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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..7101d8c --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #51508 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/51508) diff --git a/old/51508-h.zip b/old/51508-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index fe0edf1..0000000 --- a/old/51508-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/51508-h/51508-h.htm b/old/51508-h/51508-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 27c107e..0000000 --- a/old/51508-h/51508-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1197 +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 The Chasers, by Daniel F. Galouye. - </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%;} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.right {text-align: right;} - -.caption {font-weight: bold;} - -/* Images */ -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -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 The Chasers, by Daniel F. Galouye - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: The Chasers - -Author: Daniel F. Galouye - -Release Date: March 20, 2016 [EBook #51508] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHASERS *** - - - - -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="392" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="titlepage"> -<h1>THE CHASERS</h1> - -<p>By DANIEL F. GALOUYE</p> - -<p>Illustrated by Harrington</p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Galaxy Magazine February 1961.<br /> -Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that<br /> -the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]</p> - -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph3"><i>Civilizations must make sense somehow. But<br /> -was this one the gaudy, impossible exception?</i></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>As the dust drifted clear of the ship's landing skids, at least two -things became obvious:</p> - -<p>One—although they had missed the city (if that's what it was) by -miles, they had nevertheless managed to slam down near one of the -numerous rural estates.</p> - -<p>Two—the landscape would be crawling with Zaortian Fuzzy Tails for a -long while to come. They were still pouring out of hatches sprung open -by the crunching impact.</p> - -<p>Kent Cassidy untangled himself from the control column and plucked -one of the Fuzzy Tails from his neck. The creature scampered around -until it found the ruptured hatch, then scurried through to join the -squealing zoological exodus.</p> - -<p>"There goes ten thousand credits' worth of cargo," groaned Gene Mason. -His stout form was slumped in dejection before the view port.</p> - -<p>Cassidy sniffed the refreshing air that was drifting into the ship. -"Any idea where we are?"</p> - -<p>"After the directional stabilizer blew, we made three blind jumps, all -in the direction of Galactic Center. We could be <i>anywhere</i> between -Zaort Seven and the Far Rim."</p> - -<p>"Hey, look," said Cassidy.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus1.jpg" width="494" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>From the hatchway, the sumptuous estate sprawled nearby, its many -gabled manor closed off behind a high wire fence. Cassidy squinted, but -failed to recognize the bold, flowing architectural style.</p> - -<p>A small, bent figure clung to the wire netting of the fence. He was -shouting at the ship, but his excited words were no match for the -decompression hisses of the auxiliary drive.</p> - -<p>"Humanoid?" Mason suggested.</p> - -<p>"Human, I'd say." Cassidy gestured toward the gear locker. "Better -break out the translator."</p> - -<p>In baggy trousers and sagging blouse, the man raced back and forth -behind the fence—the picture of frustrated anger. However, large, -doleful eyes, complemented by a bald head and huge, pendulous ear -lobes, belied his furious actions.</p> - -<p>Presently the squeals of the Fuzzy Tails trailed off in the distance -and the auxiliary drive quieted with a final sigh. And now the native's -shouts rang out distinct and loud:</p> - -<p>"Quick! From here get you! Shoo! Scram! Or out there I'll come and -apart tear you!"</p> - -<p>"It's English!" Mason exclaimed.</p> - -<p>"Of a sort. Archaic, but understandable. And not at all friendly."</p> - -<p>Mason scratched his blunt chin. "Guess we're not too far off the beaten -star paths, eh?"</p> - -<p>Cassidy could find no grounds for challenging this observation as they -started down the ladder—not until he looked overhead and saw three -suns shining in the same sky. As far as he knew, there were no settled -trinary systems.</p> - -<p>Beyond the fence the native, a wisp of a man was still fuming. "The -hell away from here get! You I'm warning—no closer come!"</p> - -<p>Mason displayed a half frown. "He's sure a sour cuss."</p> - -<p>"You stay with the ship," said Cassidy. "I'll see what's fouling his -tubes."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Before Cassidy reached the fence, his pet Fuzzy Tail came scampering -from behind a bush. It clambered up his trousers and wrapped itself -around his neck. This encouraged the speculation that perhaps the -shipment of Tails could be bartered for repairs to the stabilizer—<i>if</i> -there was a local space technology, and <i>if</i> they could corral the -animals.</p> - -<p>The native grew even more frenzied now as Cassidy drew up before him.</p> - -<p>"Trespasser! Back get! <i>My</i> property this be! Scram! You I'll kill!"</p> - -<p>The Fuzzy Tail uncoiled itself from around Cassidy's neck. Perching on -his shoulder, it fussed back at the native in chirping, excited tones. -It not only acted at times as though it owned Cassidy, but it also -exercised a personal responsibility for his welfare.</p> - -<p>"Quiet!" Cassidy snapped out.</p> - -<p>It caught both the Fuzzy Tail and the old man by surprise. The animal -bounded for cover while the native rocked back on his heels.</p> - -<p>"Be you not just a—<i>little bit</i> afraid?" His eyebrows mounted the -wrinkled expanse of his forehead.</p> - -<p>The nearby hedge rustled and parted to let through a dark-haired -girl whose tanned skin suggested accustomed exposure to the multiple -sunlight. Wearing a belted tunic that lacked inches of reaching her -knees, she confronted the old man calmly.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus2.jpg" width="372" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>"It's all about what, Papa?" she asked, with a trace of an amused smile.</p> - -<p>"Trespassers! On <i>our</i> property, Riva! The alarm sound! Scat! To the -woods take! Or a dead duck you be!"</p> - -<p>"Now, Papa," she chided. Then, through the fence, "Him you musn't mind. -It's only his duty he's attending to."</p> - -<p>From the distance, Cassidy had suspected the man was of Terran descent. -Now, with Riva in the picture, he was certain this world was stocked -either by intent or accident with true humans.