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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..ddfc0ac --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #51699 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/51699) diff --git a/old/51699-h.zip b/old/51699-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 5458fef..0000000 --- a/old/51699-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/51699-h/51699-h.htm b/old/51699-h/51699-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 4c13e91..0000000 --- a/old/51699-h/51699-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1328 +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 God Next Door, by Bill Doede. - </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 God Next Door, by Bill Doede - -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 God Next Door - -Author: Bill Doede - -Release Date: April 8, 2016 [EBook #51699] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOD NEXT DOOR *** - - - - -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="401" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="titlepage"> -<h1>THE GOD NEXT DOOR</h1> - -<p>By BILL DOEDE</p> - -<p>Illustrated by IVIE</p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Galaxy Magazine August 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" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus1.jpg" width="600" height="328" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph3"><i>The sand-thing was powerful, lonely and<br /> -strange. No doubt it was a god—but who wasn't?</i></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>Stinson lay still in the sand where he fell, gloating over the success -of his arrival.</p> - -<p>He touched the pencil-line scar behind his ear where the cylinder was -buried, marveling at the power stored there, power to fling him from -earth to this fourth planet of the Centaurian system in an instant. -It had happened so fast that he could almost feel the warm, humid -Missouri air, though he was light years from Missouri.</p> - -<p>He got up. A gray, funnel-shaped cloud of dust stood off to his left. -This became disturbing, since there was scarcely enough wind to move -his hair. He watched it, trying to recall what he might know about -cyclones. But he knew little. Weather control made cyclones and other -climatic phenomena on earth practically non-existent. The cloud -did not move, though, except to spin on its axis rapidly, emitting -a high-pitched, scarcely audible whine, like a high speed motor. He -judged it harmless.</p> - -<p>He stood on a wide valley floor between two mountain ranges. Dark -clouds capped one peak of the mountains on his left. The sky was deep -blue.</p> - -<p>He tested the gravity by jumping up and down. Same as Earth gravity. -The sun—no, not <i>the</i> sun. Not Sol. What should he call it, Alpha or -Centaurus? Well, perhaps neither. He was here and Earth was somewhere -up there. This was <i>the</i> sun of this particular solar system. He was -right the first time.</p> - -<p>The sun burned fiercely, although he would have said it was about four -o'clock in the afternoon, if this had been Earth. Not a tree, nor a -bush, nor even a wisp of dry grass was in sight. Everywhere was desert.</p> - -<p>The funnel of sand had moved closer and while he watched it, it seemed -to drift in the wind—although there was no wind. Stinson backed away. -It stopped. It was about ten feet tall by three feet in diameter at the -base. Then Stinson backed away again. It was changing. Now it became a -blue rectangle, then a red cube, a violet sphere.</p> - -<p>He wanted to run. He wished Benjamin were here. Ben might have an -explanation. "What am I afraid of?" he said aloud, "a few grains of -sand blowing in the wind? A wind devil?"</p> - -<p>He turned his back and walked away. When he looked up the wind devil -was there before him. He looked back. Only one. It had moved. The sun -shone obliquely, throwing Stinson's shadow upon the sand. The wind -devil also had a shadow, although the sun shone through it and the -shadow was faint. But it moved when the funnel moved. This was no -illusion.</p> - -<p>Again Stinson felt the urge to run, or to use the cylinder to project -himself somewhere else, but he said, "No!" very firmly to himself. He -was here to investigate, to determine if this planet was capable of -supporting life.</p> - -<p>Life? Intelligence? He examined the wind devil as closely as he dared, -but it was composed only of grains of sand. There was no core, no -central place you could point to and say, here is the brain, or the -nervous system. But then, how could a group of loosely spaced grains of -sand possibly have a nervous system?</p> - -<p>It was again going through its paces. Triangle, cube, rectangle, -sphere. He watched, and when it became a triangle again, he smoothed -a place in the sand and drew a triangle with his forefinger. When it -changed to a cube he drew a square, a circle for a sphere, and so on. -When the symbols were repeated he pointed to each in turn, excitement -mounting. He became so absorbed in doing this that he failed to notice -how the wind devil drew closer and closer, but when he inhaled the -first grains of sand, the realization of what was happening dawned with -a flash of fear. Instantly he projected himself a thousand miles away.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Now he was in an area of profuse vegetation. It was twilight. As he -stood beside a small creek, a chill wind blew from the northwest. He -wanted to cover himself with the long leaves he found, but they were -dry and brittle, for here autumn had turned the leaves. Night would be -cold.</p> - -<p>He was not a woodsman. He doubted if he could build a fire without -matches. So he followed the creek to where it flowed between two great -hills. Steam vapors rose from a crevice. A cave was nearby and warm air -flowed from its mouth. He went inside.</p> - -<p>At first he thought the cave was small, but found instead that he was -in a long narrow passageway. The current of warm air flowed toward him -and he followed it, cautiously, stepping carefully and slowly. Then it -was not quite so dark. Soon he stepped out of the narrow passageway -into a great cavern with a high-vaulted ceiling.</p> - -<p>The light source was a mystery. He left no shadow on the floor. A -great crystal sphere hung from the ceiling, and he was curious about -its purpose, but a great pool of steaming water in the center of the -cavern drew his attention. He went close, to warm himself. A stone -wall surrounding the pool was inscribed with intricate art work and -indecipherable symbols.</p> - -<p>Life. Intelligence. The planet was inhabited.</p> - -<p>Should he give up and return to earth? Or was there room here for -his people? Warming his hands there over the great steaming pool he -thought of Benjamin, and Straus, and Jamieson—all those to whom he had -given cylinders, and who were now struggling for life against those who -desired them.</p> - -<p>He decided it would not be just, to give up so easily.</p> - -<p>The wide plaza between the pool and cavern wall was smooth as polished -glass. Statues lined the wall. He examined them.</p> - -<p>The unknown artist had been clever. From one angle they were animals, -from another birds, from a third they were vaguely humanoid creatures, -glowering at him with primitive ferocity. The fourth view was so -shocking he had to turn away quickly. No definable form or sculptured -line was visible, yet he felt, or saw—he did not know which senses -told him—the immeasurable gulf of a million years of painful -evolution. Then nothing. It was not a curtain drawn to prevent him from -seeing more.</p> - -<p>There was no more.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>He stumbled toward the pool's wall and clutched for support, but -his knees buckled. His hand slid down the wall, over the ancient -inscriptions. He sank to the floor. Before he lost consciousness he -wondered, fleetingly, if a lethal instrument was in the statue.