise. -He had to be sent back to the little boy. From then on Virgil Dare was -called Johnny.</p> - -<p>He and Baba went everywhere together, even to school. As the years went -by they became closer than brothers and it was easier and easier to -forget that the blue cub was really colony property.</p> - -<p>Then, Baba's voice had deepened; the black nails had gradually -loosened; and, all in one Venus night, during Baba's long sleep through -five earth days of darkness, the new nails had come in. Johnny had -a mixture of india ink and nail polish all ready. It had worked for -two months now. But the polish <i>did</i> chip off and the claws had to be -painted over and over.</p> - -<p>"Oh, Baba, why can't you be a sensible little bear and stay home where -people can't see you," Johnny said.</p> - -<p>"You know why, Johnny," Baba clicked. "You're my kikac." This was a -word in the clicking language that meant friend, pet and brother, all -in one. Baba said kikacs should never be parted.</p> - -<p>That was the reason Johnny could not go to see the rocket come. If he -went, Baba was sure to follow. Everyone, colonists and hunters, was -going to be at the field, and if one of them caught sight of a flash of -blue from Baba's claws, it would mean the end of Baba. The colonists -liked the little bear but the colony was very poor. They wouldn't think -long about killing him for his jewel claws. The hunters wouldn't think -at all. They would steal him as quick as the flight of an arrow-bird.</p> - -<p>It was a very dangerous situation. But if he could keep from going to -the rocket field, Johnny had a plan. The plan depended on Johnny's -third secret.</p> - -<p>Draped over his branch, Johnny kept his eye on the hunters. They just -seemed to be strolling about the settlement now—getting used to the -fact that they were out of the dangerous jungle where they lived in -concrete forts. When the door of the settlement headquarters opened -again, Johnny pulled his head back in among the leaves.</p> - -<p>A grey haired man with heavy eyebrows stepped out of the door. It was -Jeb, the old hunter, one of the first men to come to Venus hunting -marva. Now he was one of the colony guards, and a very good friend of -Baba and Johnny.</p> - -<p>When the old man came close enough for him to hear, Johnny crawled out -where he could be seen, called down to him, and waved.</p> - -<p>"Hi, Jeb—whatcha doing?"</p> - -<p>The old man stopped in his tracks, looked carefully around him, then -cocked an eye up into the tree. He frowned, his grey eyebrows making a -V over his deep-set eyes. He shook his head in disapproval, but said -nothing until he was directly under the tree.</p> - -<p>"What I'm doin' isn't important," Jeb said in a gruff voice, looking -up at Johnny. "But what are <i>you</i> a-doin' up that tree when you're -supposed to be doin' book work?"</p> - -<p>"Aw," Johnny started, "I just...."</p> - -<p>"You just made your paw boiling mad, that's what," Jeb interrupted, -"locking the teacher in that way." He snorted.</p> - -<p>"Did Dad say anything about keeping me away from the rocket landing?" -Johnny demanded anxiously.</p> - -<p>"Nup," answered Jeb. "Cap'n Thompson wanted him to, but he says no, -that you worked real hard all year. But I'm warning you. You better get -on inside that school house, unless you want a good tannin'. Your ma's -out lookin' for you with fire in her eye." He started to walk away.</p> - -<p>"Hey, wait a minute Jeb," Johnny called.</p> - -<p>"Well?"</p> - -<p>"I was watching those hunters. They're sure interested in the stockade. -You better tell Cap'n Thompson."</p> - -<p>"We know they're interested. I don't think they'll do anything. That -old reprobate of a Trader Harkness'll keep 'em in line. <i>You'd</i> better -watch out, though. I might tell Cap'n Thompson where he could find him -a hooky-player." With a fierce snort the old man was on his way.</p> - -<p>Johnny smiled. He knew Jeb would never tell where he was hiding, in -spite of the gruff warnings. Jeb was a nice old fellow. He'd shot his -marva years before, gone down to earth, spent his millions in a few -wild years and returned to Venus dead broke. In twenty years hunting he -had never made another kill. Marva were as hard to find as they were -valuable.</p> - -<p>"Guess you just weren't quite bad enough!" Baba clicked to Johnny. "My -claws are dry. Let's go before your mother finds us."</p> - -<p>Johnny crawled down to the little bear.</p> - -<p>"We gotta think of something else bad to do. It's that or just plain -refuse to go. But then they'd think something was funny, sure as -shooting!"</p> - -<p>"There's lots of ripe meat fruit in the tree," Baba clicked, and -grinned. "Maybe you could drop one on Captain Thompson!"</p> - -<p>"Oh boy!" Johnny exclaimed in excitement. Then he frowned. "Aw, he -probably won't come by here again."</p> - -<p>"Somebody will!" Baba said. "Let's keep an eye out."</p> - -<p>The two of them posted themselves in different parts of the tree and -watched for possible targets for ripe meat fruit. No one seemed to -want to walk under the tree. Finally Johnny caught sight of a short -fat bald-headed man and a tall redhaired man leaving the Hunters Hotel -together. One was Trader Harkness, who all but ran the colony, and the -other, his bodyguard, Rick Saunders. They seemed to be headed for the -trading post and would have to pass directly under Johnny's tree to get -there. Baba saw them at the same time.</p> - -<p>"How about Trader Harkness?" the little bear clicked. "Do you think -he'd be a good target?"</p> - -<p>"A kind of dangerous one," Johnny clicked back, his heart racing. "But -where's that meat fruit?"</p> - -<p>There wasn't any question about his getting into enough trouble this -time. He just hoped he wouldn't get into too much trouble!</p> - -<p>Trader Harkness was a very important man, but Johnny didn't like him. -He had started as a hunter and then had turned trader. By killing off -most of his opposition, he had become the only important trader on -Venus. If he hadn't wanted a walled settlement to protect his goods, -the colony might have failed. A hunter would stop at nothing to get -what he needed and the colony had had more than one of its tanks -ambushed and stolen to hunt marva.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus2.jpg" width="384" height="325" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>A red, ripe meat fruit was not hard to find. Johnny wrenched one from -the branch and held it carefully by its long stem. The size of a small -melon, green meat fruit must be cooked before eating. Once ripe, their -thin skins are plump full of a sweet strong-smelling paste—a natural -high protein baby food.</p> - -<p>"There's plenty more," Johnny clicked softly. "Think we ought to get -Rick, too?"</p> - -<p>"He's too good a friend," Baba clicked back. "Besides he might not give -me any more chocolate."</p> - -<p>Johnny agreed with a laugh, and pushed leaves aside so he could see. -He shivered. Below him came the most powerful man on Venus—a short, -immensely fat man, who waddled forward rather than walked. On earth he -would have been laughed at, but on Venus he was feared and respected. -He liked that respect and demanded it.</p> - -<p>Johnny swallowed hard. The man he was going to drop the fruit on had -once been ambushed by five hunters—none of them had survived.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_THREE" id="CHAPTER_THREE">CHAPTER THREE</a><br /> -<small><i>A Dangerous Target</i></small></h2> - - -<p>As the two men moved closer to Johnny's and Baba's meat tree, they -appeared to be arguing about something. The trader glittered as he -waddled forward. His armor was of the clearest, brightest marvaplast -plastic, and his fingers were studded with marva jewel rings. They -stopped just a few feet away from the tree. Johnny could tell the -trader was angry. Though he was keeping himself under tight control, -his heavy jaw was set and his little black eyes flashed under his -smooth, hairless brow.</p> - -<p>"I'll put it to you straight, Rick," the trader's heavy voice rumbled -up to Johnny. "I couldn't stay in business a year if I did as you asked -me to."</p> - -<p>The redhaired bodyguard was flushed. "Well, then, I guess I'll have -to do it," he said in a tight, defiant voice. "If you won't warn the -colonists, I will."</p> - -<p>Harkness' jaw tightened. "Better think it over, Rick." His voice was -still controlled and level. He gripped Rick's shoulder with a pudgy, -jeweled hand. "Remember, those hunters trusted me. They figure my -bodyguard wouldn't do anything I told him not to. If you warn the -colonists, I'll have to make it clear you were on your own." His voice -held a threat.</p> - -<p>"What do you mean?" Rick demanded, pushing the hand from his shoulder.</p> - -<p>"The least I would do would be to fire you back to Earth," he said -ominously.</p> - -<p>Johnny drew in his breath. He knew how much Rick wanted to stay on -Venus. The trader got his bodyguards by paying their way to Venus. He -agreed to stake them for hunting if they did good work for a year. -Otherwise they were sent back to Earth. It was said that men who -crossed Trader Harkness never made it alive.</p> - -<p>"I'm sorry, Trader," Rick said, "but I'll take my chances. If you don't -like what I do, I'll join the colony."</p> - -<p>"I should have guessed it," the trader said contemptuously, "when you -began hanging around that worthless Jeb." The trader paused and then -the threat in his voice was no longer veiled. "Believe me, Saunders, -join that colony and you'll regret it." The heavy man turned slowly and -moved toward his trading post.</p> - -<p>Fascinated, Johnny had all but forgotten the meat fruit in his hand. -The trader was almost past him when he remembered. With a little toss -Johnny let go of the juicy fruit. For an instant he thought he had -thrown too far, but the trader waddled forward just right.</p> - -<p>With a sickening plop the red fruit exploded on the top of Trader -Harkness' shining headglobe. Dripping purple gobs splattered through -the air slits, smearing the stone-bald head. A strong sweet smell -floated up to Johnny. For a moment Harkness stood perfectly still in -shocked amazement.</p> - -<p>Then the tremendous man began to dance about in sheer rage and -discomfort.</p> - -<p>"Water!" he yelled, his rumbling voice rising to a shrill cry. "Get -some water!" He was bouncing up and down in an odd way, his clenched -fists hitting the air. All his dignity was gone.</p> - -<p>Johnny stared open-mouthed, awed by his own daring. Rick Saunders stool -still a second, and then broke into a guffaw.</p> - -<p>"I tell you, get me some water!" Trader Harkness roared. Three or four -hunters and Jeb, the old guard, came running up. They took one look and -they, too, broke into laughter. Jeb was carrying a fire bucket.</p> - -<p>"Never thought I'd ever get this chance, Will," Jeb cackled, and -sloshed a bucket of water over Harkness. The water splashed on the bald -head and washed the bits of fruit down the trader's neck and under his -armor. The big man stood there dumb with anger.</p> - -<p>Johnny's throat ached with the laughs he'd kept back. He glanced up to -the branch where Baba sat. The little bear's fur was shivering with -fun. His eyes opened wide, and with a whir of clicks meaning, "Watch -me, Johnny," he leaped into space. He kicked up a flurry of dust as he -bounced to the ground and up to his feet in front of the trader and the -other men. By this time the crowd had grown to a dozen men.</p> - -<p>Baba stopped a moment to make sure everyone was watching him. Then -the round little bear began a dancing, bouncing waddle up and down. -He clenched his forepaws into little fists and beat the air. His face -was screwed up into a mighty frown. It was a perfect imitation of the -trader. The men's laughter swelled to a roar.</p> - -<p>"Rick!" Harkness' voice rumbled out, tight and cold with rage. "Shoot -it!"</p> - -<p>The laughter stopped suddenly, almost as if it had been switched off. -It had been so long since anyone had made fun of the trader that the -man had lost his head.</p> - -<p>"I can't do that!" Rick's lean brown face was horrified. Then he became -angry. "I wouldn't shoot a kid's pet!"</p> - -<p>"Well, I will!" Moving with more speed than it seemed a large man could -muster, the trader's hand snaked toward his holster.</p> - -<p>Baba saw the joke had gone too far. He leaped into the air, came down -with a bounce and shot up the tree beside Johnny before the trader -could level the gun at him.</p> - -<p>Johnny's mouth went dry. Already the trader was searching the tree for -Baba, his pistol up, the safety switch off. The men stood in shocked -silence.</p> - -<p>"He's right beside me, Mr. Harkness!" Johnny shouted, and crawled into -full view. "C'mon, Baba, get on my shoulder. He can't shoot <i>me</i>." As -Johnny came into full view, the trader's face grew angrier yet. "Baba -didn't drop that meat fruit, Mr. Harkness," Johnny said firmly. "I did."</p> - -<p>"Kid's got guts," one of the hunters muttered.</p> - -<p>As Johnny slid down to the ground, he saw his mother pushing her way -through the group of men. Her lips were tight together, her face white.</p> - -<p>"You're going to get it," Baba clicked. "Here come your pa and Captain -Thompson, too."</p> - -<p>Mrs. Watson strode straight up to Trader Harkness, her eyes blazing.</p> - -<p>"You ought to be ashamed!" she said to the man. Then she turned on -Johnny. "And so had you, young man. No planet-fall for you!"</p> - -<p>Johnny's heart leaped. He'd done it at last!</p> - -<p>"Now, Mr. Harkness," Johnny's mother's voice was very low, "what Baba -and Johnny did was very wrong. I apologize for them. And Johnny will -certainly be punished. Nevertheless, I never want to hear of you or -anyone else threatening Baba again. Is that clear?"</p> - -<p>Taken aback, the trader nodded.</p> - -<p>"That goes for the whole family, Mr. Harkness." Johnny's father stepped -forward straight and tall and put his arm around his wife's shoulder. -"Not to mention the colony," he went on. "We have a pretty big stake in -that bear."</p> - -<p>The fat, short trader seemed suddenly as cold as ice. His heavy jaw -thrust out and his little black eyes looked straight at Johnny's father.</p> - -<p>"Valuable or not, I don't have to put up with insults. Not from those -two or any of you. If that's the kind of thanks I get for ten years of -working with you, I'm through. You can fight your own battles now." He -jerked his head around toward Rick. "C'mon!"</p> - -<p>"I'm staying," the young man said.</p> - -<p>"All right. Stay." The smooth bald head swiveled back to the Watson -family. "I told this man I'd fire him back to Earth. But let him stay. -After the hunters have picked your bones, I'll take care of him." He -turned, and with heavy footsteps walked away. His slow waddle did not -seem funny now. The hunters in the crowd stood for a moment, and then -followed him.</p> - -<p>Captain Thompson addressed Johnny's father. "That sounded like a -declaration of war."</p> - -<p>Johnny's father nodded grimly. "I think our colony is getting too big -for him," he said slowly. "He's been looking for a way to break with us -and Johnny gave him just the kind of excuse he needed."</p> - -<p>"Yep," said Jeb. "But don't be too hard on Johnny. Maybe it's just as -good it happened now when we got marva claws to buy us some extra fire -power."</p> - -<p>"You might not have those claws long enough to do any good," Rick -Saunders cut in. "I was just going to warn you. Four hunters just asked -Harkness in on a plan to rob the stockade. The trader turned 'em down, -but...."</p> - -<p>"Which four hunters?" Captain Thompson broke in.</p> - -<p>A shadow passed over Rick's face. "I don't know which ones." He looked -at Mr. Watson eagerly. "I want to help, though. I'm hoping you'll take -me on as a guard."</p> - -<p>"We can sure use you." Jeb stepped up and slapped the young man on the -back.</p> - -<p>Mr. Watson appeared to consider for a moment. He looked Rick up and -down, and then glanced at Captain Thompson, who nodded.</p> - -<p>"All right, Rick," he said. "You go on over to the guard barracks and -Jeb'll check you out. When you're through, report to Captain Thompson."</p> - -<p>Rick Saunders grinned. Old Jeb threw an arm around his shoulder and -they walked off together.</p> - -<p>When they were out of hearing Captain Thompson turned to Johnny's -father. "I don't know if I like this," he said. "Harkness may have -planted that man on us. I'm certainly not going to let him get anywhere -near our claws. I'll keep an eye on Saunders personally."</p> - -<p>"But, gosh," Johnny broke in, "I heard him arg...."</p> - -<p>"I think, Johnny," said his father sternly, "you've said and done -enough for one day. The trader is a proud man and by making a fool of -him you've given the colony a deadly enemy." He turned back to Captain -Thompson. "We'd better change our plans, Captain. It looks like we -should double, maybe even triple the guard...."</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FOUR" id="CHAPTER_FOUR">CHAPTER FOUR</a><br /> -<small><i>The Third Secret</i></small></h2> - - -<p>Three hours later, boy and bear were trudging through the marshberry -fields toward New Plymouth Rock. Johnny's bottom was still warm from -his recent session with a strap. The boy was in full armor. A leather -harness was strapped to the little bear's furry blue back.</p> - -<p>The last 'copter had long since left for the rocket field and, except -for guards, the settlement was nearly empty. Because of this Johnny -had been forbidden to leave his house. A lone person without a gun was -supposed to be just what the arrow-birds were looking for. But Johnny -wasn't afraid. He had his third secret.</p> - -<p>Johnny reached up and carefully picked one of the apple-sized -marshberries for himself. It was a rich ripe yellow color.</p> - -<p>"They are just right this year," Johnny said to Baba.</p> - -<p>The little bear nodded gravely. Both he and Johnny had worked hard in -those fields. Everyone did. Marshberries prevented a disease called -colds that Johnny had never had, and were the only crop the colonists -could send back to Earth. They had to be ripe for the yearly rocket or -a year's work was wasted.</p> - -<p>Johnny trudged on under the weight of his armor while Baba bounced -along beside him. A mile away loomed New Plymouth Rock. The huge -mesa-like rock made up one corner of the settlement's barrier against -the animals. The thick concrete walls of the settlement, topped with -live wires, were joined to the rock on two sides. On its summit, stood -a stunted diamond-wood tree. This was Johnny's and Baba's destination.</p> - -<p>Baba jumped high in the air, made himself into a ball and bounded on -ahead.</p> - -<p>"Hurry up!" he clicked.</p> - -<p>"Hungry for nuts, eh?" Johnny asked.</p> - -<p>"Crunchy ones," the little bear clicked back, turning a somersault in -the air. "Come on, hurry!"</p> - -<p>Johnny made a face at Baba. "Bear," he said, "you're certainly getting -bossy lately."</p> - -<p>Baba did another somersault, bounced, and landed on Johnny's shoulder -with a thump, almost knocking the boy down. He put his nose in Johnny's -ear.</p> - -<p>"I'm a grown-up," he clicked in heavy tones. "Hear my beautiful new -voice?"</p> - -<p>Johnny hunched his shoulders hard, spilling Baba to the ground. Then -he grabbed him by the harness, and stood up. While Baba squeaked -piteously, Johnny swung him round and round. At the top of one of the -swings he let go, tossing Baba high into the air.</p> - -<p>"Help! Help!" clicked Baba, beating paws into the air, and screwing up -his face. Just before he hit the ground he made himself into a ball. He -hit with a smack and bounced higher than Johnny had thrown him. Both of -them were laughing when he stopped bouncing.</p> - -<p>"Gosh, I wish we could have done that for the Earthies!" Johnny said</p> - -<p>The two fell silent, both thinking of the fun they were missing at the -rocket field.</p> - -<p>They were coming to the end of the marshberry fields. Before them were -the great boulders surrounding New Plymouth Rock. Johnny had made the -harness Baba was wearing for forays among the boulders—forbidden -forays, for arrow-birds nested there. Baba, with his strong nails and -bouncy body, could go straight up the face of rocks. He was small -enough to ride on Johnny's shoulder, but he was powerful too. By -hanging on to Baba's harness, Johnny could go straight up and over -large boulders, armor and all.</p> - -<p>"Let's go right by the nests," Baba clicked. "I want to be sure, right -off."</p> - -<p>"O. K., worry bear, you lead the way." Johnny began to chant, -"Grandpapa Baba sat in a corner, 'fraid that his shadow would burn in -the fire."</p> - -<p>Baba bounced over the smaller rocks in the way. Johnny, weighed down -with headglobe and armor, made his way slowly over them and between -them. Baba helped Johnny over one steep place and then stayed beside -him. It was hard going and Johnny's clothes were drenched with sweat -under his armor before they clambered down the last boulder and on to -a little flat place. They were already high above the level of the -settlement. On one side they were surrounded by high red boulders. On -the other side loomed the sheer cliff of New Plymouth Rock.</p> - -<p>Far above them, from many round holes in the rock, came strange -squeaking sounds. Here were the arrow-bird nests! Johnny was deathly -afraid. He'd seen what an arrow-bird could do when it shot itself at a -man.</p> - -<p>"Get ready, Baba," he whispered.</p> - -<p>"Those are just babies up there," Baba clicked. "No danger yet!"</p> - -<p>"Let's climb up and get rid of them!" Johnny suggested. "Then there -won't be any here to...."</p> - -<p>"No!" Baba interrupted.</p> - -<p>"But why? I'd be protected by my armor and...."</p> - -<p>"No!" Baba clicked more firmly. There was a stern but puzzled -expression on the little bear's face. "The arrow-birds are my -friend-pets, I must not hurt them." He used a word in the clicking -language which meant both friend and pet. It was something like the -word "kikac," which he called Johnny—"friend-pet-brother."</p> - -<p>"All right," Johnny said, "but I don't understand."</p> - -<p>"You mustn't harm them, either," Baba said. "Remember, I brought you -here. Otherwise you wouldn't know where the nests were. Even if you -just tell the grownups and they kill them—well, it would be wrong. I -would have—"</p> - -<p>Baba was interrupted by a high whistling, shrieking noise, and the -whir of wings. So quick you couldn't have followed his motions, Johnny -squatted down, curled his feet under him, thrust his hands and forearms -into special armor pockets. Six strangely shaped creatures were diving -straight at him.</p> - -<p>Arrow-birds! A dirty greenish yellow, they were long and slender, -over a foot long. One could not tell where their heads left off and -their necks began. They were shaped like long arrow points. Their -gossamer-thin wings were a blur of motion.</p> - -<p>Johnny braced himself so that if they hit him he would not be knocked -over. In a fraction of a second they dived within fifty feet of him.</p> - -<p>"Go away friend-pets," Baba clicked, as loudly and as fast as he could. -"Go away! Bother us not!" He repeated his cry in a kind of chant, so -rapidly it was almost a trill.</p> - -<p>The shrieking whistle changed to a low hum. The arrow-birds pulled out -of their dive. They floated in mid-air, their wings awhir. One had -almost reached Johnny and was hovering in the air only a couple of -yards away. It bent its neck out of arrow position and looked straight -at him. Its little purple eyes glittered against the yellow green skin -of its head.</p> - -<p>Then, like a flash, they were gone.</p> - -<p>"Whew!" Johnny breathed. He took his hands out of his armor and stood -up. He turned around just in time to see the flight of arrow-birds -crawl into the holes in the rocks that were their nests. This was -Johnny's third secret.</p> - -<p>The arrow-birds obeyed Baba!</p> - -<p>Right after Baba's voice had changed and his jewel claws had come in, -the two had made this astonishing discovery. They had stumbled upon -this nesting place, and the arrow-birds, frightened for their nests, -had slashed down at Johnny for the first time in his life. But Baba had -cried out desperately in his new deep clicks for them to go away—and -they had. It was like magic.</p> - -<p>Staring up at the sheer cliff, Johnny was excited, but afraid. Such -a climb was too dangerous to do just for the fun of it, but Johnny -thought he might have a way of saving Baba. Even when they were much -younger the little bear had been willing to leave Johnny in order to -climb for diamond-wood nuts fresh from the tree. It was the ideal place -for Baba to hide. If Johnny could climb up with him they would be able -to visit often-and Baba was so fond of fresh nuts he might be willing -to use it for a hideout.</p> - -<p>Johnny hadn't told Baba about his plan. If they could make it to the -top he would tell the bear then.</p> - -<p>The high shrieking whistle began again.</p> - -<p>Johnny suddenly had an idea.</p> - -<p>"Friend-pets, friend-pets, bother me not. Bother me not," Johnny -clicked quickly, shaping deep clicks just like Baba's in the back of -his throat.</p> - -<p>As the birds half-pulled out of their dive, the little bear started to -speak.</p> - -<p>"No, let me keep trying," Johnny clicked. "Friend-pets, friend-pets, -bother me not."</p> - -<p>At this, the birds hovered about him making squeaking noises, their -heads still in striking position.</p> - -<p>"They're puzzled," Baba clicked. "They sense something's wrong. They -expect to be shot at by people. I'll tell them to go and it will be all -right. In a second they could kill you."</p> - -<p>"I've still got my armor," said Johnny. "Maybe if I tell them to come -here they'll trust me." Johnny spoke the last in English and the words -sent the birds fluttering farther away. They seemed to be on the point -of making another dive.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus3.jpg" width="400" height="307" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Johnny was pale under his headglobe, but clicked, "Friend-pets, come to -your friend."</p> - -<p>The flying lizards slowly quieted, squeaking among themselves. Their -wings humming, they hovered closer and closer. There were five of them. -Finally their heads snapped out of arrow position. One of them hovered -in very close.</p> - -<p>"Come to me, friend-pet," Johnny clicked to it, and held out his hand.</p> - -<p>The creature, watching him carefully with its little purple eyes, -floated even nearer, its wings humming. Very gingerly it came to a -perch on his hand. Its claws were cold and it smelled faintly of meat -fruit.</p> - -<p>Johnny breathed deep. He was the only human being who had ever made -friends with an arrow-bird.</p> - -<p>Slowly, while the other birds hovered in the air about him, Johnny drew -in his hand and stroked the bird on its folded wings. It shivered under -his touch. But, as he did it no harm, the other birds came closer and -lit on his arms and his shoulders. One peered into his face. Another -poked the air slits of Johnny's headglobe with its sharp bill.</p> - -<p>"Baba! Baba!" Johnny cried out. "Do you see this? Do you think I could -sneak one home with us?"</p> - -<p>"Your people would kill him, Johnny," Baba clicked. "Go away, -friend-pet," he clicked to the arrow-bird.</p> - -<p>The bird looked at Johnny.</p> - -<p>"Go, friend-pets," Johnny clicked regretfully to the five birds about -him. With a flash of wings they were gone.</p> - -<p>"Gosh," said Johnny. "Gosh!" He unzipped and wriggled out of his armor. -"Baba, I don't <i>have</i> to wear armor ever any more. Do you understand? I -can just walk around like you do!" The words fairly bubbled out of him. -Baba was quiet for a moment, frowning.</p> - -<p>"Johnny," he clicked, "I've done something wrong. Something very bad. -I'm not sure why, but I just know it's wrong. Those are my friend-pets, -not yours. If <i>you</i> use the word 'friend-pet' to them, that means you -can never hurt them. You must always help them. But they will always -try to kill your mother and father. It is all mixed up."</p> - -<p>"Gee, Baba," Johnny was frowning now, too. "C'mon, let's try the climb -and forget it." From one of the armor straps he unhooked a flashlight -he always brought along for exploring caves. He fastened it to his belt.</p> - -<p>A few moments later the two friends were looking up at the bare rock -face that extended three hundred feet straight up.</p> - -<p>"Golly, Baba, do you really think you can take us up <i>there</i>?" Johnny -asked.</p> - -<p>"If you can hold on, I can take you," Baba said from Johnny's shoulder.</p> - -<p>"Start up!" Johnny yelled. Baba leaped up onto the wall of rock, his -claws cutting into it. Johnny grasped the harness and hooked his toes -into a crack in the stone.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FIVE" id="CHAPTER_FIVE">CHAPTER FIVE</a><br /> -<small><i>A Mystery Indeed!</i></small></h2> - - -<p>By the time Baba and Johnny had gone fifty feet up the cliff, Johnny -felt as if his arms were about to be pulled from his shoulders. The boy -helped push with his feet, but that took only a little weight from his -arms. Below him there was nothing but boulders and sharp jagged rocks. -In spite of that danger, he felt that he could hardly keep hold of the -harness. Sweat poured down into his eyes.</p> - -<p>"Hurry, Baba," he said through clenched teeth.</p> - -<p>"Ledge soon," the little bear clicked. As he speeded up his climb he -slapped his claws deep into the rock, making sharp clapping noises -that echoed among the boulders below. He stopped short and Johnny saw -a place where the rock jutted out a few inches. Gratefully he felt -something solid beneath his feet. He couldn't put his whole foot down, -but he could rest his arms a little.</p> - -<p>"Whew," Johnny said, "doesn't the ledge get wider?"</p> - -<p>"In a minute," Baba answered. Crabwise, with Johnny still hanging on, -Baba worked along the ledge, which slowly widened until Johnny could -stand alone. They were now on the jungle side of the rock.</p> - -<p>A few feet farther on, there was a narrow slit in the rock face that -widened into a small cave. Deep in the cave's darkness Johnny heard -the squeaking of young arrow-birds. As he crept inside he whipped his -flashlight from his belt. Purple eyes glittered at him in the circle -of its light. There was a flutter of wings. Johnny and Baba started to -click at the same time. The fluttering stopped and the birds' heads -disappeared into their nests. The cave ended in a pile of large stones. -Johnny sat down.</p> - -<p>"Boy, do my arms ache!" Johnny said. "How about you, Baba?"</p> - -<p>"I can climb," Baba answered. "But can you hold on? We have far to go."</p> - -<p>"Aren't there any more ledges?" Johnny asked.</p> - -<p>"Small ones," Baba answered. "None are wide like this one. Do you still -want to go up?"</p> - -<p>"Maybe we could tie me on some way," Johnny said. "Mountain climbers do -it that way."</p> - -<p>In a moment the boy and the bear were trying to see what they could -work out. Finally Johnny had Baba use the razor sharp point of one of -his claws to cut a pair of long thin straps from the wide ones on the -harness. These they tied to Johnny's belt and then to Baba's harness -again.</p> - -<p>When the straps were finished, Johnny felt rested and they started out -of the cave. They were stopped by the sight below them.</p> - -<p>At the foot of the rock there was a wide space of cleared ground, -and then the jungle stretched out. About a half mile away some large -greyish beasts were breaking out of the undergrowth.</p> - -<p>"Rhinosaurs!" Johnny shouted, pointing. "Golly, a whole herd of them!" -There were more than thirty of the huge grey-blue saurians. Even at -that distance they could hear the low thunder of the gigantic hooves. -The beasts stayed close to the brush, knocking down small trees as they -came. Johnny knew that heavy ato-tubes were trained on the rhinosaurs -from the guard towers. The guards in the gate towers would have a full -view of them. Johnny also knew that unless the beasts began to charge -the walls, the guards would not fire. If they did, the whole herd might -charge. Topped as they were with electric wires, the heavy fifty-foot -high walls would be hard to breach. But rhinosaurs had smashed those -walls once—before they were thickened and electrified.</p> - -<p>"Remember when they attacked and killed a lot of colonists?"</p> - -<p>"I remember," Baba clicked. "Your people killed them, too. These -straps...."</p> - -<p>Johnny nodded. Because it was made of the skin of an animal the -colonists had killed, he had had a hard time getting Baba to wear that -harness.</p> - -<p>"Let's go!" Johnny said.</p> - -<p>This time the going was not so hard for Johnny, though they climbed -much farther before he and Baba could rest. The next ledge they reached -was not large enough to let them sit. Baba had to hang to the rock, but -it didn't seem to tire him.</p> - -<p>Three more rests, and slowly but surely they were reaching the top. At -the last rest Baba clicked to Johnny in warning.</p> - -<p>"The rock is getting softer. If my claws tear away from the rock, just -relax and fall with me. I'll grab again further down."</p> - -<p>"All right," he said.</p> - -<p>Johnny didn't dare look down. He had been climbing with Baba since he -was three, but never this high before.</p> - -<p>They had gone up only a few more feet when Baba's claws began to slip. -Johnny let himself go limp just in case anything happened. Very slowly -Baba's claws slipped down the rock. Then they caught hold again.</p> - -<p>"We will have to move to the side," Baba clicked.</p> - -<p>Johnny didn't answer. It was up to Baba. The little bear scuttled -crabwise along the side until he found rock that didn't scale off. Then -up they went again. Finally there was a ledge. The two scrambled onto -it. Above the ledge was a gap in the rock, some boulders—and they were -on the top!</p> - -<p>A faint wind was blowing, and Johnny could hear it sing through the top -of the stunted diamond-wood tree growing on the summit.</p> - -<p>The top of New Plymouth Rock was flat, a hundred feet or more wide, -but with many jutting boulders. Here and there grew small bushes and -patches of grass. The diamond-wood tree sprang directly from the bare -rock.</p> - -<p>With shaking fingers Johnny untied the straps and threw himself down on -a patch of green. As he lay there, his breath rustling the grass, he -heard Baba pattering about and wondered how the little bear had so much -energy left.</p> - -<p>"Johnny," Baba clicked, "do you want some berries?" Johnny looked up to -see the little bear holding some clear, almost transparent red berries -in his paw. The colonists called them antelope berries because they -grew mainly in antelope country. At that moment Johnny realized he was -very thirsty.</p> - -<p>"Thanks, Baba!" He crushed the berries with his teeth and felt the -sour-sweet juice trickle down his throat. He suddenly felt thrilled -with triumph. He was now where no other human had ever been before!</p> - -<p>Johnny was just raising his head to look around when he heard the -patter of tiny hooves behind him.</p> - -<p>"Look, Johnny!" Baba clicked.</p> - -<p>Johnny turned. Running toward them was a herd of the tiniest antelope -he had ever seen. They were barely six inches high, their curled horns -almost as tiny as needles. Head down, they charged directly at him. -Johnny jumped to his feet.</p> - -<p>"Friend-pets," Baba clicked gently, "bother us not." The tiny -creatures wheeled about and started back in the direction from which -they had come.</p> - -<p>"Oh, Baba, don't send them away," Johnny said. Then, remembering his -success with the arrow-birds, he himself clicked in a low tone, "Come -here, friend-pets. Come here."</p> - -<p>The antelope with the longest curled blue horns stopped, turned slowly -around and pawed the ground, his long neck arched. It was just seven -inches high. Johnny laughed. The regular antelope were seven <i>feet</i> -high, but otherwise looked exactly the same as these.</p> - -<p>Johnny squatted down and, as he moved, the herd turned and ran, making -little whinnying noises. Then they wheeled and returned. The leader -pranced closer and closer and came to a halt within a foot of Johnny. -It was soft blue all over, marked with spots of deeper purple. Its -tiny hooves were blue black, and its eyes glistened with deep purple -highlights. Johnny reached out both his hands and laid them before the -little creature.</p> - -<p>"Come," Johnny clicked. Trembling, the little antelope pawed the grass. -Then with mincing steps he came forward and placed his forefeet on one -hand, his hind feet on the other. Very slowly Johnny raised him from -the ground. The small hooves were sharp and dug into the palms of his -hands. The little animal's eyes widened and it snorted in fear. Johnny, -afraid it might fall, set his hands back on the ground.</p> - -<p>"Go, friend-pet," he clicked. With a bound the creature returned to his -herd. Together the antelope leaped high over a small boulder and were -gone behind a clump of bushes.</p> - -<p>Johnny looked up to see Baba watching him steadily. The little bear -looked at Johnny the same way as when he had spoken to the arrow-birds.</p> - -<p>"Friend-pet-brother Johnny," Baba clicked, "I am sure I am doing wrong. -First the arrow-birds and now the antelopes are your friends. But they -are your people's enemies."</p> - -<p>"Not the antelopes!" Johnny said. "They fight us some, but we don't -ever bother them except for meat."</p> - -<p>"Your people kill them," Baba said, as if that settled matters. "Now -you can't. You've said they were your friends."</p> - -<p>"Is that some kind of rule?" Johnny asked.</p> - -<p>"You said they were your friends," Baba repeated. "You help your -friends and your friends help you. That is the law and will be the law -as the trees stand. Between friend and friend there is no parting more -than the fingers of a hand." Baba said this in a sort of sing-song of -clicks, like the song of a bird. It was something like a poem.</p> - -<p>"Baba," Johnny asked, "how do you know all this? You've never talked -this way before." Johnny squatted down before the little bear, whose -face was screwed up into a puzzled frown.</p> - -<p>"I guess I've always known it," Baba clicked. "But it just came back to -me. I don't remember much before I came to live with you, Johnny. But -I do remember being in a high tree. There was one like me whom I loved -very much, and she sang the song I just sang to you. I remember going -to sleep while she sang it. It is a true song, too."</p> - -<p>"Would you sing it again?" Johnny asked.</p> - -<p>The little bear began again:</p> - -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse">"You help your friends and your friends help you.</div> - <div class="verse">It is the law,</div> - <div class="verse">And will be the law as the trees stand.</div> - <div class="verse">Between friend and friend there is no parting</div> - <div class="verse">More than the fingers of a hand."</div> -</div></div> - -<p>This time the little bear really sang, trilling the clicks to a tune -like the roll of a mockingbird's song. Johnny felt very strange. He -patted Baba on the head and then stood up.</p> - -<p>"I think I understand," he said, and looked out over the surrounding -countryside, thinking about the little antelope he had just held in his -hands.</p> - -<p>"I'm hungry," the little bear clicked. With a jump and a bounce he -started for the stunted diamond-wood tree.</p> - -<p>"Baba," Johnny called. The little bear bounced back. "Aren't there -plenty of those nuts here for you to live on? I mean, enough to feed -you regularly if you lived here all the time?"</p> - -<p>The little bear nodded yes, but frowned.</p> - -<p>"I want to live with you, Johnny," he clicked.</p> - -<p>"I know, Baba. But you're in danger. I hoped that if I could show you -I'd be able to visit you, maybe you'd stay."</p> - -<p>At the unhappiness on the little bear's face, Johnny hurried on. "Look, -Baba, I can't make you stay here. But somebody's going to find out -about your nails if you stay with me. If you live here, I could come up -and visit you when the nights come, and if we were lucky, I could see -you most every wake-time down by the rocks...." Johnny's voice trailed -off. Baba was looking unhappier and unhappier.</p> - -<p>"I want to live with you," Baba repeated. "Remember what the song says -about parting. You stay here with me."</p> - -<p>It was Johnny's turn to look unhappy. He didn't want to leave his -father and mother, any more than Baba wanted to leave him. The hard -climb was all for nothing.</p> - -<p>"I can't, Baba. You know that," he said sadly.</p> - -<p>"I can't either," Baba said.</p> - -<p>Johnny continued arguing for a long time but it did no good. Baba -wanted to be with Johnny: there wasn't anything more to say.</p> - -<p>"I'm still hungry!" clicked the little bear, plaintively. Then, with a -bounce, Baba was up and away. The little bear was crazier about fresh -diamond-wood nuts than anything else, even chocolate.</p> - -<p>Johnny felt sad and confused. He got up. Below him stretched the sweet -green lands of Venus. The hard angles of the walls and the squat grey -buildings of the settlements were somehow out of keeping with the rest -of the land.</p> - -<p>There was an almost park-like look about the jungle from this height. -In the distance the towering groves of diamond-wood trees, where the -marva lived, shone blue green against the light green clouds that -were the skies of Venus. Between the blue groves of diamond-wood were -the meadow lands, soft and rolling. At the edges of the meadows were -the lower and darker green meat trees, where the saber-tooth leopards -stalked. The land was laced with rivers that shone in the green light.</p> - -<p>It was all so beautiful, and so deadly. In a few hours evening would -begin—almost three Earth days of twilight. Venus turned so slowly that -there was a whole Earth week each of daylight and dark. But of course -people had to sleep and work by Earth days. The thick permanent clouds -surrounding Venus glowed with light hours after sundown, making the -twilight last and last.</p> - -<p>Beyond the marshes was the sea—filled, too, with savage life, -flying crocodiles who made nests of the bones of their prey, great -dinosaur-like monsters and shark-snakes. But none of these dared come -onto the land, for the land animals fought them as fiercely as they -fought man.</p> - -<p>Except for Baba, all the animals on Venus were determined to kill -Johnny's people. And he had just been making friends with some of those -enemies. He felt strange, as if he were being a traitor to his own -kind. Johnny didn't like that feeling. Suddenly he thought of Baba -living among people and wondered if the little bear felt the same way.</p> - -<p>Johnny turned away from the edge of the cliff and kicked a stone. He -began to wander over the top of New Plymouth Rock, peering into bushes -and piles of boulders. He passed near the antelopes grazing on some -grass. They lifted their heads and whinnied, but went on grazing. -Johnny liked that. Beside a pile of small boulders, he found some -arrow-bird nests. He spoke to the birds and all was well.</p> - -<p>"That's an odd pile of boulders," Johnny muttered to himself. It didn't -look just right, somehow. He pushed one of the stones and it rolled -down almost to his foot. There was a dark empty space beyond it. He -took his flashlight from his belt and shined it down into the opening.</p> - -<p>He almost dropped the flashlight.</p> - -<p>The light revealed the shape of a bouncing bear, a marva, just like -Baba!</p> - -<p>"Baba!" Johnny turned and yelled, "Come here, quick!"</p> - -<p>When he looked back, the bear in the opening had not moved. It was not -blue, but the color of the rock. Johnny stopped shaking. The opening -was the entrance into a cave, and on the wall of the cave was carved -the figure of a bear he had thought was alive.</p> - -<p>But he was sure that the bear had been blue!</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_SIX" id="CHAPTER_SIX">CHAPTER SIX</a><br /> -<small><i>Inside New Plymouth Rock</i></small></h2> - - -<p>Johnny and Baba excitedly started clearing away the pile of boulders -and stones from the mouth of the mysterious cave. Immediately the -arrow-birds began flying around, their heads snapping into striking -position.</p> - -<p>"They don't like us doing this," Baba clicked. "They don't like it at -all." He turned to the fluttering birds. "Bother us not! Bother us -not!" he repeated. The birds retreated, but hovered in the air not far -off.</p> - -<p>"Go away!" Johnny clicked. The birds squeaked among themselves and went -a little farther away. "I don't understand," Johnny said. "We aren't -bothering their nests." He and Baba each picked up a stone and carried -it away from the cave opening. Johnny watched the arrow-birds from the -corners of his eyes. They dived in closer.</p> - -<p>"Go away," came a firm, deep click. The birds stopped in mid-air and -then were gone.</p> - -<p>"Gosh," Johnny said to Baba, "you sure made them go that time."</p> - -<p>Baba's eyes opened wide.</p> - -<p>"I didn't say anything," he clicked.</p> - -<p>The bear and the boy looked at one another, puzzled, and then into the -opening. The bear cut in the stone was all they could see.</p> - -<p>"Come on, Baba!" Johnny rushed to the opening and knocked down a few -more stones. Baba pushed them farther away. In a few minutes of hard -work the opening was big enough for Johnny to squeeze through. Around -the edge of the cave, the rock was carved with the shapes of many -animals. The floor slanted sharply downward.</p> - -<p>"Hurry, Johnny," Baba clicked anxiously. "He may have gone away." The -little bear's eyes were shining with eagerness.</p> - -<p>Johnny's heart sank. Baba had not seen another live jewel bear since -he had been captured. He had never seemed interested. But now he was -quivering with excitement. If they found marva, maybe Baba would want -to stay with them! Johnny wanted Baba to be safe, but he didn't want to -lose him for always.</p> - -<p>The little bear was already scurrying down the steep slope. Without -stopping to think of danger ahead, Johnny plunged after him. The -ceiling was just high enough for him to stand upright. Flashing his -light into the darkness, Johnny saw that the cave was a long passageway -that curved down into the heart of the great rock.</p> - -<p>Soon they were too deep inside for any light to reach them from the -mouth of the cave. Except for the beam of Johnny's flashlight, they -were surrounded by complete darkness. The air was musty and cool and -their footfalls echoed, making scarey hollow noises.</p> - -<p>"Stop!" Johnny said. He held his fingers to his lips. His words echoed -and re-echoed in front of them. Then there was almost silence. A soft -padding and clicking sound came from far in the distance. It was the -same kind of noise Baba's feet and claws made on stone.</p> - -<p>The two started out again at a half run. The slope was almost too -steep, and Johnny had to slide to a halt to keep from falling. Baba -went bouncing along ahead and out of sight. As the slope became steeper -yet, Johnny had to slide forward carefully. He stumbled and went down -on his back. His flashlight slipped from his hand and went rolling on -down the passage and out of sight.</p> - -<p>In a second it was pitch black.</p> - -<p>"Baba," Johnny yelled at the top of his lungs. His only answer was his -own voice echoing down the long corridor. He pushed himself up into -a sitting position and slid on forward on the seat of his pants, his -heart beating rapidly.</p> - -<p>A few very long minutes later, he saw a light shining in the distance. -It was Baba, the flashlight in his paw.</p> - -<p>"Hurry, Johnny!" he clicked. "Hurry."</p> - -<p>With the way lighted for him, Johnny got to his feet and could move -faster. As he reached Baba, the passage began to widen and the slope -became less steep.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus4.jpg" width="320" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"I saw him," Baba clicked excitedly. "He was big. I'm sure if we could -catch him he'd be a friend! I tried to talk to him but he went on ahead -just when you called. Oh, Johnny, I do want to find him."</p> - -<p>Johnny had never seen Baba so excited.</p> - -<p>Suddenly, the passageway ended and they were in a great underground -room. Johnny flashed his light around the walls. They, too, were carved -with scenes of life on Venus. Beneath each carving was a small doorway -leading into a side room. There was one large doorway opposite the one -through which they had entered.</p> - -<p>"It looks like a meeting house," Johnny said. "With seats and -everything." He flashed the light on one of the carvings. He had heard -of carvings like these and had seen one once. His father said that they -must have been made by an intelligent life form that had visited Venus -from the stars. This cave must have been where they had hidden from the -animals, just as men now hid from them behind the settlement's great -walls. Johnny was awed.</p> - -<p>"Johnny, don't just stand here," Baba clicked. "We've got to find him!"</p> - -<p>Johnny looked from opening to opening.</p> - -<p>"Which way, Baba?"</p> - -<p>The little bear sniffed the air. "I can't tell," he said. "I can't -tell." Hurriedly they made a circle about the great room. When they -came to the large opening, Baba sniffed carefully.</p> - -<p>"Maybe here," he clicked, and plunged through.</p> - -<p>Down they went as before. This time Johnny grabbed Baba's harness and -they were able to move faster. This corridor was just as steep and -curving as the first one.</p> - -<p>In a few minutes they emerged into another room. It was smaller than -the room above and had three small doorways and one large opening.</p> - -<p>"Let's try them all," Baba said. Through each of the three small -doorways they entered similar rooms. The fourth opening was another -corridor. Again Baba thought he smelled the path of the marva.</p> - -<p>Down that corridor they went, down and down. Finally it ended in -hundreds of the rooms, large and small, the rock was like a honeycomb. -Johnny's flashlight was already growing dim, and they didn't dare try -to search much longer.</p> - -<p>Trying to follow the scent they took a side corridor that led from one -small room to another, and came out into a narrow passageway. A faint -light glimmered at the end of it. Baba bounded on ahead, Johnny running -to keep up with him.</p> - -<p>The light seeped through a pile of rocks. Johnny flashed his light -through one of the cracks. Behind the pile of rocks the tunnel -continued for several feet. In the light of his flashlight Johnny could -see bits of leather on the floor of the outer part of the cave. Just -beyond them on the other side of the rocks was the cave Johnny and -Baba had rested in while climbing up, the cave in which they had cut -the long straps they had used to tie themselves together for the long -climb upward. The bits of leather on the floor were scraps that had -been left over.</p> - -<p>"Why, we're almost to the bottom," Johnny said.</p> - -<p>"Yes," Baba clicked. "I guess we can't find him. I don't smell anything -now but arrow-birds," he ended sadly.</p> - -<p>"We gotta try," Johnny said firmly. He felt hollow inside when he -thought Baba might go away for good, but he was convinced now that this -was the only way to keep him safe.</p> - -<p>"Let's try farther down." Johnny turned around and a few minutes later -they were going down one of the curving main corridors again.</p> - -<p>This corridor gradually straightened out. Soon it hardly slanted down -at all. It finally turned into what seemed to be a long underground -tunnel. Johnny had to stoop over to keep from hitting his head on the -ceiling.</p> - -<p>The passageway was no longer going through solid rock, and its walls -and floor were a sticky clay. Johnny's and Baba's feet made squishing -noises as they walked. It seemed as if the tunnel would never end. They -walked on and on.</p> - -<p>"I think we're going away from New Plymouth Rock," Baba clicked.</p> - -<p>"I think so, too," Johnny answered. "We must've already gone 'most a -mile."</p> - -<p>The walls had narrowed until Johnny and Baba had to walk single file. -Suddenly the passageway slanted upward and a faint glow of light could -be seen far away. As they began to climb toward the light the ceiling -became so low Johnny had to crawl on his hands and knees. It was a -long, sticky climb.</p> - -<p>As they approached within a few yards of the light, Baba stopped, -blocking Johnny's way.</p> - -<p>"This cave must end up in the jungle outside the colony wall," the -little bear clicked. "Maybe we ought to stop." He sounded worried.</p> - -<p>But Johnny was not going to let this chance pass.</p> - -<p>"Go on," he urged.</p> - -<p>"But the rhinosaurs...."</p> - -<p>"Who's afraid of an old rhinosaur?" Johnny demanded.</p> - -<p>"You are," Baba clicked. But he scrambled on.</p> - -<p>They emerged into the blinding light in the center of a tangle of -thick, high brush. They were out in the jungle, far away from the rock!</p> - -<p>The boy and his bear were covered with mud from head to foot. They -peered carefully around, listening. In the distance they could hear the -rumble of moving rhinosaurs.</p> - -<p>As they crept away from the cave, their view continued to be blocked -by large bushes and trees. They couldn't even see New Plymouth Rock. -Stepping quietly and carefully they finally came to an opening in the -brush. Far to the right was the Rock—and, farther in the distance, a -guard tower.</p> - -<p>"Get back," Johnny shouted. "The guard will see us." The two jumped -back.</p> - -<p>There was a grunt behind them. They turned. Behind a screen of brush, a -great blue-scaled rhinosaur was waking up. It was between them and the -opening to the cave. It snorted with the sound of a deep bass drum, and -heaved up on its feet.</p> - -<p>Ahead, at the edge of the clearing, was a tall meat tree. They had two -chances. They could turn quietly and creep away into the brush, hoping -the big beast would not see or hear them. Or, they could make a run for -the meat tree—in full view of the guard tower.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_SEVEN" id="CHAPTER_SEVEN">CHAPTER SEVEN</a><br /> -<small><i>The Rhinosaur Stampede</i></small></h2> - - -<p>The decision was made for them by the rhinosaur. The great scaled beast -began to turn around, crashing down brush as he moved. In a few seconds -he would be facing directly toward them.</p> - -<p>"Tree," Baba clicked very softly. Johnny nodded. The two slinked like -hunting cats toward the tree. They didn't dare look back.