</p> - -<p>"We're from Terra," he said.</p> - -<p>She frowned. "Ter-ra?"</p> - -<p>"Earth. The original world—"</p> - -<p>Incomprehension flooded her even features. But her confusion was only -temporary. "Let's play."</p> - -<p>It seemed like an altogether acceptable suggestion, Cassidy thought, -eying the attractive girl. But he went on, "This is our ship and—"</p> - -<p>"Ship?" Then she chased away her puzzlement with a sudden smile. "Some -nice games I know."</p> - -<p>There was no space technology on this planet, Cassidy decided. They'd -be strictly on their own as far as repairing the directional stabilizer -was concerned.</p> - -<p>By this time Papa, his eyes focused afar, had exploded again. -"Charge!" he roared. "After him! Wa-hoo! Away don't let him get!" He -was gripping the fence and straining toward the field.</p> - -<p>Cassidy turned and saw, in the distance, a skimmer vehicle floating -along several feet off the ground. In full pursuit was a shouting youth -who paused occasionally to seize a rock and hurl it at the craft.</p> - -<p>The old man turned toward his daughter. "A good chase that be. Bet he -wins."</p> - -<p>"Not a chance." The girl frowned. "That be Nedal. Not so swift is he. -Loses interest too quick, he does."</p> - -<p>She surveyed Cassidy. "Be you a chaser?"</p> - -<p>"No, but I could do with a couple of stiff shots."</p> - -<p>This drew Papa's attention back to the matter at hand. "Trespassers! -The road hit! Scat! Some dust kick up!"</p> - -<p>"Quiet!" Cassidy shouted. "Will you listen a minute? I—"</p> - -<p>Two loyal Fuzzy Tails came charging up to the fence and added their -raucous chatter to Papa's screeching diatribe, which had continued -unchecked despite Cassidy's loud, desperate plea.</p> - -<p>In the next instant, though, it seemed that a dam had burst overhead. -Materializing from nowhere, at least a ton of water poured down on the -agile-tongued native, the two Fuzzy Tails, Riva and Cassidy himself, -bringing an abrupt end to all the commotion.</p> - -<p>The animals streaked for the safety of the bushes while Papa and the -girl dived back through the hedge. Bedraggled, Cassidy headed for the -ship, wondering what sort of meteorological quirk he had encountered.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"No, sir," he said some time later as he attacked the directional -selector with pliers and a screwdriver, "I don't like the setup. I -don't like it worth a damn."</p> - -<p>Mason traced the power lead to the junction box beside the hatch. -"Maybe they aren't <i>all</i> like that."</p> - -<p>"In this sort of place, chances are that the first people you run into -are typical. I'm afraid—"</p> - -<p>"Say!" Mason interrupted, staring outside. "Look at this!"</p> - -<p>Cassidy went over to the hatch and watched a dozen or so men sprinting -across the field, their voices rising in excited waves. A lithe young -woman was in full flight before them. But she was screaming in delight -as she turned now and then to beckon them on. One overtook her and -brought her down with a waist tackle. She rebounded to her feet, -however, and took off again.</p> - -<p>Two of the pursuers collided and sprawled on the ground. They sprang -up and tore into each other. Unconcerned with the personal dispute, -the chase struck off in a new direction, heading toward the ship as it -paralleled one of the nearby fenced-in estates.</p> - -<p>Behind the wire mesh, a burly young man came charging down the main -steps of the manor and raced along with the others.</p> - -<p>"That be the way!" he yelled encouragement. "Her go get! It's gaining -you are! Hurry!"</p> - -<p>He drew up in time to avoid crashing into the side fence, then stood -there watching the chase recede in the distance.</p> - -<p>Within a hundred feet of the ship, one of the men fell out of the -group, panting. He squinted at the vessel, then crept forward, circling -to the right. Within arm's reach, he walked back and forth alongside -the hull, giving it a close inspection. Finally he paused and fumbled -with his clothes.</p> - -<p>Cassidy started. "Look what he's doing!"</p> - -<p>"Against the side of the ship, too!" said Mason.</p> - -<p>Hearing them, the native jerked his head up toward the hatch, then -backed off for a better view.</p> - -<p>"Stinkers!" he yelled, shaking his fist. "Out here come and fight! Take -you both on I can!"</p> - -<p>When they only gaped, he whirled and sped off to rejoin the chase.</p> - -<p>"You see?" said Cassidy. "Now what do you think?"</p> - -<p>"I think we'd better get that directional stabilizer working."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>It took more than an hour to locate the trouble. "The rectifier -circuit's shot," Cassidy said finally. "But maybe we can patch -it up. Some of the amplifiers I suppose we can do without. But a -hyper-oscillator we've got to have."</p> - -<p>"Say, you're doing it too," said Mason.</p> - -<p>"What?"</p> - -<p>"Talking like the natives."</p> - -<p>Cassidy looked up. "Guess it's something that grows on you. Well, what -do we do now?"</p> - -<p>"Maybe the natives can help us."</p> - -<p>"If they don't even know where they're from, they probably left their -volts and amps behind too. But that's only an assumption."</p> - -<p>"In that case," Mason said with a sigh, "there's only one thing left to -do—take Riva up on her invitation to, ah, play."</p> - -<p>"Funny," Cassidy grunted, heading for the hatch.</p> - -<p>"I was only joking."</p> - -<p>"I'm not. If we can get in that house, we'll know for sure whether or -not they've developed electronic devices."</p> - -<p>Halfway across the field, they were almost run down by the laughing -girl and her retinue of galloping suitors, if that's what they were. -She was a well-proportioned blonde whose wind-frothed tresses suggested -a nymph in flight.</p> - -<p>At the fence, they were confronted by Riva, who smiled up at Cassidy -and said, "You I was just going to come and get. Ready to play yet you -are?"</p> - -<p>He looked away and cleared his throat. "Not quite, Riva. We'd like to -visit your house."</p> - -<p>"It's some interesting games I know. Enjoying them you'd surely be." -Her smile, revealing even teeth that contrasted ruddy cheeks, was as -persistent as her intent on playing.</p> - -<p>Staring at the girl, Cassidy wrestled with a pang of wistful envy over -the Olympian life he had witnessed thus far on this world. Maybe they -were all irresponsible and childlike. But was that bad?</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Mason pointed in alarm toward the meadow in front of the next estate. -An ominous-looking, furry thing, supported on six or eight spindly -legs, was racing across their field of vision.</p> - -<p>"Hurt you he won't," the girl assured them, noticing their -apprehension. "Nothing to be afraid of there is."</p> - -<p>"<i>What</i> is it?" Cassidy was still trying to determine whether it was an -overgrown spider or a dry-land octopus.