</p> - -<p>He woke with a ringing in his ears, feeling drugged and sluggish. -Sounds came to him. He opened his eyes.</p> - -<p>The cavern was crowded. These creatures were not only humanoid, but -definitely human, although more slight of build than earth people. The -only difference he could see at first sight was that they had webbed -feet. All were dressed from the waist down only, in a shimmering skirt -that sparkled as they moved. They walked with the grace of ballet -dancers, moving about the plaza, conversing in a musical language with -no meaning for Stinson. The men were dark-skinned, the women somewhat -lighter, with long flowing hair, wide lips and a beauty that was -utterly sensual.</p> - -<p>He was in chains! They were small chains, light weight, of a metal that -looked like aluminum. But all his strength could not break them.</p> - -<p>They saw him struggling. Two of the men came over and spoke to him in -the musical language.</p> - -<p>"My name is Stinson," he said, pointing to himself. "I'm from the -planet Earth."</p> - -<p>They looked at each other and jabbered some more.</p> - -<p>"Look," he said, "Earth. E-A-R-T-H, Earth." He pointed upward, -described a large circle, then another smaller, and showed how Earth -revolved around the sun.</p> - -<p>One of the men poked him with a stick, or tube of some kind. It did not -hurt, but angered him. He left the chains by his own method of travel, -and reappeared behind the two men. They stared at the place where he -had been. The chains tinkled musically. He grasped the shoulder of the -offender, spun him around and slapped his face.</p> - -<p>A cry of consternation rose from the group, echoing in the high -ceilinged cavern. "SBTL!" it said, "ZBTL ... XBTL ... zbtl."</p> - -<p>The men instantly prostrated themselves before him. The one who had -poked Stinson with the stick rose, and handed it to him. Still angered, -Stinson grasped it firmly, with half a notion to break it over his -head. As he did so, a flash of blue fire sprang from it. The man -disappeared. A small cloud of dust settled slowly to the floor.</p> - -<p>Disintegrated!</p> - -<p>Stinson's face drained pale, and suddenly, unaccountably, he was -ashamed because he had no clothes.</p> - -<p>"I didn't mean to kill him!" he cried. "I was angry, and...."</p> - -<p>Useless. They could not understand. For all he knew, they might think -he was threatening them. The object he had thought of as a stick was -in reality a long metal tube, precisely machined, with a small button -near one end.</p> - -<p>This weapon was completely out of place in a culture such as this. -Or was it? What did he know of these people? Very little. They were -humanoid. They had exhibited human emotions of anger, fear and, that -most human of all characteristics, curiosity. But up to now the tube -and the chain was the only evidence of an advanced technology, unless -the ancient inscriptions in the stone wall of the pool, and the statues -lining the wall were evidences.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>There was a stirring among the crowd. An object like a pallet was -brought, carried by four of the women. They laid it at his feet, and -gestured for him to sit. He touched it cautiously, then sat.</p> - -<p>Instantly he sprang to his feet. There, at the cavern entrance, the -wind devil writhed and undulated in a brilliant harmony of colors. It -remained in one spot, though, and he relaxed somewhat.</p> - -<p>One of the women came toward him, long golden hair flowing, firm -breasts dipping slightly at each step. Her eyes held a language all -their own, universal. She pressed her body against him and bore him to -the pallet, her kisses fire on his face.</p> - -<p>Incongruously, he thought of Benjamin back on earth, and all the others -with cylinders, who might be fighting for their lives at this moment. -He pushed her roughly aside.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus2.jpg" width="517" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>She spoke, and he understood! Her words were still the same gibberish, -but now he knew their meaning. Somehow he knew also that the wind devil -was responsible for his understanding.</p> - -<p>"You do not want me?" she said sadly. "Then kill me."</p> - -<p>"Why should I kill you?"</p> - -<p>She shrugged her beautiful shoulders. "It is the way of the Gods," she -said. "If you do not, then the others will."</p> - -<p>He took the tube-weapon in his hands, careful not to touch the button. -"Don't be afraid. I didn't mean to kill the man. It was an accident. I -will protect you."</p> - -<p>She shook her head. "One day they will find me alone, and they'll kill -me."</p> - -<p>"Why?"</p> - -<p>She shrugged. "I have not pleased you."</p> - -<p>"On the contrary, you have. There is a time and place for everything, -though."</p> - -<p>Suddenly a great voice sounded in the cavern, a voice with no -direction. It came from the ceiling, the floor, the walls, the steaming -pool. It was in the language of the web-footed people; it was in his -own tongue. "No harm must come to this woman. The God with fingers on -his feet has decreed this."</p> - -<p>Those in the cavern looked at the woman with fear and respect. She -kissed Stinson's feet. Two of the men came and gave her a brilliant -new skirt. She smiled at him, and he thought he had never seen a more -beautiful face.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The great, bodiless voice sounded again, but those in the cavern went -about their activities. They did not hear.</p> - -<p>"Who are you?"</p> - -<p>Stinson looked at the wind devil, since it could be no one else -speaking, and pointed to himself. "Me?"</p> - -<p>"Yes."</p> - -<p>"I am Stinson, of the planet Earth."</p> - -<p>"Yes, I see it in your mind, now. You want to live here, on this -planet."</p> - -<p>"Then you must know where I came from, and how."</p> - -<p>"I do not understand how. You have a body, a physical body composed -of atoms. It is impossible to move a physical body from one place to -another by a mere thought and a tiny instrument, yet you have done so. -You deserted me out in the desert."</p> - -<p>"I deserted you?" Stinson cried angrily, "You tried to kill me!"</p> - -<p>"I was attempting communication. Why should I kill you?"</p> - -<p>He was silent a moment, looking at the people in the cavern. "Perhaps -because you feared I would become the God of these people in your -place."</p> - -<p>Stinson felt a mental shrug. "It is of no importance. When they arrived -on this planet I attempted to explain that I was not a God, but the -primitive is not deeply buried in them. They soon resorted to emotion -rather than reason. It is of no importance."</p> - -<p>"I'd hardly call them primitive, with such weapons."</p> - -<p>"The tube is not of their technology. That is, they did not make -it directly. These are the undesirables, the incorrigibles, the -nonconformists from the sixth planet. I permit them here because it -occupies my time, to watch them evolve."</p> - -<p>"You should live so long."</p> - -<p>"Live?" the wind devil said. "Oh, I see your meaning. I'd almost -forgotten. You are a strange entity. You travel by a means even I -cannot fully understand, yet you speak of time as if some event -were about to take place. I believe you think of death. I see your -physical body has deteriorated since yesterday. Your body will cease to -exist, almost as soon as those of the sixth planet peoples. I am most -interested in you. You will bring your people, and live here."</p> - -<p>"I haven't decided. There are these web-footed people, who were hostile -until they thought I was a God. They have destructive weapons. Also, I -don't understand you. I see you as a cone of sand which keeps changing -color and configuration. Is it your body? Where do you come from? Is -this planet populated with your kind?"</p> - -<p>The wind devil hesitated.