</p> - -<p>"I think the guard saw us," Baba clicked. "He was waving his arms." The -jewel bear had already climbed part way up the trunk. He motioned for -Johnny to grab the harness.</p> - -<p>Not making a sound Johnny took hold of the harness, and the two of them -started up the tree. When they reached the first branch, Johnny let go -the harness and clambered up as quickly and quietly as he could. Only -when they were screened from view by the fleshy leaves of the meat tree -did he dare to look down.</p> - -<p>Through little openings between the leaves he could see the rhinosaur. -It was shaking its ugly horned head. Its little black-blue eyes peered -about under blue scaled eyelids. It trumpeted. The deep blasting sound -echoed against the settlement walls. For some minutes it moved around -in the brush, snorting. It paused, snuffing in air in great gulps. Then -it headed straight for the tree and began to trot back and forth under -it.</p> - -<p>It had smelled Johnny!</p> - -<p>Its hoofbeats on the ground made the limb Johnny sat on tremble. If the -rhinosaur sensed that Johnny was in the tree it was the end. The tree -was easily four feet thick at the base, but a rhinosaur could knock it -down with one rush. Johnny and Baba were on the highest and smallest -branch, but they were barely twenty feet above its head.</p> - -<p>The rhinosaur's shoulder brushed against the lowest branch and the -whole tree swayed back and forth as if hit by a hurricane.</p> - -<p>Johnny was struck by an idea. "Baba," he whispered, "do you think it -might obey you—just like the arrow-birds?"</p> - -<p>"I don't know, Johnny," Baba clicked softly. "I'll try."</p> - -<p>Baba started to climb down. By the slow careful way Baba moved, Johnny -knew the little bear was afraid, too. It was an awful chance to take. -Johnny was about to call him back, but as he opened his lips, the -little bear looked up and grinned.</p> - -<p>Down Baba went. He was now halfway down the tree, thirty feet from the -ground and level with the eyes of the rhinosaur. It caught sight of -him, snorted, and pawed the ground, digging up shovelfuls of dirt with -each movement.</p> - -<p>"Friend-pet! Friend-pet!" Baba clicked and Johnny suddenly wanted to -giggle. Imagine having something that size for a pet!</p> - -<p>"Friend-pet!" Baba clicked again, "Go away! Go away! Bother us not!"</p> - -<p>The big creature stopped still. Muscles rolled and bunched under the -heavy blue-grey scales. Was he going to charge or leave?</p> - -<p>They never found out.</p> - -<p>There was a roar of motors behind the beast, the clank of metal, the -deafening blast of an ato-tube gun. The ground shook; leaves showered -down on Johnny.</p> - -<p>The guards had sent a tank to rescue them!</p> - -<p>Things began to happen too fast for Johnny to keep track. The rhinosaur -roared with pain and wheeled. It had been hit! It charged toward the -oncoming tank—one of the colony's light duty tanks, built for speed -and quick turns. The driver jockied for position. The tank shot down -the clearing, turned and stopped. Its guns were too light to kill the -huge beast, so the gunner did not bother to fire again. They were -trying to draw the rhinosaur away from the tree.</p> - -<p>The rhinosaur's hooves thundered, echoing against the walls and the -rocks as it gathered speed. It was almost on top of the tank. With a -roar of the motors the tank shot forward. The rhinosaur was going too -fast to stop or turn. It plunged on past the tank, bellowing its rage.</p> - -<p>Almost immediately the tank screeched to a stop beneath the tree. Its -manhole swung open. Rick Saunders' red head emerged.</p> - -<p>"Get in here! Quick!" he shouted over the noise of the motor.</p> - -<p>Johnny needed no invitation. He was already halfway down the trunk of -the tree. Baba jumped from his perch into the open manhole. As soon as -Johnny was low enough, he grasped a branch, swung on to the top of the -tank, and started down the steel ladder. The tank jumped forward with a -lurch.</p> - -<p>The rhinosaur was bearing down on them. Their guns roared, but the -rhinosaur did not stop. As a hand grabbed him, pulling him inside, -Johnny saw the tree topple over as the rhinosaur crashed into it.</p> - -<p>"Fire the gate rocket!" someone's shout echoed in the tank. Johnny -recognized Captain Thompson's deep voice.</p> - -<p>"Check!" Johnny heard Rick answer. Rick was up in the gun turret.</p> - -<p>After the outside light, it seemed very dark in the tank. It smelled -of grease and the burnt air of cannon fire. There was the swish of a -rocket. Johnny knew this rocket was a signal for the guard on duty at -the steel gateways to be ready to open up.</p> - -<p>The motors were roaring with a high whining sound which meant they were -going at full speed. The tank bounced and jolted, shaking Johnny from -side to side.</p> - -<p>"Get ready for the gate!" warned Captain Thompson from the driver's -seat. The tank seemed to be almost flying now. Johnny set himself -for a violent turn. Like the doors of the houses, the wall gates were -double. Each was a heavy steel portcullis, a great sliding door that -could be raised and lowered. When a tank came in the outer gate its -weight tripped a switch. That switched turned on motors that made the -first gate fall and the second rise. Otherwise fast moving tanks would -have smashed into the second gate.</p> - -<p>Johnny slid over to an observation slit. To his left he could see that -the heavy steel gate was rising. His heart raced. When being chased -by rhinosaurs a driver sped straight along the wall and then turned -sharply through the open gate. If he timed it right the rhinosaurs -plunged on and the tank was safe. It took split second timing.</p> - -<p>They were right by the gate. Johnny grabbed a brace. With a scream of -the treads, the tank started into a turn.</p> - -<p>"Rhinos on the side!" shouted Rick. His guns blasted.</p> - -<p>Captain Thompson fought to straighten the tank out of the turn. Baba -was sitting with his paws over his ears, his claws glowing.</p> - -<p>There was a bone-shattering crash.</p> - -<p>Then Johnny felt himself flying through the air. Everything went -topsy-turvy. He banged his shoulder against the side of the tank. Then -he felt Baba's furry body against his. Rick's feet seemed to come from -nowhere and dig into his back. Johnny grabbed on to something solid and -wedged himself in tight.</p> - -<p>The tank was rolling over and over. Something crashed against it again -and again. There was a heavy thud and the sound of breaking metal. -Then everything was still. The motors had stopped. From outside came -the roar of guns and the bellowing of rhinosaurs.</p> - -<p>Johnny found himself sprawled on top of Rick Saunders. He was terribly -shaken. Baba was hanging onto one of the rungs of the steel ladder. It -was almost pitch dark. Rick struggled to his feet as Johnny scrambled -from on top of him.</p> - -<p>"We're upside down," Baba clicked softly to Johnny.</p> - -<p>"What happened, Saunders?" Captain Thompson's heavy voice demanded from -the driver's compartment. "Didn't Harkness teach you to shoot?"</p> - -<p>"Four of them rushed us right at the gate," Rick answered. "Did we make -it inside?"</p> - -<p>"Think so. Anybody hurt?" Thompson asked.</p> - -<p>"Just scratched a little," Johnny answered.</p> - -<p>"Good," Captain Thompson grunted. "Is the righting jack O.K.?"</p> - -<p>Rick tested a lever.</p> - -<p>"O.K."</p> - -<p>"Let her rip!"</p> - -<p>"Hang on, Johnny," Rick said. "We're going to right her."</p> - -<p>Johnny knew just what was going to happen. A tank turned turtle had -meant a dead crew until the righting jack had been attached to each of -the tanks. Compressed air pushed out two rods fore and aft and flipped -the tank right side up.</p> - -<p>Johnny braced himself. There was a rush of air. Johnny felt the tank -tip slowly under him. Then it went over with a crash. The tank was -right side up.</p> - -<p>"The gate!" Rick exclaimed.</p> - -<p>Just above his head Johnny saw light from the observation slit. He -looked out. Then he knew what Rick meant. They and the four rhinosaurs -had reached the gate at the same time. The rhinosaurs were inside. They -had knocked the tank through the outer gateway and had smashed into the -steel door before it was halfway down.</p> - -<p>The inner door must have met the same fate for Johnny could see that -the sliding steel plates were bent and jammed open. The rhinosaurs had -kept after the tank until now it lay fifty yards inside the settlement. -Even as Johnny watched, another rhinosaur charged through the opening -and headed into the settlement.</p> - -<p>Captain Thompson was grinding on the starter and Rick was working up in -the gun turret.</p> - -<p>"The rhinosaurs got through," Johnny clicked to Baba.</p> - -<p>"And the tank is broken?" Baba clicked back.</p> - -<p>"Yes."</p> - -<p>"I have to get out," Baba said. "Maybe I can get the rhinosaurs to...."</p> - -<p>"No, Baba," Johnny said. "They're just plain crazy now."</p> - -<p>Captain Thompson climbed down out of the driver's compartment.</p> - -<p>"The motor's gone. How are the guns?"</p> - -<p>"Out of action," Rick answered. "Must be filled with dirt. We can't do -any good here."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus5.jpg" width="335" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"O.K.," Captain Thompson said. "Let's get moving. I'm needed out there!"</p> - -<p>Rick undid the wing nuts on the manhole and pushed. Metal squeaked, but -the door stayed in place.</p> - -<p>"Jammed!" Rick said. "Get me a crow bar out of the box."</p> - -<p>Johnny dived for the tool box and came up with a pry bar. He handed it -to Rick.</p> - -<p>"Hurry, man," Captain Thompson said as Rick went to work. His black -angry eyes fixed themselves on Johnny.</p> - -<p>"We should have left you out there."</p> - -<p>"I'm sorry," Johnny said.</p> - -<p>In answer the man cuffed Johnny with the back of his hand. Johnny -couldn't be angry. He knew what a rhinosaur raid was like, and this one -was his fault.</p> - -<p>"Oh, leave the kid alone," Rick said from above.</p> - -<p>"Leave him alone!" Thompson snorted, and glared first at Johnny and -then at Baba. "The kid and that bear have caused more trouble...."</p> - -<p>Captain Thompson stopped talking and stared at Baba. He reached out -suddenly and grabbed the little bear by the paw.</p> - -<p>"Well, look at this!" he said in a hushed tone.</p> - -<p>In the steamy darkness of the tank Baba's nails shone clear and blue. -The climbing and running had worn off all the paint.</p> - -<p>Thompson held up Baba's paws into the light of an observation slit. He -scraped with one of his finger nails.</p> - -<p>"Nail polish!" he exclaimed.</p> - -<p>The manhole came open with a clang.</p> - -<p>"She's open!" Rick called.</p> - -<p>Captain Thompson paused only a fraction of a second over Baba and -climbed the ladder.</p> - -<p>"Lock the kid and bear in the tank," Thompson ordered. "There's less -danger here for the boy than there would be in the trip to the wall. -You, Rick, go back to the gate. I'll run for headquarters. Make it -fast!" Without another word he was up the ladder and gone.</p> - -<p>Rick Saunders reached down and patted Johnny on the shoulder.</p> - -<p>"Tough luck about your bear, son," he said, and then he, too, was gone. -The manhole door clanged and Johnny heard a lock click into place. He -hugged Baba to him.</p> - -<p>"Gosh, Baba," Johnny said, "what are we going to do now?"</p> - -<p>Baba, for once, had nothing to say. Johnny hugged the warm, furry -creature closer to him. Tears began to streak down his cheeks. Baba -didn't like this. He cocked a blue eye at the boy.</p> - -<p>"Don't cry, Johnny!" he clicked. "Come on, stop it!" he pleaded. "Why -don't we go up in the turret and see what's happening."</p> - -<p>Johnny wiped his tears away and the two climbed into the gun turret. -His stomach tightened. Through the four-inch thick bubble of marvite -plastic he could see the destruction he and Baba had let loose. The -whole settlement lay within view. A half dozen of the giant lizard -beasts had turned, the colony into a dusty hell. Even within the tank -the bellows of the beasts and the roar of guns was almost deafening. -Most of the marshberry fields had already been trampled in the mud. One -of the concrete houses lay crushed into rubble. Johnny was grateful -that almost everyone was at the rocket field.</p> - -<p>He gave thanks, too, for Captain Thompson. He could see the big man -marshaling tanks into an organized row. They were going to try to herd -the great beasts out the open gates.</p> - -<p>Johnny turned his eyes toward the gates. Someone had manhandled one of -the big ato-tube cannons into the opening, pointing it into the jungle. -His friend, Rick Saunders, ran up to help. A dying rhinosaur lay not -far from the muzzle of the gun. Evidently the other rhinosaurs were too -sensible or too frightened to try the power of that cannon.</p> - -<p>Baba was pulling at Johnny's sleeve.</p> - -<p>"Look, Johnny, look!" Baba clicked.</p> - -<p>Johnny turned and looked toward the settlement again. A heavy duty -hunting tank stood before the settlement stockade and store house. Its -heavy cannon spoke once and the door dissolved. Four men leaped from -the tank and ran inside.</p> - -<p>"They're stealing our claws!" Johnny cried out.</p> - -<p>Weighed down by the colony's strong box, the four men came out of the -building. Inside that strong box were the colony's precious marva -claws!</p> - -<p>The four hunters heaved the safe into the tank's carrier and climbed -inside. With a spurt of dust, the tank rolled on.</p> - -<p>A few minutes later it had fought its way through the rhinosaurs and -was passing the place where Johnny and Baba stared out of the turret. -As it came up to the gate the hunting tank's manhole opened and a man -emerged. He waved to Rick, standing beside the cannon. The redhaired -ex-bodyguard waved back. Then he climbed up on the tank and down -inside. The tank rolled on out into the jungle.</p> - -<p>Johnny stood, shocked and silent. Out that gate went the last valuable -thing the colony owned!</p> - -<p>"I don't understand," Baba clicked. "I thought Rick was the colony's -friend."</p> - -<p>"I did, too," Johnny said sadly.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_EIGHT" id="CHAPTER_EIGHT">CHAPTER EIGHT</a><br /> -<small><i>One Secret is Revealed</i></small></h2> - - -<p>It was now early evening and the Venus skies were a deep clear green. -It was over an hour since the last rhinosaur had been killed or driven -out. The gates had been temporarily repaired. Here and there a small -building had been trodden into rubble.</p> - -<p>Johnny and Baba were still locked inside the tank which had been -dragged away from the dangerous fighting. From the turret they were -watching a group of men gathered outside the administration building. -Johnny wished someone would come and let them out.</p> - -<p>Finally the crowd broke up. One group of men hopped on to the back of a -tank and headed toward Johnny and Baba. The rest of the crowd followed -on foot.</p> - -<p>"I wonder what's up," Johnny said.</p> - -<p>Baba shook his head.</p> - -<p>"I don't like the looks of it," Johnny went on. "We're in an awful -pickle." He looked down at the little bear's paws. He had painted the -nails again with the nail polish, but he didn't think it would do any -good.</p> - -<p>The tank came rumbling to a halt beside them. The two crawled down -from the turret. Johnny heard the men working on the lock. The manhole -door was opened.</p> - -<p>"Come on out, Johnny." It was his father's voice. Baba jumped on his -shoulder and Johnny climbed slowly out. Johnny's father and Captain -Thompson were standing on top of the tank, surrounded by a crowd of -grave-faced Venus pioneers. It was odd. None of the men looked angry. -Johnny knew they should be very angry with him. He tried to shape words -to say he'd try to make up for the trouble he'd caused, but the words -would not come.</p> - -<p>Mr. Watson reached out and picked Baba from Johnny's shoulder. He -lifted up one of the little bear's paws and looked at it carefully.</p> - -<p>"The claws still look black to me," he said. Disappointment, mixed with -relief, came over the faces of the men.</p> - -<p>"Let me show you." Captain Thompson, not ungently, took Baba from -Johnny's father.</p> - -<p>The little bear looked straight at Johnny, an odd expression in his -deep blue eyes. But he didn't struggle.</p> - -<p>Captain Thompson set Baba down on the top of the tank and took one of -the paws in his hands. With his fingernail he scraped at one of the -claws, then another and another. He held the paw up for the men to see. -The claws glowed clear blue in the evening light.</p> - -<p>"You see," he said, triumphantly, "it is just as I said. The boy has -been covering them up." The crowd sighed with wonder.</p> - -<p>Captain Thompson turned back to Johnny's father. "You'd better tell -the boy right away. It will be easier." Many of the crowd nodded their -agreement. For the first time Johnny made out the object that Captain -Thompson had been carrying. It was a small cage made of diamond-wood.</p> - -<p>Johnny's father reached out and touched him on the shoulder.</p> - -<p>"You know what happened here today, don't you, Johnny?" he asked in a -grave tone.</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir," Johnny answered in a low, shamed voice. "The crop's been -ruined, and those hunters stole our claws."</p> - -<p>"That's right," his father said. "And I think you also understand that -if it hadn't been for you, this needn't have happened."</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir." The words were almost a whisper. Johnny felt the tears -coming up into his eyes.</p> - -<p>"You can understand, then, it's up to you and us to make amends to the -colony."</p> - -<p>"Yes, sir." Johnny's whisper was even lower.</p> - -<p>"Well, son, I'm sorry to do this, but I have to. I know Baba has been -your pet for a long time, but you are going to have to give him up. -I've just given him back to the colony. Now, get him into the cage, so -we can get this over with."</p> - -<p>"But you'll kill him!" Johnny cried out. He reached down and swept the -little bear into his arms.</p> - -<p>"No, son, not right away," his father answered. "The rocket captain -says the colony could make some money by showing him alive on Earth -before they—put him to sleep."</p> - -<p>"But you know that he'll die. Oh, Daddy, please don't!" Johnny looked -up, pleading, at his father.</p> - -<p>Frederick Watson's eyes met Johnny's. They were kind but stern. He -shook his head firmly.</p> - -<p>Johnny looked around him through his tears. Baba was warm and furry in -his arms. The men stood about; their faces were grave and determined. -Most still held ato-tubes in their hands. Even at that, Baba had a -chance. Johnny began to click in the ear of the little bear.</p> - -<p>"Baba," he clicked very softly, "you can get away, over the wall by the -rock. It isn't very far. I'll throw you as far as I can. If you bounce -like crazy they could never hit you."</p> - -<p>But the little bear jumped to the steel tank top.</p> - -<p>"No, Johnny," he clicked. "You are my friend-pet-brother, no matter -what happens."</p> - -<p>Then, just as if he had been told to go by Johnny, the little bear -walked over to the cage. Captain Thompson was holding a sliding door -open. Baba climbed in. He squatted there and made a little whimpering -noise that was the only sound he could make beside his clicks. He waved -a paw at Johnny.</p> - -<p>"The little devil acts almost human," the old guard, Jeb, said from the -crowd.</p> - -<p>Only Johnny knew how true that was.</p> - -<p>"Better hustle that kid inside a tank," someone shouted. "He hasn't got -any armor on."</p> - -<p>Frederick Watson's head jerked around. His eyes widened. In one motion -he took Johnny into his arms and jumped to the ground. Seconds later -Johnny was in a big hunting tank headed for home, a home for the first -time in ten years empty of a little bouncing bear.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_NINE" id="CHAPTER_NINE">CHAPTER NINE</a><br /> -<small><i>The Price of a Brother</i></small></h2> - - -<p>Johnny had some tall explaining to do about his lack of armor. He was -in a tight spot, for the less he let anyone know, the more chance he -had to find some way of rescuing Baba.</p> - -<p>Johnny was very careful about his explanation. There might still be a -way. The fact that he had been seen on top of New Plymouth Rock made -his explanation easier. He simply said that he had been looking for a -place to hide the little bear and, in order for Baba to help take him -up the rock, he had had to chance taking off his armor. He said nothing -about Baba and the arrow-birds.</p> - -<p>Being found in the jungle was harder to explain without telling a -lie—but he managed it. He said that he and Baba had taken a route -down that had made them land on the jungle side of the rock. It didn't -explain why they were beyond the clearing, but his parents seemed to -assume that he had been trying to get among the brush where he could -hide from the animals. He said nothing at all about the caves in the -rock. It was a pretty thin story, but his family was too relieved that -he had come home alive to worry much about it.</p> - -<p>It was long past supper time when the explaining was over and his -mother began to prepare a meal.</p> - -<p>Ordinarily Johnny's father would not have been home even for supper. -Rocket day was a busy time for the leader of the colony. But with all -the confusion, the business of the day had to be put aside.</p> - -<p>It was a strangely sad and silent house. Johnny himself was so good his -parents could hardly recognize him. He had showered without being asked -and changed into clean clothes. His hands were perfectly clean at the -table. His mother had hidden Baba's high chair away; the little bear -had always sat with them at table. It was a quiet meal.</p> - -<p>Often after the before-sleep meal Johnny and his father worked on model -rockets, but this evening models were forgotten. Johnny got a book and -his father busied himself with papers. But Johnny didn't read. He kept -thinking of Baba, all alone in the settlement storage house, surrounded -by guards. The whole area was lit up in case hunters should try to -steal the little bear just as they had stolen the marva claws.</p> - -<p>The family sat in silence. Once Johnny saw his mother wipe a tear away -from her eyes. He knew she liked Baba, too. But she liked him only as a -pet.</p> - -<p>"Dad," he said suddenly. His father looked up from his work. "Would -you—?" Johnny didn't know how to put the question he had to ask. "I -mean ... well, the colony's in pretty bad shape, isn't it?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, son," his father said gravely, "it is."</p> - -<p>"The million dollars we get for Baba will help out a lot, won't it?" -Johnny was very serious. "But, without it, would everybody starve to -death?"</p> - -<p>"A million dollars will help the colony out," his father answered. "But -even without it, nobody would starve. There are the meat fruit and -berries to gather and the animals to hunt. But everyone would have a -very hard time. It isn't a simple thing to keep a colony going. It is -very difficult and very important. Mankind is reaching out, son, and -some day we may inhabit planets of all the stars in the heavens. But -only if Venus colony succeeds. It is a big thing, Johnny." Mr. Watson's -voice was serious, as if he were talking to another man. Johnny was -quiet a minute.</p> - -<p>"Dad," he said slowly, "in order to get that million dollars would you -have mother or me"—he paused—"put to sleep?"</p> - -<p>"Johnny!" Johnny's mother broke in in a horrified voice. "That's no -question to ask your father."</p> - -<p>"I've got to know, Mother. I've just got to," Johnny said earnestly, -his brow wrinkled.</p> - -<p>Johnny's father looked at him strangely.</p> - -<p>"Did you really think," he asked in a tight, hurt voice, "I would do a -thing like that?"</p> - -<p>"Not even Uncle Nathan?" Johnny persisted. Nathan was his mother's -brother.</p> - -<p>"All right, Johnny," his father said in a firm voice. "I'll answer you. -No, I wouldn't have you, your mother, <i>or</i> your Uncle Nathan 'put to -sleep' for any amount of money—for the colony or for myself. But you -must understand, Johnny, you aren't the same as a little bouncing bear."</p> - -<p>"But Baba—" Johnny began.</p> - -<p>"Baba is an animal," Johnny's mother broke in. "I know how you -love him. But you have to understand that your father could not do -differently from what he did." She came over to Johnny and put her arm -around him. "We love Baba, too, and it hurts us to give him up. Still -we must. You do understand, don't you?"</p> - -<p>Johnny looked up into his mother's face and smiled. It was a very small -and very weak smile, but a smile none the less.</p> - -<p>"I understand," he said, and turned back to his father. "Thanks for -answering my question, Dad." Johnny felt better for the first time -since Baba had been put in the cage. Now he knew just what he had to -do. It was right to do it. Baba was as close to him as <i>any</i> brother.</p> - -<p>"Do you think I could go see Baba before sleep time, Dad? You know he -won't eat if I'm not there."</p> - -<p>Johnny's father looked at his mother.</p> - -<p>"It couldn't do any harm, Fred," she said. "Let the boy go. But he must -be in bed soon."</p> - -<p>"All right, son," his father answered. "But remember, the whole thing -is out of our hands now. You'll just have to accept what is going to -happen."</p> - -<p>"O.K., Dad," Johnny said. Everything was going to be all right, but -he'd need every ounce of courage he had.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>A few minutes later Jeb, the old guard, let Johnny and his father into -the store house.</p> - -<p>The little bear sat quietly in his cage. There were a dozen uncracked -nuts on the floor. An untouched bar of chocolate lay beside him.</p> - -<p>"I'm sure glad to see you!" said old Jeb. "Ever since he got here -the little critter's been sitting just like that, kind of crying to -himself. He wouldn't pay attention even when I gave him the chocolate."</p> - -<p>"He'll be all right now," Johnny's father said.</p> - -<p>"It probably oughtn't to bother me so much." Jeb closed the door and -stood there with them. He took off his headglobe and scratched his -head. "But my partner'n me caught one of the little ones once. We -watched it just waste away, crying like that all the time. I always -figured we should have let it go. But then there was always the chance -it'd grow up and be worth a million." He glanced down at Johnny, who -was removing his armor, and came to a stumbling halt. "Sorry, kid," he -said. He put his headglobe back on and went out.</p> - -<p>As soon as he saw Johnny, the little bear's ears perked up.</p> - -<p>"Hi!" he clicked.</p> - -<p>Johnny winked.</p> - -<p>Johnny's father stood there and watched them.</p> - -<p>"Remember, Johnny," he cautioned, "this is just a visit. What the -colony decides in this matter goes."</p> - -<p>"I know, Dad," Johnny answered.</p> - -<p>"I'll be back in half an hour," his father said. "Get him to eat, if -you can. Night will be here in a few hours and he'll sleep then." With -this he opened the door and left.</p> - -<p>Johnny rushed to the cage. His hand was on the latch when the door -opened again. It was old Jeb.</p> - -<p>"Sorry, son, but I got orders not to leave you alone with the critter. -If he ever got out he'd be mighty hard to catch." Jeb walked over and -seated himself on a box.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus6.jpg" width="400" height="335" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"That's all right," Johnny said, and squatted down in front of the -cage. It wasn't part of the plan for Baba to get away—yet. "Besides, -he wouldn't run away while I'm here," he said.</p> - -<p>"Can't take no chances." Jeb sprawled out as if glad to be off his -feet. Johnny turned to Baba.</p> - -<p>"Baba," Johnny clicked in the marva language, "can you get out of here, -if you want to?" Johnny didn't like to talk in the clicking language -with Jeb around, but there was no avoiding it.</p> - -<p>"Yes," the little bear answered after a time. But then he whimpered -again.</p> - -<p>"Doggone it, stop that!" Johnny said in English. Then he clicked, "If -things work out right, you aren't going to have to go to Earth <i>or</i> get -killed."</p> - -<p>"But how?" Baba asked. He seemed to revive a little. "If I got out and -came to you they'd just bring me back here."</p> - -<p>"I know, but they don't think you're smart enough to do anything else. -They don't know anything except that we were up on the rock."</p> - -<p>The little bear grinned. Then suddenly he began to sniff. He looked all -around him, found the chocolate and began to stuff it into his mouth, -making loud smacking noises. Johnny gave a sigh of relief. Baba was on -the mend.</p> - -<p>"Now, listen, we've gotta make plans."</p> - -<p>"But what can we do, if they know we were on the rock?" Baba clicked -through a mouthful of chocolate mixed with nuts—his favorite -combination.</p> - -<p>Johnny took a deep breath. "We could run away into the jungle!" he -clicked. He jumped when Jeb moved away from his box.</p> - -<p>"That's quite a racket you two're making." Jeb walked over and peered -at them from under jutting grey eyebrows. "Well, you've got the little -devil to eatin'!" He smiled and waved at Baba. Baba waved back and the -guard laughed. "It's a pity, that what it is. It's just a pity you're -worth so much money!" He went back to his seat.</p> - -<p>"But, Johnny," Baba clicked, "you couldn't live in the jungle."</p> - -<p>"<i>You</i> can't live <i>here</i>—or on Earth. Sooner or later they're going -to—well, they're going to want your claws and teeth. Out there we -would have a chance. Why, we might even find some of the—" He put -in the word 'wild' in English, for there was no word for it in the -clicking language, "—marvas, and we could live with them."</p> - -<p>"No!" Baba interrupted. "You might be killed. I can make the -arrow-birds go away, but there are the horned snakes and the leopards -and rhinosaurs and...."</p> - -<p>"Wasn't that old rhinosaur about to go away?" Johnny broke in. "Just -because you said so?"</p> - -<p>"Maybe," Baba admitted. "He stopped a second. But then we don't know -for sure!"</p> - -<p>"I've got to take the chance. I've just got to!" Johnny insisted. "I -can't let them take you away and use you for making somebody's rings -or a mess of plastic. Remember that song you sang." Johnny tried to -sing the little lullaby that Baba had sung on the top of New Plymouth -Rock. The little bear grinned and put his paws over his ears.</p> - -<p>"The words are right," he said, "but the tune is all wrong. Listen!" -The little bear sang the song that was like the roll of a mockingbird's -call.</p> - -<p>"That's right pretty," Jeb said from his box. "I'd heard men say that -the critters sang, but never did hear one myself. Old hunter friend of -mine said he came on a marva once singing to her little ones that way. -It was so pretty he stopped to listen and by gum if she didn't smell -him and bounce off 'fore he could draw a bead on her."</p> - -<p>"Baba sings real well—when he's happy," Johnny said, and turned back -to Baba. "And you sing true, too, Baba," he clicked.</p> - -<p>"All right," the little bear clicked. "How will we do it?"</p> - -<p>The plan came out in a rush. Johnny had it all worked out. "It's Venus -evening now," Johnny said, "and we're supposed to be in a sleep period. -That means there won't be too many people up but guards. I'll take some -food for me and some matches and a flashlight and some other things." -He paused. "They leave you alone in here, don't they?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," clicked Baba.</p> - -<p>"Do you think you can cut a hole in the bottom of the cage?" Johnny -asked.</p> - -<p>"Easy!" The little bear touched a bar with his claws.</p> - -<p>"Good. When you're out, dig a hole in the floor. But be careful. They -have guards walking all around, and they already have lights rigged up. -The switch is in between the double doors. Get your escape holes all -made, turn out the lights, and then scoot! I'll be waiting for you by -the rock. O.K.?"</p> - -<p>The little bear nodded. "We'll have to find a place to be when it gets -dark," he clicked. Baba didn't sleep as people did, but during the four -day period of darkness he had to sleep most of the time.</p> - -<p>"We'll find some place," Johnny clicked. "Now, listen. I'll try to get -some sleep and I'll be ready in five hours. Don't try to get out before -then. My folks will be asleep and I can slip out of the house. If it -takes you longer, I'll wait."</p> - -<p>"Leave it to me," Baba said.</p> - -<p>They had everything settled and were playing together through the bars -of the cage when Johnny's father came after him.</p> - -<p>"Time for bed, son," his father said. "Say goodbye, now."</p> - -<p>Johnny got into his armor, said goodnight to Jeb and followed his -father outside. In the deep green twilight every building of the -settlement stood out sharp and clear. A cool breeze was coming up. -Johnny looked over to New Plymouth Rock. Behind that towering rock lay -the vast and menacing jungle.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TEN" id="CHAPTER_TEN">CHAPTER TEN</a><br /> -<small><i>Alone in the Jungle</i></small></h2> - - -<p>Johnny was afraid. Behind a boulder by New Plymouth Rock, he had been -sitting and waiting for Baba for almost one hour. It was too long a -time to wait with nothing to do but imagine what might happen in the -jungle. Johnny was dressed for the cold night to come in a synthetic -fur parka. Strapped on his back was a pack containing food and jungle -equipment. Beside him was Baba's harness. He was very tired and sleepy.</p> - -<p>He leaned over and peeked cautiously from behind the boulder. The -lights around the storage shed were still on. He wondered what was -keeping Baba. He made himself comfortable again and listened to the -night sounds. He listened hard for any sound of rhinosaurs outside. -There was only the sigh of wind through the trampled marshberries.</p> - -<p>As he listened, his head nodded down on his breast, and his eyes -closed. He wished Baba would come. Maybe he couldn't make it. Maybe -he.... But his thought trailed off into a dream. He was up in the meat -tree being attacked by a rhinosaur standing twice as high as the tree. -Far away someone began shooting at the rhinosaur. Then the tree was -being shaken back and forth. Baba was clicking something in the dream -Johnny couldn't understand.</p> - -<p>"Wake up, Johnny! Wake up!"</p> - -<p>Johnny's head jerked up. The shaking was real. It was Baba pushing -his shoulder. The shooting was real too. Men were running about the -settlement with flashlights. It was hard to see for any distance -through the green twilight which would last for many hours longer.</p> - -<p>"Hurry, Johnny!" Baba clicked.</p> - -<p>"O.K." Johnny said. He was still dazed with sleep as he helped Baba -struggle into his harness. As soon as the harness was on, they began -to run deeper among the boulders. Hundreds of small stones under their -feet made a sound like a landslide. They stopped still, listening.</p> - -<p>The men had not heard.</p> - -<p>"Maybe we'd better go straight up the main rock," Johnny said.</p> - -<p>Baba nodded. Both knew it would be harder work, but safer. Johnny -tested the straps on Baba's harness. There was no time to tie himself -on. This time it was going to be harder for both of them.</p> - -<p>Baba didn't dare bounce, so they started right from the foot of the -rock. In the half light it was not likely that the men would see them. -Even if they did, there was a good chance they would hold their fire -when they saw Johnny. If so, the two of them could still get away. -Oddly, Johnny's fear was gone.</p> - -<p>From below them came the sound of a man moving among the rocks.</p> - -<p>"Quiet, Baba," Johnny whispered.</p> - -<p>Baba stopped.</p> - -<p>Jeb flashed his light among the rocks and up along the main rock. For -a fraction of a second the light was full on them. But it passed by -without pausing.</p> - -<p>"Nothing over here!" Jeb called out in a loud voice. "Dang critter must -have got clear away."</p> - -<p>There was the sound of footsteps hurrying toward them. Johnny and Baba -froze to the rock.</p> - -<p>"Hey, you two," Jeb's voice came softly, "I don't know what you're -aimin' to do, but you'd better hurry up about it. They're fixin' to -mount searchlights on the wall."</p> - -<p>Johnny was flabbergasted. The old hunter was helping them!</p> - -<p>There was a chuckle from below.</p> - -<p>"Hurry up, now. I don't want no more baby marva a-haunting me like the -one I told you about."</p> - -<p>"Thanks," Johnny whispered. "Golly, thanks! Come on, Baba," he clicked, -turning his head back to the little bear.</p> - -<p>Baba began to scurry along up the rocks once more.</p> - -<p>"Just one thing more," the whisper followed them. "Ain't that clickin' -the way those critters got of talking?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," Johnny answered.</p> - -<p>"I figgered it, by gosh!" Jeb chuckled deep in his throat. "I just knew -you was fixin' up a getaway. Good luck, you two!"</p> - -<p>"Goodbye," Johnny said.</p> - -<p>"You are a good man," Baba clicked. "A true friend!"</p> - -<p>"Baba said you are a good man and a true friend," Johnny whispered.</p> - -<p>"Thank you, Baba," the old man said. Then he was gone.</p> - -<p>Baba and Johnny began climbing in earnest now. Johnny couldn't let -himself get tired. As silently as they could, they went on and on.</p> - -<p>They climbed for what seemed an hour. Actually it was fifteen minutes -later when they reached the ledge leading to the cave in the rock. They -were barely inside when search lights cut through the twilight and -began to play on the rock.</p> - -<p>The two sat down to rest, but not for long. Soon they were tearing down -the pile of rocks at the back of the cave so they could get into the -main caverns. They had talked about staying the night within the inner -rooms, but decided it was too dangerous. Sooner or later the colonists -were bound to drop someone from a helicopter to search for Baba on top -of the rock; and there was too great a chance the entrance would be -discovered.</p> - -<p>Once inside the main caverns, the first job was to make their way -through the long passageways to the top of the rock to block the -entrance they had made earlier in the day. It took precious time, but -they had to do it. They almost didn't make it, for as they were filling -in the last stone at the cave mouth they heard the sound of 'copter -motors. Johnny grabbed Baba's harness, and down the long winding -passageways they went, full tilt.</p> - -<p>Soon they were picking their way about the brush near the exit of -the long, damp tunnel. Through the green twilight they could see the -searchlights brightening New Plymouth Rock. Baba was sniffing the air. -Johnny listened carefully for the sound of rhinosaurs or of tanks. -There was no evidence of either man or animal.</p> - -<p>"We made it, Grandfather Bear!" Johnny said aloud to Baba. "You're -safe!"</p> - -<p>Baba grinned. "No rhinosaurs around either," he clicked. "We'd better -hurry."</p> - -<p>"Let's stick close to trees for a while—just in case," Johnny -suggested. Only heavy brush surrounded them.</p> - -<p>"We'd better get to a tank path," Baba clicked, "or we won't get very -far very fast."</p> - -<p>Johnny nodded. He settled his pack on his shoulder and the two moved -forward. Using Johnny's compass they cut through the brush and soon -came to a tank path. It was very still. There was no sound but the wind -rustling the trees. All around them were trees and brush and pools of -deep green shadow.</p> - -<p>The first two miles were the easiest. In the absence of rhinosaurs, -there was nothing much to fear here but arrow-birds, and they would -soon be heading for their nests. Most of the Venus animals kept well -away from the settlement. Twice a flight of arrow-birds came shrieking -down at them, and twice Baba's clicks sent them whirring on their way. -Otherwise the jungle was empty of life. It was a relatively safe zone. -But in order to make sure of Baba's safety, they would have to go on -into an area of teeming life.</p> - -<p>Johnny thought of the comfort and safety of the settlement, of the love -and protection his parents had given him. He had left a note for his -parents. "I am sorry to take Baba away since he is worth so much to the -colony," he had written. "But he is just like a brother to me. Don't -worry. I will be safe with Baba." He hoped they would understand.</p> - -<p>Though he had bravely told his parents not to worry, here in the -jungle, Johnny, himself, was already frightened and very homesick.</p> - -<p>"Baba," he said suddenly, "it's going to be hard being away from Mom -and Pop." They were walking now through the thick grove of meat trees -that edged a forest of diamond-woods that loomed up in the distance.</p> - -<p>"Yes," Baba clicked, "I know."</p> - -<p>"Well, I was thinking," Johnny continued, "that after we find your -people, maybe after a month or so, I could go back home. Later I could -come for visits and things." Johnny watched Baba from the corners of -his eyes to see how the little bear would take to the idea. For a -while, Baba bounded along beside Johnny, his eyes straight ahead.</p> - -<p>"I know what it's like being without a mother and father," the little -bear clicked so softly Johnny could hardly hear him. "It happened long -ago, but I remember how it was at first. I can't bear to think of your -going away. But we will see what happens." Baba turned toward Johnny. -"I think you shouldn't have come."</p> - -<p>Johnny was sorry for having brought up the subject.</p> - -<p>"Let's skip it," he said. "Don't be an unhappy old grandfather bear," -he joked. "Think about the nuts you'll find right ahead."</p> - -<p>The nuts were not really very close. It took a good deal of hiking -before the tank trail began to wind among gigantic trees. Bigger than -Earth redwoods, they rose almost like mountains around them. Here even -the wind did not enter, and beneath their feet was a cushion of fine -leaves. All was silence. Johnny was glad to rest his feet while Baba -gathered a few nuts. Then they trudged on.</p> - -<p>Hours later they emerged from the darkness of the diamond-wood forest -into the green twilight of the surrounding meat trees. Johnny was -exhausted.</p> - -<p>A sudden coughing roar in the distance sent a shiver up Johnny's back -and brought them to an abrupt halt. It was a saber-tooth leopard!</p> - -<p>Johnny heard a slight stir of movement in the underbrush. About them, -birds of all kinds twittered and chirped, readying themselves for the -long darkness of Venus night. They were out of the safety zone.</p> - -<p>Though many hours had gone by, it was still Venus evening. He and Baba -had to push on into the deadly part of the jungle before they could -rest.</p> - -<p>The leopard's roar had come from far away and there was no immediate -danger, but from that time on the two watched every step they took. A -faint breeze blew in their faces. That was good. Johnny's scent would -not be blown to any of the animals. Johnny set his voice to click, -not to speak. He had to try to forget human speech, and talk always -like Baba. He spoke to Baba constantly in the marva language, and Baba -corrected him when he let his clicks become high pitched as Baba's once -had been.</p> - -<p>The meat tree grove was thinning out. The tank tracks were getting -fainter and fainter. Vines wound around the trees and bushes. On the -vines great orange flowers seemed to burn with color in the green -light. Johnny watched the flowers carefully because one might really -be a scarlet ape. Men called these flowers monkey flowers since they -were so near the color of those small apes that lived on the edge of -meat tree groves. As the two adventurers walked, the noises of animals -became louder and more numerous. A large bird fluttered across their -path and went shrieking ahead of them.</p> - -<p>Then there was sudden silence. They stopped.</p> - -<p>Baba hurriedly clicked loudly into the silence, "Friend-pets, -friend-pets, bother—"</p> - -<p>He did not have time to finish the sentence. Johnny was struck suddenly -on the back and sent sprawling on his face. A hundred tiny hands -seemed to be pulling at his hair. He felt a rip of cloth and then a -sharp pain as a small claw cut into his back. Baba was clicking loudly.</p> - -<p>As suddenly as he was struck down, the attack on him stopped. Dazed, he -painfully got to his hands and knees.</p> - -<p>"Friend-pets, bother us not. Bother us not!" Baba was repeating over -and over again as loudly as he could. Johnny's eyes widened.</p> - -<p>Surrounding them were hundreds of tiny monkeys no more than eight -inches high. Scarlet red in color, they sat perfectly still, their eyes -fixed on Johnny and Baba. Sitting high on a nearby bush one of the -little apes held a packet of Johnny's food in its tiny hands. Johnny -stood up to his full height and a low growl went up from the animals. -The monkey with Johnny's packet hurled it at Johnny with surprising -strength. Johnny made a quick catch.</p> - -<p>"Thank you," Johnny clicked in the marva tongue. The monkeys chattered -excitedly. "Thank you, friend-pet."</p> - -<p>"Give it something," Baba clicked. "Oh, I'm afraid, Johnny. They hate -you so much—I can feel it." Johnny knew why. The skins of these -animals were much in fashion for coats back on Earth.</p> - -<p>Johnny reached down for his knife to cut the strings of the packet. -As the knife came in sight a menacing growl went up. As Johnny and -Baba stood there, more and more of the monkeys leaped from the bushes -to join the crowd. The whole path was covered; the trees seemed to -be filled with red flowers. Some of the new-comers were intent upon -rushing Johnny when the knife glittered in the half light. But Baba -stopped them with his sharp, repeated commands.</p> - -<p>Johnny cut the packet open. Among other things, a large bag of candy -was inside. He had raided the cupboard well.</p> - -<p>"Come here," Johnny clicked, as firmly as he could manage. "Friend-pet, -come here." He pointed at the little creature who had thrown the -package at him. Showing its teeth and growling faintly, the monkey -bounded forward. Johnny held out a piece of candy to it. It sidled -up, snatched the candy, and ran back to the others. It sniffed at the -sweet, chattering wildly. Then its long black tongue went out and -licked it. The monkey's eyes widened and it popped the candy into its -mouth, smacking its lips.</p> - -<p>Again Johnny was almost knocked down. He was surrounded, climbed over, -patted, peered at, and deafened by chatter. In a few seconds not a -piece was left.</p> - -<p>But the monkeys no longer growled.</p> - -<p>"Go away! Go away!" Baba clicked. Reluctantly the animals parted from -Johnny and took to the trees along the path. The branches swayed under -them as they chattered among themselves.</p> - -<p>Suddenly, as quickly and mysteriously as they had appeared, the monkeys -were gone. Something was wrong! Johnny's fear returned with the sense -that something was watching him.</p> - -<p>Hardly daring to, he looked behind him. There in the half-darkness, -glowed three pairs of green eyes. Crouched ready to spring, a -leopardess was watching them, her two cubs beside her. How long they -had been watching, Johnny never knew. He froze in his tracks. Baba had -not looked around.</p> - -<p>"Friend-pets, bother us not, bother us not!" Baba was clicking loudly -in preparation for going forward. As Johnny watched, the leopard, -followed by her cubs, slipped into the jungle.</p> - -<p>"You didn't see her," Johnny clicked. "There was a leopardess and two -cubs."</p> - -<p>Baba turned in the direction toward which Johnny was pointing. "We'd -better go back," he clicked.</p> - -<p>"No," Johnny insisted bravely. "She and her cubs went away when you -began to talk."</p> - -<p>"Not <i>far</i> away." Baba sniffed the air. "I can smell them. I smell rain -too."</p> - -<p>"Then we'd better find shelter. C'mon. Maybe we better take a path -over to the right, away from the tank trail," Johnny suggested. "The -leopardess went the other way."</p> - -<p>Baba nodded.</p> - -<p>They trudged on and took the first animal trail to the right. Baba went -slightly ahead, crying "Friend-pets, bother us not!" over and over -again. It was almost a chorus now. Most of the time Baba clicked it, -but when he got tired Johnny took over for a while. They never ceased -repeating the magical words.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus7.jpg" width="327" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Once an antelope walked by their sides a few yards off, but he soon -bounded away. Shortly afterward Johnny thought he saw a large black -shadow moving in the deep brush.</p> - -<p>They walked steadily and found nothing but brush land. Then, not a -hundred yards from them, a river shone through the deepening twilight. -The shine of the water stopped them. They had proved they could control -some of the animals, possibly even the leopards and rhinosaurs. But, if -a river snake struck without warning as the monkeys had done, it would -be the end of Johnny.</p> - -<p>While Johnny stood where he was, Baba went forward, chanting the cry of -"Bother us not" as he went. When he returned he looked worried.</p> - -<p>"It is too dangerous to try to swim," he clicked. "In some places the -branches of the trees on this side almost touch branches of the trees -on the other side. If we keep on the path, maybe we can find a place -where it would be safe to climb over." The path they were on turned and -followed the river.</p> - -<p>They walked on for a few minutes. Baba stopped again, sniffing the air.</p> - -<p>"I don't like it," he clicked. "The leopards are close again."</p> - -<p>They moved forward cautiously, but when minutes passed and no attack -came they walked with more confidence. The magic formula of clicks -seemed to be working. Though nothing bothered them, they knew from -rustling noises and from cries that animals were all about them. -Nowhere could they find a place where the tree branches made a bridge -across the river. Nowhere could they find a place of refuge.</p> - -<p>The trail began to lead away from the river toward a little hill that -stood in black outline against the almost darkened sky. Big Venus -fireflies had begun to come out, sparkling like so many blue stars. The -two weary travelers followed the path, hoping it would lead back to the -river. It ended completely at the base of the small rocky hill.</p> - -<p>So tired he almost wanted to cry, Johnny sat down in the middle of the -path. Then he noticed a spot of deeper darkness among the rocks. He -jumped to his feet.</p> - -<p>"Hey, Baba," he said, "it looks like a cave! Come on!"</p> - -<p>The two of them hurried forward. A nice comfortable cave was just what -they were looking for! They were within a few yards of the cave, when -they heard a crashing noise from the underbrush and the pad of soft -footsteps.</p> - -<p>A leopardess leaped in front of them, cutting them off from the cave. -The big cat growled low, and two cubs scuttled through the entrance. -The leopardess sat back on her haunches in the mouth of the cave, -her eyes two gold-green lights burning in the dark green of the late -twilight. Slightly larger than an Earth lion, the Venus sabre-tooth -leopard is coal black, marked with golden spots. Her two tusk-like -fangs show why leopards are among the most deadly fighters of all the -Venus animals.</p> - -<p>Baba began clicking again.</p> - -<p>Johnny stood stock still. The leopardess watched them. She looked as -if she might spring at any moment. Then, with a ripple of her powerful -shoulder muscles, she lay down in the mouth of the cave.</p> - -<p>"Let's go before she changes her mind and attacks," Johnny said.</p> - -<p>"No, wait!" Baba said. "You stay here."</p> - -<p>Slowly Baba walked up to the spot where the big cat was lying, clicking -as he went. She appeared to pay no attention to him, but when he was -right beside her, she stood up. She made a low rumbling in her throat -that sounded strangely like a purr.</p> - -<p>When Baba paused, the leopardess made a little coughing sound. The two -cubs, who were as large as collie dogs, came tumbling out of the cave, -their tongues hanging out. They came up to Baba, cocking their heads. -They rubbed themselves in a friendly way against the little bear.</p> - -<p>"Come on, Johnny," Baba clicked. "I think we have a home."</p> - -<p>His heart in his mouth, Johnny walked forward.</p> - -<p>"Friend-pet," he clicked firmly, "I am your friend." Repeating this, he -walked straight up to the deadly beast. He reached out a trembling hand -and patted the ugly fanged head. The creature stood rigid. But as he -petted her, she relaxed and the purring noise began in the back of her -throat. The big head moved around. Her mouth opened slightly and she -licked his hand. She made a little coughing noise and the cubs came up -to him. He petted them, too, and looked at Baba.</p> - -<p>"Come on," said the little bear, "let's see what the leopard's house is -like."</p> - -<p>Together the two explored the inside of the cave with the help of -Johnny's flashlight. It was surprisingly clean. The big cat had dragged -in straw, which was arranged thickly over part of the floor.</p> - -<p>"It sure looks like it would make a good bed," Johnny said. He was so -tired; so much had happened. Trader Harkness and the meat fruit, the -climbing of New Plymouth Rock, the rhinosaur raid and Rick's betrayal, -and the escape into the jungle. Johnny ate a few antelope berries to -quench his thirst, but nothing more. He arranged a place for himself on -the dried grass and curled up. He was almost asleep, when he heard the -big cat come into that part of the cave.</p> - -<p>He opened his eyes to see the sabre-tooth leopard looming over him. For -a second he was afraid. Then, just as a house cat will do, she pushed -her paws back and forth into the straw, circled a few times, and lay -down right by his head, pushing him aside. He rearranged his bed and -lay his head against her soft flank.</p> - -<p>With his head pillowed against a sabre-tooth leopard, Johnny Watson -slipped off to sleep.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_ELEVEN" id="CHAPTER_ELEVEN">CHAPTER ELEVEN</a><br /> -<small><i>The Friends are Separated</i></small></h2> - - -<p>Johnny was hot and sweaty. He was glad to see the cool dark cave ahead. -It was like home to him by now. The mother leopard was lying in front -of the cave, and the two cubs came running to greet them.</p> - -<p>"Hi, Pat. Hi, Mike," he called. They came up to be petted.</p> - -<p>"They seem happy to see us," Baba clicked as he bounced along.