</p> - -<p>"Look!" Mason exclaimed. "It's on a leash!"</p> - -<p>And Cassidy noticed the thong that extended from the creature to the -human who was running along behind it.</p> - -<p>"To Wolruf he belongs," the girl explained. "One of them I can get for -you too—if you want."</p> - -<p>Her slender hand reached out through the fence and tugged at Cassidy's -sleeve. "To chase me wouldn't you like?" she asked, pouting.</p> - -<p>Glancing behind her, Cassidy spotted the girl's father bearing down on -them in a sprint that was nothing short of phenomenal for his age. He -began shouting with the last few strides and was in full lung when he -hurled himself at the fence. "Git! Out! Away! I'll—"</p> - -<p>Riva moved back and glanced overhead and Papa, seeing some hidden -significance in her gesture, lowered his voice.</p> - -<p>"You I'll tear into and apart I'll rip!" he went on in a menacing -whisper. "Your limbs I'll scatter like—"</p> - -<p>"Papa, it's not afraid of you they are."</p> - -<p>"They're <i>not</i>?" He was disappointed.</p> - -<p>"The house they want to come in and see."</p> - -<p>He began working up a rage again, but caught himself and looked up into -his daughter's face. "Mean you—<i>my</i> house they want to see?"</p> - -<p>When she nodded Papa seized the lowest strand of wire and lifted the -fence high enough for Cassidy and Mason to crawl under. "Why, arranged -it can be, I think."</p> - -<p>Its architectural prominences rendered shadowless in the tri-solar -light, the manor was even more imposing close at hand. Of stone -construction, it flaunted millwork and beams whose rich carvings would -have been welcome on any mansion in the known Galaxy.</p> - -<p>Mounting the steps, Mason observed, "Nice little layout they've got -here."</p> - -<p>Riva moved closer to Cassidy. "Inside is cozy," she said behind a coy -smile. "Play we can <i>really</i> in there."</p> - -<p>Papa had been at the door for some time, fumbling with the lock. In a -burst of impatience, he drew off and gave it a solid kick. Then he went -back and tried rattling the handle. After a while there was a click and -it swung open.</p> - -<p>Cassidy followed him into a blaze of iridescent color and unfamiliar -form. The huge, circular room was like a vast diorama and it was -impossible to tell exactly where the solid objects blended in with the -jumbled geometric pattern of the wall.</p> - -<p>He walked across a carpet of undulant fibers that reached well above -his ankles. And he tripped across a padded, Z-shaped slab that -protruded from the wall but slithered into a U and retracted as soon as -it received the burden of his weight.</p> - -<p>Laughing, Riva helped him up and he paused for a closer visual -inspection of his outlandish surroundings. Objects of weird shapes and -unguessable purposes hung from the ceiling, some changing form and -size as he watched. Scattered about were articles of furniture (he -guessed) that resembled giant starfish supported at their centers and -extremities by coiled springs. Only, each arm was shaped like a trough -that ran into the bowl-like central depression of the piece.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>A gleeful scream sounded behind them and Papa went tearing by. With -a running leap, he landed on an arm of one of the starfish. Its -supporting spring contracted under the weight, then catapulted him -ceilingward. When he came down again, it was on an arm of another -starfish, then another.</p> - -<p>The fourth collapsed, depositing him on the floor, and its spring -went twanging across the room. Struggling to his feet, he staggered -into something resembling a clothes tree, knocked it over and sprawled -beside it.</p> - -<p>He roared with delight as he snapped the stem of the thing across his -knee and hurled the pieces at the ceiling. They scored direct hits on -one of the bulky objects suspended overhead and it came crashing down -with a twinkling roar amid a shower of sparks.</p> - -<p>"Yow-ee!" he exuberated. "So much fun I never had!"</p> - -<p>Riva helped him up. "Papa, it's control yourself you must. The last -time—remember?"</p> - -<p>But he only shook her off and went bounding through an archway. His -hectic progress through the house was punctuated by sounds of crashing -destruction.</p> - -<p>"Honestly," Riva said, spreading her hands, "what to do with him I -don't know."</p> - -<p>Cassidy continued staring in the direction the old man had gone. "He's -wrecking the place!"</p> - -<p>"That he is," she admitted sighing. "And such a nice joint it be, too."</p> - -<p>"He's just plain nuts!" said Mason.</p> - -<p>Riva smiled. "But it's <i>so</i> much fun he has."</p> - -<p>Cassidy moved away to get a better view of a silvery gray screen set -in the wall and flanked by twin rows of dials and knobs.</p> - -<p>"You got stereovision, Riva?" he asked.</p> - -<p>Mason went over and twisted several of the controls until a soft light -began suffusing the screen.</p> - -<p>"Ster-eo-what?" the girl asked.</p> - -<p>"Video, television—pictures with sound."</p> - -<p>Her face brightened. "Pictures we got—sounds too. Right in that little -window."</p> - -<p>Just then Papa, uninhibited as ever, came storming back into the room -with a lusty "Ya-hoo!" He lost his footing and crashed against the -screen. Sparks shot out and the picture that was beginning to take -shape faded into obscurity.</p> - -<p>"It that settles, Papa!" Riva said, exasperated. "Outside I'm going and -for what happens to you I'm not responsible!"</p> - -<p>At the door, she paused and smiled at Cassidy. "It'll have to be out -there that we play, but no less fun will we have. Put on my best -cavorting clothes I'm going to."</p> - -<p>Mason turned the knobs again, but produced nothing more than the smell -of burning insulation and a few snickers from Papa.</p> - -<p>"At least," Cassidy observed, "they evidently do know something about -electronics. All we have to do now is run down one of the technicians -and we might get the parts we need for the stabilizer."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Outside Mason dropped down on the steps and sat with his shoulders -slumping. "Damnedest thing I've ever seen," he mumbled.</p> - -<p>Cassidy paced to the edge of the porch and stared out over the field. A -monstrous skimmer craft appeared in the distance, floating over toward -what seemed to be a pile of trash in front of one of the estates. Twin -beams of crimson light darted from the nose of the vehicle and played -over the mound. In seconds, the heap had melted away and the skimmer -floated on.</p> - -<p>Wolruf was still walking his octopus-spider pet. There were now two -packs of youths out chasing girls. And another skimmer car was having -no difficulty surviving the stone-throwing assault of not one, but two -dedicated pursuers. Outside of that, Cassidy noted, things appeared -quite normal.