</p> - -<p>"Where do I originate? It seems I have always been. You see this -cavern, the heated pool, the statues, the inscriptions. Half a million -years ago my people were as you. That is, they lived in physical -bodies. Our technology surpassed any you have seen. The tube these -webfoots use is a toy by comparison. Our scientists found the ultimate -nature of physical law. They learned to separate the mind from the -body. Then my people set a date. Our entire race was determined to free -itself from the confines of the body. The date came."</p> - -<p>"What happened?"</p> - -<p>"I do not know. I alone exist. I have searched all the levels of time -and matter from the very beginning. My people are gone. Sometimes it -almost comes to me, why they are gone. And this is contrary to the -greatest law of all—that an entity, once in existence, can never cease -to exist."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Stinson was silent, thinking of the endless years of searching through -the great gulf of time. His eyes caught sight of the woman, reclining -now on the pallet. The men had left her and stood in groups, talking, -glancing at him, apparently free of their awe and fear already.</p> - -<p>The woman looked at him, and she was not smiling. "Please ask the Sand -God," she said, "to speak to my people again. Their fear of him does -not last. When He is gone they will probably kill us."</p> - -<p>"As for the webfoots," the wind devil, or Sand God, said, "I will -destroy them. You and your people will have the entire planet."</p> - -<p>"Destroy them?" Stinson asked, incredulously, "all these people? They -have a right to live like any one else."</p> - -<p>"Right? What is it—'right?' They are entities. They exist, therefore -they always will. My people are the only entities who ever died. To -kill the body is unimportant."</p> - -<p>"No. You misunderstand. Listen, you spoke of the greatest law. Your law -is a scientific hypothesis. It has to do with what comes after physical -existence, not with existence itself. The greatest law is this, that an -entity, once existing, must not be harmed in any way. To do so changes -the most basic structure of nature."</p> - -<p>The Sand God did not reply. The great bodiless, directionless voice was -silent, and Stinson felt as if he had been taken from some high place -and set down in a dark canyon. The cone of sand was the color of wood -ashes. It pulsed erratically, like a great heart missing a beat now and -then. The web-footed people milled about restlessly. The woman's eyes -pleaded.</p> - -<p>When he looked back, the Sand God was gone.</p> - -<p>Instantly a new note rose in the cavern. The murmur of unmistakable mob -fury ran over the webfoots. Several of the men approached the woman -with hatred in their voices. He could not understand the words now.</p> - -<p>But he understood her. "They'll kill me!" she cried.</p> - -<p>Stinson pointed the disintegrating weapon at them and yelled. They -dropped back. "We'll have to get outside," he told her. "This mob will -soon get out of hand. Then the tube won't stop them. They will rush in. -I can't kill them all at once, even if I wanted to. And I don't."</p> - -<p>Together they edged toward the cavern entrance, ran quickly up the -inclined passageway, and came out into crisp, cold air. The morning sun -was reflected from a million tiny mirrors on the rocks, the trees and -grass. A silver thaw during the night had covered the whole area with -a coating of ice. Stinson shivered. The woman handed him a skirt she -had thoughtfully brought along from the cavern. He took it, and they -ran down the slippery path leading away from the entrance. From the -hiding place behind a large rock they watched, as several web-footed -men emerged into the sunlight. They blinked, covered their eyes, and -jabbered musically among themselves. One slipped and fell on the ice. -They re-entered the cave.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Stinson donned the shimmering skirt, smiling as he did so. The others -should see him now. Benjamin and Straus and Jamieson. They would -laugh. And Ben's wife, Lisa, she would give her little-girl laugh, and -probably help him fasten the skirt. It had a string, like a tobacco -pouch, which was tied around the waist. It helped keep him warm.</p> - -<p>He turned to the woman. "I don't know what I'll do with you, but now -that we're in trouble together, we may as well introduce ourselves. My -name is Stinson."</p> - -<p>"I am Sybtl," she said.</p> - -<p>"Syb-tl." He tried to imitate her musical pronunciation. "A very nice -name."</p> - -<p>She smiled, then pointed to the cavern. "When the ice is gone, they -will come out and follow us."</p> - -<p>"We'd better make tracks."</p> - -<p>"No," she said, "we must run, and make no tracks."</p> - -<p>"Okay, Sis," he said.</p> - -<p>"Sis?"</p> - -<p>"That means, sister."</p> - -<p>"I am not your sister. I am your wife."</p> - -<p>"<i>What?</i>"</p> - -<p>"Yes. When a man protects a woman from harm, it is a sign to all that -she is his chosen. Otherwise, why not let her die? You are a strange -God."</p> - -<p>"Listen, Sybtl," he said desperately, "I am not a God and you are not -my wife. Let's get that straight."</p> - -<p>"But...."</p> - -<p>"No buts. Right now we'd better get out of here."</p> - -<p>He took her hand and they ran, slid, fell, picked themselves up again, -and ran. He doubted the wisdom of keeping her with him. Alone, the -webfoots were no match for him. He could travel instantly to any spot -he chose. But with Sybtl it was another matter; he was no better than -any other man, perhaps not so good as some because he was forty, and -never had been an athlete.</p> - -<p>How was he to decide if this planet was suitable for his people, -hampered by a woman, slinking through a frozen wilderness like an -Indian? But the woman's hand was soft. He felt strong knowing she -depended on him.</p> - -<p>Anyway, he decided, pursuit was impossible. They left no tracks on the -ice. They were safe, unless the webfoots possessed talents unknown to -him.</p> - -<p>So they followed the path leading down from the rocks, along the creek -with its tumbling water. Frozen, leafless willows clawed at their -bodies. The sun shone fiercely in a cloudless sky. Already water ran in -tiny rivulets over the ice. The woman steered him to the right, away -from the creek.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Stinson's bare feet were numb from walking on ice. Christ, he thought, -what am I doing here, anyway? He glanced down at Sybtl and remembered -the webfoots. He stopped, tempted to use his cylinder and move to a -warmer, less dangerous spot.</p> - -<p>The woman pulled on his arm. "We must hurry!"</p> - -<p>He clutched the tube-weapon. "How many shots in this thing?"</p> - -<p>"Shots?"</p> - -<p>"How often can I use it?"</p> - -<p>"As often as you like. It is good for fifty years. Kaatr—he is the one -you destroyed—brought it from the ship when we came. Many times he has -used it unwisely."</p> - -<p>"When did you come?"</p> - -<p>"Ten years ago. I was a child."</p> - -<p>"I thought only criminals were brought here."</p> - -<p>She nodded. "Criminals, and their children."</p> - -<p>"When will your people come again?"</p> - -<p>She shook her head. "Never. They are no longer my people. They have -disowned us."</p> - -<p>"And because of me even those in the cavern have disowned you."</p> - -<p>Suddenly she stiffened beside him. There, directly in their path, stood -the Sand God. It was blood red now. It pulsed violently. The great -voice burst forth.</p> - -<p>"Leave the woman!" it demanded angrily. "The webfoots are nearing your -position."</p> - -<p>"I cannot leave her. She is helpless against them."</p> - -<p>"What form of primitive stupidity are you practicing now? Leave, or -they will kill you."</p> - -<p>Stinson shook his head.</p> - -<p>The Sand God pulsed more violently than before. Ice melted in a wide -area around it. Brown, frozen grass burned to ashes.</p> - -<p>"You will allow them to kill you, just to defend her life? What -business is it of yours if she lives or dies? My race discarded such -primitive logic long before it reached your level of development."