</p> - -<p>"And I'm glad to see them," Johnny said. "Golly, I'm hot."</p> - -<p>Baba and he had just been down the river trying to find a place where -they might cross. Immediately after the long Venus night was over, they -had gone exploring in hopes of finding a colony of wild marva nearby. -But the only diamond-wood groves close to the cave were still too close -to the settlement. The marva must have left them because of the danger. -The two had gathered a good supply of nuts for Baba, but otherwise the -trip had been useless. Though they were still afraid of the horned -river snakes, there was no way of avoiding crossing the river. If they -went downstream they would soon be in the rhinosaur marshes. Upstream -the river curved back toward the colony.</p> - -<p>Johnny and Baba had spent the whole long night in the cave and Johnny -had got to know the leopard family quite well. He had discovered -they, too, had something like a language. It was made up of different -kinds of growls. Each growl meant something, but there weren't many -of them. The mother leopard could say things like "Come," or "Go" to -her kittens. She had a different growl for each of them, though Johnny -named them Pat and Mike. Throughout the time Baba was asleep Johnny had -practiced these growls, until he could talk a little in the leopard -language. He had also taught the little ones to like meat fruit roasted -over the open fire he had had to light to keep warm. All three cats had -been afraid of the fire when he had first lit it. They had soon learned -it was harmless if they didn't step into it. They were very smart -animals, but by no means as smart as Baba. Baba was just as clever as a -person.</p> - -<p>All the rest of the animals now seemed friendly, too. Johnny thought he -knew why. Not only the leopards, but all the animals could talk! They -couldn't say much, but just enough to tell one another Johnny wouldn't -hurt them. And all of them could understand the marva language. He and -Baba talked about this, but they weren't yet ready to take a chance on -river snakes. The snakes stayed deep in the water and struck before -they could be seen. It didn't seem likely that they would have learned -Johnny was a friend.</p> - -<p>Baba was going to go down to the river by himself. Perhaps he could -find one of the horned snakes and bring it back with him. Then Johnny -could make friends with it. If what Johnny thought was true, then the -snake would tell the others and he and Baba could float safely across -the river on a log they had found.</p> - -<p>After patting the mother leopard on the head, Johnny took off his pack -and laid it in the mouth of the cave.</p> - -<p>"I think I'll go over to the waterfall and have a shower," he said.</p> - -<p>"That's not such a good idea," Baba said. "Stay here. I won't be gone -long."</p> - -<p>"Oh, stop worrying, Grandfather!" Johnny laughed. He was stripping -himself down to his shorts. The three leopards sat on their haunches -watching him. They were fascinated by his clothes. The first time he -had taken them off they had been almost afraid of him.</p> - -<p>"I'll take Mama Leopard along with me for a guard," Johnny said. "You -tell her, Baba. Maybe I can growl better than you, but she still seems -to do everything you say."</p> - -<p>Baba clicked directions to the leopard. She was to go along with Johnny -and protect him. When Baba was through clicking, the mother leopard -came over and licked Johnny, making a growling sound that meant she -understood.</p> - -<p>Then with a wave of his paw, Baba bounced away toward the river. Johnny -was happy to see him go. Baba, himself, had suggested that the trip be -taken. It was the first time he had ever offered to leave Johnny for -such a long time. Johnny loved the little bear, and it was fun in the -jungle, but he couldn't help wishing he were home.</p> - -<p>The waterfall was not much of a waterfall. A little way from the -leopard's cave was a small spring high up in the rocks. A tiny stream -of water fell about ten feet making a great spray and quite a little -noise. It made a wonderful shower.</p> - -<p>The mother leopard lay on the rocks below while Johnny climbed up to -the waterfall. Johnny danced about as the cool water hit his hot dusty -skin. It felt wonderful running all over him. Then he walked into a -pool and splashed happily.</p> - -<p>Then Johnny began to sing. With him the little waterfall sang a -tinkling, merry tune that blotted out even the chatter of the birds in -the surrounding trees.</p> - -<p>It did not blot out a coughing roar that came from the mother leopard. -Johnny knew that sound. It meant <i>come</i>!</p> - -<p>Johnny stopped singing and looked down. The leopardess was on her feet -now, looking into the sky. Johnny looked too. A helicopter floated -soundlessly overhead, its jets off.</p> - -<p>Johnny looked around for some place to hide. There was none.</p> - -<p>The mother leopard crouched. Her muscles rippled under her black and -gold skin. In one mighty spring she was beside him. Before Johnny knew -what was happening, her great jaws opened—and closed around him. The -long sabre teeth barely touched his skin.</p> - -<p>With no more effort than if she were carrying a feather, she leaped -through the air with Johnny in her mouth. When she landed Johnny's feet -thumped painfully against a rock. Where she was holding him about the -middle in her teeth, he was unharmed.</p> - -<p>Johnny heard the roar of gunfire as the helicopter's motors were -switched on. Still carrying Johnny in her jaws, the mother leopard -screamed in pain. Johnny was tumbled to the ground, half dazed.</p> - -<p>A very shaken Johnny watched the mother leopard run away a short -distance, then turn and spring back toward him. A second later she was -standing over Johnny, putting her body between him and the helicopter. -She roared her defiance at the machine. Johnny marveled at her courage. -She started to pick him up again.</p> - -<p>The helicopter was getting into a position where it could hit the big -cat without hitting Johnny. In a few seconds the courageous animal -would be dead.</p> - -<p>"Run, friend-pet!" he clicked loudly. "Run! They won't hurt me. Run!" -She looked down at him and growled in a questioning way. Her muscles -tensed, and, with a great spring, she was gone. The guns roared, but -the leopard's last bound carried her safely into the brush.</p> - -<p>Before Johnny could get to his feet the 'copter was beside him. Two men -in armor and headglobes jumped out.</p> - -<p>"Hurry," yelled the pilot from inside. "You just grazed the leopard."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus8.jpg" width="325" height="351" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>One man grabbed Johnny by the heels, the other by his shoulders. With -one swing he was tossed heavily onto the floor of the 'copter. The two -men jumped in after him. The armored door clanged closed. The motors -roared and they were going straight up into the sky.</p> - -<p>Johnny lay quietly on the floor for some moments; he was still dazed by -his fall—and by the sudden turn of events.</p> - -<p>"That leopard was crazy," one of the men was saying. "I never saw one -come back like that, except for a cub!"</p> - -<p>Johnny looked up into the face of the speaker. It was a thin, narrow -face with full red lips and small black eyes. Johnny didn't know him.</p> - -<p>"That was a narrow squeak you had," the hunter said to Johnny, in a -high, nasal voice. "Two minutes later you'd have been leopard food. Are -you hurt?"</p> - -<p>Johnny sat up slowly, moving his arms and legs.</p> - -<p>"Uh uh," he said.</p> - -<p>With a whine of the motors the 'copter went into a hover. It floated -over the spot where they had picked up Johnny.</p> - -<p>"What in the name of all the moon devils were you doing out there like -that—stark naked and no armor?"</p> - -<p>"Taking a bath." Johnny was too bewildered to make up an excuse.</p> - -<p>The man raised his black eyes to heaven and looked at his companion. -"Crazy!" he muttered. "But, kid," he addressed Johnny, "what made—"</p> - -<p>"Skip it!" the pilot said, in a low hard voice. The black-eyed man -stopped abruptly. Johnny decided the pilot must be the leader. -The man turned around and looked at Johnny. He was a large man, -slope-shouldered but powerful. His blond hair was slicked down against -his head. Two long red scars cut across a white heavy-jawed face. His -eyes were so pale they were almost white.</p> - -<p>"Where's the bear?" he snapped.</p> - -<p>Johnny was struck silent. They were after Baba!</p> - -<p>"Come on, kid," the low voice came again, "where's the bear?"</p> - -<p>"He ran away." Johnny blurted out the first thing he could think of. -"I've had an awful time. We got lost in the jungle and he ran away, -right at first. I lit fires to attract attention and keep off animals, -and the rains put them out and my matches got wet. I've had an awful -time, and...."</p> - -<p>"You ain't seen nothing of the bear?" the scar-faced pilot cut in.</p> - -<p>Johnny crossed his fingers carefully and looked the big man straight in -the eyes.</p> - -<p>"Not since right at first!"</p> - -<p>The pale eyes bored into his. Johnny's eyes dropped down.</p> - -<p>"The kid's lying!" the big man said to the others, and turned back to -Johnny. "O.K., kid, let's have it straight now!"</p> - -<p>But no matter how much they questioned him or how they threatened, -Johnny insisted he did not know where Baba was.</p> - -<p>Finally Ed, the blond scar-faced leader, gave up. He turned to the -others. "You guys search the ground," he commanded, "while I call in to -the boss." He turned and dialed the radio telephone on the instrument -board of the 'copter.</p> - -<p>"Hello," he said, "I want to speak to the boss." There was a pause. -"Hello," he said again. "We got the kid—found him where Stevenson -thought he saw the fire."</p> - -<p>Johnny heard a voice coming back over the instrument. He thought he -recognized it, but he couldn't make out any words.</p> - -<p>"No," the pilot spoke into the instrument, "the kid says the bear ran -away, but I think he's lying. We're going to search from the plane. -Can't send anybody down because of the leopards. One had the kid when -we found him." There was another pause. "No, not hurt. When we're -finished I'll drop him at the colony." There was a long pause. Johnny -caught the words, "if I know that bear," and then there was more he -couldn't catch.</p> - -<p>"That's a smart idea," the scar-faced man said. "We'll do just what you -said. O.K. Be seeing you!" The pilot turned back to the other two, who -had binoculars trained down into the jungle.</p> - -<p>"See anything, Barney?"</p> - -<p>"Not a thing, Ed!" the black-eyed man replied.</p> - -<p>"You, Shorty?"</p> - -<p>The other man shook his head. "Not even a bird."</p> - -<p>For over an hour they searched. While they were searching, Ed, the -pilot, put in another call and told someone else what had happened. He -hinted that even if they didn't find the bear, there was still a way -they might get their hands on him.</p> - -<p>Johnny sat with his fists clenched. He knew they would shoot if Baba -showed himself.</p> - -<p>After an hour went by and the 'copter had gone over every foot of the -surrounding territory, the men had to give up because they were running -low on fuel.</p> - -<p>As they went higher up, Johnny peered out. The 'copter veered Venus -east—away from the colony. At that moment Johnny's heart sank. The -hunters weren't taking him home! Baba would have seen the 'copter come -and go. The little bear would think anyone finding Johnny would take -him back to the settlement. Johnny knew just what the little bear would -do. He would go back to the settlement looking for Johnny!</p> - -<p>Johnny had succeeded in keeping those hunters from getting Baba; now -the colonists would get him. Or would they? Suddenly Johnny knew whose -voice that had been on the radio telephone. The voice was that of the -trader, Willard Harkness!</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_TWELVE" id="CHAPTER_TWELVE">CHAPTER TWELVE</a><br /> -<small><i>The Price of a Boy</i></small></h2> - - -<p>They were in the air over two hours, traveling at maximum speed, before -they arrived at their destination. This turned out to be a small cabin, -surrounded by the usual high wall, with a space inside the wall for a -helicopter and a tank. It was a hunters' hideout entirely hidden from -view by diamond-wood trees. The pilot had had to work his way through -branches and then fly for a time between the trunks of the great trees -before hovering in for a landing. A man was standing in the yard -waiting for them when they landed.</p> - -<p>As soon as Ed shut off the 'copter's motor, the man who was waiting for -them yelled, "No arrow-birds that I can see. Tell the kid to run for -it." The man had been informed about him by the helicopter's radio.</p> - -<p>"O.K., kid, scoot!" Ed jabbed Johnny in the ribs.</p> - -<p>Johnny scooted. The lodge door slammed behind him and he opened the -inner door. The large central room was surprisingly neat. The floor was -bare but polished. Some hunting trophies were on the windowless walls.</p> - -<p>Chained on a perch in one corner of the room, a miserable little -scarlet ape sat huddled up, with its chin upon its knees. When it saw -Johnny it screamed and chattered. Johnny walked toward it, about to -click a greeting.</p> - -<p>"Better watch out!" A red head was thrust from the door of another -room. "Ed's monkey is meaner than he is." It was Rick Saunders.</p> - -<p>"Glad to see you safe!" The big redhaired man grinned easily, and waved.</p> - -<p>"Hullo," Johnny said. He didn't smile. If Rick were here, it meant only -one thing. These were the same men who had stolen the colony's marva -claws! He all but glared at Rick Saunders standing in the inner doorway.</p> - -<p>"You don't seem too happy about being rescued," Rick said with a laugh.</p> - -<p>"I wasn't rescued. I...." Johnny stopped. He knew he shouldn't have -said that.</p> - -<p>Rick's eyebrows went up. "It seems I heard something about a leopard."</p> - -<p>"Well, I guess I was rescued—sorta," Johnny admitted lamely.</p> - -<p>"I guess you were!" Rick paused, looking at Johnny. "You sure don't -sound very friendly."</p> - -<p>"I don't like thieves and traitors," Johnny said defiantly.</p> - -<p>"Wait a minute!" Rick began.</p> - -<p>At that moment the four hunters entered the room, cutting off the rest -of Rick's sentence. The scarred-faced leader spoke to Rick.</p> - -<p>"You know you're not allowed in here. Get out!" His voice was low and -threatening. Rick turned to go.</p> - -<p>"Hold it," called Barney, the narrow-faced hunter. "Carry this in to -the kitchen." He dropped a haunch of antelope on the floor.</p> - -<p>His face set and calm, Rick walked slowly past Johnny and hoisted the -meat to his shoulder.</p> - -<p>"Any other orders?" he asked quietly.</p> - -<p>"Yep!" Ed said. "Take the kid with you. Rustle him up clothes of some -kind. Then you can put him to work helping you."</p> - -<p>"Come on, Johnny." Rick put his hand on Johnny's shoulder and started -for the door. Johnny followed him, shrugging off the friendly hand.</p> - -<p>The kitchen was even neater than the main room. As soon as they entered -the room, Rick tossed the haunch of antelope into the sink. He turned, -faced Johnny, and grasped the boy's shoulders with his big freckled -hands. He seemed angry.</p> - -<p>"What's this thieves-and-traitors business mean?" he demanded.</p> - -<p>"First you pretended to be on our side," Johnny answered, "and then -you let the rhinosaurs get in so's those hunters could steal our marva -claws."</p> - -<p>"So that's what you think," Rick said. He regarded Johnny gravely. -"Does the rest of the colony think that, too?"</p> - -<p>Johnny nodded.</p> - -<p>"Take a good look at me, Johnny." Rick touched a cloth tied around his -middle like an apron. "I'm cook and housekeeper here, not one of the -gang. I wasn't pretending anything, and I didn't <i>let</i> any rhinosaurs -inside. I came with these outlaws because they had their tank guns -leveled on me."</p> - -<p>"But why did they do that?" Johnny demanded.</p> - -<p>"Harkness' orders," Rick replied. "Remember his threat?"</p> - -<p>"I sure do!" Johnny said. His eyes grew wide. "I was right," he went -on. "I <i>thought</i> Mr. Harkness was the boss those hunters called."</p> - -<p>"He sure is the boss," Rick said. "He's given out word he'll pay for -any information about you and Baba. Any information he gets he passes -on to this bunch. The gang has to work for him so he'll market their -stolen claws and arrange their passage to Earth. Why he's even offering -to pay double for Baba just to prevent the colony from getting him."</p> - -<p>"Golly!" Johnny breathed. "He really must be sore at us." Johnny sat -down on a kitchen stool. It was cold against his bare bottom. He -looked up at Rick. "Gosh, I'm sorry, Rick. I mean about thinking you -were—well you know."</p> - -<p>"That's all right, Johnny." Rick was smiling now. "I'll admit it did -look bad. Let's forget it and get you into some clothes. We have a meal -to fix."</p> - -<p>Johnny jumped up. With a friend beside him things didn't seem quite as -bad. Helped by a pair of scissors, Rick soon had him into a pair of cut -down trousers and a baggy shirt. As soon as the clothes were on, the -two started preparing the meal.</p> - -<p>As they worked, Johnny questioned Rick about what had happened to him. -Outside of beating him up once, the hunters hadn't treated him too -badly. He was being saved for Trader Harkness. They made Rick stay in -the kitchen and wouldn't let him into the main room except to clean -it up, and then kept a gun on him. The gang kept him from escaping -by a very simple means—they locked up the rhinosaur-hide armor in a -closet. Ed kept the closet keys, as well as the keys to the tank and -helicopter, fastened to his wrist. Rick had been watching carefully but -had not seen one chance to escape.</p> - -<p>As Johnny served the meal to the outlaw hunters, he looked the room -over carefully. When the men weren't looking, he clicked a greeting to -the little scarlet ape. It immediately became quite excited. A plan for -escape began to shape itself in Johnny's mind. He said nothing to Rick, -however.</p> - -<p>After the outlaws had eaten, Johnny and Rick had their meal. Rick -thought it strange, but Johnny couldn't bring himself to eat any of the -antelope; he remembered all too well the tiny antelope leader he had -held in his hand. When they were finished and had washed the dishes, -Johnny was all too glad for a blanket thrown on the kitchen floor—the -same kind of bed Rick had.</p> - -<p>Johnny tried to push away his fears for Baba, but it was a long time -before he could get to sleep.</p> - -<p>It seemed only minutes later when he was rudely awakened by a rough -blow on his shoulder. Actually it was ten hours later, as he could see -by the clock above the stove. Johnny reared up to see Ed standing over -him, a smile on his thin lips, his pale eyes jubilant.</p> - -<p>"Get up and get your clothes on," he ordered. "We're going places."</p> - -<p>Johnny jumped up and reached for the baggy clothes Rick had made him.</p> - -<p>"Come on in when you're ready and don't waste any time about it," Ed -directed, and strode back into the other room. Johnny slipped on the -pants and was soon stuffing in the shirt tails of the oversized shirt. -Rick stood by the stove and watched, sympathy in his eyes.</p> - -<p>"Baba," he said slowly, "arrived at the colony an hour ago. I was -listening at the door when the call came from Harkness. These guys are -planning—"</p> - -<p>"Come on!" Ed stuck his head in through the door and cut Rick off. Numb -with worry, Johnny followed Ed into the main room.</p> - -<p>"Better wrap him up in something," the outlaw called Barney said, his -narrow face twisted in a strange grin. "We can't let the arrow-birds -get him now."</p> - -<p>Johnny stood while they strapped man-sized armor on him and put a -headglobe on his head. He followed Ed out of the door and into the -helicopter. The outlaw leader seated Johnny beside him, switched on -the motor, and they roared away.</p> - -<p>"Where we going?" Johnny asked.</p> - -<p>"You'll find out," Ed snapped. "Keep quiet till I tell you to talk!"</p> - -<p>They flew on for almost an hour. Then Ed set the helicopter controls on -automatic hover and snapped the radio telephone on. He dialed a number. -Johnny saw that the number was that of Colony Headquarters.</p> - -<p>"Hello." Ed made his voice high and nasal. "I have information -concerning Johnny Watson. Let me speak to his father."</p> - -<p>The slick-haired blond man put his hand over the telephone mouthpiece. -He grabbed Johnny by the collar and stared directly into his eyes.</p> - -<p>"Listen," he said, "when your father comes on, I want you to speak -to him. Tell him you were rescued by us and we've treated you O.K. -Understand?"</p> - -<p>Johnny nodded, his mouth dry.</p> - -<p>"I'll tell him what happened," Johnny said. He didn't understand why Ed -was making such a fuss about it.</p> - -<p>"Hello. Hello. This is Frederick Watson." Johnny was thrilled by the -sound of his father's voice over the telephone.</p> - -<p>"Hello, Mr. Watson," Ed said in the fake voice. "We've found your boy -and here he is." Ed handed Johnny the telephone, his hand over the -mouthpiece again. "Remember!" he said in a threatening voice.</p> - -<p>"Hello, dad!" Johnny said into the telephone. "I'm safe all right."</p> - -<p>"Thank God!" his father's voice replied.</p> - -<p>"I was rescued by these men and outside of making me wash dishes and -sleep on the floor, they've treated me fine. I'm—"</p> - -<p>Ed took the telephone away from him in mid-sentence.</p> - -<p>"But where are you, Johnny?" Johnny could still hear his father's voice.</p> - -<p>"Right now," Ed said into the telephone, "Johnny's up in a 'copter. You -needn't try to get a direction finder on us. Rescuing this boy cost us -a lot and we gotta be sure you'll pay us for it."</p> - -<p>"I offered a reward." Mr. Watson's voice was anxious.</p> - -<p>"It ain't enough," Ed said. "We lost a tank and a 'copter getting him. -He was surrounded by rhinosaurs. We have the boy. You've got a live -marva. I figure it should be a trade. You bring the marva to the old -tank road by the river, and we'll bring the boy. Bring one tank, driven -by one man. That's all. Be there forty-eight hours from now. Do as I -say and the boy will be delivered on schedule."</p> - -<p>"Hello, hello." Frederick Watson's voice was frantic. "I don't know if -the colony will—" Ed hung up and snapped off the radio.</p> - -<p>"They will," he said.</p> - -<p>Johnny's spirits had never been so low. Everything he touched seemed to -turn to disaster. The colony was all but ruined. In trying to protect -Baba he had caused the marshberries to be destroyed and had given these -outlaws a chance to steal the colony's marva claws. By running away -with Baba he hadn't saved the little bear at all. The outlaws, Trader -Harkness' outlaws, were going to get him.</p> - -<p>Johnny would not only lose Baba, but the colony, too, would lose its -last chance for survival.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_THIRTEEN" id="CHAPTER_THIRTEEN">CHAPTER THIRTEEN</a><br /> -<small><i>Outwitting the Outlaws</i></small></h2> - - -<p>The little red monkey screamed and chattered its hate as Johnny and Ed -stepped through the doorway of the cabin after their eventful flight. -Johnny had noted that the cabin door was the only exit.</p> - -<p>As was usual on Venus, the exit was a double door. When the outer door -was open, the inner one could not be opened. It was just like the -school door. If Johnny could once get through the outer door and block -it open, it would be a while before the men could break the lock on -the inner door and get out. Getting out the first door would be the -problem—but not too big a problem. The outlaws didn't think that he -could go into the jungle without armor, so they did not watch him or -the door too carefully.</p> - -<p>As soon as they were inside, Ed took off Johnny's oversized armor and -locked it away. He then winked at the other men and sat Johnny down in -front of him on a high stool.</p> - -<p>"You know who I am?" Ed asked him.</p> - -<p>"Sure," Johnny said. "You're Ed."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus9.jpg" width="391" height="325" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The big man cuffed him so hard he fell from the stool.</p> - -<p>"Boy," he said, "you never saw me before." He frowned, making his -scarred face as evil as he could. "When you go back to that colony, -you're going to forget you ever saw us. Do you know why?"</p> - -<p>From the floor Johnny shook his head.</p> - -<p>"Because if you tell anybody our names or anything about us, you know -what we're going to do?" Ed asked.</p> - -<p>Again Johnny shook his head.</p> - -<p>"We'll catch you and take you out into the jungle and tie you to a -tree without any armor on, and leave you for the arrow-birds. You -understand?"</p> - -<p>Johnny nodded his head. They thought they were scaring him.</p> - -<p>They talked a little while longer, describing things they might do to -him if he told their names, and Johnny pretended to be afraid.</p> - -<p>"All right," Ed said after the lecture. "Get back to the kitchen."</p> - -<p>"Can I play with your monkey?" Johnny asked.</p> - -<p>"Play with that monkey!" Ed's pale eyebrows went up. "He'd chew an ear -off you. I've been trying to tame him for a month—and he don't do -anything but bite. You leave him alone."</p> - -<p>"He won't bite me," Johnny said. "I don't think he will." The monkey -would be a big help in escaping, if only they'd let Johnny get close to -him. "I'll just go get some sugar cubes from the kitchen."</p> - -<p>"Let him, Ed. It'll teach the brat a lesson," the narrow-faced Barney -put in.</p> - -<p>"O.K." Ed said. "Get bit, if you want to."</p> - -<p>Johnny rushed through the open door into the kitchen. Rick was sitting -at the table with a book beside him.</p> - -<p>"You got any candy, Rick?" Johnny asked. "Or maybe some sugar cubes?"</p> - -<p>"You better not fool with that monk, Johnny," Rick said. "He's plenty -mean, like all the Venus creatures."</p> - -<p>"He won't hurt me," Johnny said. He saw a box of sugar cubes in the -cupboard and grabbed it. "Monkeys just love sweets."</p> - -<p>"No." Rick leaned over and a big freckled hand closed around Johnny's -small brown one. He took the box of sugar away. "I'm going to tell them -you got scared. Only two things will happen if you try playing with -that monk. You'll get bitten, and they'll get a big laugh."</p> - -<p>"Please let me, Rick," Johnny said. He paused a minute and whispered, -"I've got an idea how I can get away."</p> - -<p>"What!" Rick exploded. He closed the door and went on in a whisper, -"It's impossible. You haven't any armor. You don't have any weapons or -a tank. Don't be silly." He paused, and looked at Johnny. "Well, how -were you going to do it?"</p> - -<p>"Simple," said Johnny. "First I make friends with the monkey. Then I'll -let him go and tell him to run around and jump on Ed and the rest. -While they are chasing him, I'll open the inside door. I'll let him out -first and dive through myself. I'll wedge open the outside door, and by -the time they get their armor on and break the lock on the inside door, -I'll be over the wall and gone." The words tumbled out of him.</p> - -<p>Rick shook his head. "Johnny, that week in the jungle has gone straight -to your head. In the first place, how are you going to make friends -with the monkey? Then how are you going to <i>tell</i> him anything? And how -are you going to get any armor?"</p> - -<p>"Rick," Johnny said, "I don't need any armor."</p> - -<p>"Oh, Johnny!" Rick exclaimed, exasperated.</p> - -<p>"They just won't bother me." Johnny took a deep breath. "I can talk to -them, same as I can talk to the monkey!"</p> - -<p>"What!"</p> - -<p>"Now, listen, Rick," Johnny whispered earnestly, "I wasn't hurt when -I came here, was I? I'd been in the jungle six Earth days without any -armor."</p> - -<p>Rick was looking at him with a strange expression.</p> - -<p>"Do you remember," Johnny went on, "how I looked when you rescued me -from the rhinosaur?"</p> - -<p>Rick nodded.</p> - -<p>"Did I have any armor on then?"</p> - -<p>Rick stared at Johnny for a few seconds.</p> - -<p>"By golly!" His mouth was slightly open in amazement. "You didn't have -any armor on!"</p> - -<p>"I wasn't hurt, was I?"</p> - -<p>Rick shook his head slowly.</p> - -<p>"No," he said, "but what about that leopard and the rhinosaur?"</p> - -<p>"The leopard wasn't hurting me," Johnny said. "She was trying to -get me away before the men got me. She was my friend. As for the -rhinosaur—well, Baba and me hadn't learned for sure about them, yet."</p> - -<p>"But how can you talk to them?" Rick asked in wonder.</p> - -<p>Johnny knew he had no choice, he had to trust Rick completely.</p> - -<p>"It was Baba," Johnny said. Then, very quickly, he explained about -Baba's clicks, and told Rick about his three secrets.</p> - -<p>"Jeb said something about those clicks one time," Rick said -thoughtfully. "I never dreamed it could be true."</p> - -<p>"It <i>is</i> true, though," Johnny insisted.</p> - -<p>Ed stuck his scarred face through the doorway.</p> - -<p>"Well, kid, getting cold feet about the monk?"</p> - -<p>"No, sir!" Johnny said. "Rick was just getting me some cube sugar."</p> - -<p>"Well, hurry it up." Ed went back out.</p> - -<p>"Johnny," Rick said, "you show me with that monk, and by the moons of -Saturn, I'll come with you, armor or no armor!"</p> - -<p>Johnny was bewildered. This was something he hadn't counted on. He -wanted to explain that there was a chance even he, alone, could not -succeed without Baba. Just as Johnny started to speak, Ed appeared in -the doorway again.</p> - -<p>"Well?" he said in his heavy voice.</p> - -<p>Johnny took the sugar cubes from Rick and followed Ed into the main -room. As he always did, the monkey screamed and chattered at them as -they entered. The little animal was chained to its perch. A spring -catch too strong for its tiny fingers fastened the chain to its collar -and kept it from getting away. The outlaws began to gather around.</p> - -<p>"You'll have to stay at the table, way over at the other end of the -room," Johnny said to the men. "He's scared of you." He pointed to the -table, which was as far as possible from the door leading outside.</p> - -<p>"All right, all right." The four men seated themselves where Johnny -pointed, ready to watch the fun.</p> - -<p>Johnny walked slowly up to the tiny monkey. As he did so, its little -red face twisted and it showed its razor-sharp fangs. It screamed at -him. Then it leaped out, only to be jerked back cruelly as it came to -the end of its chain. But it ran out as far as it could and clawed at -Johnny, its eyes red.</p> - -<p>"Friend-pet, friend-pet," Johnny clicked very low in the back of his -throat. The animal stopped screaming and cocked his head at him. It -looked from one side to the other, as if looking for a marva behind -Johnny. Johnny repeated the phrase again and again, holding the sugar -out where the red monkey could see it and smell it.</p> - -<p>Johnny didn't have any idea how much the little animal could -understand, but he went on clicking. "I'm your friend. We are going -to get away from these men." He repeated this many times. Then he -remembered that Rick was going to try, too. "You and I and the big man -in the other room are going to escape."</p> - -<p>As Johnny talked, he moved forward. Soon he was well in range of the -little monkey's nails. It jumped forward. Johnny put a sugar cube in -its paws. With a gurgle of pleasure, the monkey swallowed the sugar and -put out its paw for more.</p> - -<p>"Jump on my shoulder," Johnny clicked. The little creature regarded him -silently. Then, with a graceful hop, it was on his shoulder.</p> - -<p>"I don't believe it," Ed's voice rumbled.</p> - -<p>As soon as the hunter outlaw spoke, the little monkey growled and bared -his teeth at him. The man muttered something under his breath, angry -that a small boy had done what he couldn't do. He started out toward -them, and was quickly in range of the creature's teeth.</p> - -<p>"You'd better not," Johnny said. "He'll—"</p> - -<p>The monkey dived at Ed, his teeth slicing into the man's shoulder. The -outlaw jumped back, cursing. Blood ran down his shirt.</p> - -<p>"I'm sorry, Ed," Johnny said. "Let me work with him just a little -while, and maybe he'll make friends with you, too." In his anger the -man had picked up a heavy stick to hit the monkey. The other men broke -into laughter.</p> - -<p>Ed grunted something, and threw his stick at the men who were laughing. -"Come on," he said, "let's play cards." Johnny turned back to the -monkey.</p> - -<p>For almost half an hour Johnny talked to the monkey in the marva -clicking language while the outlaws played cards across the room. He -guessed the little animal could understand a little more than the -mother leopard could. That wasn't too much, but it was enough. He made -the creature understand that when he was released, he was to fly at -the men. He wasn't to hurt them, but make them chase him until Johnny -could get the door open. Then the monkey was to leap for the opening. -The hardest job was getting the monkey to understand that he shouldn't -harm Rick if the ex-bodyguard came with them. Johnny wasn't sure the -monkey understood.</p> - -<p>With his back turned to the outlaws, Johnny undid the collar about the -monkey's throat. Keeping the little animal out of their sight he walked -toward the exit door. He picked up an old boot to use on the outer door.</p> - -<p>"Hey," Ed suddenly shouted, "where's the monk?"</p> - -<p>"After them," Johnny clicked. The monkey leaped at the oncoming Ed. He -clawed his face, then leaped at the other men. He made great jumps by -swinging from light fixtures by his long black tail. Ed wheeled and -charged like a bull after the tiny screaming creature.</p> - -<p>"The kid let the crazy thing loose!" he shouted. "Catch it!"</p> - -<p>"Shoot him!" yelled Shorty, drawing his ato-tube pistol from its -holster. Ed knocked it from his hand, and it went sliding along the -floor.</p> - -<p>"Want to kill us, too, you fool?"</p> - -<p>In the excitement Johnny worked the latch on the exit door, and pressed -the button that opened it. He saw Rick half way through the kitchen -door. Rick reached down and grabbed up something from the floor. The -monkey was jumping from head to head among the yelling outlaws. Not one -of them noticed what Johnny was doing.</p> - -<p>The door was open. Johnny nodded his head toward Rick, who came at a -dead run. When Rick was almost there, Johnny clicked as loud as he -could, "Come, friend-pet! Come!"</p> - -<p>In one leap the little animal sailed across the room and landed on his -shoulder. Johnny and Rick pushed through the door, slammed it behind -them, and opened the outside door.</p> - -<p>Johnny paused a second and wedged the boot he had picked up into the -outer door. The outside door could not close and the safety lock would -keep the inner door closed.</p> - -<p>"Come on, Johnny," Rick shouted. "This way!" He rushed through the -helicopter landing space toward the tank entrance. Rick pulled the -switch that opened the duro-steel door.</p> - -<p>"Dive for the nearest tree trunk," Rick shouted. "They have gun mounts -on the roof."</p> - -<p>Johnny ran after Rick, his short legs unable to keep up with the older -man. The little monkey was riding on top of his head, shrieking and -chattering. As soon as they reached the forest the monkey jumped into a -tree.</p> - -<p>Johnny stopped dead. He needed that monkey. The little animal could -tell other animals he and Rick were friendly.</p> - -<p>"Friend-pet monkey, friend-pet monkey," he clicked, "come with me." For -an instant he was afraid the animal had not heard. Then, with a shock, -he felt it drop down on his head.</p> - -<p>"Rick, Rick," he yelled, "stay with me." With relief he heard the -big man coming back. "You gotta stay with me," Johnny panted. -"Arrow-birds." Rick nodded, and ran along beside Johnny.</p> - -<p>They ran among the great pillars of the diamond-wood forest until -Johnny thought his breath would come no more. His feet were heavy -against the springing leaves, his legs began to twist with fatigue. -When he was about to fall, Rick whisked him up in his arms.</p> - -<p>The little monkey screamed and jumped at Rick's head.</p> - -<p>"No, no!" Johnny clicked. The tiny creature jumped back on Johnny's -head, but he had left red claw marks on Rick's face.</p> - -<p>Far in the distance they heard the noise of a tank motor starting. The -diamond-wood trees were beginning to thin out. Soon they would be in -the jungle of meat trees which always surrounded a grove of the giant -trees. The sound of a helicopter motor starting up was added to the -sound of the tank. The noise of the tank motor lessened. The outlaws -had headed in the wrong direction. The helicopter was the great danger -now. Hiding under a meat tree, with its heavy leaves, was their best -chance.</p> - -<p>"We'd better get under something, Rick," Johnny said. His breath had -returned. "Let me down."</p> - -<p>Rick nodded. His breath was coming in great gasps. A heavily leafed -tree surrounded by brush was a few hundred yards ahead of them. -Johnny pointed to it and Rick nodded. Johnny prayed that there were -no arrow-birds feeding there. This close to the hunters' lodge there -shouldn't be many animals—but arrow-birds were always on the watch.</p> - -<p>As they worked through the brush to get under the meat tree Johnny -really missed Baba. The first branches were too high for either Johnny -or Rick to reach. If Baba had been there they could have easily climbed -up into the protection of the tree's leaves and branches. Luckily the -brush was high and thick around it, screening them from view from the -side. The tree itself screened off the sky.</p> - -<p>Once they had reached the trunk of the tree, they stood wordlessly for -a while, breathing hard.</p> - -<p>"Any idea where we are, Rick?" Johnny asked in a whisper.</p> - -<p>Rick's big, bony face broke into a smile. He reached into a pocket. Out -came a small map of the Venus continent.</p> - -<p>"Not for sure," he said. "But we can't be far from the lodge." He -pointed to a mark on the map. "Once we see the lay of the land, we -should be able to tell." Suddenly Rick froze stone still. Johnny looked -up.</p> - -<p>An arrow-bird had flown into the tree. Since its head was not in -position to strike, it was probably looking for a meat fruit. Just as -Johnny saw it, its head turned toward them.</p> - -<p>Johnny clicked out a sharp command for it to leave them alone.</p> - -<p>As the little purple eyes sought them out, its head snapped into -striking position. But as Johnny clicked on, it moved its head back to -a friendlier position. Its little purple eyes stared directly at them.</p> - -<p>Rick regarded Johnny with wonder.</p> - -<p>"I don't know what that little bear taught you, but it sure is a -miracle," he said. He then reached into his shirt. "I'm still glad I -got this. Did you see Ed knock it out of Shorty's hand?" He pulled an -ato-tube pistol out of the shirt.</p> - -<p>As soon as the gun came out, the red ape leaped from Johnny's head, -screaming. The arrow-bird snapped its head into position to strike.</p> - -<p>"Drop it, Rick! Drop it!" Johnny yelled.</p> - -<p>Amazement swept over Rick's face.</p> - -<p>"But why—?"</p> - -<p>"Bother us not, friend-pet," Johnny clicked loudly. At the same time he -knocked the ato-tube from Rick's hand.</p> - -<p>He was too late.</p> - -<p>The arrow-bird shot with a sickening smack into Rick's shoulder. Almost -as quickly it withdrew its blood-stained beak and was hovering in the -air for another strike.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FOURTEEN" id="CHAPTER_FOURTEEN">CHAPTER FOURTEEN</a><br /> -<small><i>Captured!</i></small></h2> - - -<p>Rick stood rigid, his face twisting with pain, a hand clutching his -upper arm. The greenish bird hovered in the air, its wings a blur of -motion.</p> - -<p>"We are friends. We are friends. Bother us not, friend-pet!" Johnny -clicked deep in his throat. The bird continued to hover, its little -purple eyes darting back and forth from Johnny to the wounded Rick. Its -bloody head stayed in arrow position, but it drifted farther away.</p> - -<p>Johnny remembered that when he had had an arrow-bird on his shoulder, -the others had left him alone. He dreaded changing his command, but he -did.</p> - -<p>"Come to your friend," he clicked firmly. The arrow-bird stared at him -distrustfully, but came closer. The monkey dropped back on Johnny's -head. With a sigh of relief, Johnny saw the arrow-bird's head snap out -of attack position. He put out his hand and the arrow-bird lit on it.</p> - -<p>"Are you hurt bad, Rick?" he asked. The words made the arrow-bird -flutter with alarm, but Johnny soothed it by petting it with his other -hand.</p> - -<p>Rick shook his head.</p> - -<p>"Not too bad," he said through clenched teeth. "The thing seemed to -dodge when you made that clicking noise."</p> - -<p>"I'm sorry, Rick," Johnny said. "You just shouldn't have shown that -gun—you'll have to leave it behind. If they think you'd harm any of -them, they'll kill you, just like that. The monkeys almost got me -'cause of a pocket knife."</p> - -<p>"I didn't know," Rick said. He looked at the bird on Johnny's shoulder. -"Seems peaceful enough now."</p> - -<p>"You better let him sit on your shoulder, Rick." Johnny looked down at -the arrow-bird and stroked it again. When it was quiet he placed it on -Rick's shoulder. The man was nervous and the bird was worried, but they -both did as they were told.</p> - -<p>They waited under the tree while the helicopter went back and forth -above them. Johnny looked at Rick's wound. It didn't look too serious, -but Johnny knew better than to count on that. The slightest arrow-bird -wound could be deadly if not treated. Johnny had seen hunters brought -into the colony sick from an untreated scratch. They should have -brought an emergency kit, but the kits were only carried in special -pockets of the armor.</p> - -<p>They let Rick's wound bleed to cleanse it as much as possible. Then -Johnny bound the arm tightly and made a sling for it from a piece of -Rick's shirt. Rick gave Johnny his wrist watch to wear, since his -wrist was hidden by the sling. After that they waited. It seemed the -helicopter would never go away. Once it hovered almost directly above -them, but then went on.</p> - -<p>While they waited Johnny looked over the map. The outlaw hideout was -not as far from the colony as he had feared. They had to start soon and -make good time, but they just might be able to make it to the meeting -place the outlaws had set before Johnny's father got there. There was a -fighting chance if Rick didn't get too sick.</p> - -<p>Finally they heard the sound of the helicopter landing far in the -distance. Taking direction from the map, they set out on their way. -Rick's wound was less painful now, but Johnny kept his eye on his -redhaired friend. They started out at a fast clip, following an animal -track which led in the direction they wanted to go.</p> - -<p>In a few hours of steady marching they were a safe distance from the -outlaw hideout. Johnny's idea was working out. Several flights of -arrow-birds had passed them by with no more than a glance in their -direction. One flight had hovered above them while the arrow-bird on -Rick's shoulder twittered and shrieked to them. Then they had flown off -at top speed. A troop of monkeys had also let them pass without doing -them any harm. Hundreds of the small red apes had followed along beside -them for some time. Johnny's monkey chattered to them from his perch on -the boy's head. Then they, too, had swung off through the trees at top -speed. Rick had been awed, for he had never seen Venus animals so close -except when they were attacking.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus10.jpg" width="326" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>At first Rick's strides had been long and Johnny had had to run every -few steps to keep up. Now Rick's steps were short and slow. He seemed -to be getting weaker and weaker. They had stopped and cleaned his wound -again at a spring and rebound it, but he was not doing well. The big -redhaired man was pale under his freckles; his lips were set tight.</p> - -<p>Johnny kept close beside him as they moved forward. They had worked out -a path to follow that skirted diamond-wood groves and avoided rivers. -It was too easy to become lost in the dense forest, and Johnny was very -unsure of what river snakes would do.</p> - -<p>Suddenly Rick stumbled. He stopped and balanced himself by leaning on -Johnny's shoulder. He looked at Johnny with bloodshot eyes, sighed and -crumpled up on the ground. The arrow-bird that had been sitting on his -shoulder hovered in the air above him making little squeaking noises. -He flew toward Johnny and then down an animal trail that led off toward -a diamond-wood grove. As Johnny leaned over to look at Rick the monkey -jumped from Johnny's head.</p> - -<p>Johnny stared down at Rick Saunders' face. His cheeks were flushed but -the rest of his face was grey. The little monkey sniffed the wounded -man and chattered something at Johnny. Then he, too, ran down the side -trail. When Johnny paid no attention, he came up to Johnny and plucked -his sleeve, chattering all the while. Johnny looked around. He thought -the monkey was drawing his attention to some antelope berries growing -down the path. Johnny clicked to the little red monkey to gather some. -When the red monkey returned, clutching a cluster of the large berries -in each tiny paw, Johnny took them and squeezed the clear red juice -into Rick's mouth.</p> - -<p>The man coughed and turned his face away. But gradually his eyes -opened. They were dull and feverish. His hand went to his shoulder and -he winced. In the few hours that had passed, his arm and shoulder had -already swollen a great deal. He raised his head. Johnny helped him to -his feet, but when he staggered, Johnny helped him lie down again on a -patch of grass by the antelope berry bush.</p> - -<p>"I can't go any farther, Johnny." Rick's voice was hoarse. "Those birds -must have some kind of poison on their beaks. That wound feels like -it's on fire."</p> - -<p>"It's not poison, Rick," Johnny explained. "They eat the meat fruit and -little pieces stick to their beaks. The pieces get rotten and infect -wounds bad." Johnny remembered that Rick was an Earthie and had been on -Venus barely a year.</p> - -<p>"There's only one thing to do," Johnny went on. "I'll have to light a -signal fire with lots of smoke. Somebody'll see us then."</p> - -<p>Rick shook his head slowly. "No, Johnny, it won't do. If those hunters -come they'll get you again and they're likely to finish me off. You -take the map and go on...." Rick's voice trailed away. He struggled to -sit up.</p> - -<p>Johnny stepped forward, wondering what was wrong. The monkey leaped off -his head and bounded into a tree. Slowly Rick raised his good arm and -pointed directly behind Johnny.</p> - -<p>Johnny turned. Staring at him through a bush was a coal black -sabre-toothed leopard, crouched to spring.</p> - -<p>"Friend-pet, go away!" Johnny clicked in the marva tongue. Oh, if Baba -were only here! The monkey chattered from a tree.</p> - -<p>"Go away! Go away!" Johnny repeated. Then he saw a second leopard. A -third. None of them was his friend, the mother leopard. These leopards -stood almost a foot higher and were solid black. Their sabre fangs were -a full foot long. These were deadly males, hunting in a pack.</p> - -<p>The one behind the bush gave a coughing growl. All three slinked slowly -toward Johnny and Rick on silent feet, their mouths half open, their -white teeth shining.</p> - -<p>"Go away, bother us not! Friend-pets, bother us not!" Johnny repeated. -The leopards moved smoothly forward, their steel-like muscles rippling -under the shining black fur.</p> - -<p>Frantically, Johnny turned to Rick, who was struggling to his feet.</p> - -<p>"They won't obey, Rick!"</p> - -<p>"Run, Johnny," Rick said. "Run for a tree!" Rick thrust the boy behind -him, but Johnny would not leave his friend. Rick turned, pulling -Johnny, and started to run.</p> - -<p>At the same moment a leopard sprang through the air, high over their -heads. A split second later he was in front of them, barring their way, -his gold eyes glistening, his fanged mouth giving forth a low growl. -The growl meant, "Come."</p> - -<p>Johnny looked about. Not four steps away was another of the lion-sized -cats. They were ringed around by the creatures. Johnny tried clicking -again, but they paid no attention.</p> - -<p>"My arm, Johnny!" Rick groaned. He ran his hand over a forehead which -was dripping sweat. Slowly his legs gave way and he fell in a heap -beside Johnny. The leopards moved closer, their mouths wide. The one in -front was getting so close that Johnny could feel its breath blowing -against his bare arm.</p> - -<p>Then it moved too fast for Johnny to follow. Johnny felt the great jaws -close around his middle, and he was hurled off his feet. Frantically he -beat at the big head. The jaws tightened, gripping him painfully. As -Johnny cried out in pain he saw the other two leopards leap upon Rick.</p> - -<p>A few seconds later Johnny was being carried down the path in the jaws -of the monster cat. The jaws had tightened no more than was necessary -to hold him firmly as the animal trotted along. From this strange -position Johnny witnessed an even stranger sight. Behind the leopard -carrying Johnny strode the two others. Side by side they walked, -dividing Rick Saunders' weight between them. One had its jaws about -Rick's arms and shoulders; the other held his hips and legs. They moved -along easily, their heads held high so that his feet would not drag on -the ground.</p> - -<p>Then Johnny saw that his arrow-bird friend was riding on the shoulder -of one of the leopards that was carrying Rick. He heard a chattering -noise, and knew that the little red monkey was close by.</p> - -<p>The leopards were taking them some place, but who could know where? -In his odd position Johnny could not tell even the direction they -were going. But soon they were in the patchwork shadow of a meat tree -forest. Here the leopards had their lairs. But they did not stop. They -went on and on. Johnny kept trying to watch the leopards which carried -Rick. Once in a while he could catch a glimpse of them, Rick's head -bobbing as they moved. He was still unconscious.</p> - -<p>Then Johnny heard a shout and a scuffling noise. The leopard carrying -him turned around. Rick was conscious. His head was turning about -wildly and he was yelling. His eyes lit on Johnny.</p> - -<p>"What's happening?" he all but screamed.</p> - -<p>"They're taking us somewhere," Johnny answered. "They haven't hurt me -yet."</p> - -<p>Rick was kicking his feet and struggling, making it hard for the -leopards to walk. Johnny could see their jaws tightening as Rick -struggled.</p> - -<p>"You better not fight, Rick," Johnny said. "You can't get away and -they'll just hurt you more. I'll tell them you won't fight if they'll -hold you easier." He clicked the message to the big cats. His own -leopard turned back up the trail, and he couldn't see what the other -leopards did. A few seconds later he heard Rick's voice.</p> - -<p>"You were right, Johnny. When I eased up they eased up, too." Then he -laughed in a strained way. "I wish they'd eat us right now and get it -over with."</p> - -<p>"Maybe they won't."</p> - -<p>They said no more. They were coming to the edge of the meat tree grove. -As was often the case, the last group of meat trees was beside a river. -Beyond was a diamond-wood grove. The three animals plunged into the -cool water, and soon were swimming, with Johnny's and Rick's heads held -well above the water. On the opposite bank they dived into the shadow -of the diamond-wood grove.</p> - -<p>As soon as they entered the grove Johnny was startled to see that there -were several antelope walking beside them. Then, suddenly, the little -red monkey he had rescued from Ed was squatting on the leopard's back. -Johnny heard a swishing sound almost under his head. By twisting hard -he could see the ground. There was a river snake crawling beside them. -Its ugly horned head was right beneath him. It was the first time he -had ever seen one.</p> - -<p>Then his heart leaped.</p> - -<p>He heard the clicking of the marva language. Johnny twisted his body -against the leopard's teeth, trying to see where the clicking was -coming from. The leopard growled, and Johnny lay still again.</p> - -<p>"Take the big killer to the healer," the voice clicked. "The little -killer take to the council." The clicks were somehow different from -Baba's, firmer and louder; but Johnny could understand them perfectly.</p> - -<p>Johnny caught sight of the two leopards carrying Rick. They were -turning down another path. The river snake and the antelope took the -same path. But Johnny's leopard went on forward. After a short time the -leopard stopped and very carefully opened its jaws and eased Johnny to -the ground. It turned and walked a few steps away. There it crouched.</p> - -<p>Johnny got slowly to his feet. The little red monkey jumped on his -head. The arrow-bird perched on his shoulder. In a clearing among the -diamond-wood trees Johnny stood in the center of a circle of jewel -bears, their blue nails glowing in the half light. All but one or -two were dark about the muzzle. They sat on their haunches, staring -straight at Johnny.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_FIFTEEN" id="CHAPTER_FIFTEEN">CHAPTER FIFTEEN</a><br /> -<small><i>A City in the Trees</i></small></h2> - - -<p>Except for faint animal sounds in the distance, there was silence in -the diamond-wood grove. More marva than any other person had ever seen -surrounded Johnny. Most of them were dark muzzled and very old. From -old Jeb's hunting tales Johnny knew that as a marva grows older the fur -about its muzzle darkens. A jewel bear with a black muzzle was a rare -thing. This was no ordinary group of marva, but a gathering of elders. -They seemed neither friendly nor unfriendly. They seemed to be waiting -patiently for Johnny to do something.</p> - -<p>"Hello," Johnny broke the silence, greeting them in their own clicking -language. "I am very glad to see you." Once started, Johnny had so much -to say the words fairly rushed from him. "Your leopards sure scared -us. Maybe you can tell me how to get to some people quick. Before it -knew we wouldn't hurt it, this arrow-bird wounded my friend and he's -very sick. And Baba's got caught again, and some bad men are trying to -get him. If you could help us get back to the colony, oh, I'd thank -you! Baba's a marva, you know, just like you and he's my best friend. -We tried to find you, but the outlaws captured me and Baba went home -because I'm his friend-pet-brother and he thought I'd be there. Rick -will die if you—"</p> - -<p>The torrent of words was cut short by a marva with a coal black -muzzle. He stood up and raised both furry blue paws for silence.