</p> - -<p>Mason slapped his thighs and rose. "You go see if Riva knows how we can -contact the authorities. I'm going back and stay with the ship."</p> - -<p>Cassidy watched him crawl under the fence, then went around the side of -the house. When he caught sight of the girl, she was just disappearing -into a smaller structure that might have been a guest house or garage.</p> - -<p>Following, he knocked on the door and called out her name anxiously.</p> - -<p>"To play are you ready?" There was an eager note in her voice as it -came through the panel. "In come on. It's all set I'll be in a jiffy."</p> - -<p>He turned the knob, stepped half into the room, lurched back outside -and slammed the door behind him. "<i>Riva!</i>"</p> - -<p>The door started to open, then closed again as the girl laughed. "Oh, -all right. Funny you be. It's to play you want, don't you?"</p> - -<p>He assured her that he did and added, "But there's something we have to -talk about now, Riva."</p> - -<p>"Talk, talk, talk. And it gets you where? Only wastes time, it does."</p> - -<p>A moment later the door opened and she stood there smiling, with legs -apart and hands on her hips. But he hardly had time to react to the -skimpiness of her halter and skirt.</p> - -<p>"Now," she urged as she sprang up on her toes and kissed him full on -the lips, "like a chaser make! To the races we're off!"</p> - -<p>With that, she whirled and went streaking through the next room.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>He surveyed his surroundings. It was an ordinary bedroom with -conventional furnishings—perhaps a bit crude even for a -culture without any space technology. But, then, it didn't seem -uncharacteristic, considering the circumstances.</p> - -<p>Recognizing the contrast between this guest house and the manor, he -frowned as he started off in search of the girl. A worrisome suspicion -dogged his thoughts—there had to be sense to Riva and her father and -this sumptuous estate, natives who made sport of chasing skimmer craft -and voluptuous women when they weren't otherwise indiscreetly occupied. -But what?</p> - -<p>In the kitchen, he discovered Riva's shapely leg protruding from behind -a cabinet. He suspected the exposure was not as accidental as she -wanted him to believe. He was certain of that when, as he seized her -ankle, she crawled out laughing.</p> - -<p>Now she stood before him, unsmiling and impatient, and her slender arms -reached out for his shoulders.</p> - -<p>"Riva, this is serious!" He forced her hands down again. "I'm in -trouble. I need help."</p> - -<p>"It's to help you I've been trying all along."</p> - -<p>"I've got to get in touch with the authorities—your government."</p> - -<p>She looked blank.</p> - -<p>He simplified it, "Your leaders."</p> - -<p>"Oh, it's easy that is. There be Aline and Clio and Leah and—but that -Leah! It's the cake she takes! Thirty chasers she led on the best -drag-out of all. Two whole days it lasted!"</p> - -<p>"No, Riva! Not <i>that</i> kind of leader. I mean—well, someone who gets -things done. The kind who gets behind things and—"</p> - -<p>"That be Leanc. Behind those floating cars he's getting all the time. -And how he can throw so many rocks I'll never know!"</p> - -<p>He mussed his hair in frustration, then composed himself. "How do I get -to the city?"</p> - -<p>"That crowded place with all the big houses?" When he nodded, she went -on, "It's never been there I have. <i>Now</i> we play?"</p> - -<p>He drew in a hopeless breath. "All right. Now we play. You go hide."</p> - -<p>She radiated a warm eagerness as she initiated the game all over again -with a kiss and then went sprinting toward the front of the house. He -watched her disappear through the next room, then went out the nearest -door, heading for the fence and his ship beyond. It had required no -small degree of restraint not to go racing off after her.</p> - -<p>At the corner of the manor he was bowled over by a shouting Papa who -was in full flight as he shot out around a hedge, heading for the guest -house.</p> - -<p>"All your fault it is!" he cried, recovering his balance and plunging -on. "You it be who caused this! that I'll remember!"</p> - -<p>Cassidy sat up, arms resting on his updrawn knees, and stared after the -old man.</p> - -<p>"Ow! Riva! Ouch!" Papa clutched his rear as he neared the cottage. -"Help! Oh, my aching back!"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Cassidy found Mason frozen in the shadow of the ship, fascinated by -another girl chase that was in progress nearby.</p> - -<p>The swirl of action swerved toward him and Mason tensed, shifting from -one foot to the other. With the wind pressing her clothes in revealing -tightness about her, the flaxen-haired sprite swept past and he lunged -for her.</p> - -<p>"Mason!" Cassidy shouted.</p> - -<p>"Seemed like a good idea," Mason explained, checking himself. "Wonder -what it takes to get in on that chase."</p> - -<p>Cassidy forced a fetching thought of Riva out of his mind. "What we -ought to be wondering is how soon we can blast off."</p> - -<p>"But if we get spaceborne before the stabilizer's working, we'll only -be floundering around again."</p> - -<p>Cassidy started for the ladder. "There's one thing we <i>can</i> do—patch -up the hatches and jump over to another spot on this planet. Maybe -we'll find somebody who's normal, at least."</p> - -<p>But Mason caught his arm and pointed toward Riva's estate where a -skimmer car was now parked on the side of the manor opposite the guest -house.</p> - -<p>"Anybody who can drive one of those things," he suggested, "must know -something about the city and how to get there. Maybe he'll even give us -a lift."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Mason circled the skimmer craft. "It's a fine piece of workmanship," he -said in admiration.</p> - -<p>"I'll say," Cassidy agreed. "If we can find out where that was made, -I'm sure we'll—"</p> - -<p>His vision was suddenly cut off by a pair of hands that came around his -head from behind and clamped themselves over his eyes. If he had any -doubt as to the identity of their owner, it was soon cleared up by a -soft voice next to his ear:</p> - -<p>"Not right this is. It's chasing <i>me</i> you're supposed to be."</p> - -<p>"Riva," he said, facing her, "we'd like to meet the person who came -here in that skimmer."</p> - -<p>"Excuses, excuses," she complained. "Always something more important -than a chase it is."</p> - -<p>"Take us to the driver of that thing," Mason prompted. "We—"</p> - -<p>But he tensed and stared up in alarm toward the field. Cassidy followed -his gaze to the skimmer vehicle that had earlier reduced a pile of -trash to nothing. The craft was just now floating up to their ship.</p> - -<p>Its two beams of sizzling red light swept over the hull from stem to -stern, again and again—until there was nothing left of their ship but -incandescent molten metal.</p> - -<p>Mason displayed a sickened, then resigned expression, thrust his hands -in his pockets and shuffled off toward the field.