</p> - -<p>"Yes," Stinson said, "and your race no longer exists."</p> - -<p>The Sand God became a sphere of blue flame. A wave of intense heat -drove them backward. "Earthman," the great voice said, "go back to your -Earth. Take your inconsistencies with you. Do not come here again to -infect my planet with your primitive ideas. The webfoots are not as -intelligent as you, but they are sane. If you bring your people here, I -shall destroy you all."</p> - -<p>The sphere of blue fire screamed away across the frozen wilderness, and -the thunder of its passing shook the ground and echoed among the lonely -hills.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Sybtl shivered against his arm. "The Sand God is angry," she said. "My -people tell how he was angry once before, when we first came here. He -killed half of us and burned the ship that brought us. That is how -Kaatr got the tube-weapon. It was the only thing the Sand God didn't -burn, that and the skirts. Then, when he had burned the ship, the Sand -God went to the sixth planet and burned two of the largest cities, as a -warning that no more of us must come here."</p> - -<p>Well, Stinson said to himself, that does it. We are better off on -Earth. We can't fight a monster like him.</p> - -<p>Sybtl touched his arm. "Why did the Sand God come? He did not speak."</p> - -<p>"He spoke to me."</p> - -<p>"I did not hear."</p> - -<p>"Yes, I know now. His voice sounds like thunder in the sky, but it is a -voice that speaks only in the mind. He said I must leave this planet."</p> - -<p>She glanced at him with suddenly awakened eyes, as if thinking of it -for the first time. "Where is your ship?"</p> - -<p>"I have no ship."</p> - -<p>"Then he will kill you." She touched her fingers on his face. "I am -sorry. It was all for me."</p> - -<p>"Don't worry. The Sand God travels without a ship, why shouldn't I?"</p> - -<p>"Now?"</p> - -<p>"As soon as you are safe. Come."</p> - -<p>Steam rose from the burned area, charred like a rocket launching pit. -They stepped around it carefully. Stinson felt warm air, but there was -no time, now, to warm cold feet or dwell on the vagaries of Sand Gods.</p> - -<p>Together they crossed the narrow valley. Sybtl led him toward a tall -mound of rock. Here they came to the creek again, which flowed into a -small canyon. They climbed the canyon wall. Far away, small figures -moved. The webfoots were on their trail.</p> - -<p>She drew him into a small cave. It was heated, like the great cavern, -but held no walled pool nor mysterious lighting. But it was warm, and -the small entrance made an excellent vantage point for warding off -attack.</p> - -<p>"They will not find us...."</p> - -<p>A high-pitched keening burst suddenly around them. Stinson knew they -had heard, or felt the sound for some time, that now its frequency was -in an audible range.</p> - -<p>"The Sand God," Sybtl said. "Sometimes he plays among the clouds. He -makes it rain in a dry summer, or sometimes warms the whole world -for days at a time in winter, so the snow melts and the grass begins -to green. Then he tires and lets winter come back again. He is the -loneliest God in the universe."</p> - -<p>"What makes you think he's lonely?"</p> - -<p>She shrugged her shoulders. "I just know. But he's an angry God now. -See those clouds piling in the East? Soon they will hide the sun. Then -he will make them churn and boil, like river whirlpools in spring. At -least he does this when he plays. Who knows what he will do when he's -angry?"</p> - -<p>"The Sand God isn't doing this," Stinson said. "It's only a storm."</p> - -<p>She covered his lips with her fingers. "Don't say that. He may hear you -and be more angry."</p> - -<p>"But it is, don't you see? You give him powers he does not possess."</p> - -<p>Sybtl shook her head and stroked his face with her long, slim fingers. -"Poor little God-with-fingers-on-his-feet," she said. "You do not -understand. The Sand God is terrible, even when he plays. See the -lightning? It is blue. The lightning of a storm that comes by itself is -not blue. He is running around the world on feet like the rockets of -space ships, and when he strikes the clouds, blue fire shoots away."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The clouds continued to build on one another. Soon the blue flashes of -lightning extended across the sky from horizon to horizon. The earth -trembled. Sybtl moved closer, trembling also.</p> - -<p>"He never did this before," she said. "He never made the earth shake -before."</p> - -<p>Great boulders crashed down the canyon walls and dropped into the -creek. They dared not move from the cave, although death seemed certain -if they stayed.</p> - -<p>"I'll leave for a moment," he said. "I'll be back soon."</p> - -<p>"You're leaving?" There was panic in her voice.</p> - -<p>"Only for a moment."</p> - -<p>"And you won't come back. You will go to your world."</p> - -<p>"No. I'll be back."</p> - -<p>"Promise? No, don't promise. The promises of Gods often are forgotten -before the sounds die away."</p> - -<p>"I'll be back."</p> - -<p>He disappeared at once, giving her no chance to object again, and went -to the desert of sand, where he had first arrived on the planet. He -wanted to see if the storm were world-wide.</p> - -<p>Stinson had never been in a sand storm before, even on Earth. He could -not breathe. He could not see. Bullets of sand stung his skin. Bullets -of sand shot into his eyes. Clouds of sand howled around him. He fell, -and the wind rolled him over and over in the sand like a tumbleweed. -The skirt flew up around his face. He could not get up again.</p> - -<p>He returned to the cave.</p> - -<p>Soon after, while they sat huddled together, watching the chaos of -tumbling rocks, lightning, and driving rain, the high-pitched keening -came again. A sphere of blue fire appeared in the east. Its brilliance -put the lightning to shame. It bore down on the cave swiftly, -purposefully. Stinson prepared himself to leave. In spite of his desire -to protect Sybtl, it was useless to get himself killed when he was -powerless to help her. But at the last moment it veered off.</p> - -<p>"Fiend!" Stinson screamed the word, vaguely marvelling at his own fury.</p> - -<p>The blue sphere turned and came back.</p> - -<p>"Monster!"</p> - -<p>Again.</p> - -<p>"Murderer!"</p> - -<p>"Adolescent!"</p> - -<p>This time it kept going. The rain and wind ceased. Lightning stopped. -Thunder rumbled distantly. Clouds disappeared. Stinson and Sybtl -emerged from the cave.</p> - -<p>There was no longer a question of attack from the webfoots, the storm -had taken care of that. The fierce sun began its work of drying rocks -and throwing shadows and coaxing life out into the open again. Down in -the canyon a bird sang, a lonely, cheerful twitter.</p> - -<p>"The Sand God is tired," Sybtl said. "He is not angry now. I'm glad. -Perhaps he will let you stay."</p> - -<p>"No. Even if he allowed it, I couldn't stay. My people could never live -here with a God who is half devil."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The cone of sand suddenly appeared. It stood in the canyon, its base -on a level with the cave. It was quiet. It was dull gray in color. It -exuded impressions of death, of hopeful words solemnly spoken over -lowered coffins, of cold earth and cold space, of dank, wet catacombs, -of creeping, crawling nether things.</p> - -<p>The bird's twitter stopped abruptly.</p> - -<p>"Earthman," the Sand God said, as if he were about to make a statement.</p> - -<p>Stinson ignored him. He glanced down at Sybtl, who sensed that this was -a time for good-bys. He thought, perhaps I can stay here alone with -her. The webfoots might find us, or the Sand God might destroy us in -one of his fits, but it might be worth it.</p> - -<p>"Don't go," she said. "Not yet."</p> - -<p>"Earthman, hear me."</p> - -<p>"I hear you."</p> - -<p>"Why does your mind shrink backward?"</p> - -<p>"I've decided not to bring my people here."