</p> - -<p>"It was well reported that the little killer can speak our language," -he clicked, with a sound very like a human chuckle. "You speak well," -he clicked to Johnny, "but you speak too much at once." A ripple of -amusement passed over the faces of the jewel bears. Then they became -stern once more.</p> - -<p>"You must try to tell a little at a time," the old marva continued. -"But first, let me answer one of your questions, for I think you are -full of questions. The red-furred killer has been sent to the healers. -He will soon be treated. We heard of you and of the wound from our -friend-pets. You need not worry, little killer. Our healers have had -many wounds to deal with since your kind has been in the green lands."</p> - -<p>"You mean <i>you</i> will fix up my friend?" Johnny asked. "You have -doctors?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, little killer," the black muzzled one answered.</p> - -<p>"But he won't understand," Johnny said. "He wouldn't let any of you -touch him—not unless I talk to him."</p> - -<p>"Follow the leopard, then. He will take you to the healers. Then return -here." The black muzzled marva waved his paw and the leopard rose and -trotted off. Johnny ran beside him.</p> - -<p>In another clearing Johnny paused in amazement. It was filled with many -animals. He saw several rhinosaurs with great gaping ato-tube wounds. -A leopard with a cut on its shoulder lay whimpering before a marva, -who was squeezing the juice of some berries upon the cut. Fascinated, -Johnny watched as the marva sewed up the cut—a fine piece of marva -claw for his needle. The berry's juice must have killed the pain for -the leopard stopped whimpering and lay very still.</p> - -<p>Then Johnny saw Rick. He was lying on his back, but his eyes were open. -The two leopards were right beside him, their heavy paws holding him -down.</p> - -<p>"Rick!" Johnny called, running up to him.</p> - -<p>"Get away from here," Rick yelled. "There's a horned snake right beside -me. He'll kill us!"</p> - -<p>"No," Johnny answered. "If he'd wanted to, he could have done it long -ago. Rick, we're safe! The leopards brought you here to get your wound -fixed up." Then he clicked to the leopards, "Let him go. He won't run -away." He turned back to Rick. "I just told the leopards you won't run -away," he explained. "Just watch the marva over there."</p> - -<p>Unsteadily, Rick got to his feet. He quickly sat down again, overcome -by weakness and amazement. He had caught sight of the marva healers at -work. One was sewing up a rhinosaur. Another was splinting up the leg -of an antelope. Rick shook his head.</p> - -<p>"I'm dreaming," he said. "I must be!"</p> - -<p>"Isn't it wonderful!" Johnny said. "They're going to fix your wound, -too."</p> - -<p>The leopard beside him growled, in the way Johnny knew meant "come."</p> - -<p>"I gotta go now," Johnny said. "Goodbye, and don't worry. Let them do -what they want to."</p> - -<p>Johnny and the leopard made their way among the sick animals. Johnny -let out a cry of pleasure. There was his friend the leopardess. The -ato-tube burn was not a bad one, and it had already been treated. -She rose when she saw him. Though the big male leopard growled his -disapproval, Johnny ran over and patted her and her cubs before he went -on.</p> - -<p>"Is she a friend of yours?" Johnny was startled by the sudden -appearance of the black muzzled marva who had spoken to him earlier.</p> - -<p>"Yes, old one," Johnny answered respectfully.</p> - -<p>"Come!" the marva addressed the leopardess.</p> - -<p>The two leopards, the cubs, Johnny and the marva walked off together. -Soon Johnny was in the circle of marva again. This time he was over his -surprise and he tried to tell his story as clearly as he could. He was -beginning to get worried about the time that was passing, and he looked -at Rick's watch again and again. There was always the chance that the -outlaws would try to get Baba, even though they no longer had Johnny to -give in return. But he told his story as best he could.</p> - -<p>In spite of his worry, he had to explain all about men on Venus. He -even had to tell where men came from, since the jewel bears had never -seen stars or planets in their sky. He told about overcrowded Earth and -his father's desire to make a colony. He told about the hunters and -Trader Harkness. He told about his trip into the jungle and how the -outlaws had captured him, and, finally, of his escape with Rick into -the jungle.</p> - -<p>The group of marva listened carefully. Sometimes they nodded their -heads in approval of what he had done, and sometimes they seemed -puzzled. But they seemed more friendly when he had finished.</p> - -<p>When at last he came to a halt, the old marva who was acting as -spokesman for the group arose.</p> - -<p>"You say this young marva friend of yours is named Baba?" The old one -used the word in the clicking language for Baba's name.</p> - -<p>"Yes."</p> - -<p>"We have heard of him," the black muzzled marva clicked, "though he was -not of our grove. His mother and brother were killed. We have wondered -why he was not killed too, since your people feel we are your enemies. -Our observer on Council Rock has watched your people often, but has -seen little we can understand. Tell us why Baba was not killed at -first."</p> - -<p>"I already explained," Johnny said. "His teeth and claws were black. -Now they are blue and, of course, he's worth a lot of money."</p> - -<p>"What is this money?" the black muzzled one asked.</p> - -<p>Johnny was surprised. The word Baba used for money must not be a real -marva word. If only Baba was here to explain! Johnny tried the best he -could to explain how money works. The marva shook its head in wonder at -the strange ways of men.</p> - -<p>"But why do you want our claws and teeth?" the marva asked.</p> - -<p>"To make rings and plastic." But they understood neither the word -"ring" nor the word "plastic." Johnny had to explain that plastic was -the material that headglobes were made from. He explained also that -rings and jewelry were used for decoration.</p> - -<p>"And that is why we are killed on sight?" asked the marva.</p> - -<p>"Yes, old one." It made Johnny sad for himself, for the marva, and for -his people, to have to admit this.</p> - -<p>His answer caused a stir among the marva.</p> - -<p>"I have one more question," the old marva said. "Why did you come into -the jungle with the marva, Baba?"</p> - -<p>"He would have died or been killed otherwise, and he was my brother, or -like my brother. It was like the song he sang:</p> - -<div class="poetry"> - <div class="stanza"> - <div class="verse">"You help your friends</div> - <div class="verse">And your friends help you.</div> - <div class="verse">It is the law</div> - <div class="verse">And will be the law as the trees stand.</div> - <div class="verse">Between friend and friend there is no parting</div> - <div class="verse">More than the fingers of a hand."</div> -</div></div> - -<p>"We know the song," the marva said, gently. "But didn't you think -these—" the marva gestured at the leopards, "might kill you?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," Johnny said, "but I had to take the chance."</p> - -<p>They asked many more questions about men and their ways. Many were hard -for Johnny to answer or even to understand, but he tried very hard to -be as clear and truthful as possible. Finally they seemed satisfied, -and there was again silence in the diamond-wood grove.</p> - -<p>With a nod to Johnny the black muzzled marva led the rest of the jewel -bears away, and left Johnny and his animal friends alone. A short -distance away the marva again formed a circle and clicked together -quietly.</p> - -<p>Then they called over his friend, the leopardess, the red monkey and -the arrow-bird. They appeared to be asking them questions. Johnny, -left to himself, wondered what was happening. It was all very strange. -Rick's wrist watch said too much time had passed already.</p> - -<p>The black muzzled marva returned to Johnny.</p> - -<p>"Come with me," he clicked, and walked toward one of the great trees. -One of the younger jewel bears waited at the foot of the tree. "Grasp -him by the shoulders," the black muzzled marva directed Johnny, "and -hold tight." Johnny found he could ride easily on his back. The marva -started up the tree at a breathtaking speed. The full grown marva -climbed three times as fast as Baba could without anything on his back. -Down below them the black muzzled marva followed with the slow dignity -of age. Up and up they went, the full two hundred feet toward the sky. -Johnny looked down at the sick animals and the healers. They looked -very small now.</p> - -<p>Finally Johnny and the marva reached the branches. As they came up to -the first huge branch, it appeared to move slowly away from the trunk -of the tree, to reveal a large opening. The tip of the branch was -fastened to a branch above. Two huge snakes the color of the branch -were coiled about it. These snakes had pulled the branch from the -opening so that the marva and Johnny could enter. Johnny could see that -the branch had been hollowed out until it was fairly light.</p> - -<p>Once inside, Johnny's eyes were dazzled by light. The young marva -started back down the tree. In a few moments the black muzzled marva -was before Johnny again. He made a little bow.</p> - -<p>"Man child," he clicked, "welcome to the tree of Keetack, leader of the -council of this grove. May you have long life."</p> - -<p>"Thank you." It was the only thing Johnny could think of to say.</p> - -<p>Before him was a beautiful room. There were finely woven grass mats -upon the floor, and in places about the room piles of mats of soft blue -and delicate pinks made places to sit. The room was flooded with light -that came from directly over their heads. The walls were made of the -living wood of the tree carved with many scenes of Venus and colored to -make beautiful designs. Johnny looked up to see where the light came -from. He gasped.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus11.jpg" width="327" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Above them was a great cluster of marva teeth and claws, glowing with -light. When Keetack, the leader of the council, moved forward, the -light floated along the ceiling following him. Finally, Johnny realized -what the light was. It was a cluster of the large Venus fireflies. Each -clasped a marva claw in its tiny feet. As the insect glowed, the claw -multiplied the light. In the middle of the ceiling was a hive where the -fireflies lived. Johnny watched with wonder as the flies went back and -forth from hive to light.</p> - -<p>Keetack noticed Johnny's interest. "As one becomes tired," he said, -"another takes his place. We give them food and they give us light. Is -it not a good system?"</p> - -<p>Suddenly Johnny understood. "And the rhinosaurs protect you from the -sea beasts...."</p> - -<p>"And we help them when they are sick or hurt. We help take care of -their marshberries and see that they have food. All living things are -our friends but the killers of the sea."</p> - -<p>"Gee," said Johnny, "it's just perfect."</p> - -<p>The little bear appeared to laugh.</p> - -<p>"Hardly," he clicked. "We have our quarrels too, and many of our -friends sometimes forget."</p> - -<p>"That's right," Johnny said. "The monkeys sure didn't trust those -leopards until after we got here."</p> - -<p>"It is hard for many of them," Keetack went on. "I often wonder what -the rhinosaurs will do when there is nothing left to fight. We are -already beginning to make friends with the killers of the sea. Not long -ago the arrow-birds were killers, and it was only in the lifetime of -my great grandfather's great great grandfather's father that we made -friends with the river snakes, so that they, too, do as we advise them -to do."</p> - -<p>"You mean obey you?" Johnny asked.</p> - -<p>"In a way," Keetack answered, "most of the animals obey us."</p> - -<p>"But they don't obey your little ones!" Johnny was excited. "It's -only when your blue teeth come in and your voice gets deep that other -animals will obey you. Isn't that right?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," said Keetack. "We say a deep voice is a sign of the coming of -wisdom."</p> - -<p>"Then that's why the arrow-birds obeyed Baba and me?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," Keetack nodded. "Now would you like to see the remainder of our -tree?"</p> - -<p>"Please," Johnny answered politely. "It's a lot like the caves in New -Plymouth Rock."</p> - -<p>"Indeed so," said the marva leader. "Those caves served as a yearly -meeting place of the Council of All The Groves. No one tree was large -enough for all to live in while we talked together. Before your people -came to the green lands we had happy times there each year. Now we use -the rock only for watching you."</p> - -<p>"I'm sorry," Johnny said.</p> - -<p>"Come now," Keetack clicked. "I will show you the tree."</p> - -<p>Johnny would have been terribly excited by the suggestion if it hadn't -been for his fear that they were taking too much time.</p> - -<p>The whole upper part of the tree was honeycombed with rooms. Each level -was connected by a winding passage as in the caverns of New Plymouth -Rock. Each was lit in the same way. It was not Keetack's tree alone; -several marva families lived there together. As they entered each level -a marva would come forward and welcome Johnny. He was fascinated by the -little ones, who grinned at him just as Baba did.</p> - -<p>The marva cubs always came in twos: peeking around from the back of -the mothers were always two pairs of bright blue eyes. But one family -was different. Johnny and Keetack entered that level to the sound of -growling and tumbling and scratching. In the middle of the room a small -bear bounced hard on the floor and up to the ceiling where it clung -like a fly. Below it a coal black leopard cub growled in a way Johnny -understood. It was a pleading growl saying "Come."</p> - -<p>As soon as the baby bear hanging on the ceiling saw Johnny and Keetack -he dropped to the floor and stood with his arm around the black leopard -cub. A mother marva came rushing from another room.</p> - -<p>"I'm sorry my cubs were so rude," she clicked, "but you know how much -mischief one of ours and a friend-pet-brother can get into."</p> - -<p>"Of course," Keetack clicked. "This is the friend-pet-brother of one of -ours, so he will understand."</p> - -<p>"Oh, yes!" Johnny said. Then he looked over at the two cubs. The little -marva was still very small and had black claws. "He shows off just like -Baba used to," Johnny exclaimed. Johnny remembered the trouble his -mother had had with Baba's game of walking on the ceiling.</p> - -<p>With that they went on, but Johnny touched Keetack on the shoulder. -Though the bear was old, he came no more than to Johnny's shoulder.</p> - -<p>"The leopard cub was that marva cub's friend-pet-brother—just as Baba -is mine?" Johnny asked.</p> - -<p>For the first time the marva seemed to smile, opening his mouth wide as -Baba did when he grinned.</p> - -<p>"We would say <i>you</i> were <i>his</i> friend-pet-brother," the black muzzled -one clicked. "Perhaps it is better to say you are <i>friend-brothers</i>. It -is not strange. Many of us have had companions of another race."</p> - -<p>"But why is this?" Johnny asked eagerly.</p> - -<p>"You have seen that our cubs always come in pairs. The pair is almost -one until they are grown," Keetack explained. "If only one cub is born, -or one of a pair dies, we give the lone cub a friend-pet, a cub of -another race to grow up with him. They become brothers just as you and -Baba did. Without this the lone cub would die. Cubs need the love of a -brother as much as they need food. It is sometimes a very good thing, -for in this way our friends of the plains and the groves are knitted to -us with ties of very deep love."</p> - -<p>"Now I understand why Baba would never leave me," Johnny said. And then -he went on earnestly, "And you should understand why I've got to get -back to Baba in the colony. There may still be some way I can save him. -But I don't have much more time."</p> - -<p>"I can make no promise yet to let you go," Keetack said. "Still there -may be a way we can save your friend-brother and do something more -besides." He would say no more.</p> - -<p>Soon they were back in Keetack's rooms.</p> - -<p>"You will wait here," Keetack said.</p> - -<p>Johnny seated himself on one of the piles of mats and waited. He didn't -quite understand what was going on, but he wished Keetack would hurry. -He looked at Rick's watch. It had been twelve hours since he had spoken -to his father on Ed's radio telephone. He had only an Earth day and a -half to get to the settlement if he were to keep Baba out of Ed's hands.</p> - -<p>A few minutes later Keetack reentered the room, surrounded by some of -the furry bears who lived in his tree. "My friend," he clicked, "I have -a gift from the people of my tree to your people—those whom you say -are making a colony. It is a gift of friendship and a gift of peace. If -the Council of the Grove decides to let you go back, I hope you can use -these to pay for the life of your friend and brother, Baba." In his -hand the marva held a small package wrapped with woven rushes.</p> - -<p>"Thank you," Johnny said, and took the package.</p> - -<p>"You may unwrap it."</p> - -<p>Johnny folded back the stiff material, and gasped. In his hand glowed a -pile of marva claws—hundreds of them!</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_SIXTEEN" id="CHAPTER_SIXTEEN">CHAPTER SIXTEEN</a><br /> -<small><i>The Thunder of Rhinosaur Hooves</i></small></h2> - - -<p>A worried Johnny was standing in the center of the clearing once more, -surrounded by the little jewel bears. He now knew this was the grove -council, a group of the wisest bears of the grove. Keetack's gift to -Johnny had impressed them all. They knew it meant that Keetack trusted -Johnny. Yet they were cautious. Johnny's knowledge of them could be -very dangerous.</p> - -<p>"It is not right he should go," one of the marva was saying. His muzzle -was still blue, and Johnny knew this meant he was younger than the -rest. "The young killer will return to his people and tell of our ways -and of our houses in the trees. Then the older killers will come with -their death-spitting things and our lives will be gone. I think that we -should hold him here. Otherwise we risk the lives of our people."</p> - -<p>Johnny put up his hand as if he were in school. The marva, Keetack, of -the deep black muzzle, pointed at Johnny.</p> - -<p>"May I talk now?" Johnny asked. The marva nodded. "I won't tell -anything you don't want me to," he promised earnestly. "With these -claws I'm sure Baba can be saved, but I'm going to have to hurry. If -the outlaws get him they will kill him sure. Don't you understand?"</p> - -<p>"We understand," the old marva answered. "But we must be sure of safety -for us and our people. Your people are killers like the beasts of the -sea. You even kill each other. You are a strange people. Still you -risked your life for your friend Baba, just as Baba would risk his. -Your friend with the red fur risked his life to help you. Do you really -think that if your people knew all there is to know about us, they -would not come with the fire spitting things?"</p> - -<p>Johnny was silent. He knew Ed would come. He knew Trader Harkness -would, too. He swallowed, for lying to these little bears was something -he just couldn't do.</p> - -<p>"For those claws some of my people would do anything," he clicked in a -low voice.</p> - -<p>There was complete silence in the grove.</p> - -<p>The marva who was young and still blue furred about the muzzle stood -again. Johnny wanted to cry. He had condemned Baba to death, but if -he hadn't done so, maybe all the marva would be killed. He felt they, -too, were his brothers. He broke into sobs and stood there with tears -running down his cheeks.</p> - -<p>"We have heard our young friend," the blue-furred marva said. It was -the first time he had not called Johnny a killer. "He gave us the -truth because we have trusted him, and treated him with friendship. I -was wrong. He is to be trusted. Let him go from here with his gifts. -My tree, too, will send a gift. But let him promise to keep secret -anything he thinks may be dangerous to us." The marva seated himself.</p> - -<p>"Oh, I promise," Johnny said solemnly. "Cross my heart and hope to die."</p> - -<p>"It is agreed among us then?" Keetack asked the group. The furry heads -nodded their agreement. "Young friend, you may go. Your settlement is -three groves away from us. You may have a rhinosaur to ride. It will -take you home with time to spare. You go with a pledge of peace. We -will send messages ahead and no animals will attack you. Nor will any -of our friends attack any man unless he attacks first. You may tell -your people we will give them more claws for such things as we would -like from them. Every two years we marva get a new set of claws and -teeth. The old ones have been saved from generation to generation to -be used for lights and for tools. You may also tell the leaders of -your people we would like to meet with them. Perhaps we can make a -friendship that will endure!"</p> - -<p>Johnny had a busy hour ahead of him. First he ran to see Rick among -the sick animals in the other part of the grove. There was no question -of Rick's coming with him. He was still too sick from the arrow-bird's -wound, but he was definitely on the mend. He was lying under a -tree, petting the leopard cubs. Johnny told him what had happened, -carefully omitting where the marva lived, and Rick became more and more -interested. Finally Johnny showed him one of the packets of claws that -he had been given. By now the packets had grown to over a dozen, and he -had placed them in a bag made from his shirt.</p> - -<p>"Johnny," Rick said, "you've done a most wonderful thing! Those marva -don't have to worry about being hunted any more. If people can get so -many of those claws and teeth, no one will ever want to hunt for them -again. You tell them that, for me."</p> - -<p>Johnny rushed to give the news to the marva. The first one he found was -the young council member who had at first opposed letting him go.</p> - -<p>"It pays to trust one another," the marva said simply.</p> - -<p>Soon Johnny was ready. The leader of the council brought before him a -huge rhinosaur, one of the biggest Johnny had ever seen.</p> - -<p>"Skorkin knows he must obey you," Keetack said. "He will do anything -you ask, and will harm none of your people."</p> - -<p>"Hello, friend-pet," Johnny said.</p> - -<p>The rhinosaur turned and looked at him with his little blue-black eyes -and grunted a greeting. Johnny noted it. It probably meant "hello."</p> - -<p>"Was that his speech?" Johnny asked.</p> - -<p>"Yes," Keetack answered. "They have more words than the other creatures -of the green lands. Only the monkeys of all our friend-pets come near -to being as smart as they. They are a people, too, of great courage."</p> - -<p>"I know," Johnny said. He remembered the rhinosaur charge at the colony.</p> - -<p>At the mention of the word "monkey," the little red ape whom Johnny had -rescued from Ed began to chatter and jump up and down.</p> - -<p>"He likes you and wishes to go with you," Keetack said. "Do you want -him to?"</p> - -<p>"Oh, yes," Johnny answered. The monkey leaped to his shoulder. Johnny -suddenly had an idea. "Could the leopardess, her cubs, and the -arrow-bird come too?" he asked. "That is, if they want to?"</p> - -<p>Keetack understood what was in Johnny's mind and nodded his approval. -"It is a good idea," he clicked. "It would be a good way to prove to -your people that the animals can be friendly."</p> - -<p>The leopardess was suddenly beside Johnny, rubbing up against him like -a big cat. She looked up into his face and growled in the way that -Johnny knew meant "come."</p> - -<p>Johnny looked at the wrist watch. "We do have to hurry."</p> - -<p>He threw the bagful of the precious claws over his shoulder, and -stepped toward the rhinosaur. "How'm I going to get on?" he asked, with -sudden surprise.</p> - -<p>A series of grunts came from the rhinosaur, that sounded something like -laughter. Then it lay its horned snout upon the ground, and grunted -again.</p> - -<p>"Climb on," Keetack said.</p> - -<p>Grasping one of the long snout horns, Johnny climbed aboard his strange -mount.</p> - -<p>"Goodbye," he shouted. All around hundreds of the marva were hanging -from their trees. They waved and he waved back. "Let's go!" he clicked -to the rhinosaur.</p> - -<p>And so began the race through the jungle. The great rhinosaur moved -forward with thundering speed, the leopardess and her cubs loping -along beside them. When one of the cubs grew tired it leaped on to the -rhinosaur's back, curled up beside Johnny and went peacefully to sleep. -The arrow-bird perched on one of the beast's horns and the monkey -beside it. They did not stop for rain or rivers. Everywhere the jungle -seemed to have blossomed forth with animals, who waved and grunted, -growled, clicked, or sang greetings to them as they went past.</p> - -<p>The broad back of the rhinosaur was a perfect place to travel, Johnny -found. It swayed hardly as much as a helicopter and bounced much less -than a tank. It was not long until Johnny had followed the leopard -cub's example. He found a hollow in the big back, curled up and went to -sleep, lulled by the steady swinging movement and the thunder of the -rhinosaur's hooves.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Johnny woke with a start. The monkey was pulling on one of his ears; -they had reached the settlement. Johnny glanced down at his watch. He -had slept six hours.</p> - -<p>The rhinosaur had stopped right at the edge of the meat tree grove -that bordered the settlement. Through the screen of trees Johnny could -see the high grey walls. It was about half a mile to the gate. Johnny -wiped the sleep out of his eyes and puzzled as to the best way of -making his appearance.</p> - -<p>"Go that way," Johnny clicked, and pointed. "But stay where you can't -be seen from the walls." At a slow trot, the rhinosaur carried them to -a place directly in front of the gate to the settlement wall. Johnny -saw that the gate had been repaired. Beside it was a steel door through -which a single man could be admitted.</p> - -<p>"You wait here for me," he said to the animals. "Let me down, friend -rhinosaur." He tied his bag of claws to the rhinosaur's horn and then -walked down the huge head to the ground. The arrow-bird flew over and -lit on his shoulder. It had not understood. "Wait," Johnny repeated. -"Wait, I will come back."</p> - -<p>The rhinosaur wandered a few yards away and began to munch on some -bushes. The leopard growled to her cubs and began to climb a meat tree -in search of food. Johnny smiled. They were good friends to have.</p> - -<p>Johnny slipped through the bushes and trees until only one antelope -berry bush was between him and the wall. The guard tower was directly -in front of him. The men in the tower must have noticed the swaying of -the bushes, for they were looking directly toward the spot where Johnny -stood.</p> - -<p>Johnny slipped from behind the bush and stepped into full view. He -smiled and waved jauntily to the guards. As casually as he could he -started toward the door. Halfway there he began to skip for sheer joy. -The guards were staring at him open-mouthed. Obviously he had no armor -on. He had had to use his shirt to make the bag for the claws. The only -clothes he wore was the baggy pair of shorts Rick had made him.</p> - -<p>The steel door at the base of the guard tower opened at his touch. He -closed it carefully, opened the inner door and then climbed the stairs -to the guard tower, instead of going straight into the colony. There, -too, were double doors.</p> - -<p>"Hello," he said, as he entered.</p> - -<p>The three guards on duty were so surprised they couldn't speak for a -second. One of them was Old Jeb. Before they recovered, Johnny went up -to Jeb. "Would you call my father, Jeb, and tell him to come to the -gate?" It was funny to watch their faces.</p> - -<p>"Johnny, you're safe!" Jeb suddenly exploded. He swept the boy into his -arms and swung him about. He stopped, pushed the boy away from him, and -tousled his hair. "I can't believe it, but you're safe!"</p> - -<p>"Sure am," Johnny said, with a grin. Then he became serious. "How is -Baba? Is he all right?"</p> - -<p>"He's been kind of sad and upset, poor little feller," Jeb said. "But -how in thunder did you get here? Last we heard you were being held for -ransom. Your folks have been worried sick."</p> - -<p>"Oh, I got away from the outlaws and some friends brought me. Please -call everybody in the colony, will you? Tell them to come to the gate. -I have something important to show them. I've got to go back out to my -friends now. 'Bye." He started toward the door.</p> - -<p>"Friends! What friends?" Jeb called.</p> - -<p>"You'll find out," Johnny said, with a laugh.</p> - -<p>"Hey, you can't go outside without armor," one of the other guards -shouted. But Johnny had slipped out before he could be stopped. He took -the stairs at a run, and was out of the heavy steel wall doors before -the men could follow him.</p> - -<p>As he skipped across the open space back to the jungle, he turned his -head, waved to the men in the tower, and smiled.</p> - -<p>"Come back here, you little devil!" Jeb shouted through the loudspeaker -the guards used to guide tanks in.</p> - -<p>But Johnny shook his head and went back into the brush.</p> - -<p>Johnny waited for about ten minutes. All this time the loudspeaker in -the tower was shouting for Johnny to come back in. Finally the voice -changed. It was Johnny's father's voice.</p> - -<p>"Johnny," his father said over the speaker. "Come on in here! <i>Please!</i> -I'm here now. Johnny!"</p> - -<p>Johnny heard a tank starting up inside. He didn't want any tanks coming -after him.</p> - -<p>"Come on, friends," he clicked to the animals. He climbed back up on -the rhinosaur's back. The leopard came running up with her cubs. The -arrow-bird and the monkey, taking no chances, followed behind them, -leaped to its usual perch—the top of Johnny's head.</p> - -<p>"Let's go!" Johnny clicked to the rhinosaur. "Walk very slowly out -toward the big black place."</p> - -<p>Johnny clicked to one of the cubs to jump up on the rhinosaur's back -beside him. Johnny crawled to the broad head of the rhinosaur between -two of its horns. The leopard cub sat on its haunches beside him. The -mother leopard and the other cub ran alongside them. The rhinosaur's -hooves made muffled thunder as he walked.</p> - -<p>A big grin on his face, and waving his hand, Johnny emerged from the -jungle into full sight of his father, Jeb, and many others inside the -guard tower.</p> - -<p>"Stop when we get a little way from the door," Johnny said to the -rhinosaur. The big beast grunted its understanding.</p> - -<p>Johnny and his friends came to a halt close enough to the tower so that -Johnny's voice could be heard.</p> - -<p>"Open the gate, please," Johnny shouted. "We want to come inside." He -saw his father's startled face above him. "Hello, Dad. How's Mom? Did -she worry too much?"</p> - -<p>"Hello, son." His father's voice was shocked. "Your mother is all -right." He paused. "Where did you.... How did you...?"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus12.jpg" width="328" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"You mean the animals?" Johnny asked, rather enjoying the effect he -was making. "Oh, they're friends of mine. You can let us in. They won't -hurt anybody. I'm bringing a present to pay for Baba and make up for -all the harm we did. Look." He took a packet of the claws and opened -it. He let a handful of the claws run out of one hand into the other -in a shining blue waterfall. Through the microphone he could hear his -father and the other men gasp.</p> - -<p>"Come in here quick," Frederick Watson's voice came back over the -loudspeaker.</p> - -<p>"Open the gates, please," Johnny repeated.</p> - -<p>"But the rhinosaur! And the leopard!"</p> - -<p>"They're friends of mine. They brought me here. They won't hurt -anybody. I promise."</p> - -<p>The big steel gate slowly opened. Riding on the back of one of the -greatly feared rhinosaurs, Johnny entered the colony.</p> - -<p>It seemed that everyone in the colony had heard of Johnny's strange -return. Pioneers—men, women and children, hunters and guards—were -hurrying toward the big gate. At the sight of the rhinosaur, a woman -screamed and the crowd ran, scattering in all directions.</p> - -<p>Captain Thompson, two other colonists and a hunter held their ground, -their ato-tube pistols out.</p> - -<p>"Don't shoot! Don't shoot!" Johnny shouted. Beneath him the rhinosaur -trembled. "He won't hurt you. He's our friend." He stroked the -arrow-bird on his shoulder. "Look! Even an arrow-bird!"</p> - -<p>Slowly the ato-tube pistols that had been leveled at them were lowered. -Hesitantly, one or two of the people began to move back toward the -little group.</p> - -<p>A woman came running toward Johnny. It was his mother. Tears were -running down her face. Even she was finally stopped by the bewildering -sight of her son surrounded by jungle animals.</p> - -<p>"Let me down," Johnny clicked to the rhinosaur. The big animal lowered -his head. A cry went up from the people as the leopardess bounded after -him. Johnny threw his arms about his mother.</p> - -<p>"Oh, Johnny, Johnny!" his mother said over and over, holding him tight -against her armor. She stiffened as the mother leopard rubbed against -them and the arrow-bird lit, for a moment, on her shoulder.</p> - -<p>"Mother, I want you to meet my friends," Johnny said. "This is Mona, -the leopardess, and her two cubs, Pat and Mike. And this is Skimpy, -the monkey. I haven't named my arrow-bird yet." Then he spoke to the -animals. "This is my mother."</p> - -<p>Johnny's mother stood there a moment, too bewildered to speak. The -leopardess licked her hand. Then Johnny led his mother to the rhinosaur.</p> - -<p>"This is my friend Skorkin, the rhinosaur. He gave me a ride all the -way here. Isn't he beautiful?" Then he clicked to the rhinosaur, "This -is my mother."</p> - -<p>The huge creature grunted.</p> - -<p>"Skorkin said 'hello,'" Johnny said.</p> - -<p>Her eyes wide with the strangeness of it all, Johnny's mother nodded a -wordless greeting to the creature.</p> - -<p>Just then Johnny heard a sound he had been waiting for. It was the -sound of a basketball dropped from a height. He looked up to see Baba -bounding along as fast as he could come. Johnny was off at a dead run -to meet him, leaving his mother and the other animals behind.</p> - -<p>The two of them met at top speed, and they met with such impact that -both were tumbled to the ground in a heap of arms, legs, boy and bear. -Both of them were laughing when they got to their feet.</p> - -<p>"Oh, Baba, you bad little bear!" Johnny said. "I thought I'd never see -you again!"</p> - -<p>"And I!" Baba said.</p> - -<p>"You shouldn't have come back here!" Johnny said. "I'll have to punish -you right now!" He grabbed Baba suddenly by the leg, whirled him around -and around above his head and threw him as high as he could in the -air. Throwing his arms around as if frightened to death, the little -bear whimpered and clicked. But just before he hit the ground he made -himself into a ball, and bounced higher than Johnny had thrown him. -Then, on the third bounce, he landed lightly on Johnny's shoulder.</p> - -<p>Their delight was cut short by the sight of a fat bald man who -glittered as he walked toward the crowd. For an instant Johnny was -afraid. It was Trader Harkness. Then he remembered—the trader's days -of power were over.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Harkness," he called, "I've got something to show you."</p> - -<p>"They said you had claws." The trader's little black eyes fixed their -gaze on Johnny.</p> - -<p>"Come on, I'll show everybody."</p> - -<p>The crowd parted for Johnny and Baba and the trader. By this time -almost all the colonists and visiting hunters were gathered around the -rhinosaur and the leopards. A few bold souls were timidly petting the -cubs. Probably of most interest was the arrow-bird. Tired from all -its riding, it had put its head under its wing and gone fast asleep, -perched on the rhinosaur's horn.</p> - -<p>Johnny took the bag he had made from the shirt down from where it hung -beside the arrow-bird. He untied it, revealing the many packets made -from woven rushes. Packet after packet, he spilled the claws out on to -the shirt until there was a great pile of jewels glowing before the -people.</p> - -<p>"Where did you get them?" Trader Harkness' voice rumbled. He was -shocked and pale.</p> - -<p>"The marva themselves gave them to me for the colony," Johnny replied. -"It's a sign that they and all the animals want to be our friends."</p> - -<p>The trader forced his eyes away from the pile of jewels and looked over -his shoulder. Johnny was suddenly conscious of three hunters standing -behind the trader. Ed and his gang!</p> - -<p>"I'll take those claws now," the trader said. The gang whipped out -their ato-tubes and leveled them at Johnny and Baba.</p> - -<p>The crowd gasped and then fell silent. Johnny's father stepped up, but -one of the hunters waved him back with his gun. Johnny saw he'd been -wrong. There was plenty of fight left in the trader. He glanced around -him; the animals had become very still, waiting his word.</p> - -<p>"Friends," Johnny clicked, "stay still. This man is a killer."</p> - -<p>Skorkin, the rhinosaur, snorted. The arrow-bird awoke and snapped its -head into arrow position. The monkey bared its teeth, while Mona, the -leopardess, crouched to spring, the muscles of her haunches trembling.</p> - -<p>Johnny saw the trader's eyes widen. The leopard was not three feet away -from him. Thinking fast, Johnny stepped carefully over and put a hand -on the leopard's shoulder.</p> - -<p>"I wouldn't move, Mr. Harkness," Johnny said, his voice quavering in -spite of himself. "If you don't tell your gang to give their guns to -Captain Thompson, I'll tell the animals to charge. Maybe Ed told you -what I made the monkey do?" Johnny's heart raced. It was a bluff. He -couldn't tell the animals to charge. He knew they might be killed. No -amount of claws would be worth that.</p> - -<p>The trader's eyes were fixed on Mona. Then Skorkin snorted again, eager -to fight.</p> - -<p>The trader turned brick red. "Do what the kid says," he said in a low, -strangled voice. The ato-tube in Ed's hand wavered and then came down.</p> - -<p>There was a deep sigh of relief from the crowd.</p> - -<p>Grimly and quietly, Captain Thompson gathered up the guns. "All right, -you men," he said, "there's a room ready for you at the stockade."</p> - -<p>The fight was really gone from the trader now. His shoulders slumped, -his head down, he shuffled as he was led away.</p> - -<p>Johnny's father stepped forward and embraced him.</p> - -<p>"I don't understand how you did it, Johnny," he said. "I don't -understand anything about it. But this is certainly a wonderful day!"</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="CHAPTER_SEVENTEEN" id="CHAPTER_SEVENTEEN">CHAPTER SEVENTEEN</a><br /> -<small><i>Teachers Can't Play Hookey</i></small></h2> - - -<p>It was now an hour after the Earth rocket had blasted off on its way -back to Earth. Johnny Watson lay on his stomach with his chin cupped -in his hands and looked down from the top of New Plymouth Rock. Beside -him, twisted into the same position, was his friend Baba, his blue -nails glowing in Venus' pearly light. Near the two friends, perched on -a boulder, were two of the large Venus eagles, watching every move they -made.</p> - -<p>How changed it all was down in the settlement! People were streaming -back from the rocket field on foot and without armor. Beside the -Jenkins family strode Mona, the leopardess, carrying a basket in her -mouth. In the basket the Jenkins' baby slept. Mona just loved babies. -Down in the marshberry fields three rhinosaurs peacefully browsed. -There were so many berries available now in the sea marshes that no -one had to worry about the few in the fields. The marva had left these -three rhinosaurs to carry people wherever they might want to go.</p> - -<p>High in the sky was a faint dot. Baba nudged Johnny and pointed.</p> - -<p>"Here comes Keetack," he said in his clicking language. "We'll have to -go down pretty soon."</p> - -<p>"I suppose so," Johnny said wearily.</p> - -<p>It had been fun for a while being the only person who understood the -marva language. When Dad and the other colonists had gone into the -jungle to talk with the council of all the marva groves, Johnny and -Baba had been there too—the center of attention. When the men spoke, -Baba told the marva what they meant. When the marva spoke, Johnny -had to tell the men what the bears meant. It had been fun being so -important. It had been fun being treated like heroes, but they were -already tired of it. With their new freedom to travel, there was a -whole continent to explore, and hundreds of new friends to make.</p> - -<p>Idly, Johnny watched the dot, that Baba said was Keetack, grow into -a bird with a twenty-foot wing spread flying through the sky. In -its claws was a small black-muzzled bouncing bear. Baba's eyes were -magically good. The bird was a Venus eagle—the marva's airplane. -Before men had come and made it dangerous for them, the marva had flown -anywhere they wanted to go in the talons of these great birds. Johnny -knew that the earliest hunters thought the eagles were preying upon the -bears. It was just one more surprising thing about the little bears. -Johnny remembered what Rick had said when he had arrived home, his -wound all healed. He had really grown to respect the marva.</p> - -<p>"They have learned to live with other creatures, and have taught all -their friends, as they call the animals, to live in peace together. The -meat eaters have their meat trees so they don't need to attack other -animals—it's amazing," Rick reported.</p> - -<p>Johnny remembered how Baba had preened himself when Rick had spoken -that way, and he smiled.</p> - -<p>"Hey, Baba," Johnny said, "how soon do you think we could take a trip -all around the groves? We could get Skorkin to carry us, and go visit -everybody."</p> - -<p>"You will have to come stay with my people," Baba said. Only a few days -before Baba had discovered a host of aunts, uncles and cousins in one -of the outlying groves. Most important of all he had found his father. -"I've lived with you for years and years. Now it should be your turn."</p> - -<p>"Oh, good," said Johnny. "We'll do it, soon as they'll let us go."</p> - -<p>"Look, Johnny," Baba pointed. "Look at the trader!"</p> - -<p>Below, the fat bald-headed little man, a pack on his back, was heading -into the jungle. He waddled as he walked, but he moved straight along.</p> - -<p>"Where's he going?" Baba asked.</p> - -<p>"Dad says he's going to start a marshberry farm—if the marva will let -him. But, gosh, it'll be a long time before anyone will help him."</p> - -<p>"He can always live on meat fruit and stuff," Baba said. "Nobody likes -him, but they won't bother him if he leaves them alone."</p> - -<p>What had happened to the trader and to the outlaws was the strangest -thing of all. The marva had not wanted them punished. They said they -wanted to make friends, not enemies.</p> - -<p>The thousands of marva claws that had been given to the colony had made -the claws quite cheap, so that Trader Harkness had become a poor man; -he had been rich in hunting equipment and hunting lodges—now all these -things were valueless. Surprisingly, he had refused to return to Earth.</p> - -<p>"Venus is my home," he had said flatly. "I'll get by."</p> - -<p>Johnny had to admire his courage, just as he had to admire some of the -hunters who would not stay on Venus. These lean hard-bitten men were -going further on into space.</p> - -<p>To Johnny's surprise Keetack admired the hunters, too. "They are -fighters, like the rhinosaurs. Here there is nothing left to fight. -They are people of much courage."</p> - -<p>Looking down on the trader, Johnny found he couldn't help feeling sorry -for him.</p> - -<p>"Goodbye," he yelled, his voice echoing among the rocks. "Goodbye, -Trader."</p> - -<p>The fat man looked up and waved back. Johnny thought he smiled.</p> - -<p>"He was a real pioneer," Johnny said.</p> - -<p>"Yes," Baba answered, "he'll be all right."</p> - -<p>Johnny jumped back suddenly from the edge of the rock and hid behind -some bushes. "Here comes Mom, looking for us!"</p> - -<p>Baba quickly dived back out of sight too.</p> - -<p>Johnny peeked through the screening of bushes. His mother was riding -toward the rock on Skorkin, the rhinosaur! This hideout was not very -secret. Everybody on Venus knew about it. He stood up, and waved down -to her.</p> - -<p>"I'm coming, Mother," he shouted.</p> - -<p>His mother nodded and the big rhinosaur turned back toward the -settlement.</p> - -<p>In a few minutes Baba and Johnny would be back in school, sitting in -front of a group of men and a group of marva. Baba would be teaching -the marva how to understand the talk of people, while Johnny taught the -men and women how to talk and understand the language of the marva. It -was a hard job.</p> - -<p>"I guess we gotta go back!" Johnny mourned.</p> - -<p>"I guess so!" Baba agreed sadly.</p> - -<p>"There is only one trouble with being a teacher," said Johnny. -"Teachers just can't play hookey." Then he grinned. "Say, I've got an -idea!"</p> - -<p>"What?" asked Baba.</p> - -<p>"Mom hasn't been doing her homework. Let's give a test today!"</p> - -<p>Baba slapped his furry haunches, his blue teeth glowing.</p> - -<p>"Let's go!" Johnny clicked to the two eagles. He ran as hard as he -could and leaped off the edge of the high cliff, hurtling down and -down. Right after him, Baba jumped, too.</p> - -<p>There was the sound of great wings, and the two tremendous Venus eagles -swept after them. One dived at Johnny, its claws spread. The long -powerful claws hooked into Johnny's belt and whisked him through the -air toward the settlement. The other grasped Baba by the shoulders. -Together the two friends flew on.</p> - -<p>"That was fun!" said Johnny.</p> - -<p>His furry blue pal nodded his agreement.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> -<h2><a name="Facts_About_Venus" id="Facts_About_Venus">Facts About Venus</a><br /> -<small>An Afterword for Curious Boys and Girls (As well as Parents, Teachers -and Librarians)</small></h2> - - -<p>"Daddy, is this what Venus is really like?" demanded Blake, my -eleven-year-old son. He had just finished reading my manuscript.</p> - -<p>I have an idea that among my readers there may be other curious boys -and girls who might ask the same question my son did. This was my -answer:</p> - -<p>The job of a science fiction writer, I think, is to spin out tales -about other times and strange planets, using known facts as beginning -points, and without violating any known facts. In <i>Venus Boy</i> I have -tried to do this. I think I have created a picture of life on the -surface of Venus that is possible, if just barely possible.</p> - -<p>In addition to being a story teller, I am a librarian, and librarians -love to keep their facts straight. The fact about Venus is that nobody -knows just what it is like on the surface of the planet. Since nobody -knows, I could make it all up.</p> - -<p>Many facts <i>are</i> known about Venus, however. Venus is the Sun's -second planet. It is about twenty-five million miles closer to the -Sun than our Earth. Astronomers have measured and "weighed" it. It -is almost exactly the same size as Earth, but its weight (mass) is -twenty per cent less. It turns very slowly on its axis, so that its day -is much longer than an Earth day. Because of a layer of clouds that -surrounds it, the surface cannot be seen even with the most powerful -of telescopes. Thus, astronomers cannot tell just how fast or slow it -turns. A Venus day may be as short as fourteen Earth days or as long as -two hundred and twenty-five Earth days.</p> - -<p>If you noticed, you can see I have kept my picture of life on Venus -true to these facts. I had the Venus day be fourteen Earth days long. -Some of the animals and plants were a great deal larger than Earth -animals and plants, a fact that would be expected on a planet with less -gravity than that of Earth.</p> - -<p>Of course you might think that because of the clouds that surround -Venus, the planet would be a terribly rainy place. That is not very -probable. By using an instrument called a spectrograph, astronomers -have learned that those heavy clouds are not clouds of water vapor. -Indeed, they can find evidence for little or no water vapor on Venus. -They can detect a great deal of carbon dioxide—but no oxygen.</p> - -<p>"But without oxygen, animals couldn't breathe!" I can hear a child who -knows some science say. "Life would be impossible!"</p> - -<p>That could be true. Some scientists, in fact most of them, believe -that life <i>is</i> impossible on the surface of Venus. But remember, nobody -knows what is under that heavy layer of clouds, and nobody knows just -what those clouds are.</p> - -<p>One astronomer, Rupert Wildt, has advanced a theory about the Venusian -clouds that, I think, would allow for the possibility of life on Venus. -He theorized, on the evidence available to him, that, when Venus was -young, carbon-dioxide and water, in the presence of ultra-violet light, -may have combined to make clouds of one form of plastic! I think it -possible that such clouds would be thick, spongy and permanent, and -that they would join together, so that the inner atmosphere of Venus -could not escape through them. According to his theory Venus could be -like a Christmas present—all wrapped in shining plastic. This could -account for the fact, too, that more than half the light falling on it -from the sun is reflected, making it the brightest of all the planets -or stars, a jewel of a planet.</p> - -<p>Under a loose layer of plastic, life could be possible on Venus. If -plant life began under those clouds, then an oxygen atmosphere could -develop. Plants take in carbon dioxide through their leaves and give -out oxygen. Many scientists believe the Earth's atmosphere became rich -with oxygen in this manner. Of course, none of that oxygen in Venus' -atmosphere could get through the thick layer of spongy plastic clouds. -The carbon dioxide that was trapped on the outside would not get -through either.</p> - -<p>Scientists believe, too, that Venus may be too hot for life, or too -cold. I think that the clouds and the carbon dioxide trapped outside of -them would serve, on the one hand, to insulate Venus from the hot light -of the nearby sun; and, on the other hand, to hold in its warmth during -the long nights.</p> - -<p>As you can see, I have spun my story out of Mr. Wildt's idea of the -plastic clouds of Venus. The rhinosaurs heavy armor, the arrow-bird's -bills, the marva's plastic-strengthening jewel claws, all had their -beginnings in the idea of a plastic planet. It allowed for the creation -of some fairly interesting animals, I think.</p> - -<p>While I am on the subject of my animals, I should say a word about the -possibility of animals cooperating the way I have had my Venus animals -cooperate. That, I think, is perfectly possible. On Earth one can find -examples of several creatures living so closely together that if one -kind is killed off the others would all die. In many articles and books -Mr. Ashley Montague has amassed much evidence that shows an instinct -for cooperation is as primary as the instinct of self-preservation. If -we grant the idea of a creature whose intelligence is directed entirely -toward surviving by cooperation, then I think my cooperative animals -are, at the very least, possible.</p> - -<p>Possible! That is what I hope my picture of life on Venus is. However, -it must be remembered that it is only <i>just</i> possible. Astronomers -have envisioned Venus as a planet of terrible dust storms, with a -temperature hot enough to boil water. They have spoken of it as a -place of seas of formaldehyde, hot and terrible by day, and freezing -cold at night. Their guesses are probably better than mine. But I must -admit I like my guess a little better. I hope you have enjoyed it.</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Venus Boy, by Lee Sutton - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VENUS BOY *** - -***** This file should be named 50702-h.htm or 50702-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/0/7/0/50702/ - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Venus Boy - -Author: Lee Sutton - -Release Date: December 15, 2015 [EBook #50702] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VENUS BOY *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - Venus Boy - - BY LEE SUTTON - - Illustrated by Richard Floethe - - LOTHROP, LEE & SHEPARD CO., INC. - NEW YORK - - Copyright, 1955, by Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Co., Inc. - - Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 54-7882 - - Printed in the U.S.A. - - All rights reserved - - [Transcriber's Note: Extensive research did not uncover any - evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - - - - To Mildred and Blake - - - - - "Everything that lives is Holy." - --OLD MARVA SAYING. - - - - -_A Hero of Venus_ - - -If you ever make a trip to the green planet of Venus, the first thing -you'll see will be the fifty-foot high statue of Venus' greatest hero. -It stands on the very top of towering New Plymouth Rock at the edge of -the old colony of New Plymouth. Even from the rocket cradle, anyone -can tell that the statue is of a twelve-year-old boy smiling up at the -Venusian jewel bear perched on his shoulder. Cut into the huge rock -below the statue are the words, - - "Virgil Dare (Johnny) Watson - And the Marva, Baba. - May their Friendship Endure!" - -Virgil Dare Watson, called Johnny by his friends, was the first human -being born on Venus. He was named after Virginia Dare, the first -pioneer child born in North America, and for a long time he was the -only child on all Venus. And that would have been a lonely thing to be -if it had not been for Baba. Baba, the bear, was not only Johnny's pet, -but his best friend, too, and the only one who knew about his three -secrets. - -Because of these secrets, Johnny got himself, his jewel bear, Baba, and -the whole colony of New Plymouth into desperate trouble. And because -of these secrets, he also became a hero worthy of a statue--Venus' -greatest hero. - - - - - Contents - - - I THE FIRST TWO SECRETS 1 - - II THE TREASURE OF VENUS 9 - - III A DANGEROUS TARGET 18 - - IV THE THIRD SECRET 25 - - V A MYSTERY INDEED! 