</p> - -<p>"Getting in on one of those chases I think I'll be," he said.</p> - -<p>But he paused outside the fence, turned to say something, then lurched -back. "Cassidy! Watch out! There's one of those things!"</p> - -<p>The spider-octopus came into view from around the rear of the manor -and crawled leisurely toward the guest house. Its body, covered with a -multitude of eyes and an unkempt mat of fuzz, was like a coal-black -knob perched atop hairy stilts.</p> - -<p>Evidently, Cassidy guessed as he dived behind a hedge and pulled the -girl with him, the thing had gotten away from its master, for it was -trailing its leash in the dust.</p> - -<p>"It's hurt you he won't," Riva assured, quite puzzled over his -apprehension. "He belongs to—"</p> - -<p>But Cassidy clamped a hand over her mouth.</p> - -<p>The thing reached the guest house and made a queer noise in front of -the door.</p> - -<p>Papa came outside on the double.</p> - -<p>The spider-octopus picked up the other end of the thong and clamped its -braceletlike device around the old man's wrist.</p> - -<p>Grinning, Papa pulled toward the gate, straining at the leash.</p> - -<p>Eventually, Cassidy was aware of Riva's smiling, inquisitive face in -front of his.</p> - -<p>"Play?" she invited.</p> - -<p>And, glancing back at the charred remains of his ship, he didn't see -why not.</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Chasers, by Daniel F. 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Galouye - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with -almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or -re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included -with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org/license - - -Title: The Chasers - -Author: Daniel F. Galouye - -Release Date: March 20, 2016 [EBook #51508] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CHASERS *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - THE CHASERS - - By DANIEL F. GALOUYE - - Illustrated by Harrington - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Galaxy Magazine February 1961. - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - - - - Civilizations must make sense somehow. But - was this one the gaudy, impossible exception? - - -As the dust drifted clear of the ship's landing skids, at least two -things became obvious: - -One--although they had missed the city (if that's what it was) by -miles, they had nevertheless managed to slam down near one of the -numerous rural estates. - -Two--the landscape would be crawling with Zaortian Fuzzy Tails for a -long while to come. They were still pouring out of hatches sprung open -by the crunching impact. - -Kent Cassidy untangled himself from the control column and plucked -one of the Fuzzy Tails from his neck. The creature scampered around -until it found the ruptured hatch, then scurried through to join the -squealing zoological exodus. - -"There goes ten thousand credits' worth of cargo," groaned Gene Mason. -His stout form was slumped in dejection before the view port. - -Cassidy sniffed the refreshing air that was drifting into the ship. -"Any idea where we are?" - -"After the directional stabilizer blew, we made three blind jumps, all -in the direction of Galactic Center. We could be _anywhere_ between -Zaort Seven and the Far Rim." - -"Hey, look," said Cassidy. - -From the hatchway, the sumptuous estate sprawled nearby, its many -gabled manor closed off behind a high wire fence. Cassidy squinted, but -failed to recognize the bold, flowing architectural style. - -A small, bent figure clung to the wire netting of the fence. He was -shouting at the ship, but his excited words were no match for the -decompression hisses of the auxiliary drive. - -"Humanoid?" Mason suggested. - -"Human, I'd say." Cassidy gestured toward the gear locker. "Better -break out the translator." - -In baggy trousers and sagging blouse, the man raced back and forth -behind the fence--the picture of frustrated anger. However, large, -doleful eyes, complemented by a bald head and huge, pendulous ear -lobes, belied his furious actions. - -Presently the squeals of the Fuzzy Tails trailed off in the distance -and the auxiliary drive quieted with a final sigh. And now the native's -shouts rang out distinct and loud: - -"Quick! From here get you! Shoo! Scram! Or out there I'll come and -apart tear you!" - -"It's English!" Mason exclaimed. - -"Of a sort. Archaic, but understandable. And not at all friendly." - -Mason scratched his blunt chin. "Guess we're not too far off the beaten -star paths, eh?" - -Cassidy could find no grounds for challenging this observation as they -started down the ladder--not until he looked overhead and saw three -suns shining in the same sky. As far as he knew, there were no settled -trinary systems. - -Beyond the fence the native, a wisp of a man was still fuming. "The -hell away from here get! You I'm warning--no closer come!" - -Mason displayed a half frown. "He's sure a sour cuss." - -"You stay with the ship," said Cassidy. "I'll see what's fouling his -tubes." - - * * * * * - -Before Cassidy reached the fence, his pet Fuzzy Tail came scampering -from behind a bush. It clambered up his trousers and wrapped itself -around his neck. This encouraged the speculation that perhaps the -shipment of Tails could be bartered for repairs to the stabilizer--_if_ -there was a local space technology, and _if_ they could corral the -animals. - -The native grew even more frenzied now as Cassidy drew up before him. - -"Trespasser! Back get! _My_ property this be! Scram! You I'll kill!" - -The Fuzzy Tail uncoiled itself from around Cassidy's neck. Perching on -his shoulder, it fussed back at the native in chirping, excited tones. -It not only acted at times as though it owned Cassidy, but it also -exercised a personal responsibility for his welfare. - -"Quiet!" Cassidy snapped out. - -It caught both the Fuzzy Tail and the old man by surprise. The animal -bounded for cover while the native rocked back on his heels. - -"Be you not just a--_little bit_ afraid?" His eyebrows mounted the -wrinkled expanse of his forehead. - -The nearby hedge rustled and parted to let through a dark-haired -girl whose tanned skin suggested accustomed exposure to the multiple -sunlight. Wearing a belted tunic that lacked inches of reaching her -knees, she confronted the old man calmly. - -"It's all about what, Papa?" she asked, with a trace of an amused smile. - -"Trespassers! On _our_ property, Riva! The alarm sound! Scat! To the -woods take! Or a dead duck you be!" - -"Now, Papa," she chided. Then, through the fence, "Him you musn't mind. -It's only his duty he's attending to." - -From the distance, Cassidy had suspected the man was of Terran descent. -Now, with Riva in the picture, he was certain this world was stocked -either by intent or accident with true humans. - -"We're from Terra," he said. - -She frowned. "Ter-ra?" - -"Earth. The original