</p> - -<p>"<i>You</i> decided?"</p> - -<p>"Certainly," Stinson said boldly. "Call it rationalization, if you -wish. You ordered us away; and I have several good reasons for not -coming here if the door was open."</p> - -<p>"I've changed my mind. You will be welcomed."</p> - -<p>"Listen to that, will you?" Stinson said angrily. "Just listen! You -set yourself up as a God for the webfoots. You get them eating out of -your hand. Then what do you do? You throw a fit. Yes, a fit! Like an -adolescent. Worse."</p> - -<p>"Earthman, wait...."</p> - -<p>"No!" Stinson shot back. "You've owned this planet for a million -years. You have brooded here alone since before my people discovered -fire, and in all those ages you never learned self-control. I can't -subject my people to the whims of an entity who throws a planetary fit -when it pleases him."</p> - -<p>Stinson relaxed. He'd had his say. Sybtl trembled beside him. A small -mammal, round, furry, hopped by, sniffing inquisitively.</p> - -<p>Sybtl said, "Is the Sand God happy?" She shook her head. "No, he is not -happy. He is old, old, old. I can feel it. My people say that when one -gets too old it is well to die. But Gods never die, do they? I would -not like to be a God."</p> - -<p>"Stinson," the Sand God said. "You said I was adolescent. You are -correct. Do you remember I told you how my people, the entire race, -left their bodies at the same time? Do you imagine all of us were -adults?"</p> - -<p>"I suppose not. Sounds reasonable. How old were you?"</p> - -<p>"Chronologically, by our standards, I was nine years old."</p> - -<p>"But you continued to develop after...."</p> - -<p>"No."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Stinson tried to imagine it. At first there must have been a single -voice crying into a monstrous emptiness, "Mother, where are you? -<i>MOTHER!</i> Where is <i>everyone</i>?" A frenzied searching of the planet, -the solar system, the galaxy. Then a returning to the planet. Empty.... -Change. Buildings, roads, bridges weathering slowly. Such a race would -have built of durable metal. Durable? Centuries, eons passed. Buildings -crumbled to dust, dust blew away. Bridges eroded, fell, decomposed -into basic elements. The shape of constellations changed. All trace -of civilization passed except in the cavern of the heated pool. -Constellations disappeared, new patterns formed in the night sky. The -unutterably total void of time—FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND YEARS!</p> - -<p>And a nine-year-old child brooding over an empty world.</p> - -<p>"I don't understand why your development stopped," Stinson said.</p> - -<p>"Nor do I. But perhaps ... well, I sense that I would continue, if you -brought your people here. You have already taught me the value of -life. There is a oneness, a bond that ties each living thing to every -other living thing. It is a lesson my people never knew. Select any -portion of this planet that suits you. Take the web-footed woman for -your wife. Have children. I promise never to harm you in any way."</p> - -<p>"The webfoots?"</p> - -<p>"You and they shall share the planet."</p> - -<p>The Sand God disappeared. Sybtl said; "Is the Sand God angry again?"</p> - -<p>"No, he is not angry."</p> - -<p>"I'm glad. You will leave now?"</p> - -<p>"No. This is my home."</p> - -<p>She laughed softly. "You are a strange God."</p> - -<p>"Listen," he said, "I am not a God. Get that through your head."</p> - -<p>She drew him into the cave. Her lips were cool and sweet. The cave was -pleasantly warm.</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The God Next Door, by Bill Doede - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOD NEXT DOOR *** - -***** This file should be named 51699-h.htm or 51699-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/6/9/51699/ - -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 public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily -keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. - - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: - - http://www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - - -</pre> - -</body> -</html> diff --git a/old/51699-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/51699-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 4e0f808..0000000 --- a/old/51699-h/images/cover.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/51699-h/images/illus1.jpg b/old/51699-h/images/illus1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 6c83d79..0000000 --- a/old/51699-h/images/illus1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/51699-h/images/illus2.jpg b/old/51699-h/images/illus2.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 1c902e6..0000000 --- a/old/51699-h/images/illus2.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/51699.txt b/old/51699.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 41bac2c..0000000 --- a/old/51699.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1210 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The God Next Door, by Bill Doede - -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 God Next Door - -Author: Bill Doede - -Release Date: April 8, 2016 [EBook #51699] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOD NEXT DOOR *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - - THE GOD NEXT DOOR - - By BILL DOEDE - - Illustrated by IVIE - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Galaxy Magazine August 1961. - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - - - - The sand-thing was powerful, lonely and - strange. No doubt it was a god--but who wasn't? - - -Stinson lay still in the sand where he fell, gloating over the success -of his arrival. - -He touched the pencil-line scar behind his ear where the cylinder was -buried, marveling at the power stored there, power to fling him from -earth to this fourth planet of the Centaurian system in an instant. -It had happened so fast that he could almost feel the warm, humid -Missouri air, though he was light years from Missouri. - -He got up. A gray, funnel-shaped cloud of dust stood off to his left. -This became disturbing, since there was scarcely enough wind to move -his hair. He watched it, trying to recall what he might know about -cyclones. But he knew little. Weather control made cyclones and other -climatic phenomena on earth practically non-existent. The cloud -did not move, though, except to spin on its axis rapidly, emitting -a high-pitched, scarcely audible whine, like a high speed motor. He -judged it harmless. - -He stood on a wide valley floor between two mountain ranges. Dark -clouds capped one peak of the mountains on his left. The sky was deep -blue. - -He tested the gravity by jumping up and down. Same as Earth gravity. -The sun--no, not _the_ sun. Not Sol. What should he call it, Alpha or -Centaurus? Well, perhaps neither. He was here and Earth was somewhere -up there. This was _the_ sun of this particular solar system. He was -right the first time. - -The sun burned fiercely, although he would have said it was about four -o'clock in the afternoon, if this had been Earth. Not a tree, nor a -bush, nor even a wisp of dry grass was in sight. Everywhere was desert. - -The funnel of sand had moved closer and while he watched it, it seemed -to drift in the wind--although there was no wind. Stinson backed away. -It stopped. It was about ten feet tall by three feet in diameter at the -base. Then Stinson backed away again. It was changing. Now it became a -blue rectangle, then a red cube, a violet sphere. - -He wanted to run. He wished Benjamin were here. Ben might have an -explanation. "What am I afraid of?" he said aloud, "a few grains of -sand blowing in the wind? A wind devil?" - -He turned his back and walked away. When he looked up the wind devil -was there before him. He looked back. Only one. It had moved. The sun -shone obliquely, throwing Stinson's shadow upon the sand. The wind -devil also had a shadow, although the sun shone through it and the -shadow was faint. But