34 - - VI INSIDE NEW PLYMOUTH 45 - - VII THE RHINOSAUR STAMPEDE 54 - - VIII ONE SECRET IS REVEALED! 66 - - IX THE PRICE OF A BROTHER 71 - - X ALONE IN THE JUNGLE 81 - - XI THE FRIENDS ARE SEPARATED 97 - - XII THE PRICE OF A BOY 107 - - XIII OUTWITTING THE OUTLAWS 116 - - XIV CAPTURED! 129 - - XV A CITY IN THE TREES 140 - - XVI THE THUNDER OF RHINOSAUR HOOVES 155 - - XVII TEACHERS CAN'T PLAY HOOKEY 172 - - FACTS ABOUT VENUS 178 - - - - -CHAPTER ONE - -_The First Two Secrets_ - - -It was rocket day on Venus!--the day the yearly rocket from Earth -arrived, and it was like Christmas, Fourth of July and your birthday -all rolled into one! - -In the windowless, one-room New Plymouth school, Johnny Watson, a -stocky twelve-year-old, sat toward the back of the room, a big Venus -geography propped up in front of him. Johnny was supposed to be -studying. Every time Mrs. Hadley, the teacher, glanced his way, a page -of the book slowly turned. The teacher was much too busy with the half -dozen squirming, excited first graders to notice that a small black paw -fastened to a furry blue arm was really turning the pages. - -On Johnny's lap sat Baba, a perky-faced little blue bear with stand-up -ears and bright blue eyes. To fool the teacher, the little bear, his -eyes twinkling, flipped the pages one by one. - -"We gotta do something quick, Baba!" Johnny whispered to his bouncing, -jewel bear cub in a tight worried voice. "It's only two hours till -school's out." - -The little bear peered over at the clock on the wall. He lay a tiny -black paw on his blue button nose and cocked his head as if he were -trying to tell the time. - -When school was out everyone would go to the rocket field. Johnny knew -that above all, he and his bouncing bear must not be there! Why Johnny -and Baba dared not go was one of Johnny's three secrets. - -There was only one thing to do, Johnny thought. He would have to behave -so badly that as punishment he would be forbidden to go. - -"Nudge me when Mrs. Hadley turns around," Johnny whispered. "We're -gonna get out of here!" - -The little bear shoved his furry blue snout around the geography and -peered from behind it. His bright eyes followed every move the teacher -made. - -The instant Mrs. Hadley turned to write on the blackboard Baba gave the -boy a kick. Johnny slipped down on to his hands and knees in the aisle -and Baba hopped upon his back. Rapidly and silently Johnny crawled -toward the armor room. Behind him a little girl kindergartner began to -giggle. - -"Look at the horsie!" she yelled. - -Johnny heard the teacher call, "Quiet, children!" The little girl -giggled louder. But he hadn't been seen! He scurried into the armor -room. - -As Johnny jumped to his feet and grabbed for his suit of rhinosaur-hide -armor, Baba leaped toward the wall and hooked his claws into the -concrete. Then he scurried straight up the wall like a fly and snatched -up Johnny's headglobe in his tiny black paws. While Johnny wriggled -into the armor Baba fitted the headglobe over the boy's tow head. - -Without waiting to zip up, Johnny started toward the door. Baba jumped -from the headglobe shelf and landed on his shoulder with a smack. The -boy's hand was scarcely on the latch when the teacher turned around, -her mouth making an O of surprise. Quickly, Johnny jerked open the door -and dashed through, slamming it closed. There was a space of a few feet -and then another door. Holding the second door open, Johnny snapped -tight his headglobe, while Baba's small fingers pushed and pulled at -the zippers fastening the armor. Both of them scanned the sky. - -No arrow-birds. - -Johnny grabbed a stone from beside the step and wedged it in the outer -door so it could not close. To keep out these murderous flying lizards, -all buildings were windowless and had double doors. When one door was -open the other automatically locked. - -"Johnny, Johnny! You come right back in here!" a muffled voice called. -Johnny sighed regretfully as he slipped out of the schoolhouse into the -pearly green light of Venus. - -Baba on his shoulder, he started out at a dead run through the -collection of windowless buildings that made up colony headquarters. -The two had barely made it to the foot of a tall heavily leafed tree -when the door of the main headquarters building began to open. - -"Up the meat tree!" Johnny yelled. - -Baba leaped from Johnny's shoulder and rolled himself into a furry blue -ball as he fell. The little bear smacked the ground with the sound of -a bouncing basketball and bounced high into the air! At the top of his -bounce his arms and legs shot out; he hooked his claws into the trunk -half way up the meat tree. Baba wasn't called a bouncing bear for -nothing! - -Johnny jumped for the nearest branch. Weighed down by his arrow-bird -armor, he was slow pulling himself up--too slow. Baba scurried down the -trunk like a squirrel, his claws scattering bits of bark on Johnny. -Hanging on with three paws he reached out and hooked his claws into -Johnny's armor. One pull from that tiny but powerful arm and Johnny was -sitting on the branch. From there up it was easy. The branches made a -perfect ladder. Soon they were entirely surrounded by green shadowy -leaves. - -Johnny carefully pushed aside a green fruit the size of a cantaloup and -looked out. Striding across the dusty road came a tall man in headglobe -and black armor--Captain Thompson of the colony guard. The teacher must -have phoned for help. The man's square face was set in anger as he -kicked the rock away from the schoolhouse door. The teacher stepped out -and Johnny could hear their angry voices. - -After a moment Mrs. Hadley went back inside and the guard captain -strode purposefully away toward Mayor Watson's office. - -Sitting on a branch swinging his legs, Baba winked a shiny blue eye. He -reached over and patted Johnny on the spot where the boy was likely to -pay for his pranks. - -"I think we've done it this time," Johnny whispered. "I hope it's not -just another spanking." Johnny spoke with deep feeling. He had had -three spankings in three days. - -The little bear looked sadly down his blue muzzle and made an odd deep -clicking noise in the back of his throat. - -"Sure," Johnny said, as if answering the bear's clicks, "I want to go -to the planet-fall, but we just can't." - -The bear clicked again. - -"I know," Johnny went on, "I know the earthies would give you -chocolate. Besides I was going to have a job." Johnny's eyes began to -shine with tears he wouldn't let come. For the first time he would have -been working on the rocket field with the men instead of being on the -sidelines watching with the women and little kids. - -The little bear patted him on the shoulder and clicked in low tones. - -"All right, I won't be sad if you won't." Johnny shook the tears away -and tried to make a joke. "Gosh, Baba, you talk funny since _you know -what_." Johnny screwed up his face. "You're such a mushmouth now I can -hardly understand what you say." - -Baba stuck out his long blue tongue. - -This was Johnny's first secret. His little bear could talk! - -Baba's clicks were really the words of his own language. Although he -couldn't make the sounds of the human voice, he could understand people -perfectly. Johnny could both understand what the bear said and speak in -the same clicking language. - -This hadn't started out to be a secret at all. As a little boy, Johnny -thought everyone knew that those clicks were Baba's words. When Baba -came to live with him, the little bear cub already knew his own -language, but Johnny was just learning to talk. He learned human words -and click words at the same time, and thought everyone understood them. -When he was almost five, Johnny discovered to his amazement that no one -understood Baba but him. He then went proudly spreading the news that -he and his bear could talk together. When the first person laughed, -Johnny didn't mind. But when everybody laughed at him he began to get a -little mad. The crowning insult was being spanked for lying. - -After that, Johnny decided if telling grownups that Baba could talk -only got him licked and laughed at, it might as well be a secret. -Besides, it was fun keeping it secret. - -After a few minutes of waiting, Baba scurried along a branch and hung -by his black claws while he thrust his blue button nose through the -twigs and leaves. Johnny followed along another branch. - -"Looks clear," Baba clicked. "Let's go!" - -"Wait a minute." A quick movement in the distance caught Johnny's eye. -Four men came out of a long grey building marked Hunters Hotel. - -Johnny was instantly alert. Colonists always kept a sharp eye on such -men. These were the dangerous marva hunters, whose only law was an -ato-tube gun. - -Johnny swung to a branch where he could see better. - -"What's up?" Baba clicked. - -"Hunters!" clicked Johnny. "They're watching the guard change at the -old stockade." - -"Oh." - -The two looked at each other. Both knew what was in the stockade, -locked away in the big safe. Marva teeth and claws. Jewel claws and -teeth from grown-up bears just like the cub Baba! - -"Come on, Baba." Johnny shinnied back to a place where branches forked -from the trunk of the meat tree. "We'd better check your nails 'fore we -go down." - -After making sure no arrow-birds were feeding on the meat fruit, he -undid one of his armor zippers and pulled a bottle of black liquid and -a small brush from an inside pocket. Baba plopped down on his lap. - -"Smile," Johnny commanded. - -Baba pulled back his lips, showing black teeth. Johnny looked at them -carefully, grunted, and then picked up one of the little bear's paws. -All the nails seemed perfectly black, but on the tip of one of them -there sparkled a point of bright blue. - -"Dang it, we gotta find something better than this nail polish. A -little climbing and it's all scraped off." Johnny scowled and dipped -the little brush in the bottle of black liquid. Carefully he painted -the tip of the claw. Looking over the little bear's paws he found four -more claws that showed blue. He painted them, too. - -"Now don't climb down when we go, Baba! When the polish is dry, jump." - -The little bear nodded. - -This was Johnny's second secret. Everyone thought Baba still had his -valueless black baby claws and teeth. But, under the coating of black -nail polish, each of Baba's claws was really a precious blue jewel. - -Johnny Watson owned a million dollar pet! - - - - -CHAPTER TWO - -_The Treasure of Venus_ - - -Yes, a million dollars, maybe even more, and all for one little bear! - -Johnny sighed shakily at the thought and hugged his bear to him. - -"What's the matter, Johnny?" Baba clicked, waving his claws to dry -them, like a lady getting ready for a party. - -"You know," Johnny said, "I was just wishing for the good old days when -you had your baby black nails and your pretty squeaky voice, and we -didn't have to be afraid of anything." - -"I'm sorry," Baba clicked. "I couldn't help it. I just grew." Baba -looked so sorrowfully down his nose that Johnny laughed, swung the -little bear up above his head and sat him down on a branch. - -"You're a silly," Johnny said. "I know you couldn't help it. I was just -wishing." - -Most of all he was wishing that bouncing bears didn't have jewels for -claws at all. But he knew that was a silly wish, too. - -Grabbing a branch, Johnny swung himself back to a spot where he could -see the hunters. As he watched, more were arriving. About a mile away a -battered hunting tank came lumbering through the sliding doors of the -fifty-foot high concrete wall surrounding the colony. Outside those -walls, Johnny knew, lay the murderous animal life of the jungle planet. - -Every living thing on Venus attacked men. Not just the huge rhinosaurs -and the horned river snakes, but even tiny scarlet apes and pigmy -antelope. Johnny knew the colonists and hunters would never have come -to such a savage place at all without the lure of tremendous wealth to -be made from bouncing bears' claws. - -Harder than diamonds and just as clear, these magical jewels shone -soft blue in the night and were blindingly bright in the sun. But that -wasn't the only reason claws were valuable. A tiny piece of claw, or -even of the duller teeth, melted in thousands of tons of plastic, made -that plastic tough enough to be used for the hulls of rocket ships. Men -called it marvaplast. - -With such a treasure beckoning, man could not stay away from Venus. -Rockets came hurtling across space filled with hunters. Traders -followed. After the traders came the colonists, led by Johnny's father -and mother. - -Johnny sighed again. - -"Don't be so sad," Baba clicked. "We've been real lucky so far." - -"I suppose so." Johnny had to admit they'd both been lucky. Baba had -been lucky not to be killed as his mother and brother had been. And -Johnny had been lucky to get Baba at all. If there had been any other -way of raising the bear until his black baby claws turned blue, Johnny -never would have gotten him. All other young marva that had been -captured had died. They refused to eat or drink. They simply squatted -down and whimpered piteously until they died of what seemed to be -loneliness and heartbreak. - -When Baba had been captured, Mrs. Watson brought him home, hoping to -save his life. Two-year-old Virgil Dare, as Johnny was called then, was -fascinated. - -"Ba-ba," he had cried, trying to say bear, and had thrown his arms -around it. Surprisingly, the little bear had stopped whimpering and had -hugged Johnny back. A few minutes later it had eaten some diamond-wood -nuts. - -After a week, the colonists had decided that the little bear would -live and he was taken away and put in a small diamond-wood cage for -safe keeping. The little bear promptly refused to eat and almost died, -whimpering over and over a sound that was just like "Johnny, Johnny, -Johnny." It was the only sound he could make beside the clicking noise. -He had to be sent back to the little boy. From then on Virgil Dare was -called Johnny. - -He and Baba went everywhere together, even to school. As the years went -by they became closer than brothers and it was easier and easier to -forget that the blue cub was really colony property. - -Then, Baba's voice had deepened; the black nails had gradually -loosened; and, all in one Venus night, during Baba's long sleep through -five earth days of darkness, the new nails had come in. Johnny had -a mixture of india ink and nail polish all ready. It had worked for -two months now. But the polish _did_ chip off and the claws had to be -painted over and over. - -"Oh, Baba, why can't you be a sensible little bear and stay home where -people can't see you," Johnny said. - -"You know why, Johnny," Baba clicked. "You're my kikac." This was a -word in the clicking language that meant friend, pet and brother, all -in one. Baba said kikacs should never be parted. - -That was the reason Johnny could not go to see the rocket come. If he -went, Baba was sure to follow. Everyone, colonists and hunters, was -going to be at the field, and if one of them caught sight of a flash of -blue from Baba's claws, it would mean the end of Baba. The colonists -liked the little bear but the colony was very poor. They wouldn't think -long about killing him for his jewel claws. The hunters wouldn't think -at all. They would steal him as quick as the flight of an arrow-bird. - -It was a very dangerous situation. But if he could keep from going to -the rocket field, Johnny had a plan. The plan depended on Johnny's -third secret. - -Draped over his branch, Johnny kept his eye on the hunters. They just -seemed to be strolling about the settlement now--getting used to the -fact that they were out of the dangerous jungle where they lived in -concrete forts. When the door of the settlement headquarters opened -again, Johnny pulled his head back in among the leaves. - -A grey haired man with heavy eyebrows stepped out of the door. It was -Jeb, the old hunter, one of the first men to come to Venus hunting -marva. Now he was one of the colony guards, and a very good friend of -Baba and Johnny. - -When the old man came close enough for him to hear, Johnny crawled out -where he could be seen, called down to him, and waved. - -"Hi, Jeb--whatcha doing?" - -The old man stopped in his tracks, looked carefully around him, then -cocked an eye up into the tree. He frowned, his grey eyebrows making a -V over his deep-set eyes. He shook his head in disapproval, but said -nothing until he was directly under the tree. - -"What I'm doin' isn't important," Jeb said in a gruff voice, looking -up at Johnny. "But what are _you_ a-doin' up that tree when you're -supposed to be doin' book work?" - -"Aw," Johnny started, "I just...." - -"You just made your paw boiling mad, that's what," Jeb interrupted, -"locking the teacher in that way." He snorted. - -"Did Dad say anything about keeping me away from the rocket landing?" -Johnny demanded anxiously. - -"Nup," answered Jeb. "Cap'n Thompson wanted him to, but he says no, -that you worked real hard all year. But I'm warning you. You better get -on inside that school house, unless you want a good tannin'. Your ma's -out lookin' for you with fire in her eye." He started to walk away. - -"Hey, wait a minute Jeb," Johnny called. - -"Well?" - -"I was watching those hunters. They're sure interested in the stockade. -You better tell Cap'n Thompson." - -"We know they're interested. I don't think they'll do anything. That -old reprobate of a Trader Harkness'll keep 'em in line. _You'd_ better -watch out, though. I might tell Cap'n Thompson where he could find him -a hooky-player." With a fierce snort the old man was on his way. - -Johnny smiled. He knew Jeb would never tell where he was hiding, in -spite of the gruff warnings. Jeb was a nice old fellow. He'd shot his -marva years before, gone down to earth, spent his millions in a few -wild years and returned to Venus dead broke. In twenty years hunting he -had never made another kill. Marva were as hard to find as they were -valuable. - -"Guess you just weren't quite bad enough!" Baba clicked to Johnny. "My -claws are dry. Let's go before your mother finds us." - -Johnny crawled down to the little bear. - -"We gotta think of something else bad to do. It's that or just plain -refuse to go. But then they'd think something was funny, sure as -shooting!" - -"There's lots of ripe meat fruit in the tree," Baba clicked, and -grinned. "Maybe you could drop one on Captain Thompson!" - -"Oh boy!" Johnny exclaimed in excitement. Then he frowned. "Aw, he -probably won't come by here again." - -"Somebody will!" Baba said. "Let's keep an eye out." - -The two of them posted themselves in different parts of the tree and -watched for possible targets for ripe meat fruit. No one seemed to -want to walk under the tree. Finally Johnny caught sight of a short -fat bald-headed man and a tall redhaired man leaving the Hunters Hotel -together. One was Trader Harkness, who all but ran the colony, and the -other, his bodyguard, Rick Saunders. They seemed to be headed for the -trading post and would have to pass directly under Johnny's tree to get -there. Baba saw them at the same time. - -"How about Trader Harkness?" the little bear clicked. "Do you think -he'd be a good target?" - -"A kind of dangerous one," Johnny clicked back, his heart racing. "But -where's that meat fruit?" - -There wasn't any question about his getting into enough trouble this -time. He just hoped he wouldn't get into too much trouble! - -Trader Harkness was a very important man, but Johnny didn't like him. -He had started as a hunter and then had turned trader. By killing off -most of his opposition, he had become the only important trader on -Venus. If he hadn't wanted a walled settlement to protect his goods, -the colony might have failed. A hunter would stop at nothing to get -what he needed and the colony had had more than one of its tanks -ambushed and stolen to hunt marva. - -A red, ripe meat fruit was not hard to find. Johnny wrenched one from -the branch and held it carefully by its long stem. The size of a small -melon, green meat fruit must be cooked before eating. Once ripe, their -thin skins are plump full of a sweet strong-smelling paste--a natural -high protein baby food. - -"There's plenty more," Johnny clicked softly. "Think we ought to get -Rick, too?" - -"He's too good a friend," Baba clicked back. "Besides he might not give -me any more chocolate." - -Johnny agreed with a laugh, and pushed leaves aside so he could see. -He shivered. Below him came the most powerful man on Venus--a short, -immensely fat man, who waddled forward rather than walked. On earth he -would have been laughed at, but on Venus he was feared and respected. -He liked that respect and demanded it. - -Johnny swallowed hard. The man he was going to drop the fruit on had -once been ambushed by five hunters--none of them had survived. - - - - -CHAPTER THREE - -_A Dangerous Target_ - - -As the two men moved closer to Johnny's and Baba's meat tree, they -appeared to be arguing about something. The trader glittered as he -waddled forward. His armor was of the clearest, brightest marvaplast -plastic, and his fingers were studded with marva jewel rings. They -stopped just a few feet away from the tree. Johnny could tell the -trader was angry. Though he was keeping himself under tight control, -his heavy jaw was set and his little black eyes flashed under his -smooth, hairless brow. - -"I'll put it to you straight, Rick," the trader's heavy voice rumbled -up to Johnny. "I couldn't stay in business a year if I did as you asked -me to." - -The redhaired bodyguard was flushed. "Well, then, I guess I'll have -to do it," he said in a tight, defiant voice. "If you won't warn the -colonists, I will." - -Harkness' jaw tightened. "Better think it over, Rick." His voice was -still controlled and level. He gripped Rick's shoulder with a pudgy, -jeweled hand. "Remember, those hunters trusted me. They figure my -bodyguard wouldn't do anything I told him not to. If you warn the -colonists, I'll have to make it clear you were on your own." His voice -held a threat. - -"What do you mean?" Rick demanded, pushing the hand from his shoulder. - -"The least I would do would be to fire you back to Earth," he said -ominously. - -Johnny drew in his breath. He knew how much Rick wanted to stay on -Venus. The trader got his bodyguards by paying their way to Venus. He -agreed to stake them for hunting if they did good work for a year. -Otherwise they were sent back to Earth. It was said that men who -crossed Trader Harkness never made it alive. - -"I'm sorry, Trader," Rick said, "but I'll take my chances. If you don't -like what I do, I'll join the colony." - -"I should have guessed it," the trader said contemptuously, "when you -began hanging around that worthless Jeb." The trader paused and then -the threat in his voice was no longer veiled. "Believe me, Saunders, -join that colony and you'll regret it." The heavy man turned slowly and -moved toward his trading post. - -Fascinated, Johnny had all but forgotten the meat fruit in his hand. -The trader was almost past him when he remembered. With a little toss -Johnny let go of the juicy fruit. For an instant he thought he had -thrown too far, but the trader waddled forward just right. - -With a sickening plop the red fruit exploded on the top of Trader -Harkness' shining headglobe. Dripping purple gobs splattered through -the air slits, smearing the stone-bald head. A strong sweet smell -floated up to Johnny. For a moment Harkness stood perfectly still in -shocked amazement. - -Then the tremendous man began to dance about in sheer rage and -discomfort. - -"Water!" he yelled, his rumbling voice rising to a shrill cry. "Get -some water!" He was bouncing up and down in an odd way, his clenched -fists hitting the air. All his dignity was gone. - -Johnny stared open-mouthed, awed by his own daring. Rick Saunders stool -still a second, and then broke into a guffaw. - -"I tell you, get me some water!" Trader Harkness roared. Three or four -hunters and Jeb, the old guard, came running up. They took one look and -they, too, broke into laughter. Jeb was carrying a fire bucket. - -"Never thought I'd ever get this chance, Will," Jeb cackled, and -sloshed a bucket of water over Harkness. The water splashed on the bald -head and washed the bits of fruit down the trader's neck and under his -armor. The big man stood there dumb with anger. - -Johnny's throat ached with the laughs he'd kept back. He glanced up to -the branch where Baba sat. The little bear's fur was shivering with -fun. His eyes opened wide, and with a whir of clicks meaning, "Watch -me, Johnny," he leaped into space. He kicked up a flurry of dust as he -bounced to the ground and up to his feet in front of the trader and the -other men. By this time the crowd had grown to a dozen men. - -Baba stopped a moment to make sure everyone was watching him. Then -the round little bear began a dancing, bouncing waddle up and down. -He clenched his forepaws into little fists and beat the air. His face -was screwed up into a mighty frown. It was a perfect imitation of the -trader. The men's laughter swelled to a roar. - -"Rick!" Harkness' voice rumbled out, tight and cold with rage. "Shoot -it!" - -The laughter stopped suddenly, almost as if it had been switched off. -It had been so long since anyone had made fun of the trader that the -man had lost his head. - -"I can't do that!" Rick's lean brown face was horrified. Then he became -angry. "I wouldn't shoot a kid's pet!" - -"Well, I will!" Moving with more speed than it seemed a large man could -muster, the trader's hand snaked toward his holster. - -Baba saw the joke had gone too far. He leaped into the air, came down -with a bounce and shot up the tree beside Johnny before the trader -could level the gun at him. - -Johnny's mouth went dry. Already the trader was searching the tree for -Baba, his pistol up, the safety switch off. The men stood in shocked -silence. - -"He's right beside me, Mr. Harkness!" Johnny shouted, and crawled into -full view. "C'mon, Baba, get on my shoulder. He can't shoot _me_." As -Johnny came into full view, the trader's face grew angrier yet. "Baba -didn't drop that meat fruit, Mr. Harkness," Johnny said firmly. "I did." - -"Kid's got guts," one of the hunters muttered. - -As Johnny slid down to the ground, he saw his mother pushing her way -through the group of men. Her lips were tight together, her face white. - -"You're going to get it," Baba clicked. "Here come your pa and Captain -Thompson, too." - -Mrs. Watson strode straight up to Trader Harkness, her eyes blazing. - -"You ought to be ashamed!" she said to the man. Then she turned on -Johnny. "And so had you, young man. No planet-fall for you!" - -Johnny's heart leaped. He'd done it at last! - -"Now, Mr. Harkness," Johnny's mother's voice was very low, "what Baba -and Johnny did was very wrong. I apologize for them. And Johnny will -certainly be punished. Nevertheless, I never want to hear of you or -anyone else threatening Baba again. Is that clear?" - -Taken aback, the trader nodded. - -"That goes for the whole family, Mr. Harkness." Johnny's father stepped -forward straight and tall and put his arm around his wife's shoulder. -"Not to mention the colony," he went on. "We have a pretty big stake in -that bear." - -The fat, short trader seemed suddenly as cold as ice. His heavy jaw -thrust out and his little black eyes looked straight at Johnny's father. - -"Valuable or not, I don't have to put up with insults. Not from those -two or any of you. If that's the kind of thanks I get for ten years of -working with you, I'm through. You can fight your own battles now." He -jerked his head around toward Rick. "C'mon!" - -"I'm staying," the young man said. - -"All right. Stay." The smooth bald head swiveled back to the Watson -family. "I told this man I'd fire him back to Earth. But let him stay. -After the hunters have picked your bones, I'll take care of him." He -turned, and with heavy footsteps walked away. His slow waddle did not -seem funny now. The hunters in the crowd stood for a moment, and then -followed him. - -Captain Thompson addressed Johnny's father. "That sounded like a -declaration of war." - -Johnny's father nodded grimly. "I think our colony is getting too big -for him," he said slowly. "He's been looking for a way to break with us -and Johnny gave him just the kind of excuse he needed." - -"Yep," said Jeb. "But don't be too hard on Johnny. Maybe it's just as -good it happened now when we got marva claws to buy us some extra fire -power." - -"You might not have those claws long enough to do any good," Rick -Saunders cut in. "I was just going to warn you. Four hunters just asked -Harkness in on a plan to rob the stockade. The trader turned 'em down, -but...." - -"Which four hunters?" Captain Thompson broke in. - -A shadow passed over Rick's face. "I don't know which ones." He looked -at Mr. Watson eagerly. "I want to help, though. I'm hoping you'll take -me on as a guard." - -"We can sure use you." Jeb stepped up and slapped the young man on the -back. - -Mr. Watson appeared to consider for a moment. He looked Rick up and -down, and then glanced at Captain Thompson, who nodded. - -"All right, Rick," he said. "You go on over to the guard barracks and -Jeb'll check you out. When you're through, report to Captain Thompson." - -Rick Saunders grinned. Old Jeb threw an arm around his shoulder and -they walked off together. - -When they were out of hearing Captain Thompson turned to Johnny's -father. "I don't know if I like this," he said. "Harkness may have -planted that man on us. I'm certainly not going to let him get anywhere -near our claws. I'll keep an eye on Saunders personally." - -"But, gosh," Johnny broke in, "I heard him arg...." - -"I think, Johnny," said his father sternly, "you've said and done -enough for one day. The trader is a proud man and by making a fool of -him you've given the colony a deadly enemy." He turned back to Captain -Thompson. "We'd better change our plans, Captain. It looks like we -should double, maybe even triple the guard...." - - - - -CHAPTER FOUR - -_The Third Secret_ - - -Three hours later, boy and bear were trudging through the marshberry -fields toward New Plymouth Rock. Johnny's bottom was still warm from -his recent session with a strap. The boy was in full armor. A leather -harness was strapped to the little bear's furry blue back. - -The last 'copter had long since left for the rocket field and, except -for guards, the settlement was nearly empty. Because of this Johnny -had been forbidden to leave his house. A lone person without a gun was -supposed to be just what the arrow-birds were looking for. But Johnny -wasn't afraid. He had his third secret. - -Johnny reached up and carefully picked one of the apple-sized -marshberries for himself. It was a rich ripe yellow color. - -"They are just right this year," Johnny said to Baba. - -The little bear nodded gravely. Both he and Johnny had worked hard in -those fields. Everyone did. Marshberries prevented a disease called -colds that Johnny had never had, and were the only crop the colonists -could send back to Earth. They had to be ripe for the yearly rocket or -a year's work was wasted. - -Johnny trudged on under the weight of his armor while Baba bounced -along beside him. A mile away loomed New Plymouth Rock. The huge -mesa-like rock made up one corner of the settlement's barrier against -the animals. The thick concrete walls of the settlement, topped with -live wires, were joined to the rock on two sides. On its summit, stood -a stunted diamond-wood tree. This was Johnny's and Baba's destination. - -Baba jumped high in the air, made himself into a ball and bounded on -ahead. - -"Hurry up!" he clicked. - -"Hungry for nuts, eh?" Johnny asked. - -"Crunchy ones," the little bear clicked back, turning a somersault in -the air. "Come on, hurry!" - -Johnny made a face at Baba. "Bear," he said, "you're certainly getting -bossy lately." - -Baba did another somersault, bounced, and landed on Johnny's shoulder -with a thump, almost knocking the boy down. He put his nose in Johnny's -ear. - -"I'm a grown-up," he clicked in heavy tones. "Hear my beautiful new -voice?" - -Johnny hunched his shoulders hard, spilling Baba to the ground. Then -he grabbed him by the harness, and stood up. While Baba squeaked -piteously, Johnny swung him round and round. At the top of one of the -swings he let go, tossing Baba high into the air. - -"Help! Help!" clicked Baba, beating paws into the air, and screwing up -his face. Just before he hit the ground he made himself into a ball. He -hit with a smack and bounced higher than Johnny had thrown him. Both of -them were laughing when he stopped bouncing. - -"Gosh, I wish we could have done that for the Earthies!" Johnny said - -The two fell silent, both thinking of the fun they were missing at the -rocket field. - -They were coming to the end of the marshberry fields. Before them were -the great boulders surrounding New Plymouth Rock. Johnny had made the -harness Baba was wearing for forays among the boulders--forbidden -forays, for arrow-birds nested there. Baba, with his strong nails and -bouncy body, could go straight up the face of rocks. He was small -enough to ride on Johnny's shoulder, but he was powerful too. By -hanging on to Baba's harness, Johnny could go straight up and over -large boulders, armor and all. - -"Let's go right by the nests," Baba clicked. "I want to be sure, right -off." - -"O. K., worry bear, you lead the way." Johnny began to chant, -"Grandpapa Baba sat in a corner, 'fraid that his shadow would burn in -the fire." - -Baba bounced over the smaller rocks in the way. Johnny, weighed down -with headglobe and armor, made his way slowly over them and between -them. Baba helped Johnny over one steep place and then stayed beside -him. It was hard going and Johnny's clothes were drenched with sweat -under his armor before they clambered down the last boulder and on to -a little flat place. They were already high above the level of the -settlement. On one side they were surrounded by high red boulders. On -the other side loomed the sheer cliff of New Plymouth Rock. - -Far above them, from many round holes in the rock, came strange -squeaking sounds. Here were the arrow-bird nests! Johnny was deathly -afraid. He'd seen what an arrow-bird could do when it shot itself at a -man. - -"Get ready, Baba," he whispered. - -"Those are just babies up there," Baba clicked. "No danger yet!" - -"Let's climb up and get rid of them!" Johnny suggested. "Then there -won't be any here to...." - -"No!" Baba interrupted. - -"But why? I'd be protected by my armor and...." - -"No!" Baba clicked more firmly. There was a stern but puzzled -expression on the little bear's face. "The arrow-birds are my -friend-pets, I must not hurt them." He used a word in the clicking -language which meant both friend and pet. It was something like the -word "kikac," which he called Johnny--"friend-pet-brother." - -"All right," Johnny said, "but I don't understand." - -"You mustn't harm them, either," Baba said. "Remember, I brought you -here. Otherwise you wouldn't know where the nests were. Even if you -just tell the grownups and they kill them--well, it would be wrong. I -would have--" - -Baba was interrupted by a high whistling, shrieking noise, and the -whir of wings. So quick you couldn't have followed his motions, Johnny -squatted down, curled his feet under him, thrust his hands and forearms -into special armor pockets. Six strangely shaped creatures were diving -straight at him. - -Arrow-birds! A dirty greenish yellow, they were long and slender, -over a foot long. One could not tell where their heads left off and -their necks began. They were shaped like long arrow points. Their -gossamer-thin wings were a blur of motion. - -Johnny braced himself so that if they hit him he would not be knocked -over. In a fraction of a second they dived within fifty feet of him. - -"Go away friend-pets," Baba clicked, as loudly and as fast as he could. -"Go away! Bother us not!" He repeated his cry in a kind of chant, so -rapidly it was almost a trill. - -The shrieking whistle changed to a low hum. The arrow-birds pulled out -of their dive. They floated in mid-air, their wings awhir. One had -almost reached Johnny and was hovering in the air only a couple of -yards away. It bent its neck out of arrow position and looked straight -at him. Its little purple eyes glittered against the yellow green skin -of its head. - -Then, like a flash, they were gone. - -"Whew!" Johnny breathed. He took his hands out of his armor and stood -up. He turned around just in time to see the flight of arrow-birds -crawl into the holes in the rocks that were their nests. This was -Johnny's third secret. - -The arrow-birds obeyed Baba! - -Right after Baba's voice had changed and his jewel claws had come in, -the two had made this astonishing discovery. They had stumbled upon -this nesting place, and the arrow-birds, frightened for their nests, -had slashed down at Johnny for the first time in his life. But Baba had -cried out desperately in his new deep clicks for them to go away--and -they had. It was like magic. - -Staring up at the sheer cliff, Johnny was excited, but afraid. Such -a climb was too dangerous to do just for the fun of it, but Johnny -thought he might have a way of saving Baba. Even when they were much -younger the little bear had been willing to leave Johnny in order to -climb for diamond-wood nuts fresh from the tree. It was the ideal place -for Baba to hide. If Johnny could climb up with him they would be able -to visit often-and Baba was so fond of fresh nuts he might be willing -to use it for a hideout. - -Johnny hadn't told Baba about his plan. If they could make it to the -top he would tell the bear then. - -The high shrieking whistle began again. - -Johnny suddenly had an idea. - -"Friend-pets, friend-pets, bother me not. Bother me not," Johnny -clicked quickly, shaping deep clicks just like Baba's in the back of -his throat. - -As the birds half-pulled out of their dive, the little bear started to -speak. - -"No, let me keep trying," Johnny clicked. "Friend-pets, friend-pets, -bother me not." - -At this, the birds hovered about him making squeaking noises, their -heads still in striking position. - -"They're puzzled," Baba clicked. "They sense something's wrong. They -expect to be shot at by people. I'll tell them to go and it will be all -right. In a second they could kill you." - -"I've still got my armor," said Johnny. "Maybe if I tell them to come -here they'll trust me." Johnny spoke the last in English and the words -sent the birds fluttering farther away. They seemed to be on the point -of making another dive. - -Johnny was pale under his headglobe, but clicked, "Friend-pets, come to -your friend." - -The flying lizards slowly quieted, squeaking among themselves. Their -wings humming, they hovered closer and closer. There were five of them. -Finally their heads snapped out of arrow position. One of them hovered -in very close. - -"Come to me, friend-pet," Johnny clicked to it, and held out his hand. - -The creature, watching him carefully with its little purple eyes, -floated even nearer, its wings humming. Very gingerly it came to a -perch on his hand. Its claws were cold and it smelled faintly of meat -fruit. - -Johnny breathed deep. He was the only human being who had ever made -friends with an arrow-bird. - -Slowly, while the other birds hovered in the air about him, Johnny drew -in his hand and stroked the bird on its folded wings. It shivered under -his touch. But, as he did it no harm, the other birds came closer and -lit on his arms and his shoulders. One peered into his face. Another -poked the air slits of Johnny's headglobe with its sharp bill. - -"Baba! Baba!" Johnny cried out. "Do you see this? Do you think I could -sneak one home with us?" - -"Your people would kill him, Johnny," Baba clicked. "Go away, -friend-pet," he clicked to the arrow-bird. - -The bird looked at Johnny. - -"Go, friend-pets," Johnny clicked regretfully to the five birds about -him. With a flash of wings they were gone. - -"Gosh," said Johnny. "Gosh!" He unzipped and wriggled out of his armor. -"Baba, I don't _have_ to wear armor ever any more. Do you understand? I -can just walk around like you do!" The words fairly bubbled out of him. -Baba was quiet for a moment, frowning. - -"Johnny," he clicked, "I've done something wrong. Something very bad. -I'm not sure why, but I just know it's wrong. Those are my friend-pets, -not yours. If _you_ use the word 'friend-pet' to them, that means you -can never hurt them. You must always help them. But they will always -try to kill your mother and father. It is all mixed up." - -"Gee, Baba," Johnny was frowning now, too. "C'mon, let's try the climb -and forget it." From one of the armor straps he unhooked a flashlight -he always brought along for exploring caves. He fastened it to his belt. - -A few moments later the two friends were looking up at the bare rock -face that extended three hundred feet straight up. - -"Golly, Baba, do you really think you can take us up _there_?" Johnny -asked. - -"If you can hold on, I can take you," Baba said from Johnny's shoulder. - -"Start up!" Johnny yelled. Baba leaped up onto the wall of rock, his -claws cutting into it. Johnny grasped the harness and hooked his toes -into a crack in the stone. - - - - -CHAPTER FIVE - -_A Mystery Indeed!_ - - -By the time Baba and Johnny had gone fifty feet up the cliff, Johnny -felt as if his arms were about to be pulled from his shoulders. The boy -helped push with his feet, but that took only a little weight from his -arms. Below him there was nothing but boulders and sharp jagged rocks. -In spite of that danger, he felt that he could hardly keep hold of the -harness. Sweat poured down into his eyes. - -"Hurry, Baba," he said through clenched teeth. - -"Ledge soon," the little bear clicked. As he speeded up his climb he -slapped his claws deep into the rock, making sharp clapping noises -that echoed among the boulders below. He stopped short and Johnny saw -a place where the rock jutted out a few inches. Gratefully he felt -something solid beneath his feet. He couldn't put his whole foot down, -but he could rest his arms a little. - -"Whew," Johnny said, "doesn't the ledge get wider?" - -"In a minute," Baba answered. Crabwise, with Johnny still hanging on, -Baba worked along the ledge, which slowly widened until Johnny could -stand alone. They were now on the jungle side of the rock. - -A few feet farther on, there was a narrow slit in the rock face that -widened into a small cave. Deep in the cave's darkness Johnny heard -the squeaking of young arrow-birds. As he crept inside he whipped his -flashlight from his belt. Purple eyes glittered at him in the circle -of its light. There was a flutter of wings. Johnny and Baba started to -click at the same time. The fluttering stopped and the birds' heads -disappeared into their nests. The cave ended in a pile of large stones. -Johnny sat down. - -"Boy, do my arms ache!" Johnny said. "How about you, Baba?" - -"I can climb," Baba answered. "But can you hold on? We have far to go." - -"Aren't there any more ledges?" Johnny asked. - -"Small ones," Baba answered. "None are wide like this one. Do you still -want to go up?" - -"Maybe we could tie me on some way," Johnny said. "Mountain climbers do -it that way." - -In a moment the boy and the bear were trying to see what they could -work out. Finally Johnny had Baba use the razor sharp point of one of -his claws to cut a pair of long thin straps from the wide ones on the -harness. These they tied to Johnny's belt and then to Baba's harness -again. - -When the straps were finished, Johnny felt rested and they started out -of the cave. They were stopped by the sight below them. - -At the foot of the rock there was a wide space of cleared ground, -and then the jungle stretched out. About a half mile away some large -greyish beasts were breaking out of the undergrowth. - -"Rhinosaurs!" Johnny shouted, pointing. "Golly, a whole herd of them!" -There were more than thirty of the huge grey-blue saurians. Even at -that distance they could hear the low thunder of the gigantic hooves. -The beasts stayed close to the brush, knocking down small trees as they -came. Johnny knew that heavy ato-tubes were trained on the rhinosaurs -from the guard towers. The guards in the gate towers would have a full -view of them. Johnny also knew that unless the beasts began to charge -the walls, the guards would not fire. If they did, the whole herd might -charge. Topped as they were with electric wires, the heavy fifty-foot -high walls would be hard to breach. But rhinosaurs had smashed those -walls once--before they were thickened and electrified. - -"Remember when they attacked and killed a lot of colonists?" - -"I remember," Baba clicked. "Your people killed them, too. These -straps...." - -Johnny nodded. Because it was made of the skin of an animal the -colonists had killed, he had had a hard time getting Baba to wear that -harness. - -"Let's go!" Johnny said. - -This time the going was not so hard for Johnny, though they climbed -much farther before he and Baba could rest. The next ledge they reached -was not large enough to let them sit. Baba had to hang to the rock, but -it didn't seem to tire him. - -Three more rests, and slowly but surely they were reaching the top. At -the last rest Baba clicked to Johnny in warning. - -"The rock is getting softer. If my claws tear away from the rock, just -relax and fall with me. I'll grab again further down." - -"All right," he said. - -Johnny didn't dare look down. He had been climbing with Baba since he -was three, but never this high before. - -They had gone up only a few more feet when Baba's claws began to slip. -Johnny let himself go limp just in case anything happened. Very slowly -Baba's claws slipped down the rock. Then they caught hold again. - -"We will have to move to the side," Baba clicked. - -Johnny didn't answer. It was up to Baba. The little bear scuttled -crabwise along the side until he found rock that didn't scale off. Then -up they went again. Finally there was a ledge. The two scrambled onto -it. Above the ledge was a gap in the rock, some boulders--and they were -on the top! - -A faint wind was blowing, and Johnny could hear it sing through the top -of the stunted diamond-wood tree growing on the summit. - -The top of New Plymouth Rock was flat, a hundred feet or more wide, -but with many jutting boulders. Here and there grew small bushes and -patches of grass. The diamond-wood tree sprang directly from the bare -rock. - -With shaking fingers Johnny untied the straps and threw himself down on -a patch of green. As he lay there, his breath rustling the grass, he -heard Baba pattering about and wondered how the little bear had so much -energy left. - -"Johnny," Baba clicked, "do you want some berries?" Johnny looked up to -see the little bear holding some clear, almost transparent red berries -in his paw. The colonists called them antelope berries because they -grew mainly in antelope country. At that moment Johnny realized he was -very thirsty. - -"Thanks, Baba!" He crushed the berries with his teeth and felt the -sour-sweet juice trickle down his throat. He suddenly felt thrilled -with triumph. He was now where no other human had ever been before! - -Johnny was just raising his head to look around when he heard the -patter of tiny hooves behind him. - -"Look, Johnny!" Baba clicked. - -Johnny turned. Running toward them was a herd of the tiniest antelope -he had ever seen. They were barely six inches high, their curled horns -almost as tiny as needles. Head down, they charged directly at him. -Johnny jumped to his feet. - -"Friend-pets," Baba clicked gently, "bother us not." The tiny -creatures wheeled about and started back in the direction from which -they had come. - -"Oh, Baba, don't send them away," Johnny said. Then, remembering his -success with the arrow-birds, he himself clicked in a low tone, "Come -here, friend-pets. Come here." - -The antelope with the longest curled blue horns stopped, turned slowly -around and pawed the ground, his long neck arched. It was just seven -inches high. Johnny laughed. The regular antelope were seven _feet_ -high, but otherwise looked exactly the same as these. - -Johnny squatted down and, as he moved, the herd turned and ran, making -little whinnying noises. Then they wheeled and returned. The leader -pranced closer and closer and came to a halt within a foot of Johnny. -It was soft blue all over, marked with spots of deeper purple. Its -tiny hooves were blue black, and its eyes glistened with deep purple -highlights. Johnny reached out both his hands and laid them before the -little creature. - -"Come," Johnny clicked. Trembling, the little antelope pawed the grass. -Then with mincing steps he came forward and placed his forefeet on one -hand, his hind feet on the other. Very slowly Johnny raised him from -the ground. The small hooves were sharp and dug into the palms of his -hands. The little animal's eyes widened and it snorted in fear. Johnny, -afraid it might fall, set his hands back on the ground. - -"Go, friend-pet," he clicked. With a bound the creature returned to his -herd. Together the antelope leaped high over a small boulder and were -gone behind a clump of bushes. - -Johnny looked up to see Baba watching him steadily. The little bear -looked at Johnny the same way as when he had spoken to the arrow-birds. - -"Friend-pet-brother Johnny," Baba clicked, "I am sure I am doing wrong. -First the arrow-birds and now the antelopes are your friends. But they -are your people's enemies." - -"Not the antelopes!" Johnny said. "They fight us some, but we don't -ever bother them except for meat." - -"Your people kill them," Baba said, as if that settled matters. "Now -you can't. You've said they were your friends." - -"Is that some kind of rule?" Johnny asked. - -"You said they were your friends," Baba repeated. "You help your -friends and your friends help you. That is the law and will be the law -as the trees stand. Between friend and friend there is no parting more -than the fingers of a hand." Baba said this in a sort of sing-song of -clicks, like the song of a bird. It was something like a poem. - -"Baba," Johnny asked, "how do you know all this? You've never talked -this way before." Johnny squatted down before the little bear, whose -face was screwed up into a puzzled frown. - -"I guess I've always known it," Baba clicked. "But it just came back to -me. I don't remember much before I came to live with you, Johnny. But -I do remember being in a high tree. There was one like me whom I loved -very much, and she sang the song I just sang to you. I remember going -to sleep while she sang it. It is a true song, too." - -"Would you sing it again?" Johnny asked. - -The little bear began again: - - "You help your friends and your friends help you. - It is the law, - And will be the law as the trees stand. - Between friend and friend there is no parting - More than the fingers of a hand." - -This time the little bear really sang, trilling the clicks to a tune -like the roll of a mockingbird's song. Johnny felt very strange. He -patted Baba on the head and then stood up. - -"I think I understand," he said, and looked out over the surrounding -countryside, thinking about the little antelope he had just held in his -hands. - -"I'm hungry," the little bear clicked. With a jump and a bounce he -started for the stunted diamond-wood tree. - -"Baba," Johnny called. The little bear bounced back. "Aren't there -plenty of those nuts here for you to live on? I mean, enough to feed -you regularly if you lived here all the time?" - -The little bear nodded yes, but frowned. - -"I want to live with you, Johnny," he clicked. - -"I know, Baba. But you're in danger. I hoped that if I could show you -I'd be able to visit you, maybe you'd stay." - -At the unhappiness on the little bear's face, Johnny hurried on. "Look, -Baba, I can't make you stay here. But somebody's going to find out -about your nails if you stay with me. If you live here, I could come up -and visit you when the nights come, and if we were lucky, I could see -you most every wake-time down by the rocks...." Johnny's voice trailed -off. Baba was looking unhappier and unhappier. - -"I want to live with you," Baba repeated. "Remember what the song says -about parting. You stay here with me." - -It was Johnny's turn to look unhappy. He didn't want to leave his -father and mother, any more than Baba wanted to leave him. The hard -climb was all for nothing. - -"I can't, Baba. You know that," he said sadly. - -"I can't either," Baba said. - -Johnny continued arguing for a long time but it did no good. Baba -wanted to be with Johnny: there wasn't anything more to say. - -"I'm still hungry!" clicked the little bear, plaintively. Then, with a -bounce, Baba was up and away. The little bear was crazier about fresh -diamond-wood nuts than anything else, even chocolate. - -Johnny felt sad and confused. He got up. Below him stretched the sweet -green lands of Venus. The hard angles of the walls and the squat grey -buildings of the settlements were somehow out of keeping with the rest -of the land. - -There was an almost park-like look about the jungle from this height. -In the distance the towering groves of diamond-wood trees, where the -marva lived, shone blue green against the light green clouds that -were the skies of Venus. Between the blue groves of diamond-wood were -the meadow lands, soft and rolling. At the edges of the meadows were -the lower and darker green meat trees, where the saber-tooth leopards -stalked. The land was laced with rivers that shone in the green light. - -It was all so beautiful, and so deadly. In a few hours evening would -begin--almost three Earth days of twilight. Venus turned so slowly that -there was a whole Earth week each of daylight and dark. But of course -people had to sleep and work by Earth days. The thick permanent clouds -surrounding Venus glowed with light hours after sundown, making the -twilight last and last. - -Beyond the marshes was the sea--filled, too, with savage life, -flying crocodiles who made nests of the bones of their prey, great -dinosaur-like monsters and shark-snakes. But none of these dared come -onto the land, for the land animals fought them as fiercely as they -fought man. - -Except for Baba, all the animals on Venus were determined to kill -Johnny's people. And he had just been making friends with some of those -enemies. He felt strange, as if he were being a traitor to his own -kind. Johnny didn't like that feeling. Suddenly he thought of Baba -living among people and wondered if the little bear felt the same way. - -Johnny turned away from the edge of the cliff and kicked a stone. He -began to wander over the top of New Plymouth Rock, peering into bushes -and piles of boulders. He passed near the antelopes grazing on some -grass. They lifted their heads and whinnied, but