world--" - -Incomprehension flooded her even features. But her confusion was only -temporary. "Let's play." - -It seemed like an altogether acceptable suggestion, Cassidy thought, -eying the attractive girl. But he went on, "This is our ship and--" - -"Ship?" Then she chased away her puzzlement with a sudden smile. "Some -nice games I know." - -There was no space technology on this planet, Cassidy decided. They'd -be strictly on their own as far as repairing the directional stabilizer -was concerned. - -By this time Papa, his eyes focused afar, had exploded again. -"Charge!" he roared. "After him! Wa-hoo! Away don't let him get!" He -was gripping the fence and straining toward the field. - -Cassidy turned and saw, in the distance, a skimmer vehicle floating -along several feet off the ground. In full pursuit was a shouting youth -who paused occasionally to seize a rock and hurl it at the craft. - -The old man turned toward his daughter. "A good chase that be. Bet he -wins." - -"Not a chance." The girl frowned. "That be Nedal. Not so swift is he. -Loses interest too quick, he does." - -She surveyed Cassidy. "Be you a chaser?" - -"No, but I could do with a couple of stiff shots." - -This drew Papa's attention back to the matter at hand. "Trespassers! -The road hit! Scat! Some dust kick up!" - -"Quiet!" Cassidy shouted. "Will you listen a minute? I--" - -Two loyal Fuzzy Tails came charging up to the fence and added their -raucous chatter to Papa's screeching diatribe, which had continued -unchecked despite Cassidy's loud, desperate plea. - -In the next instant, though, it seemed that a dam had burst overhead. -Materializing from nowhere, at least a ton of water poured down on the -agile-tongued native, the two Fuzzy Tails, Riva and Cassidy himself, -bringing an abrupt end to all the commotion. - -The animals streaked for the safety of the bushes while Papa and the -girl dived back through the hedge. Bedraggled, Cassidy headed for the -ship, wondering what sort of meteorological quirk he had encountered. - - * * * * * - -"No, sir," he said some time later as he attacked the directional -selector with pliers and a screwdriver, "I don't like the setup. I -don't like it worth a damn." - -Mason traced the power lead to the junction box beside the hatch. -"Maybe they aren't _all_ like that." - -"In this sort of place, chances are that the first people you run into -are typical. I'm afraid--" - -"Say!" Mason interrupted, staring outside. "Look at this!" - -Cassidy went over to the hatch and watched a dozen or so men sprinting -across the field, their voices rising in excited waves. A lithe young -woman was in full flight before them. But she was screaming in delight -as she turned now and then to beckon them on. One overtook her and -brought her down with a waist tackle. She rebounded to her feet, -however, and took off again. - -Two of the pursuers collided and sprawled on the ground. They sprang -up and tore into each other. Unconcerned with the personal dispute, -the chase struck off in a new direction, heading toward the ship as it -paralleled one of the nearby fenced-in estates. - -Behind the wire mesh, a burly young man came charging down the main -steps of the manor and raced along with the others. - -"That be the way!" he yelled encouragement. "Her go get! It's gaining -you are! Hurry!" - -He drew up in time to avoid crashing into the side fence, then stood -there watching the chase recede in the distance. - -Within a hundred feet of the ship, one of the men fell out of the -group, panting. He squinted at the vessel, then crept forward, circling -to the right. Within arm's reach, he walked back and forth alongside -the hull, giving it a close inspection. Finally he paused and fumbled -with his clothes. - -Cassidy started. "Look what he's doing!" - -"Against the side of the ship, too!" said Mason. - -Hearing them, the native jerked his head up toward the hatch, then -backed off for a better view. - -"Stinkers!" he yelled, shaking his fist. "Out here come and fight! Take -you both on I can!" - -When they only gaped, he whirled and sped off to rejoin the chase. - -"You see?" said Cassidy. "Now what do you think?" - -"I think we'd better get that directional stabilizer working." - - * * * * * - -It took more than an hour to locate the trouble. "The rectifier -circuit's shot," Cassidy said finally. "But maybe we can patch -it up. Some of the amplifiers I suppose we can do without. But a -hyper-oscillator we've got to have." - -"Say, you're doing it too," said Mason. - -"What?" - -"Talking like the natives." - -Cassidy looked up. "Guess it's something that grows on you. Well, what -do we do now?" - -"Maybe the natives can help us." - -"If they don't even know where they're from, they probably left their -volts and amps behind too. But that's only an assumption." - -"In that case," Mason said with a sigh, "there's only one thing left to -do--take Riva up on her invitation to, ah, play." - -"Funny," Cassidy grunted, heading for the hatch. - -"I was only joking." - -"I'm not. If we can get in that house, we'll know for sure whether or -not they've developed electronic devices." - -Halfway across the field, they were almost run down by the laughing -girl and her retinue of galloping suitors, if that's what they were. -She was a well-proportioned blonde whose wind-frothed tresses suggested -a nymph in flight. - -At the fence, they were confronted by Riva, who smiled up at Cassidy -and said, "You I was just going to come and get. Ready to play yet you -are?" - -He looked away and cleared his throat. "Not quite, Riva. We'd like to -visit your house." - -"It's some interesting games I know. Enjoying them you'd surely be." -Her smile, revealing even teeth that contrasted ruddy cheeks, was as -persistent as her intent on playing. - -Staring at the girl, Cassidy wrestled with a pang of wistful envy over -the Olympian life he had witnessed thus far on this world. Maybe they -were all irresponsible and childlike. But was that bad? - - * * * * * - -Mason pointed in alarm toward the meadow in front of the next estate. -An ominous-looking, furry thing, supported on six or eight spindly -legs, was racing across their field of vision. - -"Hurt you he won't," the girl assured them, noticing their -apprehension. "Nothing to be afraid of there is." - -"_What_ is it?" Cassidy was still trying to determine whether it was an -overgrown spider or a dry-land octopus. - -"Look!" Mason exclaimed. "It's on a leash!" - -And Cassidy noticed the thong that extended from the creature to the -human who was running along behind it. - -"To Wolruf he belongs," the girl explained. "One of them I can get for -you too--if you want." - -Her slender hand reached out through the fence and tugged at Cassidy's -sleeve. "To chase me wouldn't you like?" she asked, pouting. - -Glancing behind her, Cassidy spotted the girl's father bearing down on -them in a sprint that was nothing short of phenomenal for his age. He -began shouting with