it moved when the funnel moved. This was no -illusion. - -Again Stinson felt the urge to run, or to use the cylinder to project -himself somewhere else, but he said, "No!" very firmly to himself. He -was here to investigate, to determine if this planet was capable of -supporting life. - -Life? Intelligence? He examined the wind devil as closely as he dared, -but it was composed only of grains of sand. There was no core, no -central place you could point to and say, here is the brain, or the -nervous system. But then, how could a group of loosely spaced grains of -sand possibly have a nervous system? - -It was again going through its paces. Triangle, cube, rectangle, -sphere. He watched, and when it became a triangle again, he smoothed -a place in the sand and drew a triangle with his forefinger. When it -changed to a cube he drew a square, a circle for a sphere, and so on. -When the symbols were repeated he pointed to each in turn, excitement -mounting. He became so absorbed in doing this that he failed to notice -how the wind devil drew closer and closer, but when he inhaled the -first grains of sand, the realization of what was happening dawned with -a flash of fear. Instantly he projected himself a thousand miles away. - - * * * * * - -Now he was in an area of profuse vegetation. It was twilight. As he -stood beside a small creek, a chill wind blew from the northwest. He -wanted to cover himself with the long leaves he found, but they were -dry and brittle, for here autumn had turned the leaves. Night would be -cold. - -He was not a woodsman. He doubted if he could build a fire without -matches. So he followed the creek to where it flowed between two great -hills. Steam vapors rose from a crevice. A cave was nearby and warm air -flowed from its mouth. He went inside. - -At first he thought the cave was small, but found instead that he was -in a long narrow passageway. The current of warm air flowed toward him -and he followed it, cautiously, stepping carefully and slowly. Then it -was not quite so dark. Soon he stepped out of the narrow passageway -into a great cavern with a high-vaulted ceiling. - -The light source was a mystery. He left no shadow on the floor. A -great crystal sphere hung from the ceiling, and he was curious about -its purpose, but a great pool of steaming water in the center of the -cavern drew his attention. He went close, to warm himself. A stone -wall surrounding the pool was inscribed with intricate art work and -indecipherable symbols. - -Life. Intelligence. The planet was inhabited. - -Should he give up and return to earth? Or was there room here for -his people? Warming his hands there over the great steaming pool he -thought of Benjamin, and Straus, and Jamieson--all those to whom he had -given cylinders, and who were now struggling for life against those who -desired them. - -He decided it would not be just, to give up so easily. - -The wide plaza between the pool and cavern wall was smooth as polished -glass. Statues lined the wall. He examined them. - -The unknown artist had been clever. From one angle they were animals, -from another birds, from a third they were vaguely humanoid creatures, -glowering at him with primitive ferocity. The fourth view was so -shocking he had to turn away quickly. No definable form or sculptured -line was visible, yet he felt, or saw--he did not know which senses -told him--the immeasurable gulf of a million years of painful -evolution. Then nothing. It was not a curtain drawn to prevent him from -seeing more. - -There was no more. - - * * * * * - -He stumbled toward the pool's wall and clutched for support, but -his knees buckled. His hand slid down the wall, over the ancient -inscriptions. He sank to the floor. Before he lost consciousness he -wondered, fleetingly, if a lethal instrument was in the statue. - -He woke with a ringing in his ears, feeling drugged and sluggish. -Sounds came to him. He opened his eyes. - -The cavern was crowded. These creatures were not only humanoid, but -definitely human, although more slight of build than earth people. The -only difference he could see at first sight was that they had webbed -feet. All were dressed from the waist down only, in a shimmering skirt -that sparkled as they moved. They walked with the grace of ballet -dancers, moving about the plaza, conversing in a musical language with -no meaning for Stinson. The men were dark-skinned, the women somewhat -lighter, with long flowing hair, wide lips and a beauty that was -utterly sensual. - -He was in chains! They were small chains, light weight, of a metal that -looked like aluminum. But all his strength could not break them. - -They saw him struggling. Two of the men came over and spoke to him in -the musical language. - -"My name is Stinson," he said, pointing to himself. "I'm from the -planet Earth." - -They looked at each other and jabbered some more. - -"Look," he said, "Earth. E-A-R-T-H, Earth." He pointed upward, -described a large circle, then another smaller, and showed how Earth -revolved around the sun. - -One of the men poked him with a stick, or tube of some kind. It did not -hurt, but angered him. He left the chains by his own method of travel, -and reappeared behind the two men. They stared at the place where he -had been. The chains tinkled musically. He grasped the shoulder of the -offender, spun him around and slapped his face. - -A cry of consternation rose from the group, echoing in the high -ceilinged cavern. "SBTL!" it said, "ZBTL ... XBTL ... zbtl." - -The men instantly prostrated themselves before him. The one who had -poked Stinson with the stick rose, and handed it to him. Still angered, -Stinson grasped it firmly, with half a notion to break it over his -head. As he did so, a flash of blue fire sprang from it. The man -disappeared. A small cloud of dust settled slowly to the floor. - -Disintegrated! - -Stinson's face drained pale, and suddenly, unaccountably, he was -ashamed because he had no clothes. - -"I didn't mean to kill him!" he cried. "I was angry, and...." - -Useless. They could not understand. For all he knew, they might think -he was threatening them. The object he had thought of as a stick was -in reality a long metal tube, precisely machined, with a small button -near one end. - -This weapon was completely out of place in a culture such as this. -Or was it? What did he know of these people? Very little. They were -humanoid. They had exhibited human emotions of anger, fear and, that -most human of all characteristics, curiosity. But up to now the tube -and the chain was the only evidence of an advanced technology, unless -the ancient inscriptions in the stone wall of the pool, and the statues -lining the wall were evidences. - - * * * * * - -There was a stirring among the crowd. An object like a pallet was -brought, carried by four of the women. They laid it at his feet, and -gestured for him to sit. He touched it cautiously, then sat. - -Instantly he sprang to his feet. There, at the cavern entrance, the -wind devil writhed and undulated in a brilliant harmony of colors. It -remained in one spot, though, and he relaxed somewhat. - -One of the women came toward him, long golden hair flowing, firm -breasts dipping slightly at each step. Her eyes held a language all -their own, universal. She pressed her body against him and bore him to -the pallet, her kisses fire on his face. - -Incongruously, he thought of Benjamin back on earth, and all the others -with cylinders, who might be fighting for their lives at this moment. -He pushed her roughly aside. - -She spoke, and he understood! Her words were still the same gibberish, -but now he knew their meaning. Somehow he knew also that the wind devil -was responsible for his understanding. - -"You do not want me?" she said sadly. "Then kill me." - -"Why should I kill you?" - -She shrugged her beautiful shoulders. "It is the way of the Gods," she -said. "If you do not, then the others will." - -He took the tube-weapon in his hands, careful not to touch the button. -"Don't be afraid. I didn't mean