went on grazing. -Johnny liked that. Beside a pile of small boulders, he found some -arrow-bird nests. He spoke to the birds and all was well. - -"That's an odd pile of boulders," Johnny muttered to himself. It didn't -look just right, somehow. He pushed one of the stones and it rolled -down almost to his foot. There was a dark empty space beyond it. He -took his flashlight from his belt and shined it down into the opening. - -He almost dropped the flashlight. - -The light revealed the shape of a bouncing bear, a marva, just like -Baba! - -"Baba!" Johnny turned and yelled, "Come here, quick!" - -When he looked back, the bear in the opening had not moved. It was not -blue, but the color of the rock. Johnny stopped shaking. The opening -was the entrance into a cave, and on the wall of the cave was carved -the figure of a bear he had thought was alive. - -But he was sure that the bear had been blue! - - - - -CHAPTER SIX - -_Inside New Plymouth Rock_ - - -Johnny and Baba excitedly started clearing away the pile of boulders -and stones from the mouth of the mysterious cave. Immediately the -arrow-birds began flying around, their heads snapping into striking -position. - -"They don't like us doing this," Baba clicked. "They don't like it at -all." He turned to the fluttering birds. "Bother us not! Bother us -not!" he repeated. The birds retreated, but hovered in the air not far -off. - -"Go away!" Johnny clicked. The birds squeaked among themselves and went -a little farther away. "I don't understand," Johnny said. "We aren't -bothering their nests." He and Baba each picked up a stone and carried -it away from the cave opening. Johnny watched the arrow-birds from the -corners of his eyes. They dived in closer. - -"Go away," came a firm, deep click. The birds stopped in mid-air and -then were gone. - -"Gosh," Johnny said to Baba, "you sure made them go that time." - -Baba's eyes opened wide. - -"I didn't say anything," he clicked. - -The bear and the boy looked at one another, puzzled, and then into the -opening. The bear cut in the stone was all they could see. - -"Come on, Baba!" Johnny rushed to the opening and knocked down a few -more stones. Baba pushed them farther away. In a few minutes of hard -work the opening was big enough for Johnny to squeeze through. Around -the edge of the cave, the rock was carved with the shapes of many -animals. The floor slanted sharply downward. - -"Hurry, Johnny," Baba clicked anxiously. "He may have gone away." The -little bear's eyes were shining with eagerness. - -Johnny's heart sank. Baba had not seen another live jewel bear since -he had been captured. He had never seemed interested. But now he was -quivering with excitement. If they found marva, maybe Baba would want -to stay with them! Johnny wanted Baba to be safe, but he didn't want to -lose him for always. - -The little bear was already scurrying down the steep slope. Without -stopping to think of danger ahead, Johnny plunged after him. The -ceiling was just high enough for him to stand upright. Flashing his -light into the darkness, Johnny saw that the cave was a long passageway -that curved down into the heart of the great rock. - -Soon they were too deep inside for any light to reach them from the -mouth of the cave. Except for the beam of Johnny's flashlight, they -were surrounded by complete darkness. The air was musty and cool and -their footfalls echoed, making scarey hollow noises. - -"Stop!" Johnny said. He held his fingers to his lips. His words echoed -and re-echoed in front of them. Then there was almost silence. A soft -padding and clicking sound came from far in the distance. It was the -same kind of noise Baba's feet and claws made on stone. - -The two started out again at a half run. The slope was almost too -steep, and Johnny had to slide to a halt to keep from falling. Baba -went bouncing along ahead and out of sight. As the slope became steeper -yet, Johnny had to slide forward carefully. He stumbled and went down -on his back. His flashlight slipped from his hand and went rolling on -down the passage and out of sight. - -In a second it was pitch black. - -"Baba," Johnny yelled at the top of his lungs. His only answer was his -own voice echoing down the long corridor. He pushed himself up into -a sitting position and slid on forward on the seat of his pants, his -heart beating rapidly. - -A few very long minutes later, he saw a light shining in the distance. -It was Baba, the flashlight in his paw. - -"Hurry, Johnny!" he clicked. "Hurry." - -With the way lighted for him, Johnny got to his feet and could move -faster. As he reached Baba, the passage began to widen and the slope -became less steep. - -"I saw him," Baba clicked excitedly. "He was big. I'm sure if we could -catch him he'd be a friend! I tried to talk to him but he went on ahead -just when you called. Oh, Johnny, I do want to find him." - -Johnny had never seen Baba so excited. - -Suddenly, the passageway ended and they were in a great underground -room. Johnny flashed his light around the walls. They, too, were carved -with scenes of life on Venus. Beneath each carving was a small doorway -leading into a side room. There was one large doorway opposite the one -through which they had entered. - -"It looks like a meeting house," Johnny said. "With seats and -everything." He flashed the light on one of the carvings. He had heard -of carvings like these and had seen one once. His father said that they -must have been made by an intelligent life form that had visited Venus -from the stars. This cave must have been where they had hidden from the -animals, just as men now hid from them behind the settlement's great -walls. Johnny was awed. - -"Johnny, don't just stand here," Baba clicked. "We've got to find him!" - -Johnny looked from opening to opening. - -"Which way, Baba?" - -The little bear sniffed the air. "I can't tell," he said. "I can't -tell." Hurriedly they made a circle about the great room. When they -came to the large opening, Baba sniffed carefully. - -"Maybe here," he clicked, and plunged through. - -Down they went as before. This time Johnny grabbed Baba's harness and -they were able to move faster. This corridor was just as steep and -curving as the first one. - -In a few minutes they emerged into another room. It was smaller than -the room above and had three small doorways and one large opening. - -"Let's try them all," Baba said. Through each of the three small -doorways they entered similar rooms. The fourth opening was another -corridor. Again Baba thought he smelled the path of the marva. - -Down that corridor they went, down and down. Finally it ended in -hundreds of the rooms, large and small, the rock was like a honeycomb. -Johnny's flashlight was already growing dim, and they didn't dare try -to search much longer. - -Trying to follow the scent they took a side corridor that led from one -small room to another, and came out into a narrow passageway. A faint -light glimmered at the end of it. Baba bounded on ahead, Johnny running -to keep up with him. - -The light seeped through a pile of rocks. Johnny flashed his light -through one of the cracks. Behind the pile of rocks the tunnel -continued for several feet. In the light of his flashlight Johnny could -see bits of leather on the floor of the outer part of the cave. Just -beyond them on the other side of the rocks was the cave Johnny and -Baba had rested in while climbing up, the cave in which they had cut -the long straps they had used to tie themselves together for the long -climb upward. The bits of leather on the floor were scraps that had -been left over. - -"Why, we're almost to the bottom," Johnny said. - -"Yes," Baba clicked. "I guess we can't find him. I don't smell anything -now but arrow-birds," he ended sadly. - -"We gotta try," Johnny said firmly. He felt hollow inside when he -thought Baba might go away for good, but he was convinced now that this -was the only way to keep him safe. - -"Let's try farther down." Johnny turned around and a few minutes later -they were going down one of the curving main corridors again. - -This corridor gradually straightened out. Soon it hardly slanted down -at all. It finally turned into what seemed to be a long underground -tunnel. Johnny had to stoop over to keep from hitting his head on the -ceiling. - -The passageway was no longer going through solid rock, and its walls -and floor were a sticky clay. Johnny's and Baba's feet made squishing -noises as they walked. It seemed as if the tunnel would never end. They -walked on and on. - -"I think we're going away from New Plymouth Rock," Baba clicked. - -"I think so, too," Johnny answered. "We must've already gone 'most a -mile." - -The walls had narrowed until Johnny and Baba had to walk single file. -Suddenly the passageway slanted upward and a faint glow of light could -be seen far away. As they began to climb toward the light the ceiling -became so low Johnny had to crawl on his hands and knees. It was a -long, sticky climb. - -As they approached within a few yards of the light, Baba stopped, -blocking Johnny's way. - -"This cave must end up in the jungle outside the colony wall," the -little bear clicked. "Maybe we ought to stop." He sounded worried. - -But Johnny was not going to let this chance pass. - -"Go on," he urged. - -"But the rhinosaurs...." - -"Who's afraid of an old rhinosaur?" Johnny demanded. - -"You are," Baba clicked. But he scrambled on. - -They emerged into the blinding light in the center of a tangle of -thick, high brush. They were out in the jungle, far away from the rock! - -The boy and his bear were covered with mud from head to foot. They -peered carefully around, listening. In the distance they could hear the -rumble of moving rhinosaurs. - -As they crept away from the cave, their view continued to be blocked -by large bushes and trees. They couldn't even see New Plymouth Rock. -Stepping quietly and carefully they finally came to an opening in the -brush. Far to the right was the Rock--and, farther in the distance, a -guard tower. - -"Get back," Johnny shouted. "The guard will see us." The two jumped -back. - -There was a grunt behind them. They turned. Behind a screen of brush, a -great blue-scaled rhinosaur was waking up. It was between them and the -opening to the cave. It snorted with the sound of a deep bass drum, and -heaved up on its feet. - -Ahead, at the edge of the clearing, was a tall meat tree. They had two -chances. They could turn quietly and creep away into the brush, hoping -the big beast would not see or hear them. Or, they could make a run for -the meat tree--in full view of the guard tower. - - - - -CHAPTER SEVEN - -_The Rhinosaur Stampede_ - - -The decision was made for them by the rhinosaur. The great scaled beast -began to turn around, crashing down brush as he moved. In a few seconds -he would be facing directly toward them. - -"Tree," Baba clicked very softly. Johnny nodded. The two slinked like -hunting cats toward the tree. They didn't dare look back. - -"I think the guard saw us," Baba clicked. "He was waving his arms." The -jewel bear had already climbed part way up the trunk. He motioned for -Johnny to grab the harness. - -Not making a sound Johnny took hold of the harness, and the two of them -started up the tree. When they reached the first branch, Johnny let go -the harness and clambered up as quickly and quietly as he could. Only -when they were screened from view by the fleshy leaves of the meat tree -did he dare to look down. - -Through little openings between the leaves he could see the rhinosaur. -It was shaking its ugly horned head. Its little black-blue eyes peered -about under blue scaled eyelids. It trumpeted. The deep blasting sound -echoed against the settlement walls. For some minutes it moved around -in the brush, snorting. It paused, snuffing in air in great gulps. Then -it headed straight for the tree and began to trot back and forth under -it. - -It had smelled Johnny! - -Its hoofbeats on the ground made the limb Johnny sat on tremble. If the -rhinosaur sensed that Johnny was in the tree it was the end. The tree -was easily four feet thick at the base, but a rhinosaur could knock it -down with one rush. Johnny and Baba were on the highest and smallest -branch, but they were barely twenty feet above its head. - -The rhinosaur's shoulder brushed against the lowest branch and the -whole tree swayed back and forth as if hit by a hurricane. - -Johnny was struck by an idea. "Baba," he whispered, "do you think it -might obey you--just like the arrow-birds?" - -"I don't know, Johnny," Baba clicked softly. "I'll try." - -Baba started to climb down. By the slow careful way Baba moved, Johnny -knew the little bear was afraid, too. It was an awful chance to take. -Johnny was about to call him back, but as he opened his lips, the -little bear looked up and grinned. - -Down Baba went. He was now halfway down the tree, thirty feet from the -ground and level with the eyes of the rhinosaur. It caught sight of -him, snorted, and pawed the ground, digging up shovelfuls of dirt with -each movement. - -"Friend-pet! Friend-pet!" Baba clicked and Johnny suddenly wanted to -giggle. Imagine having something that size for a pet! - -"Friend-pet!" Baba clicked again, "Go away! Go away! Bother us not!" - -The big creature stopped still. Muscles rolled and bunched under the -heavy blue-grey scales. Was he going to charge or leave? - -They never found out. - -There was a roar of motors behind the beast, the clank of metal, the -deafening blast of an ato-tube gun. The ground shook; leaves showered -down on Johnny. - -The guards had sent a tank to rescue them! - -Things began to happen too fast for Johnny to keep track. The rhinosaur -roared with pain and wheeled. It had been hit! It charged toward the -oncoming tank--one of the colony's light duty tanks, built for speed -and quick turns. The driver jockied for position. The tank shot down -the clearing, turned and stopped. Its guns were too light to kill the -huge beast, so the gunner did not bother to fire again. They were -trying to draw the rhinosaur away from the tree. - -The rhinosaur's hooves thundered, echoing against the walls and the -rocks as it gathered speed. It was almost on top of the tank. With a -roar of the motors the tank shot forward. The rhinosaur was going too -fast to stop or turn. It plunged on past the tank, bellowing its rage. - -Almost immediately the tank screeched to a stop beneath the tree. Its -manhole swung open. Rick Saunders' red head emerged. - -"Get in here! Quick!" he shouted over the noise of the motor. - -Johnny needed no invitation. He was already halfway down the trunk of -the tree. Baba jumped from his perch into the open manhole. As soon as -Johnny was low enough, he grasped a branch, swung on to the top of the -tank, and started down the steel ladder. The tank jumped forward with a -lurch. - -The rhinosaur was bearing down on them. Their guns roared, but the -rhinosaur did not stop. As a hand grabbed him, pulling him inside, -Johnny saw the tree topple over as the rhinosaur crashed into it. - -"Fire the gate rocket!" someone's shout echoed in the tank. Johnny -recognized Captain Thompson's deep voice. - -"Check!" Johnny heard Rick answer. Rick was up in the gun turret. - -After the outside light, it seemed very dark in the tank. It smelled -of grease and the burnt air of cannon fire. There was the swish of a -rocket. Johnny knew this rocket was a signal for the guard on duty at -the steel gateways to be ready to open up. - -The motors were roaring with a high whining sound which meant they were -going at full speed. The tank bounced and jolted, shaking Johnny from -side to side. - -"Get ready for the gate!" warned Captain Thompson from the driver's -seat. The tank seemed to be almost flying now. Johnny set himself -for a violent turn. Like the doors of the houses, the wall gates were -double. Each was a heavy steel portcullis, a great sliding door that -could be raised and lowered. When a tank came in the outer gate its -weight tripped a switch. That switched turned on motors that made the -first gate fall and the second rise. Otherwise fast moving tanks would -have smashed into the second gate. - -Johnny slid over to an observation slit. To his left he could see that -the heavy steel gate was rising. His heart raced. When being chased -by rhinosaurs a driver sped straight along the wall and then turned -sharply through the open gate. If he timed it right the rhinosaurs -plunged on and the tank was safe. It took split second timing. - -They were right by the gate. Johnny grabbed a brace. With a scream of -the treads, the tank started into a turn. - -"Rhinos on the side!" shouted Rick. His guns blasted. - -Captain Thompson fought to straighten the tank out of the turn. Baba -was sitting with his paws over his ears, his claws glowing. - -There was a bone-shattering crash. - -Then Johnny felt himself flying through the air. Everything went -topsy-turvy. He banged his shoulder against the side of the tank. Then -he felt Baba's furry body against his. Rick's feet seemed to come from -nowhere and dig into his back. Johnny grabbed on to something solid and -wedged himself in tight. - -The tank was rolling over and over. Something crashed against it again -and again. There was a heavy thud and the sound of breaking metal. -Then everything was still. The motors had stopped. From outside came -the roar of guns and the bellowing of rhinosaurs. - -Johnny found himself sprawled on top of Rick Saunders. He was terribly -shaken. Baba was hanging onto one of the rungs of the steel ladder. It -was almost pitch dark. Rick struggled to his feet as Johnny scrambled -from on top of him. - -"We're upside down," Baba clicked softly to Johnny. - -"What happened, Saunders?" Captain Thompson's heavy voice demanded from -the driver's compartment. "Didn't Harkness teach you to shoot?" - -"Four of them rushed us right at the gate," Rick answered. "Did we make -it inside?" - -"Think so. Anybody hurt?" Thompson asked. - -"Just scratched a little," Johnny answered. - -"Good," Captain Thompson grunted. "Is the righting jack O.K.?" - -Rick tested a lever. - -"O.K." - -"Let her rip!" - -"Hang on, Johnny," Rick said. "We're going to right her." - -Johnny knew just what was going to happen. A tank turned turtle had -meant a dead crew until the righting jack had been attached to each of -the tanks. Compressed air pushed out two rods fore and aft and flipped -the tank right side up. - -Johnny braced himself. There was a rush of air. Johnny felt the tank -tip slowly under him. Then it went over with a crash. The tank was -right side up. - -"The gate!" Rick exclaimed. - -Just above his head Johnny saw light from the observation slit. He -looked out. Then he knew what Rick meant. They and the four rhinosaurs -had reached the gate at the same time. The rhinosaurs were inside. They -had knocked the tank through the outer gateway and had smashed into the -steel door before it was halfway down. - -The inner door must have met the same fate for Johnny could see that -the sliding steel plates were bent and jammed open. The rhinosaurs had -kept after the tank until now it lay fifty yards inside the settlement. -Even as Johnny watched, another rhinosaur charged through the opening -and headed into the settlement. - -Captain Thompson was grinding on the starter and Rick was working up in -the gun turret. - -"The rhinosaurs got through," Johnny clicked to Baba. - -"And the tank is broken?" Baba clicked back. - -"Yes." - -"I have to get out," Baba said. "Maybe I can get the rhinosaurs to...." - -"No, Baba," Johnny said. "They're just plain crazy now." - -Captain Thompson climbed down out of the driver's compartment. - -"The motor's gone. How are the guns?" - -"Out of action," Rick answered. "Must be filled with dirt. We can't do -any good here." - -"O.K.," Captain Thompson said. "Let's get moving. I'm needed out there!" - -Rick undid the wing nuts on the manhole and pushed. Metal squeaked, but -the door stayed in place. - -"Jammed!" Rick said. "Get me a crow bar out of the box." - -Johnny dived for the tool box and came up with a pry bar. He handed it -to Rick. - -"Hurry, man," Captain Thompson said as Rick went to work. His black -angry eyes fixed themselves on Johnny. - -"We should have left you out there." - -"I'm sorry," Johnny said. - -In answer the man cuffed Johnny with the back of his hand. Johnny -couldn't be angry. He knew what a rhinosaur raid was like, and this one -was his fault. - -"Oh, leave the kid alone," Rick said from above. - -"Leave him alone!" Thompson snorted, and glared first at Johnny and -then at Baba. "The kid and that bear have caused more trouble...." - -Captain Thompson stopped talking and stared at Baba. He reached out -suddenly and grabbed the little bear by the paw. - -"Well, look at this!" he said in a hushed tone. - -In the steamy darkness of the tank Baba's nails shone clear and blue. -The climbing and running had worn off all the paint. - -Thompson held up Baba's paws into the light of an observation slit. He -scraped with one of his finger nails. - -"Nail polish!" he exclaimed. - -The manhole came open with a clang. - -"She's open!" Rick called. - -Captain Thompson paused only a fraction of a second over Baba and -climbed the ladder. - -"Lock the kid and bear in the tank," Thompson ordered. "There's less -danger here for the boy than there would be in the trip to the wall. -You, Rick, go back to the gate. I'll run for headquarters. Make it -fast!" Without another word he was up the ladder and gone. - -Rick Saunders reached down and patted Johnny on the shoulder. - -"Tough luck about your bear, son," he said, and then he, too, was gone. -The manhole door clanged and Johnny heard a lock click into place. He -hugged Baba to him. - -"Gosh, Baba," Johnny said, "what are we going to do now?" - -Baba, for once, had nothing to say. Johnny hugged the warm, furry -creature closer to him. Tears began to streak down his cheeks. Baba -didn't like this. He cocked a blue eye at the boy. - -"Don't cry, Johnny!" he clicked. "Come on, stop it!" he pleaded. "Why -don't we go up in the turret and see what's happening." - -Johnny wiped his tears away and the two climbed into the gun turret. -His stomach tightened. Through the four-inch thick bubble of marvite -plastic he could see the destruction he and Baba had let loose. The -whole settlement lay within view. A half dozen of the giant lizard -beasts had turned, the colony into a dusty hell. Even within the tank -the bellows of the beasts and the roar of guns was almost deafening. -Most of the marshberry fields had already been trampled in the mud. One -of the concrete houses lay crushed into rubble. Johnny was grateful -that almost everyone was at the rocket field. - -He gave thanks, too, for Captain Thompson. He could see the big man -marshaling tanks into an organized row. They were going to try to herd -the great beasts out the open gates. - -Johnny turned his eyes toward the gates. Someone had manhandled one of -the big ato-tube cannons into the opening, pointing it into the jungle. -His friend, Rick Saunders, ran up to help. A dying rhinosaur lay not -far from the muzzle of the gun. Evidently the other rhinosaurs were too -sensible or too frightened to try the power of that cannon. - -Baba was pulling at Johnny's sleeve. - -"Look, Johnny, look!" Baba clicked. - -Johnny turned and looked toward the settlement again. A heavy duty -hunting tank stood before the settlement stockade and store house. Its -heavy cannon spoke once and the door dissolved. Four men leaped from -the tank and ran inside. - -"They're stealing our claws!" Johnny cried out. - -Weighed down by the colony's strong box, the four men came out of the -building. Inside that strong box were the colony's precious marva -claws! - -The four hunters heaved the safe into the tank's carrier and climbed -inside. With a spurt of dust, the tank rolled on. - -A few minutes later it had fought its way through the rhinosaurs and -was passing the place where Johnny and Baba stared out of the turret. -As it came up to the gate the hunting tank's manhole opened and a man -emerged. He waved to Rick, standing beside the cannon. The redhaired -ex-bodyguard waved back. Then he climbed up on the tank and down -inside. The tank rolled on out into the jungle. - -Johnny stood, shocked and silent. Out that gate went the last valuable -thing the colony owned! - -"I don't understand," Baba clicked. "I thought Rick was the colony's -friend." - -"I did, too," Johnny said sadly. - - - - -CHAPTER EIGHT - -_One Secret is Revealed_ - - -It was now early evening and the Venus skies were a deep clear green. -It was over an hour since the last rhinosaur had been killed or driven -out. The gates had been temporarily repaired. Here and there a small -building had been trodden into rubble. - -Johnny and Baba were still locked inside the tank which had been -dragged away from the dangerous fighting. From the turret they were -watching a group of men gathered outside the administration building. -Johnny wished someone would come and let them out. - -Finally the crowd broke up. One group of men hopped on to the back of a -tank and headed toward Johnny and Baba. The rest of the crowd followed -on foot. - -"I wonder what's up," Johnny said. - -Baba shook his head. - -"I don't like the looks of it," Johnny went on. "We're in an awful -pickle." He looked down at the little bear's paws. He had painted the -nails again with the nail polish, but he didn't think it would do any -good. - -The tank came rumbling to a halt beside them. The two crawled down -from the turret. Johnny heard the men working on the lock. The manhole -door was opened. - -"Come on out, Johnny." It was his father's voice. Baba jumped on his -shoulder and Johnny climbed slowly out. Johnny's father and Captain -Thompson were standing on top of the tank, surrounded by a crowd of -grave-faced Venus pioneers. It was odd. None of the men looked angry. -Johnny knew they should be very angry with him. He tried to shape words -to say he'd try to make up for the trouble he'd caused, but the words -would not come. - -Mr. Watson reached out and picked Baba from Johnny's shoulder. He -lifted up one of the little bear's paws and looked at it carefully. - -"The claws still look black to me," he said. Disappointment, mixed with -relief, came over the faces of the men. - -"Let me show you." Captain Thompson, not ungently, took Baba from -Johnny's father. - -The little bear looked straight at Johnny, an odd expression in his -deep blue eyes. But he didn't struggle. - -Captain Thompson set Baba down on the top of the tank and took one of -the paws in his hands. With his fingernail he scraped at one of the -claws, then another and another. He held the paw up for the men to see. -The claws glowed clear blue in the evening light. - -"You see," he said, triumphantly, "it is just as I said. The boy has -been covering them up." The crowd sighed with wonder. - -Captain Thompson turned back to Johnny's father. "You'd better tell -the boy right away. It will be easier." Many of the crowd nodded their -agreement. For the first time Johnny made out the object that Captain -Thompson had been carrying. It was a small cage made of diamond-wood. - -Johnny's father reached out and touched him on the shoulder. - -"You know what happened here today, don't you, Johnny?" he asked in a -grave tone. - -"Yes, sir," Johnny answered in a low, shamed voice. "The crop's been -ruined, and those hunters stole our claws." - -"That's right," his father said. "And I think you also understand that -if it hadn't been for you, this needn't have happened." - -"Yes, sir." The words were almost a whisper. Johnny felt the tears -coming up into his eyes. - -"You can understand, then, it's up to you and us to make amends to the -colony." - -"Yes, sir." Johnny's whisper was even lower. - -"Well, son, I'm sorry to do this, but I have to. I know Baba has been -your pet for a long time, but you are going to have to give him up. -I've just given him back to the colony. Now, get him into the cage, so -we can get this over with." - -"But you'll kill him!" Johnny cried out. He reached down and swept the -little bear into his arms. - -"No, son, not right away," his father answered. "The rocket captain -says the colony could make some money by showing him alive on Earth -before they--put him to sleep." - -"But you know that he'll die. Oh, Daddy, please don't!" Johnny looked -up, pleading, at his father. - -Frederick Watson's eyes met Johnny's. They were kind but stern. He -shook his head firmly. - -Johnny looked around him through his tears. Baba was warm and furry in -his arms. The men stood about; their faces were grave and determined. -Most still held ato-tubes in their hands. Even at that, Baba had a -chance. Johnny began to click in the ear of the little bear. - -"Baba," he clicked very softly, "you can get away, over the wall by the -rock. It isn't very far. I'll throw you as far as I can. If you bounce -like crazy they could never hit you." - -But the little bear jumped to the steel tank top. - -"No, Johnny," he clicked. "You are my friend-pet-brother, no matter -what happens." - -Then, just as if he had been told to go by Johnny, the little bear -walked over to the cage. Captain Thompson was holding a sliding door -open. Baba climbed in. He squatted there and made a little whimpering -noise that was the only sound he could make beside his clicks. He waved -a paw at Johnny. - -"The little devil acts almost human," the old guard, Jeb, said from the -crowd. - -Only Johnny knew how true that was. - -"Better hustle that kid inside a tank," someone shouted. "He hasn't got -any armor on." - -Frederick Watson's head jerked around. His eyes widened. In one motion -he took Johnny into his arms and jumped to the ground. Seconds later -Johnny was in a big hunting tank headed for home, a home for the first -time in ten years empty of a little bouncing bear. - - - - -CHAPTER NINE - -_The Price of a Brother_ - - -Johnny had some tall explaining to do about his lack of armor. He was -in a tight spot, for the less he let anyone know, the more chance he -had to find some way of rescuing Baba. - -Johnny was very careful about his explanation. There might still be a -way. The fact that he had been seen on top of New Plymouth Rock made -his explanation easier. He simply said that he had been looking for a -place to hide the little bear and, in order for Baba to help take him -up the rock, he had had to chance taking off his armor. He said nothing -about Baba and the arrow-birds. - -Being found in the jungle was harder to explain without telling a -lie--but he managed it. He said that he and Baba had taken a route -down that had made them land on the jungle side of the rock. It didn't -explain why they were beyond the clearing, but his parents seemed to -assume that he had been trying to get among the brush where he could -hide from the animals. He said nothing at all about the caves in the -rock. It was a pretty thin story, but his family was too relieved that -he had come home alive to worry much about it. - -It was long past supper time when the explaining was over and his -mother began to prepare a meal. - -Ordinarily Johnny's father would not have been home even for supper. -Rocket day was a busy time for the leader of the colony. But with all -the confusion, the business of the day had to be put aside. - -It was a strangely sad and silent house. Johnny himself was so good his -parents could hardly recognize him. He had showered without being asked -and changed into clean clothes. His hands were perfectly clean at the -table. His mother had hidden Baba's high chair away; the little bear -had always sat with them at table. It was a quiet meal. - -Often after the before-sleep meal Johnny and his father worked on model -rockets, but this evening models were forgotten. Johnny got a book and -his father busied himself with papers. But Johnny didn't read. He kept -thinking of Baba, all alone in the settlement storage house, surrounded -by guards. The whole area was lit up in case hunters should try to -steal the little bear just as they had stolen the marva claws. - -The family sat in silence. Once Johnny saw his mother wipe a tear away -from her eyes. He knew she liked Baba, too. But she liked him only as a -pet. - -"Dad," he said suddenly. His father looked up from his work. "Would -you--?" Johnny didn't know how to put the question he had to ask. "I -mean ... well, the colony's in pretty bad shape, isn't it?" - -"Yes, son," his father said gravely, "it is." - -"The million dollars we get for Baba will help out a lot, won't it?" -Johnny was very serious. "But, without it, would everybody starve to -death?" - -"A million dollars will help the colony out," his father answered. "But -even without it, nobody would starve. There are the meat fruit and -berries to gather and the animals to hunt. But everyone would have a -very hard time. It isn't a simple thing to keep a colony going. It is -very difficult and very important. Mankind is reaching out, son, and -some day we may inhabit planets of all the stars in the heavens. But -only if Venus colony succeeds. It is a big thing, Johnny." Mr. Watson's -voice was serious, as if he were talking to another man. Johnny was -quiet a minute. - -"Dad," he said slowly, "in order to get that million dollars would you -have mother or me"--he paused--"put to sleep?" - -"Johnny!" Johnny's mother broke in in a horrified voice. "That's no -question to ask your father." - -"I've got to know, Mother. I've just got to," Johnny said earnestly, -his brow wrinkled. - -Johnny's father looked at him strangely. - -"Did you really think," he asked in a tight, hurt voice, "I would do a -thing like that?" - -"Not even Uncle Nathan?" Johnny persisted. Nathan was his mother's -brother. - -"All right, Johnny," his father said in a firm voice. "I'll answer you. -No, I wouldn't have you, your mother, _or_ your Uncle Nathan 'put to -sleep' for any amount of money--for the colony or for myself. But you -must understand, Johnny, you aren't the same as a little bouncing bear." - -"But Baba--" Johnny began. - -"Baba is an animal," Johnny's mother broke in. "I know how you -love him. But you have to understand that your father could not do -differently from what he did." She came over to Johnny and put her arm -around him. "We love Baba, too, and it hurts us to give him up. Still -we must. You do understand, don't you?" - -Johnny looked up into his mother's face and smiled. It was a very small -and very weak smile, but a smile none the less. - -"I understand," he said, and turned back to his father. "Thanks for -answering my question, Dad." Johnny felt better for the first time -since Baba had been put in the cage. Now he knew just what he had to -do. It was right to do it. Baba was as close to him as _any_ brother. - -"Do you think I could go see Baba before sleep time, Dad? You know he -won't eat if I'm not there." - -Johnny's father looked at his mother. - -"It couldn't do any harm, Fred," she said. "Let the boy go. But he must -be in bed soon." - -"All right, son," his father answered. "But remember, the whole thing -is out of our hands now. You'll just have to accept what is going to -happen." - -"O.K., Dad," Johnny said. Everything was going to be all right, but -he'd need every ounce of courage he had. - - * * * * * - -A few minutes later Jeb, the old guard, let Johnny and his father into -the store house. - -The little bear sat quietly in his cage. There were a dozen uncracked -nuts on the floor. An untouched bar of chocolate lay beside him. - -"I'm sure glad to see you!" said old Jeb. "Ever since he got here -the little critter's been sitting just like that, kind of crying to -himself. He wouldn't pay attention even when I gave him the chocolate." - -"He'll be all right now," Johnny's father said. - -"It probably oughtn't to bother me so much." Jeb closed the door and -stood there with them. He took off his headglobe and scratched his -head. "But my partner'n me caught one of the little ones once. We -watched it just waste away, crying like that all the time. I always -figured we should have let it go. But then there was always the chance -it'd grow up and be worth a million." He glanced down at Johnny, who -was removing his armor, and came to a stumbling halt. "Sorry, kid," he -said. He put his headglobe back on and went out. - -As soon as he saw Johnny, the little bear's ears perked up. - -"Hi!" he clicked. - -Johnny winked. - -Johnny's father stood there and watched them. - -"Remember, Johnny," he cautioned, "this is just a visit. What the -colony decides in this matter goes." - -"I know, Dad," Johnny answered. - -"I'll be back in half an hour," his father said. "Get him to eat, if -you can. Night will be here in a few hours and he'll sleep then." With -this he opened the door and left. - -Johnny rushed to the cage. His hand was on the latch when the door -opened again. It was old Jeb. - -"Sorry, son, but I got orders not to leave you alone with the critter. -If he ever got out he'd be mighty hard to catch." Jeb walked over and -seated himself on a box. - -"That's all right," Johnny said, and squatted down in front of the -cage. It wasn't part of the plan for Baba to get away--yet. "Besides, -he wouldn't run away while I'm here," he said. - -"Can't take no chances." Jeb sprawled out as if glad to be off his -feet. Johnny turned to Baba. - -"Baba," Johnny clicked in the marva language, "can you get out of here, -if you want to?" Johnny didn't like to talk in the clicking language -with Jeb around, but there was no avoiding it. - -"Yes," the little bear answered after a time. But then he whimpered -again. - -"Doggone it, stop that!" Johnny said in English. Then he clicked, "If -things work out right, you aren't going to have to go to Earth _or_ get -killed." - -"But how?" Baba asked. He seemed to revive a little. "If I got out and -came to you they'd just bring me back here." - -"I know, but they don't think you're smart enough to do anything else. -They don't know anything except that we were up on the rock." - -The little bear grinned. Then suddenly he began to sniff. He looked all -around him, found the chocolate and began to stuff it into his mouth, -making loud smacking noises. Johnny gave a sigh of relief. Baba was on -the mend. - -"Now, listen, we've gotta make plans." - -"But what can we do, if they know we were on the rock?" Baba clicked -through a mouthful of chocolate mixed with nuts--his favorite -combination. - -Johnny took a deep breath. "We could run away into the jungle!" he -clicked. He jumped when Jeb moved away from his box. - -"That's quite a racket you two're making." Jeb walked over and peered -at them from under jutting grey eyebrows. "Well, you've got the little -devil to eatin'!" He smiled and waved at Baba. Baba waved back and the -guard laughed. "It's a pity, that what it is. It's just a pity you're -worth so much money!" He went back to his seat. - -"But, Johnny," Baba clicked, "you couldn't live in the jungle." - -"_You_ can't live _here_--or on Earth. Sooner or later they're going -to--well, they're going to want your claws and teeth. Out there we -would have a chance. Why, we might even find some of the--" He put -in the word 'wild' in English, for there was no word for it in the -clicking language, "--marvas, and we could live with them." - -"No!" Baba interrupted. "You might be killed. I can make the -arrow-birds go away, but there are the horned snakes and the leopards -and rhinosaurs and...." - -"Wasn't that old rhinosaur about to go away?" Johnny broke in. "Just -because you said so?" - -"Maybe," Baba admitted. "He stopped a second. But then we don't know -for sure!" - -"I've got to take the chance. I've just got to!" Johnny insisted. "I -can't let them take you away and use you for making somebody's rings -or a mess of plastic. Remember that song you sang." Johnny tried to -sing the little lullaby that Baba had sung on the top of New Plymouth -Rock. The little bear grinned and put his paws over his ears. - -"The words are right," he said, "but the tune is all wrong. Listen!" -The little bear sang the song that was like the roll of a mockingbird's -call. - -"That's right pretty," Jeb said from his box. "I'd heard men say that -the critters sang, but never did hear one myself. Old hunter friend of -mine said he came on a marva once singing to her little ones that way. -It was so pretty he stopped to listen and by gum if she didn't smell -him and bounce off 'fore he could draw a bead on her." - -"Baba sings real well--when he's happy," Johnny said, and turned back -to Baba. "And you sing true, too, Baba," he clicked. - -"All right," the little bear clicked. "How will we do it?" - -The plan came out in a rush. Johnny had it all worked out. "It's Venus -evening now," Johnny said, "and we're supposed to be in a sleep period. -That means there won't be too many people up but guards. I'll take some -food for me and some matches and a flashlight and some other things." -He paused. "They leave you alone in here, don't they?" - -"Yes," clicked Baba. - -"Do you think you can cut a hole in the bottom of the cage?" Johnny -asked. - -"Easy!" The little bear touched a bar with his claws. - -"Good. When you're out, dig a hole in the floor. But be careful. They -have guards walking all around, and they already have lights rigged up. -The switch is in between the double doors. Get your escape holes all -made, turn out the lights, and then scoot! I'll be waiting for you by -the rock. O.K.?" - -The little bear nodded. "We'll have to find a place to be when it gets -dark," he clicked. Baba didn't sleep as people did, but during the four -day period of darkness he had to sleep most of the time. - -"We'll find some place," Johnny clicked. "Now, listen. I'll try to get -some sleep and I'll be ready in five hours. Don't try to get out before -then. My folks will be asleep and I can slip out of the house. If it -takes you longer, I'll wait." - -"Leave it to me," Baba said. - -They had everything settled and were playing together through the bars -of the cage when Johnny's father came after him. - -"Time for bed, son," his father said. "Say goodbye, now." - -Johnny got into his armor, said goodnight to Jeb and followed his -father outside. In the deep green twilight every building of the -settlement stood out sharp and clear. A cool breeze was coming up. -Johnny looked over to New Plymouth Rock. Behind that towering rock lay -the vast and menacing jungle. - - - - -CHAPTER TEN - -_Alone in the Jungle_ - - -Johnny was afraid. Behind a boulder by New Plymouth Rock, he had been -sitting and waiting for Baba for almost one hour. It was too long a -time to wait with nothing to do but imagine what might happen in the -jungle. Johnny was dressed for the cold night to come in a synthetic -fur parka. Strapped on his back was a pack containing food and jungle -equipment. Beside him was Baba's harness. He was very tired and sleepy. - -He leaned over and peeked cautiously from behind the boulder. The -lights around the storage shed were still on. He wondered what was -keeping Baba. He made himself comfortable again and listened to the -night sounds. He listened hard for any sound of rhinosaurs outside. -There was only the sigh of wind through the trampled marshberries. - -As he listened, his head nodded down on his breast, and his eyes -closed. He wished Baba would come. Maybe he couldn't make it. Maybe -he.... But his thought trailed off into a dream. He was up in the meat -tree being attacked by a rhinosaur standing twice as high as the tree. -Far away someone began shooting at the rhinosaur. Then the tree was -being shaken back and forth. Baba was clicking something in the dream -Johnny couldn't understand. - -"Wake up, Johnny! Wake up!" - -Johnny's head jerked up. The shaking was real. It was Baba pushing -his shoulder. The shooting was real too. Men were running about the -settlement with flashlights. It was hard to see for any distance -through the green twilight which would last for many hours longer. - -"Hurry, Johnny!" Baba clicked. - -"O.K." Johnny said. He was still dazed with sleep as he helped Baba -struggle into his harness. As soon as the harness was on, they began -to run deeper among the boulders. Hundreds of small stones under their -feet made a sound like a landslide. They stopped still, listening. - -The men had not heard. - -"Maybe we'd better go straight up the main rock," Johnny said. - -Baba nodded. Both knew it would be harder work, but safer. Johnny -tested the straps on Baba's harness. There was no time to tie himself -on. This time it was going to be harder for both of them. - -Baba didn't dare bounce, so they started right from the foot of the -rock. In the half light it was not likely that the men would see them. -Even if they did, there was a good chance they would hold their fire -when they saw Johnny. If so, the two of them could still get away. -Oddly, Johnny's fear was gone. - -From below them came the sound of a man moving among the rocks. - -"Quiet, Baba," Johnny whispered. - -Baba stopped. - -Jeb flashed his light among the rocks and up along the main rock. For -a fraction of a second the light was full on them. But it passed by -without pausing. - -"Nothing over here!" Jeb called out in a loud voice. "Dang critter must -have got clear away." - -There was the sound of footsteps hurrying toward them. Johnny and Baba -froze to the rock. - -"Hey, you two," Jeb's voice came softly, "I don't know what you're -aimin' to do, but you'd better hurry up about it. They're fixin' to -mount searchlights on the wall." - -Johnny was flabbergasted. The old hunter was helping them! - -There was a chuckle from below. - -"Hurry up, now. I don't want no more baby marva a-haunting me like the -one I told you about." - -"Thanks," Johnny whispered. "Golly, thanks! Come on, Baba," he clicked, -turning his head back to the little bear. - -Baba began to scurry along up the rocks once more. - -"Just one thing more," the whisper followed them. "Ain't that clickin' -the way those critters got of talking?" - -"Yes," Johnny answered. - -"I figgered it, by gosh!" Jeb chuckled deep in his throat. "I just knew -you was fixin' up a getaway. Good luck, you two!" - -"Goodbye," Johnny said. - -"You are a good man," Baba clicked. "A true friend!" - -"Baba said you are a good man and a true friend," Johnny whispered. - -"Thank you, Baba," the old man said. Then he was gone. - -Baba and Johnny began climbing in earnest now. Johnny couldn't let -himself get tired. As silently as they could, they went on and on. - -They climbed for what seemed an hour. Actually it was fifteen minutes -later when they reached the ledge leading to the cave in the rock. They -were barely inside when search lights cut through the twilight and -began to play on the rock. - -The two sat down to rest, but not for long. Soon they were tearing down -the pile of rocks at the back of the cave so they could get into the -main caverns. They had talked about staying the night within the inner -rooms, but decided it was too dangerous. Sooner or later the colonists -were bound to drop someone from a helicopter to search for Baba on top -of the rock; and there was too great a chance the entrance would be -discovered. - -Once inside the main caverns, the first job was to make their way -through the long passageways to the top of the rock to block the -entrance they had made earlier in the day. It took precious time, but -they had to do it. They almost didn't make it, for as they were filling -in the last stone at the cave mouth they heard the sound of 'copter -motors. Johnny grabbed Baba's harness, and down the long winding -passageways they went, full tilt. - -Soon they were picking their way about the brush near the exit of -the long, damp tunnel. Through the green twilight they could see the -searchlights brightening New Plymouth Rock. Baba was sniffing the air. -Johnny listened carefully for the sound of rhinosaurs or of tanks. -There was no evidence of either man or animal. - -"We made it, Grandfather Bear!" Johnny said aloud to Baba. "You're -safe!" - -Baba grinned. "No rhinosaurs around either," he clicked. "We'd better -hurry." - -"Let's stick close to trees for a while--just in case," Johnny -suggested. Only heavy brush surrounded them. - -"We'd better get to a tank path," Baba clicked, "or we won't get very -far very fast." - -Johnny nodded. He settled his pack on his shoulder and the two moved -forward. Using Johnny's compass they cut through the brush and soon -came to a tank path. It was very still. There was no sound but the wind -rustling the trees. All around them were trees and brush and pools of -deep green shadow. - -The first two miles were the easiest. In the absence of rhinosaurs, -there was nothing much to fear here but arrow-birds, and they would -soon be heading for their nests. Most of the Venus animals kept well -away from the settlement. Twice a flight of arrow-birds came shrieking -down at them, and twice Baba's clicks sent them whirring on their way. -Otherwise the jungle was empty of life. It was a relatively safe zone. -But in order to make sure of Baba's safety, they would have to go on -into an area of teeming life. - -Johnny thought of the comfort and safety of the settlement, of the love -and protection his parents had given him. He had left a note for his -parents. "I am sorry to take Baba away since he is worth so much to the -colony," he had written. "But he is just like a brother to me. Don't -worry. I will be safe with Baba." He hoped they would understand. - -Though he had bravely told his parents not to worry, here in the -jungle, Johnny, himself, was already frightened and very homesick. - -"Baba," he said suddenly, "it's going to be hard being away from Mom -and Pop." They were walking now through the thick grove of meat trees -that edged a forest of diamond-woods that loomed up in the distance. - -"Yes," Baba clicked, "I know." - -"Well, I was thinking," Johnny continued, "that after we find your -people, maybe after a month or so, I could go back home. Later I could -come for visits and things." Johnny watched Baba from the corners of -his eyes to see how the little bear would take to the idea. For a -while, Baba bounded along beside Johnny, his eyes straight ahead. - -"I know what it's like being without a mother and father," the little -bear clicked so softly Johnny could hardly hear him. "It happened long -ago, but I remember how it was at first. I can't bear to think of your -going away. But we will see what happens." Baba turned toward Johnny. -"I think you shouldn't have come." - -Johnny was sorry for having brought up the subject. - -"Let's skip it," he said. "Don't be an unhappy old grandfather bear," -he joked. "Think about the nuts you'll find right ahead." - -The nuts were not really very close. It took a good deal of hiking -before the tank trail began to wind among gigantic trees. Bigger than -Earth redwoods, they rose almost like mountains around them. Here even -the wind did not enter, and beneath their feet was a cushion of fine -leaves. All was silence. Johnny was glad to rest his feet while Baba -gathered a few nuts. Then they trudged on. - -Hours later they emerged from the darkness of the diamond-wood forest -into the green twilight of the surrounding meat trees. Johnny was -exhausted. - -A sudden coughing roar in the distance sent a shiver up Johnny's back -and brought them to an abrupt halt. It was a saber-tooth leopard! - -Johnny heard a slight stir of movement in the underbrush. About them, -birds of all kinds twittered and chirped, readying themselves for the -long darkness of Venus night. They were out of the safety zone. - -Though many hours had gone by, it was still Venus evening. He and Baba -had to push on into the deadly part of the jungle before they could -rest. - -The leopard's roar had come from far away and there was no immediate -danger, but from that time on the two watched every step they took. A -faint breeze blew in their faces. That was good. Johnny's scent would -not be blown to any of the animals. Johnny set his voice to click, -not to speak. He had to try to forget human speech, and talk always -like Baba. He spoke to Baba constantly in the marva language, and Baba -corrected him when he let his clicks become high pitched as Baba's once -had been. - -The meat tree grove was thinning out. The tank tracks were getting -fainter and fainter. Vines wound around the trees and bushes. On the -vines great orange flowers seemed to burn with color in the green -light. Johnny watched the flowers carefully because one might really -be a scarlet ape. Men called these flowers monkey flowers since they -were so near the color of those small apes that lived on the edge of -meat tree groves. As the two adventurers walked, the noises of animals -became louder and more numerous. A large bird fluttered across their -path and went shrieking ahead of them. - -Then there was sudden silence. They stopped. - -Baba hurriedly clicked loudly into the silence, "Friend-pets, -friend-pets, bother--" - -He did not have time to finish the sentence. Johnny was struck suddenly -on the back and sent sprawling on his face. A hundred tiny hands -seemed to be pulling at his hair. He felt a rip of cloth and then a -sharp pain as a small claw cut into his back. Baba was clicking loudly. - -As suddenly as he was struck down, the attack on him stopped. Dazed, he -painfully got to his hands and knees. - -"Friend-pets, bother us not. Bother us not!" Baba was repeating over -and over again as loudly as he could. Johnny's eyes widened. - -Surrounding them were hundreds of tiny monkeys no more than eight -inches high. Scarlet red in color, they sat perfectly still, their eyes -fixed on Johnny and Baba. Sitting high on a nearby bush one of the -little apes held a packet of Johnny's food in its tiny hands. Johnny -stood up to his full height and a low growl went up from the animals. -The monkey with Johnny's packet hurled it at Johnny with surprising -strength. Johnny made a quick catch. - -"Thank you," Johnny clicked in the marva tongue. The monkeys chattered -excitedly. "Thank you, friend-pet." - -"Give it something," Baba clicked. "Oh, I'm afraid, Johnny. They hate -you so much--I can feel it." Johnny knew why. The skins of these -animals were much in fashion for coats back on Earth. - -Johnny reached down for his knife to cut the strings of the packet. -As the knife came in sight a menacing growl went up. As Johnny and -Baba stood there, more and more of the monkeys leaped from the bushes -to join the crowd. The whole path was covered; the trees seemed to -be filled with red flowers. Some of the new-comers were intent upon -rushing Johnny when the knife glittered in the half light. But Baba -stopped them with his sharp, repeated commands. - -Johnny cut the packet open. Among other things, a large bag of candy -was inside. He had raided the cupboard well. - -"Come here," Johnny clicked, as firmly as he could manage. "Friend-pet, -come here." He pointed at the little creature who had thrown the -package at him. Showing its teeth and growling faintly, the monkey -bounded forward. Johnny held out a piece of candy to it. It sidled -up, snatched the candy, and ran back to the others. It sniffed at the -sweet, chattering