the last few strides and was in full lung when he -hurled himself at the fence. "Git! Out! Away! I'll--" - -Riva moved back and glanced overhead and Papa, seeing some hidden -significance in her gesture, lowered his voice. - -"You I'll tear into and apart I'll rip!" he went on in a menacing -whisper. "Your limbs I'll scatter like--" - -"Papa, it's not afraid of you they are." - -"They're _not_?" He was disappointed. - -"The house they want to come in and see." - -He began working up a rage again, but caught himself and looked up into -his daughter's face. "Mean you--_my_ house they want to see?" - -When she nodded Papa seized the lowest strand of wire and lifted the -fence high enough for Cassidy and Mason to crawl under. "Why, arranged -it can be, I think." - -Its architectural prominences rendered shadowless in the tri-solar -light, the manor was even more imposing close at hand. Of stone -construction, it flaunted millwork and beams whose rich carvings would -have been welcome on any mansion in the known Galaxy. - -Mounting the steps, Mason observed, "Nice little layout they've got -here." - -Riva moved closer to Cassidy. "Inside is cozy," she said behind a coy -smile. "Play we can _really_ in there." - -Papa had been at the door for some time, fumbling with the lock. In a -burst of impatience, he drew off and gave it a solid kick. Then he went -back and tried rattling the handle. After a while there was a click and -it swung open. - -Cassidy followed him into a blaze of iridescent color and unfamiliar -form. The huge, circular room was like a vast diorama and it was -impossible to tell exactly where the solid objects blended in with the -jumbled geometric pattern of the wall. - -He walked across a carpet of undulant fibers that reached well above -his ankles. And he tripped across a padded, Z-shaped slab that -protruded from the wall but slithered into a U and retracted as soon as -it received the burden of his weight. - -Laughing, Riva helped him up and he paused for a closer visual -inspection of his outlandish surroundings. Objects of weird shapes and -unguessable purposes hung from the ceiling, some changing form and -size as he watched. Scattered about were articles of furniture (he -guessed) that resembled giant starfish supported at their centers and -extremities by coiled springs. Only, each arm was shaped like a trough -that ran into the bowl-like central depression of the piece. - - * * * * * - -A gleeful scream sounded behind them and Papa went tearing by. With -a running leap, he landed on an arm of one of the starfish. Its -supporting spring contracted under the weight, then catapulted him -ceilingward. When he came down again, it was on an arm of another -starfish, then another. - -The fourth collapsed, depositing him on the floor, and its spring -went twanging across the room. Struggling to his feet, he staggered -into something resembling a clothes tree, knocked it over and sprawled -beside it. - -He roared with delight as he snapped the stem of the thing across his -knee and hurled the pieces at the ceiling. They scored direct hits on -one of the bulky objects suspended overhead and it came crashing down -with a twinkling roar amid a shower of sparks. - -"Yow-ee!" he exuberated. "So much fun I never had!" - -Riva helped him up. "Papa, it's control yourself you must. The last -time--remember?" - -But he only shook her off and went bounding through an archway. His -hectic progress through the house was punctuated by sounds of crashing -destruction. - -"Honestly," Riva said, spreading her hands, "what to do with him I -don't know." - -Cassidy continued staring in the direction the old man had gone. "He's -wrecking the place!" - -"That he is," she admitted sighing. "And such a nice joint it be, too." - -"He's just plain nuts!" said Mason. - -Riva smiled. "But it's _so_ much fun he has." - -Cassidy moved away to get a better view of a silvery gray screen set -in the wall and flanked by twin rows of dials and knobs. - -"You got stereovision, Riva?" he asked. - -Mason went over and twisted several of the controls until a soft light -began suffusing the screen. - -"Ster-eo-what?" the girl asked. - -"Video, television--pictures with sound." - -Her face brightened. "Pictures we got--sounds too. Right in that little -window." - -Just then Papa, uninhibited as ever, came storming back into the room -with a lusty "Ya-hoo!" He lost his footing and crashed against the -screen. Sparks shot out and the picture that was beginning to take -shape faded into obscurity. - -"It that settles, Papa!" Riva said, exasperated. "Outside I'm going and -for what happens to you I'm not responsible!" - -At the door, she paused and smiled at Cassidy. "It'll have to be out -there that we play, but no less fun will we have. Put on my best -cavorting clothes I'm going to." - -Mason turned the knobs again, but produced nothing more than the smell -of burning insulation and a few snickers from Papa. - -"At least," Cassidy observed, "they evidently do know something about -electronics. All we have to do now is run down one of the technicians -and we might get the parts we need for the stabilizer." - - * * * * * - -Outside Mason dropped down on the steps and sat with his shoulders -slumping. "Damnedest thing I've ever seen," he mumbled. - -Cassidy paced to the edge of the porch and stared out over the field. A -monstrous skimmer craft appeared in the distance, floating over toward -what seemed to be a pile of trash in front of one of the estates. Twin -beams of crimson light darted from the nose of the vehicle and played -over the mound. In seconds, the heap had melted away and the skimmer -floated on. - -Wolruf was still walking his octopus-spider pet. There were now two -packs of youths out chasing girls. And another skimmer car was having -no difficulty surviving the stone-throwing assault of not one, but two -dedicated pursuers. Outside of that, Cassidy noted, things appeared -quite normal. - -Mason slapped his thighs and rose. "You go see if Riva knows how we can -contact the authorities. I'm going back and stay with the ship." - -Cassidy watched him crawl under the fence, then went around the side of -the house. When he caught sight of the girl, she was just disappearing -into a smaller structure that might have been a guest house or garage. - -Following, he knocked on the door and called out her name anxiously. - -"To play are you ready?" There was an eager note in her voice as it -came through the panel. "In come on. It's all set I'll be in a jiffy." - -He turned the knob, stepped half into the room, lurched back outside -and slammed the door behind him. "_Riva!