to kill the man. It was an accident. I -will protect you." - -She shook her head. "One day they will find me alone, and they'll kill -me." - -"Why?" - -She shrugged. "I have not pleased you." - -"On the contrary, you have. There is a time and place for everything, -though." - -Suddenly a great voice sounded in the cavern, a voice with no -direction. It came from the ceiling, the floor, the walls, the steaming -pool. It was in the language of the web-footed people; it was in his -own tongue. "No harm must come to this woman. The God with fingers on -his feet has decreed this." - -Those in the cavern looked at the woman with fear and respect. She -kissed Stinson's feet. Two of the men came and gave her a brilliant -new skirt. She smiled at him, and he thought he had never seen a more -beautiful face. - - * * * * * - -The great, bodiless voice sounded again, but those in the cavern went -about their activities. They did not hear. - -"Who are you?" - -Stinson looked at the wind devil, since it could be no one else -speaking, and pointed to himself. "Me?" - -"Yes." - -"I am Stinson, of the planet Earth." - -"Yes, I see it in your mind, now. You want to live here, on this -planet." - -"Then you must know where I came from, and how." - -"I do not understand how. You have a body, a physical body composed -of atoms. It is impossible to move a physical body from one place to -another by a mere thought and a tiny instrument, yet you have done so. -You deserted me out in the desert." - -"I deserted you?" Stinson cried angrily, "You tried to kill me!" - -"I was attempting communication. Why should I kill you?" - -He was silent a moment, looking at the people in the cavern. "Perhaps -because you feared I would become the God of these people in your -place." - -Stinson felt a mental shrug. "It is of no importance. When they arrived -on this planet I attempted to explain that I was not a God, but the -primitive is not deeply buried in them. They soon resorted to emotion -rather than reason. It is of no importance." - -"I'd hardly call them primitive, with such weapons." - -"The tube is not of their technology. That is, they did not make -it directly. These are the undesirables, the incorrigibles, the -nonconformists from the sixth planet. I permit them here because it -occupies my time, to watch them evolve." - -"You should live so long." - -"Live?" the wind devil said. "Oh, I see your meaning. I'd almost -forgotten. You are a strange entity. You travel by a means even I -cannot fully understand, yet you speak of time as if some event -were about to take place. I believe you think of death. I see your -physical body has deteriorated since yesterday. Your body will cease to -exist, almost as soon as those of the sixth planet peoples. I am most -interested in you. You will bring your people, and live here." - -"I haven't decided. There are these web-footed people, who were hostile -until they thought I was a God. They have destructive weapons. Also, I -don't understand you. I see you as a cone of sand which keeps changing -color and configuration. Is it your body? Where do you come from? Is -this planet populated with your kind?" - -The wind devil hesitated. - -"Where do I originate? It seems I have always been. You see this -cavern, the heated pool, the statues, the inscriptions. Half a million -years ago my people were as you. That is, they lived in physical -bodies. Our technology surpassed any you have seen. The tube these -webfoots use is a toy by comparison. Our scientists found the ultimate -nature of physical law. They learned to separate the mind from the -body. Then my people set a date. Our entire race was determined to free -itself from the confines of the body. The date came." - -"What happened?" - -"I do not know. I alone exist. I have searched all the levels of time -and matter from the very beginning. My people are gone. Sometimes it -almost comes to me, why they are gone. And this is contrary to the -greatest law of all--that an entity, once in existence, can never cease -to exist." - - * * * * * - -Stinson was silent, thinking of the endless years of searching through -the great gulf of time. His eyes caught sight of the woman, reclining -now on the pallet. The men had left her and stood in groups, talking, -glancing at him, apparently free of their awe and fear already. - -The woman looked at him, and she was not smiling. "Please ask the Sand -God," she said, "to speak to my people again. Their fear of him does -not last. When He is gone they will probably kill us." - -"As for the webfoots," the wind devil, or Sand God, said, "I will -destroy them. You and your people will have the entire planet." - -"Destroy them?" Stinson asked, incredulously, "all these people? They -have a right to live like any one else." - -"Right? What is it--'right?' They are entities. They exist, therefore -they always will. My people are the only entities who ever died. To -kill the body is unimportant." - -"No. You misunderstand. Listen, you spoke of the greatest law. Your law -is a scientific hypothesis. It has to do with what comes after physical -existence, not with existence itself. The greatest law is this, that an -entity, once existing, must not be harmed in any way. To do so changes -the most basic structure of nature." - -The Sand God did not reply. The great bodiless, directionless voice was -silent, and Stinson felt as if he had been taken from some high place -and set down in a dark canyon. The cone of sand was the color of wood -ashes. It pulsed erratically, like a great heart missing a beat now and -then. The web-footed people milled about restlessly. The woman's eyes -pleaded. - -When he looked back, the Sand God was gone. - -Instantly a new note rose in the cavern. The murmur of unmistakable mob -fury ran over the webfoots. Several of the men approached the woman -with hatred in their voices. He could not understand the words now. - -But he understood her. "They'll kill me!" she cried. - -Stinson pointed the disintegrating weapon at them and yelled. They -dropped back. "We'll have to get outside," he told her. "This mob will -soon get out of hand. Then the tube won't stop them. They will rush in. -I can't kill them all at once, even if I wanted to. And I don't." - -Together they edged toward the cavern entrance, ran quickly up the -inclined passageway, and came out into crisp, cold air. The morning sun -was reflected from a million tiny mirrors on the rocks, the trees and -grass. A silver thaw during the night had covered the whole area with -a coating of ice. Stinson shivered. The woman handed him a skirt she -had thoughtfully brought along from the cavern. He took it, and they -ran down the slippery path leading away from the entrance. From the -hiding place behind a large rock they watched, as several web-footed -men emerged into the sunlight. They blinked, covered their eyes, and -jabbered musically among themselves. One slipped and fell on the ice. -They re-entered the cave. - - * * * * * - -Stinson donned the shimmering skirt, smiling as he did so. The others -should see him now. Benjamin and Straus and Jamieson. They would -laugh. And Ben's wife, Lisa, she would give her little-girl laugh, and -probably help him fasten the skirt. It had a string, like a tobacco -pouch, which was tied around the waist. It helped keep him warm. - -He turned to the woman. "I don't know what I'll do with you, but now -that we're in trouble together, we may as well introduce ourselves. My -name is Stinson." - -"I am Sybtl," she said. - -"Syb-tl." He tried to imitate her musical pronunciation. "A very nice -name." - -She smiled, then pointed to the cavern. "When the ice is gone, they -will come out and follow us." - -"We'd better make tracks." - -"No," she said, "we must run, and make no tracks." - -"Okay, Sis," he said. - -"Sis?" - -"That means, sister." - -"I am not your sister. I am your wife." - -"_What?