wildly. Then its long black tongue went out and -licked it. The monkey's eyes widened and it popped the candy into its -mouth, smacking its lips. - -Again Johnny was almost knocked down. He was surrounded, climbed over, -patted, peered at, and deafened by chatter. In a few seconds not a -piece was left. - -But the monkeys no longer growled. - -"Go away! Go away!" Baba clicked. Reluctantly the animals parted from -Johnny and took to the trees along the path. The branches swayed under -them as they chattered among themselves. - -Suddenly, as quickly and mysteriously as they had appeared, the monkeys -were gone. Something was wrong! Johnny's fear returned with the sense -that something was watching him. - -Hardly daring to, he looked behind him. There in the half-darkness, -glowed three pairs of green eyes. Crouched ready to spring, a -leopardess was watching them, her two cubs beside her. How long they -had been watching, Johnny never knew. He froze in his tracks. Baba had -not looked around. - -"Friend-pets, bother us not, bother us not!" Baba was clicking loudly -in preparation for going forward. As Johnny watched, the leopard, -followed by her cubs, slipped into the jungle. - -"You didn't see her," Johnny clicked. "There was a leopardess and two -cubs." - -Baba turned in the direction toward which Johnny was pointing. "We'd -better go back," he clicked. - -"No," Johnny insisted bravely. "She and her cubs went away when you -began to talk." - -"Not _far_ away." Baba sniffed the air. "I can smell them. I smell rain -too." - -"Then we'd better find shelter. C'mon. Maybe we better take a path -over to the right, away from the tank trail," Johnny suggested. "The -leopardess went the other way." - -Baba nodded. - -They trudged on and took the first animal trail to the right. Baba went -slightly ahead, crying "Friend-pets, bother us not!" over and over -again. It was almost a chorus now. Most of the time Baba clicked it, -but when he got tired Johnny took over for a while. They never ceased -repeating the magical words. - -Once an antelope walked by their sides a few yards off, but he soon -bounded away. Shortly afterward Johnny thought he saw a large black -shadow moving in the deep brush. - -They walked steadily and found nothing but brush land. Then, not a -hundred yards from them, a river shone through the deepening twilight. -The shine of the water stopped them. They had proved they could control -some of the animals, possibly even the leopards and rhinosaurs. But, if -a river snake struck without warning as the monkeys had done, it would -be the end of Johnny. - -While Johnny stood where he was, Baba went forward, chanting the cry of -"Bother us not" as he went. When he returned he looked worried. - -"It is too dangerous to try to swim," he clicked. "In some places the -branches of the trees on this side almost touch branches of the trees -on the other side. If we keep on the path, maybe we can find a place -where it would be safe to climb over." The path they were on turned and -followed the river. - -They walked on for a few minutes. Baba stopped again, sniffing the air. - -"I don't like it," he clicked. "The leopards are close again." - -They moved forward cautiously, but when minutes passed and no attack -came they walked with more confidence. The magic formula of clicks -seemed to be working. Though nothing bothered them, they knew from -rustling noises and from cries that animals were all about them. -Nowhere could they find a place where the tree branches made a bridge -across the river. Nowhere could they find a place of refuge. - -The trail began to lead away from the river toward a little hill that -stood in black outline against the almost darkened sky. Big Venus -fireflies had begun to come out, sparkling like so many blue stars. The -two weary travelers followed the path, hoping it would lead back to the -river. It ended completely at the base of the small rocky hill. - -So tired he almost wanted to cry, Johnny sat down in the middle of the -path. Then he noticed a spot of deeper darkness among the rocks. He -jumped to his feet. - -"Hey, Baba," he said, "it looks like a cave! Come on!" - -The two of them hurried forward. A nice comfortable cave was just what -they were looking for! They were within a few yards of the cave, when -they heard a crashing noise from the underbrush and the pad of soft -footsteps. - -A leopardess leaped in front of them, cutting them off from the cave. -The big cat growled low, and two cubs scuttled through the entrance. -The leopardess sat back on her haunches in the mouth of the cave, -her eyes two gold-green lights burning in the dark green of the late -twilight. Slightly larger than an Earth lion, the Venus sabre-tooth -leopard is coal black, marked with golden spots. Her two tusk-like -fangs show why leopards are among the most deadly fighters of all the -Venus animals. - -Baba began clicking again. - -Johnny stood stock still. The leopardess watched them. She looked as -if she might spring at any moment. Then, with a ripple of her powerful -shoulder muscles, she lay down in the mouth of the cave. - -"Let's go before she changes her mind and attacks," Johnny said. - -"No, wait!" Baba said. "You stay here." - -Slowly Baba walked up to the spot where the big cat was lying, clicking -as he went. She appeared to pay no attention to him, but when he was -right beside her, she stood up. She made a low rumbling in her throat -that sounded strangely like a purr. - -When Baba paused, the leopardess made a little coughing sound. The two -cubs, who were as large as collie dogs, came tumbling out of the cave, -their tongues hanging out. They came up to Baba, cocking their heads. -They rubbed themselves in a friendly way against the little bear. - -"Come on, Johnny," Baba clicked. "I think we have a home." - -His heart in his mouth, Johnny walked forward. - -"Friend-pet," he clicked firmly, "I am your friend." Repeating this, he -walked straight up to the deadly beast. He reached out a trembling hand -and patted the ugly fanged head. The creature stood rigid. But as he -petted her, she relaxed and the purring noise began in the back of her -throat. The big head moved around. Her mouth opened slightly and she -licked his hand. She made a little coughing noise and the cubs came up -to him. He petted them, too, and looked at Baba. - -"Come on," said the little bear, "let's see what the leopard's house is -like." - -Together the two explored the inside of the cave with the help of -Johnny's flashlight. It was surprisingly clean. The big cat had dragged -in straw, which was arranged thickly over part of the floor. - -"It sure looks like it would make a good bed," Johnny said. He was so -tired; so much had happened. Trader Harkness and the meat fruit, the -climbing of New Plymouth Rock, the rhinosaur raid and Rick's betrayal, -and the escape into the jungle. Johnny ate a few antelope berries to -quench his thirst, but nothing more. He arranged a place for himself on -the dried grass and curled up. He was almost asleep, when he heard the -big cat come into that part of the cave. - -He opened his eyes to see the sabre-tooth leopard looming over him. For -a second he was afraid. Then, just as a house cat will do, she pushed -her paws back and forth into the straw, circled a few times, and lay -down right by his head, pushing him aside. He rearranged his bed and -lay his head against her soft flank. - -With his head pillowed against a sabre-tooth leopard, Johnny Watson -slipped off to sleep. - - - - -CHAPTER ELEVEN - -_The Friends are Separated_ - - -Johnny was hot and sweaty. He was glad to see the cool dark cave ahead. -It was like home to him by now. The mother leopard was lying in front -of the cave, and the two cubs came running to greet them. - -"Hi, Pat. Hi, Mike," he called. They came up to be petted. - -"They seem happy to see us," Baba clicked as he bounced along. - -"And I'm glad to see them," Johnny said. "Golly, I'm hot." - -Baba and he had just been down the river trying to find a place where -they might cross. Immediately after the long Venus night was over, they -had gone exploring in hopes of finding a colony of wild marva nearby. -But the only diamond-wood groves close to the cave were still too close -to the settlement. The marva must have left them because of the danger. -The two had gathered a good supply of nuts for Baba, but otherwise the -trip had been useless. Though they were still afraid of the horned -river snakes, there was no way of avoiding crossing the river. If they -went downstream they would soon be in the rhinosaur marshes. Upstream -the river curved back toward the colony. - -Johnny and Baba had spent the whole long night in the cave and Johnny -had got to know the leopard family quite well. He had discovered -they, too, had something like a language. It was made up of different -kinds of growls. Each growl meant something, but there weren't many -of them. The mother leopard could say things like "Come," or "Go" to -her kittens. She had a different growl for each of them, though Johnny -named them Pat and Mike. Throughout the time Baba was asleep Johnny had -practiced these growls, until he could talk a little in the leopard -language. He had also taught the little ones to like meat fruit roasted -over the open fire he had had to light to keep warm. All three cats had -been afraid of the fire when he had first lit it. They had soon learned -it was harmless if they didn't step into it. They were very smart -animals, but by no means as smart as Baba. Baba was just as clever as a -person. - -All the rest of the animals now seemed friendly, too. Johnny thought he -knew why. Not only the leopards, but all the animals could talk! They -couldn't say much, but just enough to tell one another Johnny wouldn't -hurt them. And all of them could understand the marva language. He and -Baba talked about this, but they weren't yet ready to take a chance on -river snakes. The snakes stayed deep in the water and struck before -they could be seen. It didn't seem likely that they would have learned -Johnny was a friend. - -Baba was going to go down to the river by himself. Perhaps he could -find one of the horned snakes and bring it back with him. Then Johnny -could make friends with it. If what Johnny thought was true, then the -snake would tell the others and he and Baba could float safely across -the river on a log they had found. - -After patting the mother leopard on the head, Johnny took off his pack -and laid it in the mouth of the cave. - -"I think I'll go over to the waterfall and have a shower," he said. - -"That's not such a good idea," Baba said. "Stay here. I won't be gone -long." - -"Oh, stop worrying, Grandfather!" Johnny laughed. He was stripping -himself down to his shorts. The three leopards sat on their haunches -watching him. They were fascinated by his clothes. The first time he -had taken them off they had been almost afraid of him. - -"I'll take Mama Leopard along with me for a guard," Johnny said. "You -tell her, Baba. Maybe I can growl better than you, but she still seems -to do everything you say." - -Baba clicked directions to the leopard. She was to go along with Johnny -and protect him. When Baba was through clicking, the mother leopard -came over and licked Johnny, making a growling sound that meant she -understood. - -Then with a wave of his paw, Baba bounced away toward the river. Johnny -was happy to see him go. Baba, himself, had suggested that the trip be -taken. It was the first time he had ever offered to leave Johnny for -such a long time. Johnny loved the little bear, and it was fun in the -jungle, but he couldn't help wishing he were home. - -The waterfall was not much of a waterfall. A little way from the -leopard's cave was a small spring high up in the rocks. A tiny stream -of water fell about ten feet making a great spray and quite a little -noise. It made a wonderful shower. - -The mother leopard lay on the rocks below while Johnny climbed up to -the waterfall. Johnny danced about as the cool water hit his hot dusty -skin. It felt wonderful running all over him. Then he walked into a -pool and splashed happily. - -Then Johnny began to sing. With him the little waterfall sang a -tinkling, merry tune that blotted out even the chatter of the birds in -the surrounding trees. - -It did not blot out a coughing roar that came from the mother leopard. -Johnny knew that sound. It meant _come_! - -Johnny stopped singing and looked down. The leopardess was on her feet -now, looking into the sky. Johnny looked too. A helicopter floated -soundlessly overhead, its jets off. - -Johnny looked around for some place to hide. There was none. - -The mother leopard crouched. Her muscles rippled under her black and -gold skin. In one mighty spring she was beside him. Before Johnny knew -what was happening, her great jaws opened--and closed around him. The -long sabre teeth barely touched his skin. - -With no more effort than if she were carrying a feather, she leaped -through the air with Johnny in her mouth. When she landed Johnny's feet -thumped painfully against a rock. Where she was holding him about the -middle in her teeth, he was unharmed. - -Johnny heard the roar of gunfire as the helicopter's motors were -switched on. Still carrying Johnny in her jaws, the mother leopard -screamed in pain. Johnny was tumbled to the ground, half dazed. - -A very shaken Johnny watched the mother leopard run away a short -distance, then turn and spring back toward him. A second later she was -standing over Johnny, putting her body between him and the helicopter. -She roared her defiance at the machine. Johnny marveled at her courage. -She started to pick him up again. - -The helicopter was getting into a position where it could hit the big -cat without hitting Johnny. In a few seconds the courageous animal -would be dead. - -"Run, friend-pet!" he clicked loudly. "Run! They won't hurt me. Run!" -She looked down at him and growled in a questioning way. Her muscles -tensed, and, with a great spring, she was gone. The guns roared, but -the leopard's last bound carried her safely into the brush. - -Before Johnny could get to his feet the 'copter was beside him. Two men -in armor and headglobes jumped out. - -"Hurry," yelled the pilot from inside. "You just grazed the leopard." - -One man grabbed Johnny by the heels, the other by his shoulders. With -one swing he was tossed heavily onto the floor of the 'copter. The two -men jumped in after him. The armored door clanged closed. The motors -roared and they were going straight up into the sky. - -Johnny lay quietly on the floor for some moments; he was still dazed by -his fall--and by the sudden turn of events. - -"That leopard was crazy," one of the men was saying. "I never saw one -come back like that, except for a cub!" - -Johnny looked up into the face of the speaker. It was a thin, narrow -face with full red lips and small black eyes. Johnny didn't know him. - -"That was a narrow squeak you had," the hunter said to Johnny, in a -high, nasal voice. "Two minutes later you'd have been leopard food. Are -you hurt?" - -Johnny sat up slowly, moving his arms and legs. - -"Uh uh," he said. - -With a whine of the motors the 'copter went into a hover. It floated -over the spot where they had picked up Johnny. - -"What in the name of all the moon devils were you doing out there like -that--stark naked and no armor?" - -"Taking a bath." Johnny was too bewildered to make up an excuse. - -The man raised his black eyes to heaven and looked at his companion. -"Crazy!" he muttered. "But, kid," he addressed Johnny, "what made--" - -"Skip it!" the pilot said, in a low hard voice. The black-eyed man -stopped abruptly. Johnny decided the pilot must be the leader. -The man turned around and looked at Johnny. He was a large man, -slope-shouldered but powerful. His blond hair was slicked down against -his head. Two long red scars cut across a white heavy-jawed face. His -eyes were so pale they were almost white. - -"Where's the bear?" he snapped. - -Johnny was struck silent. They were after Baba! - -"Come on, kid," the low voice came again, "where's the bear?" - -"He ran away." Johnny blurted out the first thing he could think of. -"I've had an awful time. We got lost in the jungle and he ran away, -right at first. I lit fires to attract attention and keep off animals, -and the rains put them out and my matches got wet. I've had an awful -time, and...." - -"You ain't seen nothing of the bear?" the scar-faced pilot cut in. - -Johnny crossed his fingers carefully and looked the big man straight in -the eyes. - -"Not since right at first!" - -The pale eyes bored into his. Johnny's eyes dropped down. - -"The kid's lying!" the big man said to the others, and turned back to -Johnny. "O.K., kid, let's have it straight now!" - -But no matter how much they questioned him or how they threatened, -Johnny insisted he did not know where Baba was. - -Finally Ed, the blond scar-faced leader, gave up. He turned to the -others. "You guys search the ground," he commanded, "while I call in to -the boss." He turned and dialed the radio telephone on the instrument -board of the 'copter. - -"Hello," he said, "I want to speak to the boss." There was a pause. -"Hello," he said again. "We got the kid--found him where Stevenson -thought he saw the fire." - -Johnny heard a voice coming back over the instrument. He thought he -recognized it, but he couldn't make out any words. - -"No," the pilot spoke into the instrument, "the kid says the bear ran -away, but I think he's lying. We're going to search from the plane. -Can't send anybody down because of the leopards. One had the kid when -we found him." There was another pause. "No, not hurt. When we're -finished I'll drop him at the colony." There was a long pause. Johnny -caught the words, "if I know that bear," and then there was more he -couldn't catch. - -"That's a smart idea," the scar-faced man said. "We'll do just what you -said. O.K. Be seeing you!" The pilot turned back to the other two, who -had binoculars trained down into the jungle. - -"See anything, Barney?" - -"Not a thing, Ed!" the black-eyed man replied. - -"You, Shorty?" - -The other man shook his head. "Not even a bird." - -For over an hour they searched. While they were searching, Ed, the -pilot, put in another call and told someone else what had happened. He -hinted that even if they didn't find the bear, there was still a way -they might get their hands on him. - -Johnny sat with his fists clenched. He knew they would shoot if Baba -showed himself. - -After an hour went by and the 'copter had gone over every foot of the -surrounding territory, the men had to give up because they were running -low on fuel. - -As they went higher up, Johnny peered out. The 'copter veered Venus -east--away from the colony. At that moment Johnny's heart sank. The -hunters weren't taking him home! Baba would have seen the 'copter come -and go. The little bear would think anyone finding Johnny would take -him back to the settlement. Johnny knew just what the little bear would -do. He would go back to the settlement looking for Johnny! - -Johnny had succeeded in keeping those hunters from getting Baba; now -the colonists would get him. Or would they? Suddenly Johnny knew whose -voice that had been on the radio telephone. The voice was that of the -trader, Willard Harkness! - - - - -CHAPTER TWELVE - -_The Price of a Boy_ - - -They were in the air over two hours, traveling at maximum speed, before -they arrived at their destination. This turned out to be a small cabin, -surrounded by the usual high wall, with a space inside the wall for a -helicopter and a tank. It was a hunters' hideout entirely hidden from -view by diamond-wood trees. The pilot had had to work his way through -branches and then fly for a time between the trunks of the great trees -before hovering in for a landing. A man was standing in the yard -waiting for them when they landed. - -As soon as Ed shut off the 'copter's motor, the man who was waiting for -them yelled, "No arrow-birds that I can see. Tell the kid to run for -it." The man had been informed about him by the helicopter's radio. - -"O.K., kid, scoot!" Ed jabbed Johnny in the ribs. - -Johnny scooted. The lodge door slammed behind him and he opened the -inner door. The large central room was surprisingly neat. The floor was -bare but polished. Some hunting trophies were on the windowless walls. - -Chained on a perch in one corner of the room, a miserable little -scarlet ape sat huddled up, with its chin upon its knees. When it saw -Johnny it screamed and chattered. Johnny walked toward it, about to -click a greeting. - -"Better watch out!" A red head was thrust from the door of another -room. "Ed's monkey is meaner than he is." It was Rick Saunders. - -"Glad to see you safe!" The big redhaired man grinned easily, and waved. - -"Hullo," Johnny said. He didn't smile. If Rick were here, it meant only -one thing. These were the same men who had stolen the colony's marva -claws! He all but glared at Rick Saunders standing in the inner doorway. - -"You don't seem too happy about being rescued," Rick said with a laugh. - -"I wasn't rescued. I...." Johnny stopped. He knew he shouldn't have -said that. - -Rick's eyebrows went up. "It seems I heard something about a leopard." - -"Well, I guess I was rescued--sorta," Johnny admitted lamely. - -"I guess you were!" Rick paused, looking at Johnny. "You sure don't -sound very friendly." - -"I don't like thieves and traitors," Johnny said defiantly. - -"Wait a minute!" Rick began. - -At that moment the four hunters entered the room, cutting off the rest -of Rick's sentence. The scarred-faced leader spoke to Rick. - -"You know you're not allowed in here. Get out!" His voice was low and -threatening. Rick turned to go. - -"Hold it," called Barney, the narrow-faced hunter. "Carry this in to -the kitchen." He dropped a haunch of antelope on the floor. - -His face set and calm, Rick walked slowly past Johnny and hoisted the -meat to his shoulder. - -"Any other orders?" he asked quietly. - -"Yep!" Ed said. "Take the kid with you. Rustle him up clothes of some -kind. Then you can put him to work helping you." - -"Come on, Johnny." Rick put his hand on Johnny's shoulder and started -for the door. Johnny followed him, shrugging off the friendly hand. - -The kitchen was even neater than the main room. As soon as they entered -the room, Rick tossed the haunch of antelope into the sink. He turned, -faced Johnny, and grasped the boy's shoulders with his big freckled -hands. He seemed angry. - -"What's this thieves-and-traitors business mean?" he demanded. - -"First you pretended to be on our side," Johnny answered, "and then -you let the rhinosaurs get in so's those hunters could steal our marva -claws." - -"So that's what you think," Rick said. He regarded Johnny gravely. -"Does the rest of the colony think that, too?" - -Johnny nodded. - -"Take a good look at me, Johnny." Rick touched a cloth tied around his -middle like an apron. "I'm cook and housekeeper here, not one of the -gang. I wasn't pretending anything, and I didn't _let_ any rhinosaurs -inside. I came with these outlaws because they had their tank guns -leveled on me." - -"But why did they do that?" Johnny demanded. - -"Harkness' orders," Rick replied. "Remember his threat?" - -"I sure do!" Johnny said. His eyes grew wide. "I was right," he went -on. "I _thought_ Mr. Harkness was the boss those hunters called." - -"He sure is the boss," Rick said. "He's given out word he'll pay for -any information about you and Baba. Any information he gets he passes -on to this bunch. The gang has to work for him so he'll market their -stolen claws and arrange their passage to Earth. Why he's even offering -to pay double for Baba just to prevent the colony from getting him." - -"Golly!" Johnny breathed. "He really must be sore at us." Johnny sat -down on a kitchen stool. It was cold against his bare bottom. He -looked up at Rick. "Gosh, I'm sorry, Rick. I mean about thinking you -were--well you know." - -"That's all right, Johnny." Rick was smiling now. "I'll admit it did -look bad. Let's forget it and get you into some clothes. We have a meal -to fix." - -Johnny jumped up. With a friend beside him things didn't seem quite as -bad. Helped by a pair of scissors, Rick soon had him into a pair of cut -down trousers and a baggy shirt. As soon as the clothes were on, the -two started preparing the meal. - -As they worked, Johnny questioned Rick about what had happened to him. -Outside of beating him up once, the hunters hadn't treated him too -badly. He was being saved for Trader Harkness. They made Rick stay in -the kitchen and wouldn't let him into the main room except to clean -it up, and then kept a gun on him. The gang kept him from escaping -by a very simple means--they locked up the rhinosaur-hide armor in a -closet. Ed kept the closet keys, as well as the keys to the tank and -helicopter, fastened to his wrist. Rick had been watching carefully but -had not seen one chance to escape. - -As Johnny served the meal to the outlaw hunters, he looked the room -over carefully. When the men weren't looking, he clicked a greeting to -the little scarlet ape. It immediately became quite excited. A plan for -escape began to shape itself in Johnny's mind. He said nothing to Rick, -however. - -After the outlaws had eaten, Johnny and Rick had their meal. Rick -thought it strange, but Johnny couldn't bring himself to eat any of the -antelope; he remembered all too well the tiny antelope leader he had -held in his hand. When they were finished and had washed the dishes, -Johnny was all too glad for a blanket thrown on the kitchen floor--the -same kind of bed Rick had. - -Johnny tried to push away his fears for Baba, but it was a long time -before he could get to sleep. - -It seemed only minutes later when he was rudely awakened by a rough -blow on his shoulder. Actually it was ten hours later, as he could see -by the clock above the stove. Johnny reared up to see Ed standing over -him, a smile on his thin lips, his pale eyes jubilant. - -"Get up and get your clothes on," he ordered. "We're going places." - -Johnny jumped up and reached for the baggy clothes Rick had made him. - -"Come on in when you're ready and don't waste any time about it," Ed -directed, and strode back into the other room. Johnny slipped on the -pants and was soon stuffing in the shirt tails of the oversized shirt. -Rick stood by the stove and watched, sympathy in his eyes. - -"Baba," he said slowly, "arrived at the colony an hour ago. I was -listening at the door when the call came from Harkness. These guys are -planning--" - -"Come on!" Ed stuck his head in through the door and cut Rick off. Numb -with worry, Johnny followed Ed into the main room. - -"Better wrap him up in something," the outlaw called Barney said, his -narrow face twisted in a strange grin. "We can't let the arrow-birds -get him now." - -Johnny stood while they strapped man-sized armor on him and put a -headglobe on his head. He followed Ed out of the door and into the -helicopter. The outlaw leader seated Johnny beside him, switched on -the motor, and they roared away. - -"Where we going?" Johnny asked. - -"You'll find out," Ed snapped. "Keep quiet till I tell you to talk!" - -They flew on for almost an hour. Then Ed set the helicopter controls on -automatic hover and snapped the radio telephone on. He dialed a number. -Johnny saw that the number was that of Colony Headquarters. - -"Hello." Ed made his voice high and nasal. "I have information -concerning Johnny Watson. Let me speak to his father." - -The slick-haired blond man put his hand over the telephone mouthpiece. -He grabbed Johnny by the collar and stared directly into his eyes. - -"Listen," he said, "when your father comes on, I want you to speak -to him. Tell him you were rescued by us and we've treated you O.K. -Understand?" - -Johnny nodded, his mouth dry. - -"I'll tell him what happened," Johnny said. He didn't understand why Ed -was making such a fuss about it. - -"Hello. Hello. This is Frederick Watson." Johnny was thrilled by the -sound of his father's voice over the telephone. - -"Hello, Mr. Watson," Ed said in the fake voice. "We've found your boy -and here he is." Ed handed Johnny the telephone, his hand over the -mouthpiece again. "Remember!" he said in a threatening voice. - -"Hello, dad!" Johnny said into the telephone. "I'm safe all right." - -"Thank God!" his father's voice replied. - -"I was rescued by these men and outside of making me wash dishes and -sleep on the floor, they've treated me fine. I'm--" - -Ed took the telephone away from him in mid-sentence. - -"But where are you, Johnny?" Johnny could still hear his father's voice. - -"Right now," Ed said into the telephone, "Johnny's up in a 'copter. You -needn't try to get a direction finder on us. Rescuing this boy cost us -a lot and we gotta be sure you'll pay us for it." - -"I offered a reward." Mr. Watson's voice was anxious. - -"It ain't enough," Ed said. "We lost a tank and a 'copter getting him. -He was surrounded by rhinosaurs. We have the boy. You've got a live -marva. I figure it should be a trade. You bring the marva to the old -tank road by the river, and we'll bring the boy. Bring one tank, driven -by one man. That's all. Be there forty-eight hours from now. Do as I -say and the boy will be delivered on schedule." - -"Hello, hello." Frederick Watson's voice was frantic. "I don't know if -the colony will--" Ed hung up and snapped off the radio. - -"They will," he said. - -Johnny's spirits had never been so low. Everything he touched seemed to -turn to disaster. The colony was all but ruined. In trying to protect -Baba he had caused the marshberries to be destroyed and had given these -outlaws a chance to steal the colony's marva claws. By running away -with Baba he hadn't saved the little bear at all. The outlaws, Trader -Harkness' outlaws, were going to get him. - -Johnny would not only lose Baba, but the colony, too, would lose its -last chance for survival. - - - - -CHAPTER THIRTEEN - -_Outwitting the Outlaws_ - - -The little red monkey screamed and chattered its hate as Johnny and Ed -stepped through the doorway of the cabin after their eventful flight. -Johnny had noted that the cabin door was the only exit. - -As was usual on Venus, the exit was a double door. When the outer door -was open, the inner one could not be opened. It was just like the -school door. If Johnny could once get through the outer door and block -it open, it would be a while before the men could break the lock on -the inner door and get out. Getting out the first door would be the -problem--but not too big a problem. The outlaws didn't think that he -could go into the jungle without armor, so they did not watch him or -the door too carefully. - -As soon as they were inside, Ed took off Johnny's oversized armor and -locked it away. He then winked at the other men and sat Johnny down in -front of him on a high stool. - -"You know who I am?" Ed asked him. - -"Sure," Johnny said. "You're Ed." - -The big man cuffed him so hard he fell from the stool. - -"Boy," he said, "you never saw me before." He frowned, making his -scarred face as evil as he could. "When you go back to that colony, -you're going to forget you ever saw us. Do you know why?" - -From the floor Johnny shook his head. - -"Because if you tell anybody our names or anything about us, you know -what we're going to do?" Ed asked. - -Again Johnny shook his head. - -"We'll catch you and take you out into the jungle and tie you to a -tree without any armor on, and leave you for the arrow-birds. You -understand?" - -Johnny nodded his head. They thought they were scaring him. - -They talked a little while longer, describing things they might do to -him if he told their names, and Johnny pretended to be afraid. - -"All right," Ed said after the lecture. "Get back to the kitchen." - -"Can I play with your monkey?" Johnny asked. - -"Play with that monkey!" Ed's pale eyebrows went up. "He'd chew an ear -off you. I've been trying to tame him for a month--and he don't do -anything but bite. You leave him alone." - -"He won't bite me," Johnny said. "I don't think he will." The monkey -would be a big help in escaping, if only they'd let Johnny get close to -him. "I'll just go get some sugar cubes from the kitchen." - -"Let him, Ed. It'll teach the brat a lesson," the narrow-faced Barney -put in. - -"O.K." Ed said. "Get bit, if you want to." - -Johnny rushed through the open door into the kitchen. Rick was sitting -at the table with a book beside him. - -"You got any candy, Rick?" Johnny asked. "Or maybe some sugar cubes?" - -"You better not fool with that monk, Johnny," Rick said. "He's plenty -mean, like all the Venus creatures." - -"He won't hurt me," Johnny said. He saw a box of sugar cubes in the -cupboard and grabbed it. "Monkeys just love sweets." - -"No." Rick leaned over and a big freckled hand closed around Johnny's -small brown one. He took the box of sugar away. "I'm going to tell them -you got scared. Only two things will happen if you try playing with -that monk. You'll get bitten, and they'll get a big laugh." - -"Please let me, Rick," Johnny said. He paused a minute and whispered, -"I've got an idea how I can get away." - -"What!" Rick exploded. He closed the door and went on in a whisper, -"It's impossible. You haven't any armor. You don't have any weapons or -a tank. Don't be silly." He paused, and looked at Johnny. "Well, how -were you going to do it?" - -"Simple," said Johnny. "First I make friends with the monkey. Then I'll -let him go and tell him to run around and jump on Ed and the rest. -While they are chasing him, I'll open the inside door. I'll let him out -first and dive through myself. I'll wedge open the outside door, and by -the time they get their armor on and break the lock on the inside door, -I'll be over the wall and gone." The words tumbled out of him. - -Rick shook his head. "Johnny, that week in the jungle has gone straight -to your head. In the first place, how are you going to make friends -with the monkey? Then how are you going to _tell_ him anything? And how -are you going to get any armor?" - -"Rick," Johnny said, "I don't need any armor." - -"Oh, Johnny!" Rick exclaimed, exasperated. - -"They just won't bother me." Johnny took a deep breath. "I can talk to -them, same as I can talk to the monkey!" - -"What!" - -"Now, listen, Rick," Johnny whispered earnestly, "I wasn't hurt when -I came here, was I? I'd been in the jungle six Earth days without any -armor." - -Rick was looking at him with a strange expression. - -"Do you remember," Johnny went on, "how I looked when you rescued me -from the rhinosaur?" - -Rick nodded. - -"Did I have any armor on then?" - -Rick stared at Johnny for a few seconds. - -"By golly!" His mouth was slightly open in amazement. "You didn't have -any armor on!" - -"I wasn't hurt, was I?" - -Rick shook his head slowly. - -"No," he said, "but what about that leopard and the rhinosaur?" - -"The leopard wasn't hurting me," Johnny said. "She was trying to -get me away before the men got me. She was my friend. As for the -rhinosaur--well, Baba and me hadn't learned for sure about them, yet." - -"But how can you talk to them?" Rick asked in wonder. - -Johnny knew he had no choice, he had to trust Rick completely. - -"It was Baba," Johnny said. Then, very quickly, he explained about -Baba's clicks, and told Rick about his three secrets. - -"Jeb said something about those clicks one time," Rick said -thoughtfully. "I never dreamed it could be true." - -"It _is_ true, though," Johnny insisted. - -Ed stuck his scarred face through the doorway. - -"Well, kid, getting cold feet about the monk?" - -"No, sir!" Johnny said. "Rick was just getting me some cube sugar." - -"Well, hurry it up." Ed went back out. - -"Johnny," Rick said, "you show me with that monk, and by the moons of -Saturn, I'll come with you, armor or no armor!" - -Johnny was bewildered. This was something he hadn't counted on. He -wanted to explain that there was a chance even he, alone, could not -succeed without Baba. Just as Johnny started to speak, Ed appeared in -the doorway again. - -"Well?" he said in his heavy voice. - -Johnny took the sugar cubes from Rick and followed Ed into the main -room. As he always did, the monkey screamed and chattered at them as -they entered. The little animal was chained to its perch. A spring -catch too strong for its tiny fingers fastened the chain to its collar -and kept it from getting away. The outlaws began to gather around. - -"You'll have to stay at the table, way over at the other end of the -room," Johnny said to the men. "He's scared of you." He pointed to the -table, which was as far as possible from the door leading outside. - -"All right, all right." The four men seated themselves where Johnny -pointed, ready to watch the fun. - -Johnny walked slowly up to the tiny monkey. As he did so, its little -red face twisted and it showed its razor-sharp fangs. It screamed at -him. Then it leaped out, only to be jerked back cruelly as it came to -the end of its chain. But it ran out as far as it could and clawed at -Johnny, its eyes red. - -"Friend-pet, friend-pet," Johnny clicked very low in the back of his -throat. The animal stopped screaming and cocked his head at him. It -looked from one side to the other, as if looking for a marva behind -Johnny. Johnny repeated the phrase again and again, holding the sugar -out where the red monkey could see it and smell it. - -Johnny didn't have any idea how much the little animal could -understand, but he went on clicking. "I'm your friend. We are going -to get away from these men." He repeated this many times. Then he -remembered that Rick was going to try, too. "You and I and the big man -in the other room are going to escape." - -As Johnny talked, he moved forward. Soon he was well in range of the -little monkey's nails. It jumped forward. Johnny put a sugar cube in -its paws. With a gurgle of pleasure, the monkey swallowed the sugar and -put out its paw for more. - -"Jump on my shoulder," Johnny clicked. The little creature regarded him -silently. Then, with a graceful hop, it was on his shoulder. - -"I don't believe it," Ed's voice rumbled. - -As soon as the hunter outlaw spoke, the little monkey growled and bared -his teeth at him. The man muttered something under his breath, angry -that a small boy had done what he couldn't do. He started out toward -them, and was quickly in range of the creature's teeth. - -"You'd better not," Johnny said. "He'll--" - -The monkey dived at Ed, his teeth slicing into the man's shoulder. The -outlaw jumped back, cursing. Blood ran down his shirt. - -"I'm sorry, Ed," Johnny said. "Let me work with him just a little -while, and maybe he'll make friends with you, too." In his anger the -man had picked up a heavy stick to hit the monkey. The other men broke -into laughter. - -Ed grunted something, and threw his stick at the men who were laughing. -"Come on," he said, "let's play cards." Johnny turned back to the -monkey. - -For almost half an hour Johnny talked to the monkey in the marva -clicking language while the outlaws played cards across the room. He -guessed the little animal could understand a little more than the -mother leopard could. That wasn't too much, but it was enough. He made -the creature understand that when he was released, he was to fly at -the men. He wasn't to hurt them, but make them chase him until Johnny -could get the door open. Then the monkey was to leap for the opening. -The hardest job was getting the monkey to understand that he shouldn't -harm Rick if the ex-bodyguard came with them. Johnny wasn't sure the -monkey understood. - -With his back turned to the outlaws, Johnny undid the collar about the -monkey's throat. Keeping the little animal out of their sight he walked -toward the exit door. He picked up an old boot to use on the outer door. - -"Hey," Ed suddenly shouted, "where's the monk?" - -"After them," Johnny clicked. The monkey leaped at the oncoming Ed. He -clawed his face, then leaped at the other men. He made great jumps by -swinging from light fixtures by his long black tail. Ed wheeled and -charged like a bull after the tiny screaming creature. - -"The kid let the crazy thing loose!" he shouted. "Catch it!" - -"Shoot him!" yelled Shorty, drawing his ato-tube pistol from its -holster. Ed knocked it from his hand, and it went sliding along the -floor. - -"Want to kill us, too, you fool?" - -In the excitement Johnny worked the latch on the exit door, and pressed -the button that opened it. He saw Rick half way through the kitchen -door. Rick reached down and grabbed up something from the floor. The -monkey was jumping from head to head among the yelling outlaws. Not one -of them noticed what Johnny was doing. - -The door was open. Johnny nodded his head toward Rick, who came at a -dead run. When Rick was almost there, Johnny clicked as loud as he -could, "Come, friend-pet! Come!" - -In one leap the little animal sailed across the room and landed on his -shoulder. Johnny and Rick pushed through the door, slammed it behind -them, and opened the outside door. - -Johnny paused a second and wedged the boot he had picked up into the -outer door. The outside door could not close and the safety lock would -keep the inner door closed. - -"Come on, Johnny," Rick shouted. "This way!" He rushed through the -helicopter landing space toward the tank entrance. Rick pulled the -switch that opened the duro-steel door. - -"Dive for the nearest tree trunk," Rick shouted. "They have gun mounts -on the roof." - -Johnny ran after Rick, his short legs unable to keep up with the older -man. The little monkey was riding on top of his head, shrieking and -chattering. As soon as they reached the forest the monkey jumped into a -tree. - -Johnny stopped dead. He needed that monkey. The little animal could -tell other animals he and Rick were friendly. - -"Friend-pet monkey, friend-pet monkey," he clicked, "come with me." For -an instant he was afraid the animal had not heard. Then, with a shock, -he felt it drop down on his head. - -"Rick, Rick," he yelled, "stay with me." With relief he heard the -big man coming back. "You gotta stay with me," Johnny panted. -"Arrow-birds." Rick nodded, and ran along beside Johnny. - -They ran among the great pillars of the diamond-wood forest until -Johnny thought his breath would come no more. His feet were heavy -against the springing leaves, his legs began to twist with fatigue. -When he was about to fall, Rick whisked him up in his arms. - -The little monkey screamed and jumped at Rick's head. - -"No, no!" Johnny clicked. The tiny creature jumped back on Johnny's -head, but he had left red claw marks on Rick's face. - -Far in the distance they heard the noise of a tank motor starting. The -diamond-wood trees were beginning to thin out. Soon they would be in -the jungle of meat trees which always surrounded a grove of the giant -trees. The sound of a helicopter motor starting up was added to the -sound of the tank. The noise of the tank motor lessened. The outlaws -had headed in the wrong direction. The helicopter was the great danger -now. Hiding under a meat tree, with its heavy leaves, was their best -chance. - -"We'd better get under something, Rick," Johnny said. His breath had -returned. "Let me down." - -Rick nodded. His breath was coming in great gasps. A heavily leafed -tree surrounded by brush was a few hundred yards ahead of them. -Johnny pointed to it and Rick nodded. Johnny prayed that there were -no arrow-birds feeding there. This close to the hunters' lodge there -shouldn't be many animals--but arrow-birds were always on the watch. - -As they worked through the brush to get under the meat tree Johnny -really missed Baba. The first branches were too high for either Johnny -or Rick to reach. If Baba had been there they could have easily climbed -up into the protection of the tree's leaves and branches. Luckily the -brush was high and thick around it, screening them from view from the -side. The tree itself screened off the sky. - -Once they had reached the trunk of the tree, they stood wordlessly for -a while, breathing hard. - -"Any idea where we are, Rick?" Johnny asked in a whisper. - -Rick's big, bony face broke into a smile. He reached into a pocket. Out -came a small map of the Venus continent. - -"Not for sure," he said. "But we can't be far from the lodge." He -pointed to a mark on the map. "Once we see the lay of the land, we -should be able to tell." Suddenly Rick froze stone still. Johnny looked -up. - -An arrow-bird had flown into the tree. Since its head was not in -position to strike, it was probably looking for a meat fruit. Just as -Johnny saw it, its head turned toward them. - -Johnny clicked out a sharp command for it to leave them alone. - -As the little purple eyes sought them out, its head snapped into -striking position. But as Johnny clicked on, it moved its head back to -a friendlier position. Its little purple eyes stared directly at them. - -Rick regarded Johnny with wonder. - -"I don't know what that little bear taught you, but it sure is a -miracle," he said. He then reached into his shirt. "I'm still glad I -got this. Did you see Ed knock it out of Shorty's hand?" He pulled an -ato-tube pistol out of the shirt. - -As soon as the gun came out, the red ape leaped from Johnny's head, -screaming. The arrow-bird snapped its head into position to strike. - -"Drop it, Rick! Drop it!" Johnny yelled. - -Amazement swept over Rick's face. - -"But why--?" - -"Bother us not, friend-pet," Johnny clicked loudly. At the same time he -knocked the ato-tube from Rick's hand. - -He was too late. - -The arrow-bird shot with a sickening smack into Rick's shoulder. Almost -as quickly it withdrew its blood-stained beak and was hovering in the -air for another strike. - - - - -CHAPTER FOURTEEN - -_Captured!_ - - -Rick stood rigid, his face twisting with pain, a hand clutching his -upper arm. The greenish bird hovered in the air, its wings a blur of -motion. - -"We are friends. We are friends. Bother us not, friend-pet!" Johnny -clicked deep in his throat. The bird continued to hover, its little -purple eyes darting back and forth from Johnny to the wounded Rick. Its -bloody head stayed in arrow position, but it drifted farther away. - -Johnny remembered that when he had had an arrow-bird on his shoulder, -the others had left him alone. He dreaded changing his command, but he -did. - -"Come to your friend," he clicked firmly. The arrow-bird stared at him -distrustfully, but came closer. The monkey dropped back on Johnny's -head. With a sigh of relief, Johnny saw the arrow-bird's head snap out -of attack position. He put out his hand and the arrow-bird lit on it. - -"Are you hurt bad, Rick?" he asked. The words made the arrow-bird -flutter with alarm, but Johnny soothed it by petting it with his other -hand. - -Rick shook his head. - -"Not too bad," he said through clenched teeth. "The thing seemed to -dodge when you made that clicking noise." - -"I'm sorry, Rick," Johnny said. "You just shouldn't have shown that -gun--you'll have to leave it behind. If they think you'd harm any of -them, they'll kill you, just like that. The monkeys almost got me -'cause of a pocket knife." - -"I didn't know," Rick said. He looked at the bird on Johnny's shoulder. -"Seems peaceful enough now." - -"You better let him sit on your shoulder, Rick." Johnny looked down at -the arrow-bird and stroked it again. When it was quiet he placed it on -Rick's shoulder. The man was nervous and the bird was worried, but they -both did as they were told. - -They waited under the tree while the helicopter went back and forth -above them. Johnny looked at Rick's wound. It didn't look too serious, -but Johnny knew better than to count on that. The slightest arrow-bird -wound could be deadly if not treated. Johnny had seen hunters brought -into the colony sick from an untreated scratch. They should have -brought an emergency kit, but the kits were only carried in special -pockets of the armor. - -They let Rick's wound bleed to cleanse it as much as possible. Then -Johnny bound the arm tightly and made a sling for it from a piece of -Rick's shirt. Rick gave Johnny his wrist watch to wear, since his -wrist was hidden by the sling. After that they waited. It seemed the -helicopter would never go away. Once it hovered almost directly above -them, but then went on. - -While they waited Johnny looked over the map. The outlaw hideout was -not as far from the colony as he had feared. They had to start soon and -make good time, but they just might be able to make it to the meeting -place the outlaws had set before Johnny's father got there. There was a -fighting chance if Rick didn't get too sick. - -Finally they heard the sound of the helicopter landing far in the -distance. Taking direction from the map, they set out on their way. -Rick's wound was less painful now, but Johnny kept his eye on his -redhaired friend. They started out at a fast clip, following an animal -track which led in the direction they wanted to go. - -In a few hours of steady marching they were a safe distance from the -outlaw hideout. Johnny's idea was working out. Several flights of -arrow-birds had passed them by with no more than a glance in their -direction. One flight had hovered above them while the arrow-bird on -Rick's shoulder twittered and shrieked to them. Then they had flown off -at top speed. A troop of monkeys had also let them pass without doing -them any harm. Hundreds of the small red apes had followed along beside -them for some time. Johnny's monkey chattered to them from his perch on -the boy's head. Then they, too, had swung off through the trees at top -speed. Rick had been awed, for he had never seen Venus animals so close -except when they were attacking. - -At first Rick's strides had been long and Johnny had had to run every -few steps to keep up. Now Rick's steps were short and slow. He seemed -to be getting weaker and weaker. They had stopped and cleaned his wound -again at a spring and rebound it, but he was not doing well. The big -redhaired man was pale under his freckles; his lips were set tight. - -Johnny kept close beside him as they moved forward. They had worked out -a path to follow that skirted diamond-wood groves and avoided rivers. -It was too easy to become lost in the dense forest, and Johnny was very -unsure of what river snakes would do. - -Suddenly Rick stumbled. He stopped and balanced himself by leaning on -Johnny's shoulder. He looked at Johnny with bloodshot eyes, sighed and -crumpled up on the ground. The arrow-bird that had been sitting on his -shoulder hovered in the air above him making little squeaking noises. -He flew toward Johnny and then down an animal trail that led off toward -a diamond-wood grove. As Johnny leaned over to look at Rick the monkey -jumped from Johnny's head. - -Johnny stared down at Rick Saunders' face. His cheeks were flushed but -the rest of his face was grey. The little monkey sniffed the wounded -man and chattered something at Johnny. Then he, too, ran down the side -trail. When Johnny paid no attention, he came up to Johnny and plucked -his sleeve, chattering all the while. Johnny looked around. He thought -the monkey was drawing his attention to some antelope berries growing -down the path. Johnny clicked to the little red monkey to gather some. -When the red monkey returned, clutching a cluster of the large berries -in each tiny paw, Johnny took them and squeezed the clear red juice -into Rick's mouth. - -The man coughed and turned his face away. But gradually his eyes -opened. They were dull and feverish. His hand went to his shoulder and -he winced. In the few hours that had passed, his arm and shoulder had -already swollen a great deal. He raised his head. Johnny helped him to -his feet, but when he staggered, Johnny helped him lie down again on a -patch of grass by the antelope berry bush. - -"I can't go any farther, Johnny." Rick's voice was hoarse. "Those birds -must have some kind of poison on their beaks. That wound feels like -it's on fire." - -"It's not poison, Rick," Johnny explained. "They eat the meat fruit and -little pieces stick to their beaks. The pieces get rotten and infect -wounds bad." Johnny remembered that Rick was an Earthie and had been on -Venus barely a year. - -"There's only one thing to do," Johnny went on. "I'll have to light a -signal fire with lots of smoke. Somebody'll see us then." - -Rick shook his head slowly. "No, Johnny, it won't do. If those hunters -come they'll get you again and they're likely to finish me off. You -take the map and go on...." Rick's voice trailed away. He struggled to -sit up. - -Johnny stepped forward, wondering what was wrong. The monkey leaped off -his head and bounded into a tree. Slowly Rick raised his good arm and -pointed directly behind Johnny. - -Johnny turned. Staring at him through a bush was a coal black -sabre-toothed leopard, crouched to spring. - -"Friend-pet, go away!" Johnny clicked in the marva tongue. Oh, if Baba -were only here! The monkey chattered from a tree. - -"Go away! Go away!" Johnny repeated. Then he saw a second leopard. A -third. None of them was his friend, the mother leopard. These leopards -stood almost a foot higher and were solid black. Their sabre fangs were -a full foot long. These were deadly males, hunting in a pack. - -The one behind the bush gave a coughing growl. All three slinked slowly -toward Johnny and Rick on silent feet, their mouths half open, their -white teeth shining. - -"Go away, bother us not! Friend-pets, bother us not!" Johnny repeated. -The leopards moved smoothly forward, their steel-like muscles rippling -under the shining black fur. - -Frantically, Johnny turned to Rick, who was struggling to his feet. - -"They won't obey, Rick!" - -"Run, Johnny," Rick said. "Run for a tree!" Rick thrust the boy behind -him, but Johnny would not leave his friend. Rick turned, pulling -Johnny, and started to run. - -At the same moment a leopard sprang through the air, high over their -heads. A split second later he was in front of them, barring their way, -his gold eyes glistening, his fanged mouth giving forth a low growl. -The growl meant, "Come." - -Johnny looked about. Not four steps away was another of the lion-sized -cats. They were ringed around by the creatures. Johnny tried clicking -again, but they paid no attention. - -"My arm, Johnny!" Rick groaned. He ran his hand over a forehead which -was dripping sweat. Slowly his legs gave way and he fell in a heap -beside Johnny. The leopards moved closer, their mouths wide. The one in -front was getting so close that Johnny could feel its breath blowing -against his bare arm. - -Then it moved too fast for Johnny to follow. Johnny felt the great jaws -close around his middle, and he was hurled off his feet. Frantically he -beat at the big head. The jaws tightened, gripping him painfully. As -Johnny cried out in pain he saw the other two leopards leap upon Rick. - -A few seconds later Johnny was being carried down the path in the jaws -of the monster cat. The jaws had tightened no more than was necessary -to hold him firmly as the animal trotted along. From this strange -position Johnny witnessed an even stranger sight. Behind the leopard -carrying Johnny strode the two others. Side by side they walked, -dividing Rick Saunders' weight between them. One had its jaws about -Rick's arms and shoulders; the other held his hips and legs. They moved -along easily, their heads held high so that his feet would not drag on -the ground. - -Then Johnny saw that his arrow-bird friend was riding on the shoulder -of one of the leopards that was carrying Rick. He heard a chattering -noise, and knew that the little red monkey was close by. - -The leopards were taking them some place, but who could know where? -In his odd position Johnny could not tell even the direction they -were going. But soon they were in the patchwork shadow of a meat tree -forest. Here the leopards had their lairs. But they did not stop. They -went on and on. Johnny kept trying to watch the leopards which carried -Rick. Once in a while he could catch a glimpse of them, Rick's head -bobbing as they moved. He was still unconscious. - -Then Johnny heard a shout and a scuffling noise. The leopard carrying -him turned around. Rick was conscious. His head was turning about -wildly and he was yelling. His eyes lit on Johnny. - -"What's happening?" he all but screamed. - -"They're taking us somewhere," Johnny answered. "They haven't hurt me -yet." - -Rick was kicking his feet and struggling, making it hard for the -leopards to walk. Johnny could see their jaws tightening as Rick -struggled. - -"You better not fight, Rick," Johnny said. "You can't get away and -they'll just hurt you more. I'll tell them you won't fight if they'll -hold you easier." He clicked the message to the big cats. His own -leopard turned back up the trail, and he couldn't see what the other -leopards did. A few seconds later he heard Rick's voice. - -"You were right, Johnny. When I eased up they eased up, too." Then he -laughed in a strained way. "I wish they'd eat us right now and get it -over with." - -"Maybe they won't." - -They said no more. They were coming to the edge of the meat tree grove. -As was often the case, the last group of meat trees was beside a river. -Beyond was a diamond-wood grove. The three animals plunged into the -cool water, and soon were swimming, with Johnny's and Rick's heads held -well above the water. On the opposite bank they dived into the shadow -of the diamond-wood grove. - -As soon as they entered the grove Johnny was startled to see that there -were several antelope walking beside them. Then, suddenly, the little -red monkey he had rescued from Ed was squatting on the leopard's back. -Johnny heard a swishing sound almost under his head. By twisting hard -he could see the ground. There was a river snake crawling beside them. -Its ugly horned head was right beneath him. It was the first time he -had ever seen one. - -Then his heart leaped. - -He heard the clicking of the marva language. Johnny twisted his body -against the leopard's teeth, trying to see where the clicking was -coming from. The leopard growled, and Johnny lay still again. - -"Take the big killer to the healer," the voice clicked. "The little -killer take to the council." The clicks were somehow different from -Baba's, firmer and louder; but Johnny could understand them perfectly. - -Johnny caught sight of the two leopards carrying Rick. They were -turning down another path. The river snake and the antelope took the -same path. But Johnny's leopard went on forward. After a short time the -leopard stopped and very carefully opened its jaws and eased Johnny to -the ground. It turned and walked a few steps away. There it crouched. - -Johnny got slowly to his feet. The little red monkey jumped on his -head. The arrow-bird perched on his shoulder. In a clearing among the -diamond-wood trees Johnny stood in the center of a circle of jewel -bears, their blue nails glowing in the half light. All but one or -two were dark about the muzzle. They sat on their haunches, staring -straight at Johnny. - - - - -CHAPTER FIFTEEN - -_A City in the Trees_ - - -Except for faint animal sounds in the distance, there was silence in -the diamond-wood grove. More marva than any other person had ever seen -surrounded Johnny. Most of them were dark muzzled and very old. From -old Jeb's hunting tales Johnny knew that as a marva grows older the fur -about its muzzle darkens. A jewel bear with a black muzzle was a rare -thing. This was no ordinary group of marva, but a gathering of elders. -They seemed neither friendly nor unfriendly. They seemed to be waiting -patiently for Johnny to do something. - -"Hello," Johnny broke the silence, greeting them in their own clicking -language. "I am very glad to see you." Once started, Johnny had so much -to say the words fairly rushed from him. "Your leopards sure scared -us. Maybe you can tell me how to get to some people quick. Before it -knew we wouldn't hurt it, this arrow-bird wounded my friend and he's -very sick. And Baba's got caught again, and some bad men are trying to -get him. If you could help us get back to the colony, oh, I'd thank -you! Baba's a marva, you know, just like you and he's my best friend. -We tried to find you, but the outlaws captured me and Baba went home -because I'm his friend-pet-brother and he thought I'd be there. Rick -will die if you--" - -The torrent of words was cut short by a marva with a coal black -muzzle. He stood up and raised both furry blue paws for silence. - -"It was well reported that the little killer can speak our language," -he clicked, with a sound very like a human chuckle. "You speak well," -he clicked to Johnny, "but you speak too much at once." A ripple of -amusement passed over the faces of the jewel bears. Then they became -stern once more. - -"You must try to tell a little at a time," the old marva continued. -"But first, let me answer one of your questions, for I think you are -full of questions. The red-furred killer has been sent to the healers. -He will soon be treated. We heard of you and of the wound from our -friend-pets. You need not worry, little killer. Our healers have had -many wounds to deal with since your kind has been in the green lands." - -"You mean _you_ will fix up my friend?" Johnny asked. "You have -doctors?" - -"Yes, little killer," the black muzzled one answered. - -"But he won't understand," Johnny said. "He wouldn't let any of you -touch him--not unless I talk to him." - -"Follow the leopard, then. He will take you to the healers. Then return -here." The black muzzled marva waved his paw and the leopard rose and -trotted off. Johnny ran beside him. - -In another clearing Johnny paused in amazement. It was filled with many -animals. He saw several rhinosaurs with great gaping ato-tube wounds. -A leopard with a cut on its shoulder lay whimpering before a marva, -who was squeezing the juice of some berries upon the cut. Fascinated, -Johnny watched as the marva sewed up the cut--a fine piece of marva -claw for his needle. The berry's juice must have killed the pain for -the leopard stopped whimpering and lay very still. - -Then Johnny saw Rick. He was lying on his back, but his eyes were open. -The two leopards were right beside him, their heavy paws holding him -down. - -"Rick!" Johnny called, running up to him. - -"Get away from here," Rick yelled. "There's a horned snake right beside -me. He'll kill us!" - -"No," Johnny answered. "If he'd wanted to, he could have done it long -ago. Rick, we're safe! The leopards brought you here to get your wound -fixed up." Then he clicked to the leopards, "Let him go. He won't run -away." He turned back to Rick. "I just told the leopards you won't run -away," he explained. "Just watch the marva over there." - -Unsteadily, Rick got to his feet. He quickly sat down again, overcome -by weakness and amazement. He had caught sight of the marva healers at -work. One was sewing up a rhinosaur. Another was splinting up the leg -of an antelope. Rick shook his head. - -"I'm dreaming," he said. "I must be!" - -"Isn't it wonderful!" Johnny said. "They're going to fix your wound, -too." - -The leopard beside him growled, in the way Johnny knew meant "come." - -"I gotta go now," Johnny said. "Goodbye, and don't worry. Let them do -what they want to." - -Johnny and the leopard made their way among the sick animals. Johnny -let out a cry of pleasure. There was his friend the leopardess. The -ato-tube burn was not a bad one, and it had already been treated. -She rose when she saw him. Though the big male leopard growled his -disapproval, Johnny ran over and patted her and her cubs before he went -on. - -"Is she a friend of yours?" Johnny was startled by the sudden -appearance of the black muzzled marva who had spoken to him earlier. - -"Yes, old one," Johnny answered respectfully. - -"Come!" the marva addressed the leopardess. - -The two leopards, the cubs, Johnny and the marva walked off together. -Soon Johnny was in the circle of marva again. This time he was over his -surprise and he tried to tell his story as clearly as he could. He was -beginning to get worried about the time that was passing, and he looked -at Rick's watch again and again. There was always the chance that the -outlaws would try to get Baba, even though they no longer had Johnny to -give in return. But he told his story as best he could. - -In spite of his worry, he had to explain all about men on Venus. He -even had to tell where men came from, since the jewel bears had never -seen stars or planets in their sky. He told about overcrowded Earth and -his father's desire to make a colony. He told about the hunters and -Trader Harkness. He told about his trip into the jungle and how the -outlaws had captured him, and, finally, of his escape with Rick into -the jungle. - -The group of marva listened carefully. Sometimes they nodded their -heads in approval of what he had done, and sometimes they seemed -puzzled. But they seemed more friendly when he had finished. - -When at last he came to a halt, the old marva who was acting as -spokesman for the group arose. - -"You say this young marva friend of yours is named Baba?" The old one -used the word in the clicking language for Baba's name. - -"Yes." - -"We have heard of him," the black muzzled marva clicked, "though he was -not of our grove. His mother and brother were killed. We have wondered -why he was not killed too, since your people feel we are your enemies. -Our observer on Council Rock has watched your people often, but has -seen little we can understand. Tell us why Baba was not killed at -first." - -"I already explained," Johnny said. "His teeth and claws were black. -Now they are blue and, of course, he's worth a lot of money." - -"What is this money?" the black muzzled one asked. - -Johnny was surprised. The word Baba used for money must not be a real -marva word. If only Baba was here to explain! Johnny tried the best he -could to explain how money works. The marva shook its head in wonder at -the strange ways of men. - -"But why do you want our claws and teeth?" the marva asked. - -"To make rings and plastic." But they understood neither the word -"ring" nor the word "plastic." Johnny had to explain that plastic was -the material that headglobes were made from. He explained also that -rings and jewelry were used for decoration. - -"And that is why we are killed on sight?" asked the marva. - -"Yes, old one." It made Johnny sad for himself, for the marva, and for -his people, to have to admit this. - -His answer caused a stir among the marva. - -"I have one more question," the old marva said. "Why did you come into -the jungle with the marva, Baba?" - -"He would have died or been killed otherwise, and he was my brother, or -like my brother. It was like the song he sang: - - "You help your friends - And your friends help you. - It is the law - And will be the law as the trees stand. - Between friend and friend there is no parting - More than the fingers of a hand." - -"We know the song," the marva said, gently. "But didn't you think -these--" the marva gestured at the leopards, "might kill you?" - -"Yes," Johnny said, "but I had to take the chance." - -They asked many more questions about men and their ways. Many were hard -for Johnny to answer or even to understand, but he tried very hard to -be as clear and truthful as possible. Finally they seemed satisfied, -and there was again silence in the diamond-wood grove. - -With a nod to Johnny the black muzzled marva led the rest of the jewel -bears away, and left Johnny and his animal friends alone. A short -distance away the marva again formed a circle and clicked together -quietly. - -Then they called over his friend, the leopardess, the red monkey and -the arrow-bird. They appeared to be asking them questions. Johnny, -left to himself, wondered what was happening. It was all very strange. -Rick's wrist watch said too much time had passed already. - -The black muzzled marva returned to Johnny. - -"Come with me," he clicked, and walked toward one of the great trees. -One of the younger jewel bears waited at the foot of the tree. "Grasp -him by the shoulders," the black muzzled marva directed Johnny, "and -hold tight." Johnny found he could ride easily on his back. The marva -started up the tree at a breathtaking speed. The full grown marva -climbed three times as fast as Baba could without anything on his back. -Down below them the black muzzled marva followed with the slow dignity -of age. Up and up they went, the full two hundred feet toward the sky. -Johnny looked down at the sick animals and the healers. They looked -very small now. - -Finally Johnny and the marva reached the branches. As they came up to -the first huge branch, it appeared to move slowly away from the trunk -of the tree, to reveal a large opening. The tip of the branch was -fastened to a branch above. Two huge snakes the color of the branch -were coiled about it. These snakes had pulled the branch from the -opening so that the marva and Johnny could enter. Johnny could see that -the branch had been hollowed out until it was fairly light. - -Once inside, Johnny's eyes were dazzled by light. The young marva -started back down the tree. In a few moments the black muzzled marva -was before Johnny again. He made a little bow. - -"Man child," he clicked, "welcome to the tree of Keetack, leader of the -council of this grove. May you have long life." - -"Thank you." It was the only thing Johnny could think of to say. - -Before him was a beautiful room. There were finely woven grass mats -upon the floor, and in places about the room piles of mats of soft blue -and delicate pinks made places to sit. The room was flooded with light -that came from directly over their heads. The walls were made of the -living wood of the tree carved with many scenes of Venus and colored to -make beautiful designs. Johnny looked up to see where the light came -from. He gasped. - -Above them was a great cluster of marva teeth and claws, glowing with -light. When Keetack, the leader of the council, moved forward, the -light floated along the ceiling following him. Finally, Johnny realized -what the light was. It was a cluster of the large Venus fireflies. Each -clasped a marva claw in its tiny feet. As the insect glowed, the claw -multiplied the light. In the middle of the ceiling was a hive where the -fireflies lived. Johnny watched with wonder as the flies went back and -forth from hive to light. - -Keetack noticed Johnny's interest. "As one becomes tired," he said, -"another takes his place. We give them food and they give us light. Is -it not a good system?" - -Suddenly Johnny understood. "And the rhinosaurs protect you from the -sea beasts...." - -"And we help them when they are sick or hurt. We help take care of -their marshberries and see that they have food. All living things are -our friends but the killers of the sea." - -"Gee," said Johnny, "it's just perfect." - -The little bear appeared to laugh. - -"Hardly," he clicked. "We have our quarrels too, and many of our -friends sometimes forget." - -"That's right," Johnny said. "The monkeys sure didn't trust those -leopards until after we got here." - -"It is hard for many of them," Keetack went on. "I often wonder what -the rhinosaurs will do when there is nothing left to fight. We are -already beginning to make friends with the killers of the sea. Not long -ago the arrow-birds were killers, and it was only in the lifetime of -my great grandfather's great great grandfather's father that we made -friends with the river snakes, so that they, too, do as we advise them -to do." - -"You mean obey you?" Johnny asked. - -"In a way," Keetack answered, "most of the animals obey us." - -"But they don't obey your little ones!" Johnny was excited. "It's -only when your blue teeth come in and your voice gets deep that other -animals will obey you. Isn't that right?" - -"Yes," said Keetack. "We say a deep voice is a sign of the coming of -wisdom." - -"Then that's why the arrow-birds obeyed Baba and me?" - -"Yes," Keetack nodded. "Now would you like to see the remainder of our -tree?" - -"Please," Johnny answered politely. "It's a lot like the caves in New -Plymouth Rock." - -"Indeed so," said the marva leader. "Those caves served as a yearly -meeting place of the Council of All The Groves. No one tree was large -enough for all to live in while we talked together. Before your people -came to the green lands we had happy times there each year. Now we use -the rock only for watching you." - -"I'm sorry," Johnny said. - -"Come now," Keetack clicked. "I will show you the tree." - -Johnny would have been terribly excited by the suggestion if it hadn't -been for his fear that they were taking too much time. - -The whole upper part of the tree was honeycombed with rooms. Each level -was connected by a winding passage as in the caverns of New Plymouth -Rock. Each was lit in the same way. It was not Keetack's tree alone; -several marva families lived there together. As they entered each level -a marva would come forward and welcome Johnny. He was fascinated by the -little ones, who grinned at him just as Baba did. - -The marva cubs always came in twos: peeking around from the back of -the mothers were always two pairs of bright blue eyes. But one family -was different. Johnny and Keetack entered that level to the sound of -growling and tumbling and scratching. In the middle of the room a small -bear bounced hard on the floor and up to the ceiling where it clung -like a fly. Below it a coal black leopard cub growled in a way Johnny -understood. It was a pleading growl saying "Come." - -As soon as the baby bear hanging on the ceiling saw Johnny and Keetack -he dropped to the floor and stood with his arm around the black leopard -cub. A mother marva came rushing from another room. - -"I'm sorry my cubs were so rude," she clicked, "but you know how much -mischief one of ours and a friend-pet-brother can get into." - -"Of course," Keetack clicked. "This is the friend-pet-brother of one of -ours, so he will understand." - -"Oh, yes!" Johnny said. Then he looked over at the two cubs. The little -marva was still very small and had black claws. "He shows off just like -Baba used to," Johnny exclaimed. Johnny remembered the trouble his -mother had had with Baba's game of walking on the ceiling. - -With that they went on, but Johnny touched Keetack on the shoulder. -Though the bear was old, he came no more than to Johnny's shoulder. - -"The leopard cub was that marva cub's friend-pet-brother--just as Baba -is mine?" Johnny asked. - -For the first time the marva seemed to smile, opening his mouth wide as -Baba did when he grinned. - -"We would say _you_ were _his_ friend-pet-brother," the black muzzled -one clicked. "Perhaps it is better to say you are _friend-brothers_. It -is not strange. Many of us have had companions of another race." - -"But why is this?" Johnny asked eagerly. - -"You have seen that our cubs always come in pairs. The pair is almost -one until they are grown," Keetack explained. "If only one cub is born, -or one of a pair dies, we give the lone cub a friend-pet, a cub of -another race to grow up with him. They become brothers just as you and -Baba did. Without this the lone cub would die. Cubs need the love of a -brother as much as they need food. It is sometimes a very good thing, -for in this way our friends of the plains and the groves are knitted to -us with ties of very deep love." - -"Now I understand why Baba would never leave me," Johnny said. And then -he went on earnestly, "And you should understand why I've got to get -back to Baba in the colony. There may still be some way I can save him. -But I don't have much more time." - -"I can make no promise yet to let you go," Keetack said. "Still there -may be a way we can save your friend-brother and do something more -besides." He would say no more. - -Soon they were back in Keetack's rooms. - -"You will wait here," Keetack said. - -Johnny seated himself on one of the piles of mats and waited. He didn't -quite understand what was going on, but he wished Keetack would hurry. -He looked at Rick's watch. It had been twelve hours since he had spoken -to his father on Ed's radio telephone. He had only an Earth day and a -half to get to the settlement if he were to keep Baba out of Ed's hands. - -A few minutes later Keetack reentered the room, surrounded by some of -the furry bears who lived in his tree. "My friend," he clicked, "I have -a gift from the people of my tree to your people--those whom you say -are making a colony. It is a gift of friendship and a gift of peace. If -the Council of the Grove decides to let you go back, I hope you can use -these to pay for the life of your friend and brother, Baba." In his -hand the marva held a small package wrapped with woven rushes. - -"Thank you," Johnny said, and took the package. - -"You may unwrap it." - -Johnny folded back the stiff material, and gasped. In his hand glowed a -pile of marva claws--hundreds of them! - - - - -CHAPTER SIXTEEN - -_The Thunder of Rhinosaur Hooves_ - - -A worried Johnny was standing in the center of the clearing once more, -surrounded by the little jewel bears. He now knew this was the grove -council, a group of the wisest bears of the grove. Keetack's gift to -Johnny had impressed them all. They knew it meant that Keetack trusted -Johnny. Yet they were cautious. Johnny's knowledge of them could be -very dangerous. - -"It is not right he should go," one of the marva was saying. His muzzle -was still blue, and Johnny knew this meant he was younger than the -rest. "The young killer will return to his people and tell of our ways -and of our houses in the trees. Then the older killers will come with -their death-spitting things and our lives will be gone. I think that we -should hold him here. Otherwise we risk the lives of our people." - -Johnny put up his hand as if he were in school. The marva, Keetack, of -the deep black muzzle, pointed at Johnny. - -"May I talk now?" Johnny asked. The marva nodded. "I won't tell -anything you don't want me to," he promised earnestly. "With these -claws I'm sure Baba can be saved, but I'm going to have to hurry. If -the outlaws get him they will kill him sure. Don't you understand?" - -"We understand," the old marva answered. "But we must be sure of safety -for us and our people. Your people are killers like the beasts of the -sea. You even kill each other. You are a strange people. Still you -risked your life for your friend Baba, just as Baba would risk his. -Your friend with the red fur risked his life to help you. Do you really -think that if your people knew all there is to know about us, they -would not come with the fire spitting things?" - -Johnny was silent. He knew Ed would come. He knew Trader Harkness -would, too. He swallowed, for lying to these little bears was something -he just couldn't do. - -"For those claws some of my people would do anything," he clicked in a -low voice. - -There was complete silence in the grove. - -The marva who was young and still blue furred about the muzzle stood -again. Johnny wanted to cry. He had condemned Baba to death, but if -he hadn't done so, maybe all the marva would be killed. He felt they, -too, were his brothers. He broke into sobs and stood there with tears -running down his cheeks. - -"We have heard our young friend," the blue-furred marva said. It was -the first time he had not called Johnny a killer. "He gave us the -truth because we have trusted him, and treated him with friendship. I -was wrong. He is to be trusted. Let him go from here with his gifts. -My tree, too, will send a gift. But let him promise to keep secret -anything he thinks may be dangerous to us." The marva seated himself. - -"Oh, I promise," Johnny said solemnly. "Cross my heart and hope to die." - -"It is agreed among us then?" Keetack asked the group. The furry heads -nodded their agreement. "Young friend, you may go. Your settlement is -three groves away from us. You may have a rhinosaur to ride. It will -take you home with time to spare. You go with a pledge of peace. We -will send messages ahead and no animals will attack you. Nor will any -of our friends attack any man unless he attacks first. You may tell -your people we will give them more claws for such things as we would -like from them. Every two years we marva get a new set of claws and -teeth. The old ones have been saved from generation to generation to -be used for lights and for tools. You may also tell the leaders of -your people we would like to meet with them. Perhaps we can make a -friendship that will endure!" - -Johnny had a busy hour ahead of him. First he ran to see Rick among -the sick animals in the other part of the grove. There was no question -of Rick's coming with him. He was still too sick from the arrow-bird's -wound, but he was definitely on the mend. He was lying under a -tree, petting the leopard cubs. Johnny told him what had happened, -carefully omitting where the marva lived, and Rick became more and more -interested. Finally Johnny showed him one of the packets of claws that -he had been given. By now the packets had grown to over a dozen, and he -had placed them in a bag made from his shirt. - -"Johnny," Rick said, "you've done a most wonderful thing! Those marva -don't have to worry about being hunted any more. If people can get so -many of those claws and teeth, no one will ever want to hunt for them -again. You tell them that, for me." - -Johnny rushed to give the news to the marva. The first one he found was -the young council member who had at first opposed letting him go. - -"It pays to trust one another," the marva said simply. - -Soon Johnny was ready. The leader of the council brought before him a -huge rhinosaur, one of the biggest Johnny had ever seen. - -"Skorkin knows he must obey you," Keetack said. "He will do anything -you ask, and will harm none of your people." - -"Hello, friend-pet," Johnny said. - -The rhinosaur turned and looked at him with his little blue-black eyes -and grunted a greeting. Johnny noted it. It probably meant "hello." - -"Was that his speech?" Johnny asked. - -"Yes," Keetack answered. "They have more words than the other creatures -of the green lands. Only the monkeys of all our friend-pets come near -to being as smart as they. They are a people, too, of great courage." - -"I know," Johnny said. He remembered the rhinosaur charge at the colony. - -At the mention of the word "monkey," the little red ape whom Johnny had -rescued from Ed began to chatter and jump up and down. - -"He likes you and wishes to go with you," Keetack said. "Do you want -him to?" - -"Oh, yes," Johnny answered. The monkey leaped to his shoulder. Johnny -suddenly had an idea. "Could the leopardess, her cubs, and the -arrow-bird come too?" he asked. "That is, if they want to?" - -Keetack understood what was in Johnny's mind and nodded his approval. -"It is a good idea," he clicked. "It would be a good way to prove to -your people that the animals can be friendly." - -The leopardess was suddenly beside Johnny, rubbing up against him like -a big cat. She looked up into his face and growled in the way that -Johnny knew meant "come." - -Johnny looked at the wrist watch. "We do have to hurry." - -He threw the bagful of the precious claws over his shoulder, and -stepped toward the rhinosaur. "How'm I going to get on?" he asked, with -sudden surprise. - -A series of grunts came from the rhinosaur, that sounded something like -laughter. Then it lay its horned snout upon the ground, and grunted -again. - -"Climb on," Keetack said. - -Grasping one of the long snout horns, Johnny climbed aboard his strange -mount. - -"Goodbye," he shouted. All around hundreds of the marva were hanging -from their trees. They waved and he waved back. "Let's go!" he clicked -to the rhinosaur. - -And so began the race through the jungle. The great rhinosaur moved -forward with thundering speed, the leopardess and her cubs loping -along beside them. When one of the cubs grew tired it leaped on to the -rhinosaur's back, curled up beside Johnny and went peacefully to sleep. -The arrow-bird perched on one of the beast's horns and the monkey -beside it. They did not stop for rain or rivers. Everywhere the jungle -seemed to have blossomed forth with animals, who waved and grunted, -growled, clicked, or sang greetings to them as they went past. - -The broad back of the rhinosaur was a perfect place to travel, Johnny -found. It swayed hardly as much as a helicopter and bounced much less -than a tank. It was not long until Johnny had followed the leopard -cub's example. He found a hollow in the big back, curled up and went to -sleep, lulled by the steady swinging movement and the thunder of the -rhinosaur's hooves. - - * * * * * - -Johnny woke with a start. The monkey was pulling on one of his ears; -they had reached the settlement. Johnny glanced down at his watch. He -had slept six hours. - -The rhinosaur had stopped right at the edge of the meat tree grove -that bordered the settlement. Through the screen of trees Johnny could -see the high grey walls. It was about half a mile to the gate. Johnny -wiped the sleep out of his eyes and puzzled as to the best way of -making his appearance. - -"Go that way," Johnny clicked, and pointed. "But stay where you can't -be seen from the walls." At a slow trot, the rhinosaur carried them to -a place directly in front of the gate to the settlement wall. Johnny -saw that the gate had been repaired. Beside it was a steel door through -which a single man could be admitted. - -"You wait here for me," he said to the animals. "Let me down, friend -rhinosaur." He tied his bag of claws to the rhinosaur's horn and then -walked down the huge head to the ground. The arrow-bird flew over and -lit on his shoulder. It had not understood. "Wait," Johnny repeated. -"Wait, I will come back." - -The rhinosaur wandered a few yards away and began to munch on some -bushes. The leopard growled to her cubs and began to climb a meat tree -in search of food. Johnny smiled. They were good friends to have. - -Johnny slipped through the bushes and trees until only one antelope -berry bush was between him and the wall. The guard tower was directly -in front of him. The men in the tower must have noticed the swaying of -the bushes, for they were looking directly toward the spot where Johnny -stood. - -Johnny slipped from behind the bush and stepped into full view. He -smiled and waved jauntily to the guards. As casually as he could he -started toward the door. Halfway there he began to skip for sheer joy. -The guards were staring at him open-mouthed. Obviously he had no armor -on. He had had to use his shirt to make the bag for the claws. The only -clothes he wore was the baggy pair of shorts Rick had made him. - -The steel door at the base of the guard tower opened at his touch. He -closed it carefully, opened the inner door and then climbed the stairs -to the guard tower, instead of going straight into the colony. There, -too, were double doors. - -"Hello," he said, as he entered. - -The three guards on duty were so surprised they couldn't speak for a -second. One of them was Old Jeb. Before they recovered, Johnny went up -to Jeb. "Would you call my father, Jeb, and tell him to come to the -gate?" It was funny to watch their faces. - -"Johnny, you're safe!" Jeb suddenly exploded. He swept the boy into his -arms and swung him about. He stopped, pushed the boy away from him, and -tousled his hair. "I can't believe it, but you're safe!" - -"Sure am," Johnny said, with a grin. Then he became serious. "How is -Baba? Is he all right?" - -"He's been kind of sad and upset, poor little feller," Jeb said. "But -how in thunder did you get here? Last we heard you were being held for -ransom. Your folks have been worried sick." - -"Oh, I got away from the outlaws and some friends brought me. Please -call everybody in the colony, will you? Tell them to come to the gate. -I have something important to show them. I've got to go back out to my -friends now. 'Bye." He started toward the door. - -"Friends! What friends?" Jeb called. - -"You'll find out," Johnny said, with a laugh. - -"Hey, you can't go outside without armor," one of the other guards -shouted. But Johnny had slipped out before he could be stopped. He took -the stairs at a run, and was out of the heavy steel wall doors before -the men could follow him. - -As he skipped across the open space back to the jungle, he turned his -head, waved to the men in the tower, and smiled. - -"Come back here, you little devil!" Jeb shouted through the loudspeaker -the guards used to guide tanks in. - -But Johnny shook his head and went back into the brush. - -Johnny waited for about ten minutes. All this time the loudspeaker in -the tower was shouting for Johnny to come back in. Finally the voice -changed. It was Johnny's father's voice. - -"Johnny," his father said over the speaker. "Come on in here! _Please!_ -I'm here now. Johnny!" - -Johnny heard a tank starting up inside. He didn't want any tanks coming -after him. - -"Come on, friends," he clicked to the animals. He climbed back up on -the rhinosaur's back. The leopard came running up with her cubs. The -arrow-bird and the monkey, taking no chances, followed behind them, -leaped to its usual perch--the top of Johnny's head. - -"Let's go!" Johnny clicked to the rhinosaur. "Walk very slowly out -toward the big black place." - -Johnny clicked to one of the cubs to jump up on the rhinosaur's back -beside him. Johnny crawled to the broad head of the rhinosaur between -two of its horns. The leopard cub sat on its haunches beside him. The -mother leopard and the other cub ran alongside them. The rhinosaur's -hooves made muffled thunder as he walked. - -A big grin on his face, and waving his hand, Johnny emerged from the -jungle into full sight of his father, Jeb, and many others inside the -guard tower. - -"Stop when we get a little way from the door," Johnny said to the -rhinosaur. The big beast grunted its understanding. - -Johnny and his friends came to a halt close enough to the tower so that -Johnny's voice could be heard. - -"Open the gate, please," Johnny shouted. "We want to come inside." He -saw his father's startled face above him. "Hello, Dad. How's Mom? Did -she worry too much?" - -"Hello, son." His father's voice was shocked. "Your mother is all -right." He paused. "Where did you.... How did you...?" - -"You mean the animals?" Johnny asked, rather enjoying the effect he -was making. "Oh, they're friends of mine. You can let us in. They won't -hurt anybody. I'm bringing a present to pay for Baba and make up for -all the harm we did. Look." He took a packet of the claws and opened -it. He let a handful of the claws run out of one hand into the other -in a shining blue waterfall. Through the microphone he could hear his -father and the other men gasp. - -"Come in here quick," Frederick Watson's voice came back over the -loudspeaker. - -"Open the gates, please," Johnny repeated. - -"But the rhinosaur! And the leopard!" - -"They're friends of mine. They brought me here. They won't hurt -anybody. I promise." - -The big steel gate slowly opened. Riding on the back of one of the -greatly feared rhinosaurs, Johnny entered the colony. - -It seemed that everyone in the colony had heard of Johnny's strange -return. Pioneers--men, women and children, hunters and guards--were -hurrying toward the big gate. At the sight of the rhinosaur, a woman -screamed and the crowd ran, scattering in all directions. - -Captain Thompson, two other colonists and a hunter held their ground, -their ato-tube pistols out. - -"Don't shoot! Don't shoot!" Johnny shouted. Beneath him the rhinosaur -trembled. "He won't hurt you. He's our friend." He stroked the -arrow-bird on his shoulder. "Look! Even an arrow-bird!" - -Slowly the ato-tube pistols that had been leveled at them were lowered. -Hesitantly, one or two of the people began to move back toward the -little group. - -A woman came running toward Johnny. It was his mother. Tears were -running down her face. Even she was finally stopped by the bewildering -sight of her son surrounded by jungle animals. - -"Let me down," Johnny clicked to the rhinosaur. The big animal lowered -his head. A cry went up from the people as the leopardess bounded after -him. Johnny threw his arms about his mother. - -"Oh, Johnny, Johnny!" his mother said over and over, holding him tight -against her armor. She stiffened as the mother leopard rubbed against -them and the arrow-bird lit, for a moment, on her shoulder. - -"Mother, I want you to meet my friends," Johnny said. "This is Mona, -the leopardess, and her two cubs, Pat and Mike. And this is Skimpy, -the monkey. I haven't named my arrow-bird yet." Then he spoke to the -animals. "This is my mother." - -Johnny's mother stood there a moment, too bewildered to speak. The -leopardess licked her hand. Then Johnny led his mother to the rhinosaur. - -"This is my friend Skorkin, the rhinosaur. He gave me a ride all the -way here. Isn't he beautiful?" Then he clicked to the rhinosaur, "This -is my mother." - -The huge creature grunted. - -"Skorkin said 'hello,'" Johnny said. - -Her eyes wide with the strangeness of it all, Johnny's mother nodded a -wordless greeting to the creature. - -Just then Johnny heard a sound he had been waiting for. It was the -sound of a basketball dropped from a height. He looked up to see Baba -bounding along as fast as he could come. Johnny was off at a dead run -to meet him, leaving his mother and the other animals behind. - -The two of them met at top speed, and they met with such impact that -both were tumbled to the ground in a heap of arms, legs, boy and bear. -Both of them were laughing when they got to their feet. - -"Oh, Baba, you bad little bear!" Johnny said. "I thought I'd never see -you again!" - -"And I!" Baba said. - -"You shouldn't have come back here!" Johnny said. "I'll have to punish -you right now!" He grabbed Baba suddenly by the leg, whirled him around -and around above his head and threw him as high as he could in the -air. Throwing his arms around as if frightened to death, the little -bear whimpered and clicked. But just before he hit the ground he made -himself into a ball, and bounced higher than Johnny had thrown him. -Then, on the third bounce, he landed lightly on Johnny's shoulder. - -Their delight was cut short by the sight of a fat bald man who -glittered as he walked toward the crowd. For an instant Johnny was -afraid. It was Trader Harkness. Then he remembered--the trader's days -of power were over. - -"Mr. Harkness," he called, "I've got something to show you." - -"They said you had claws." The trader's little black eyes fixed their -gaze on Johnny. - -"Come on, I'll show everybody." - -The crowd parted for Johnny and Baba and the trader. By this time -almost all the colonists and visiting hunters were gathered around the -rhinosaur and the leopards. A few bold souls were timidly petting the -cubs. Probably of most interest was the arrow-bird. Tired from all -its riding, it had put its head under its wing and gone fast asleep, -perched on the rhinosaur's horn. - -Johnny took the bag he had made from the shirt down from where it hung -beside the arrow-bird. He untied it, revealing the many packets made -from woven rushes. Packet after packet, he spilled the claws out on to -the shirt until there was a great pile of jewels glowing before the -people. - -"Where did you get them?" Trader Harkness' voice rumbled. He was -shocked and pale. - -"The marva themselves gave them to me for the colony," Johnny replied. -"It's a sign that they and all the animals want to be our friends." - -The trader forced his eyes away from the pile of jewels and looked over -his shoulder. Johnny was suddenly conscious of three hunters standing -behind the trader. Ed and his gang! - -"I'll take those claws now," the trader said. The gang whipped out -their ato-tubes and leveled them at Johnny and Baba. - -The crowd gasped and then fell silent. Johnny's father stepped up, but -one of the hunters waved him back with his gun. Johnny saw he'd been -wrong. There was plenty of fight left in the trader. He glanced around -him; the animals had become very still, waiting his word. - -"Friends," Johnny clicked, "stay still. This man is a killer." - -Skorkin, the rhinosaur, snorted. The arrow-bird awoke and snapped its -head into arrow position. The monkey bared its teeth, while Mona, the -leopardess, crouched to spring, the muscles of her haunches trembling. - -Johnny saw the trader's eyes widen. The leopard was not three feet away -from him. Thinking fast, Johnny stepped carefully over and put a hand -on the leopard's shoulder. - -"I wouldn't move, Mr. Harkness," Johnny said, his voice quavering in -spite of himself. "If you don't tell your gang to give their guns to -Captain Thompson, I'll tell the animals to charge. Maybe Ed told you -what I made the monkey do?" Johnny's heart raced. It was a bluff. He -couldn't tell the animals to charge. He knew they might be killed. No -amount of claws would be worth that. - -The trader's eyes were fixed on Mona. Then Skorkin snorted again, eager -to fight. - -The trader turned brick red. "Do what the kid says," he said in a low, -strangled voice. The ato-tube in Ed's hand wavered and then came down. - -There was a deep sigh of relief from the crowd. - -Grimly and quietly, Captain Thompson gathered up the guns. "All right, -you men," he said, "there's a room ready for you at the stockade." - -The fight was really gone from the trader now. His shoulders slumped, -his head down, he shuffled as he was led away. - -Johnny's father stepped forward and embraced him. - -"I don't understand how you did it, Johnny," he said. "I don't -understand anything about it. But this is certainly a wonderful day!" - - - - -CHAPTER SEVENTEEN - -_Teachers Can't Play Hookey_ - - -It was now an hour after the Earth rocket had blasted off on its way -back to Earth. Johnny Watson lay on his stomach with his chin cupped -in his hands and looked down from the top of New Plymouth Rock. Beside -him, twisted into the same position, was his friend Baba, his blue -nails glowing in Venus' pearly light. Near the two friends, perched on -a boulder, were two of the large Venus eagles, watching every move they -made. - -How changed it all was down in the settlement! People were streaming -back from the rocket field on foot and without armor. Beside the -Jenkins family strode Mona, the leopardess, carrying a basket in her -mouth. In the basket the Jenkins' baby slept. Mona just loved babies. -Down in the marshberry fields three rhinosaurs peacefully browsed. -There were so many berries available now in the sea marshes that no -one had to worry about the few in the fields. The marva had left these -three rhinosaurs to carry people wherever they might want to go. - -High in the sky was a faint dot. Baba nudged Johnny and pointed. - -"Here comes Keetack," he said in his clicking language. "We'll have to -go down pretty soon." - -"I suppose so," Johnny said wearily. - -It had been fun for a while being the only person who understood the -marva language. When Dad and the other colonists had gone into the -jungle to talk with the council of all the marva groves, Johnny and -Baba had been there too--the center of attention. When the men spoke, -Baba told the marva what they meant. When the marva spoke, Johnny -had to tell the men what the bears meant. It had been fun being so -important. It had been fun being treated like heroes, but they were -already tired of it. With their new freedom to travel, there was a -whole continent to explore, and hundreds of new friends to make. - -Idly, Johnny watched the dot, that Baba said was Keetack, grow into -a bird with a twenty-foot wing spread flying through the sky. In -its claws was a small black-muzzled bouncing bear. Baba's eyes were -magically good. The bird was a Venus eagle--the marva's airplane. -Before men had come and made it dangerous for them, the marva had flown -anywhere they wanted to go in the talons of these great birds. Johnny -knew that the earliest hunters thought the eagles were preying upon the -bears. It was just one more surprising thing about the little bears. -Johnny remembered what Rick had said when he had arrived home, his -wound all healed. He had really grown to respect the marva. - -"They have learned to live with other creatures, and have taught all -their friends, as they call the animals, to live in peace together. The -meat eaters have their meat trees so they don't need to attack other -animals--it's amazing," Rick reported. - -Johnny remembered how Baba had preened himself when Rick had spoken -that way, and he smiled. - -"Hey, Baba," Johnny said, "how soon do you think we could take a trip -all around the groves? We could get Skorkin to carry us, and go visit -everybody." - -"You will have to come stay with my people," Baba said. Only a few days -before Baba had discovered a host of aunts, uncles and cousins in one -of the outlying groves. Most important of all he had found his father. -"I've lived with you for years and years. Now it should be your turn." - -"Oh, good," said Johnny. "We'll do it, soon as they'll let us go." - -"Look, Johnny," Baba pointed. "Look at the trader!" - -Below, the fat bald-headed little man, a pack on his back, was heading -into the jungle. He waddled as he walked, but he moved straight along. - -"Where's he going?" Baba asked. - -"Dad says he's going to start a marshberry farm--if the marva will let -him. But, gosh, it'll be a long time before anyone will help him." - -"He can always live on meat fruit and stuff," Baba said. "Nobody likes -him, but they won't bother him if he leaves them alone." - -What had happened to the trader and to the outlaws was the strangest -thing of all. The marva had not wanted them punished. They said they -wanted to make friends, not enemies. - -The thousands of marva claws that had been given to the colony had made -the claws quite cheap, so that Trader Harkness had become a poor man; -he had been rich in hunting equipment and hunting lodges--now all these -things were valueless. Surprisingly, he had refused to return to Earth. - -"Venus is my home," he had said flatly. "I'll get by." - -Johnny had to admire his courage, just as he had to admire some of the -hunters who would not stay on Venus. These lean hard-bitten men were -going further on into space. - -To Johnny's surprise Keetack admired the hunters, too. "They are -fighters, like the rhinosaurs. Here there is nothing left to fight. -They are people of much courage." - -Looking down on the trader, Johnny found he couldn't help feeling sorry -for him. - -"Goodbye," he yelled, his voice echoing among the rocks. "Goodbye, -Trader." - -The fat man looked up and waved back. Johnny thought he smiled. - -"He was a real pioneer," Johnny said. - -"Yes," Baba answered, "he'll be all right." - -Johnny jumped back suddenly from the edge of the rock and hid behind -some bushes. "Here comes Mom, looking for us!" - -Baba quickly dived back out of sight too. - -Johnny peeked through the screening of bushes. His mother was riding -toward the rock on Skorkin, the rhinosaur! This hideout was not very -secret. Everybody on Venus knew about it. He stood up, and waved down -to her. - -"I'm coming, Mother," he shouted. - -His mother nodded and the big rhinosaur turned back toward the -settlement. - -In a few minutes Baba and Johnny would be back in school, sitting in -front of a group of men and a group of marva. Baba would be teaching -the marva how to understand the talk of people, while Johnny taught the -men and women how to talk and understand the language of the marva. It -was a hard job. - -"I guess we gotta go back!" Johnny mourned. - -"I guess so!" Baba agreed sadly. - -"There is only one trouble with being a teacher," said Johnny. -"Teachers just can't play hookey." Then he grinned. "Say, I've got an -idea!" - -"What?" asked Baba. - -"Mom hasn't been doing her homework. Let's give a test today!" - -Baba slapped his furry haunches, his blue teeth glowing. - -"Let's go!" Johnny clicked to the two eagles. He ran as hard as he -could and leaped off the edge of the high cliff, hurtling down and -down. Right after him, Baba jumped, too. - -There was the sound of great wings, and the two tremendous Venus eagles -swept after them. One dived at Johnny, its claws spread. The long -powerful claws hooked into Johnny's belt and whisked him through the -air toward the settlement. The other grasped Baba by the shoulders. -Together the two friends flew on. - -"That was fun!" said Johnny. - -His furry blue pal nodded his agreement. - - - - -Facts About Venus - -An Afterword for Curious Boys and Girls (As well as Parents, Teachers -and Librarians) - - -"Daddy, is this what Venus is really like?" demanded Blake, my -eleven-year-old son. He had just finished reading my manuscript. - -I have an idea that among my readers there may be other curious boys -and girls who might ask the same question my son did. This was my -answer: - -The job of a science fiction writer, I think, is to spin out tales -about other times and strange planets, using known facts as beginning -points, and without violating any known facts. In _Venus Boy_ I have -tried to do this. I think I have created a picture of life on the -surface of Venus that is possible, if just barely possible. - -In addition to being a story teller, I am a librarian, and librarians -love to keep their facts straight. The fact about Venus is that nobody -knows just what it is like on the surface of the planet. Since nobody -knows, I could make it all up. - -Many facts _are_ known about Venus, however. Venus is the Sun's -second planet. It is about twenty-five million miles closer to the -Sun than our Earth. Astronomers have measured and "weighed" it. It -is almost exactly the same size as Earth, but its weight (mass) is -twenty per cent less. It turns very slowly on its axis, so that its day -is much longer than an Earth day. Because of a layer of clouds that -surrounds it, the surface cannot be seen even with the most powerful -of telescopes. Thus, astronomers cannot tell just how fast or slow it -turns. A Venus day may be as short as fourteen Earth days or as long as -two hundred and twenty-five Earth days. - -If you noticed, you can see I have kept my picture of life on Venus -true to these facts. I had the Venus day be fourteen Earth days long. -Some of the animals and plants were a great deal larger than Earth -animals and plants, a fact that would be expected on a planet with less -gravity than that of Earth. - -Of course you might think that because of the clouds that surround -Venus, the planet would be a terribly rainy place. That is not very -probable. By using an instrument called a spectrograph, astronomers -have learned that those heavy clouds are not clouds of water vapor. -Indeed, they can find evidence for little or no water vapor on Venus. -They can detect a great deal of carbon dioxide--but no oxygen. - -"But without oxygen, animals couldn't breathe!" I can hear a child who -knows some science say. "Life would be impossible!" - -That could be true. Some scientists, in fact most of them, believe -that life _is_ impossible on the surface of Venus. But remember, nobody -knows what is under that heavy layer of clouds, and nobody knows just -what those clouds are. - -One astronomer, Rupert Wildt, has advanced a theory about the Venusian -clouds that, I think, would allow for the possibility of life on Venus. -He theorized, on the evidence available to him, that, when Venus was -young, carbon-dioxide and water, in the presence of ultra-violet light, -may have combined to make clouds of one form of plastic! I think it -possible that such clouds would be thick, spongy and permanent, and -that they would join together, so that the inner atmosphere of Venus -could not escape through them. According to his theory Venus could be -like a Christmas present--all wrapped in shining plastic. This could -account for the fact, too, that more than half the light falling on it -from the sun is reflected, making it the brightest of all the planets -or stars, a jewel of a planet. - -Under a loose layer of plastic, life could be possible on Venus. If -plant life began under those clouds, then an oxygen atmosphere could -develop. Plants take in carbon dioxide through their leaves and give -out oxygen. Many scientists believe the Earth's atmosphere became rich -with oxygen in this manner. Of course, none of that oxygen in Venus' -atmosphere could get through the thick layer of spongy plastic clouds. -The carbon dioxide that was trapped on the outside would not get -through either. - -Scientists believe, too, that Venus may be too hot for life, or too -cold. I think that the clouds and the carbon dioxide trapped outside of -them would serve, on the one hand, to insulate Venus from the hot light -of the nearby sun; and, on the other hand, to hold in its warmth during -the long nights. - -As you can see, I have spun my story out of Mr. Wildt's idea of the -plastic clouds of Venus. The rhinosaurs heavy armor, the arrow-bird's -bills, the marva's plastic-strengthening jewel claws, all had their -beginnings in the idea of a plastic planet. It allowed for the creation -of some fairly interesting animals, I think. - -While I am on the subject of my animals, I should say a word about the -possibility of animals cooperating the way I have had my Venus animals -cooperate. That, I think, is perfectly possible. On Earth one can find -examples of several creatures living so closely together that if one -kind is killed off the others would all die. In many articles and books -Mr. Ashley Montague has amassed much evidence that shows an instinct -for cooperation is as primary as the instinct of self-preservation. If -we grant the idea of a creature whose intelligence is directed entirely -toward surviving by cooperation, then I think my cooperative animals -are, at the very least, possible. - -Possible! That is what I hope my picture of life on Venus is. However, -it must be remembered that it is only _just_ possible. Astronomers -have envisioned Venus as a planet of terrible dust storms, with a -temperature hot enough to boil water. They have spoken of it as a -place of seas of formaldehyde, hot and terrible by day, and freezing -cold at night. Their guesses are probably better than mine. But I must -admit I like my guess a little better. 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