_" - -The door started to open, then closed again as the girl laughed. "Oh, -all right. Funny you be. It's to play you want, don't you?" - -He assured her that he did and added, "But there's something we have to -talk about now, Riva." - -"Talk, talk, talk. And it gets you where? Only wastes time, it does." - -A moment later the door opened and she stood there smiling, with legs -apart and hands on her hips. But he hardly had time to react to the -skimpiness of her halter and skirt. - -"Now," she urged as she sprang up on her toes and kissed him full on -the lips, "like a chaser make! To the races we're off!" - -With that, she whirled and went streaking through the next room. - - * * * * * - -He surveyed his surroundings. It was an ordinary bedroom with -conventional furnishings--perhaps a bit crude even for a -culture without any space technology. But, then, it didn't seem -uncharacteristic, considering the circumstances. - -Recognizing the contrast between this guest house and the manor, he -frowned as he started off in search of the girl. A worrisome suspicion -dogged his thoughts--there had to be sense to Riva and her father and -this sumptuous estate, natives who made sport of chasing skimmer craft -and voluptuous women when they weren't otherwise indiscreetly occupied. -But what? - -In the kitchen, he discovered Riva's shapely leg protruding from behind -a cabinet. He suspected the exposure was not as accidental as she -wanted him to believe. He was certain of that when, as he seized her -ankle, she crawled out laughing. - -Now she stood before him, unsmiling and impatient, and her slender arms -reached out for his shoulders. - -"Riva, this is serious!" He forced her hands down again. "I'm in -trouble. I need help." - -"It's to help you I've been trying all along." - -"I've got to get in touch with the authorities--your government." - -She looked blank. - -He simplified it, "Your leaders." - -"Oh, it's easy that is. There be Aline and Clio and Leah and--but that -Leah! It's the cake she takes! Thirty chasers she led on the best -drag-out of all. Two whole days it lasted!" - -"No, Riva! Not _that_ kind of leader. I mean--well, someone who gets -things done. The kind who gets behind things and--" - -"That be Leanc. Behind those floating cars he's getting all the time. -And how he can throw so many rocks I'll never know!" - -He mussed his hair in frustration, then composed himself. "How do I get -to the city?" - -"That crowded place with all the big houses?" When he nodded, she went -on, "It's never been there I have. _Now_ we play?" - -He drew in a hopeless breath. "All right. Now we play. You go hide." - -She radiated a warm eagerness as she initiated the game all over again -with a kiss and then went sprinting toward the front of the house. He -watched her disappear through the next room, then went out the nearest -door, heading for the fence and his ship beyond. It had required no -small degree of restraint not to go racing off after her. - -At the corner of the manor he was bowled over by a shouting Papa who -was in full flight as he shot out around a hedge, heading for the guest -house. - -"All your fault it is!" he cried, recovering his balance and plunging -on. "You it be who caused this! that I'll remember!" - -Cassidy sat up, arms resting on his updrawn knees, and stared after the -old man. - -"Ow! Riva! Ouch!" Papa clutched his rear as he neared the cottage. -"Help! Oh, my aching back!" - - * * * * * - -Cassidy found Mason frozen in the shadow of the ship, fascinated by -another girl chase that was in progress nearby. - -The swirl of action swerved toward him and Mason tensed, shifting from -one foot to the other. With the wind pressing her clothes in revealing -tightness about her, the flaxen-haired sprite swept past and he lunged -for her. - -"Mason!" Cassidy shouted. - -"Seemed like a good idea," Mason explained, checking himself. "Wonder -what it takes to get in on that chase." - -Cassidy forced a fetching thought of Riva out of his mind. "What we -ought to be wondering is how soon we can blast off." - -"But if we get spaceborne before the stabilizer's working, we'll only -be floundering around again." - -Cassidy started for the ladder. "There's one thing we _can_ do--patch -up the hatches and jump over to another spot on this planet. Maybe -we'll find somebody who's normal, at least." - -But Mason caught his arm and pointed toward Riva's estate where a -skimmer car was now parked on the side of the manor opposite the guest -house. - -"Anybody who can drive one of those things," he suggested, "must know -something about the city and how to get there. Maybe he'll even give us -a lift." - - * * * * * - -Mason circled the skimmer craft. "It's a fine piece of workmanship," he -said in admiration. - -"I'll say," Cassidy agreed. "If we can find out where that was made, -I'm sure we'll--" - -His vision was suddenly cut off by a pair of hands that came around his -head from behind and clamped themselves over his eyes. If he had any -doubt as to the identity of their owner, it was soon cleared up by a -soft voice next to his ear: - -"Not right this is. It's chasing _me_ you're supposed to be." - -"Riva," he said, facing her, "we'd like to meet the person who came -here in that skimmer." - -"Excuses, excuses," she complained. "Always something more important -than a chase it is." - -"Take us to the driver of that thing," Mason prompted. "We--" - -But he tensed and stared up in alarm toward the field. Cassidy followed -his gaze to the skimmer vehicle that had earlier reduced a pile of -trash to nothing. The craft was just now floating up to their ship. - -Its two beams of sizzling red light swept over the hull from stem to -stern, again and again--until there was nothing left of their ship but -incandescent molten metal. - -Mason displayed a sickened, then resigned expression, thrust his hands -in his pockets and shuffled off toward the field. - -"Getting in on one of those chases I think I'll be," he said. - -But he paused outside the fence, turned to say something, then lurched -back. "Cassidy! Watch out! There's one of those things!" - -The spider-octopus came into view from around the rear of the manor -and crawled leisurely toward the guest house. Its body, covered with a -multitude of eyes and an unkempt mat of fuzz, was like a coal-black -knob perched atop hairy stilts. - -Evidently, Cassidy guessed as he dived behind a hedge and pulled the -girl with him, the thing had gotten away from its master, for it was -trailing its leash in the dust. - -"It's hurt you he won't," Riva assured, quite puzzled over his -apprehension. "He belongs to--" - -But Cassidy clamped a hand over her mouth. - -The thing reached the guest house and made a queer noise in front of -the door. - -Papa came outside on the double. - -The spider-octopus picked up the other end of the thong and clamped its -braceletlike device around the old man's wrist. - -Grinning, Papa pulled toward the gate, straining at the leash. - -Eventually, Cassidy was aware of Riva's smiling, inquisitive face in -front of his. - -"Play?" she invited. - -And, glancing back at the charred remains of his ship, he didn't see -why not. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Chasers, by Daniel F. 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