_" - -"Yes. When a man protects a woman from harm, it is a sign to all that -she is his chosen. Otherwise, why not let her die? You are a strange -God." - -"Listen, Sybtl," he said desperately, "I am not a God and you are not -my wife. Let's get that straight." - -"But...." - -"No buts. Right now we'd better get out of here." - -He took her hand and they ran, slid, fell, picked themselves up again, -and ran. He doubted the wisdom of keeping her with him. Alone, the -webfoots were no match for him. He could travel instantly to any spot -he chose. But with Sybtl it was another matter; he was no better than -any other man, perhaps not so good as some because he was forty, and -never had been an athlete. - -How was he to decide if this planet was suitable for his people, -hampered by a woman, slinking through a frozen wilderness like an -Indian? But the woman's hand was soft. He felt strong knowing she -depended on him. - -Anyway, he decided, pursuit was impossible. They left no tracks on the -ice. They were safe, unless the webfoots possessed talents unknown to -him. - -So they followed the path leading down from the rocks, along the creek -with its tumbling water. Frozen, leafless willows clawed at their -bodies. The sun shone fiercely in a cloudless sky. Already water ran in -tiny rivulets over the ice. The woman steered him to the right, away -from the creek. - - * * * * * - -Stinson's bare feet were numb from walking on ice. Christ, he thought, -what am I doing here, anyway? He glanced down at Sybtl and remembered -the webfoots. He stopped, tempted to use his cylinder and move to a -warmer, less dangerous spot. - -The woman pulled on his arm. "We must hurry!" - -He clutched the tube-weapon. "How many shots in this thing?" - -"Shots?" - -"How often can I use it?" - -"As often as you like. It is good for fifty years. Kaatr--he is the one -you destroyed--brought it from the ship when we came. Many times he has -used it unwisely." - -"When did you come?" - -"Ten years ago. I was a child." - -"I thought only criminals were brought here." - -She nodded. "Criminals, and their children." - -"When will your people come again?" - -She shook her head. "Never. They are no longer my people. They have -disowned us." - -"And because of me even those in the cavern have disowned you." - -Suddenly she stiffened beside him. There, directly in their path, stood -the Sand God. It was blood red now. It pulsed violently. The great -voice burst forth. - -"Leave the woman!" it demanded angrily. "The webfoots are nearing your -position." - -"I cannot leave her. She is helpless against them." - -"What form of primitive stupidity are you practicing now? Leave, or -they will kill you." - -Stinson shook his head. - -The Sand God pulsed more violently than before. Ice melted in a wide -area around it. Brown, frozen grass burned to ashes. - -"You will allow them to kill you, just to defend her life? What -business is it of yours if she lives or dies? My race discarded such -primitive logic long before it reached your level of development." - -"Yes," Stinson said, "and your race no longer exists." - -The Sand God became a sphere of blue flame. A wave of intense heat -drove them backward. "Earthman," the great voice said, "go back to your -Earth. Take your inconsistencies with you. Do not come here again to -infect my planet with your primitive ideas. The webfoots are not as -intelligent as you, but they are sane. If you bring your people here, I -shall destroy you all." - -The sphere of blue fire screamed away across the frozen wilderness, and -the thunder of its passing shook the ground and echoed among the lonely -hills. - - * * * * * - -Sybtl shivered against his arm. "The Sand God is angry," she said. "My -people tell how he was angry once before, when we first came here. He -killed half of us and burned the ship that brought us. That is how -Kaatr got the tube-weapon. It was the only thing the Sand God didn't -burn, that and the skirts. Then, when he had burned the ship, the Sand -God went to the sixth planet and burned two of the largest cities, as a -warning that no more of us must come here." - -Well, Stinson said to himself, that does it. We are better off on -Earth. We can't fight a monster like him. - -Sybtl touched his arm. "Why did the Sand God come? He did not speak." - -"He spoke to me." - -"I did not hear." - -"Yes, I know now. His voice sounds like thunder in the sky, but it is a -voice that speaks only in the mind. He said I must leave this planet." - -She glanced at him with suddenly awakened eyes, as if thinking of it -for the first time. "Where is your ship?" - -"I have no ship." - -"Then he will kill you." She touched her fingers on his face. "I am -sorry. It was all for me." - -"Don't worry. The Sand God travels without a ship, why shouldn't I?" - -"Now?" - -"As soon as you are safe. Come." - -Steam rose from the burned area, charred like a rocket launching pit. -They stepped around it carefully. Stinson felt warm air, but there was -no time, now, to warm cold feet or dwell on the vagaries of Sand Gods. - -Together they crossed the narrow valley. Sybtl led him toward a tall -mound of rock. Here they came to the creek again, which flowed into a -small canyon. They climbed the canyon wall. Far away, small figures -moved. The webfoots were on their trail. - -She drew him into a small cave. It was heated, like the great cavern, -but held no walled pool nor mysterious lighting. But it was warm, and -the small entrance made an excellent vantage point for warding off -attack. - -"They will not find us...." - -A high-pitched keening burst suddenly around them. Stinson knew they -had heard, or felt the sound for some time, that now its frequency was -in an audible range. - -"The Sand God," Sybtl said. "Sometimes he plays among the clouds. He -makes it rain in a dry summer, or sometimes warms the whole world -for days at a time in winter, so the snow melts and the grass begins -to green. Then he tires and lets winter come back again. He is the -loneliest God in the universe." - -"What makes you think he's lonely?" - -She shrugged her shoulders. "I just know. But he's an angry God now. -See those clouds piling in the East? Soon they will hide the sun. Then -he will make them churn and boil, like river whirlpools in spring. At -least he does this when he plays. Who knows what he will do when he's -angry?" - -"The Sand God isn't doing this," Stinson said. "It's only a storm." - -She covered his lips with her fingers. "Don't say that. He may hear you -and be more angry." - -"But it is, don't you see? You give him powers he does not possess." - -Sybtl shook her head and stroked his face with her long, slim fingers. -"Poor little God-with-fingers-on-his-feet," she said. "You do not -understand. The Sand God is terrible, even when he plays. See the -lightning? It is blue. The lightning of a storm that comes by itself is -not blue. He is running around the world on feet like the rockets of -space ships, and when he strikes the clouds, blue fire shoots away." - - * * * * * - -The clouds continued to build on one another. Soon the blue flashes of -lightning extended across the sky from horizon to horizon. The earth -trembled. Sybtl moved closer, trembling also. - -"He never did this before," she said. "He never made the earth shake -before." - -Great boulders crashed down the canyon walls and dropped into the -creek. They dared not move from the cave, although death seemed certain -if they stayed. - -"I'll leave for a moment," he said. "I'll be back soon." - -"You're leaving?" There was panic in her voice. - -"Only for a moment." - -"And you won't come back. You will go to your world." - -"No. I'll be back." - -"Promise? No, don't promise. The promises of Gods often are forgotten -before the sounds die away." - -"I'll be back." - -He disappeared at once, giving her no chance to object again, and went -to the desert of sand, where he had first arrived on the planet. He -wanted to see if the storm were world-wide. - -Stinson had never been in a sand storm before, even on Earth. He could -not breathe. He could not see. Bullets of sand stung his skin. Bullets -of sand shot into his eyes. Clouds of sand howled around him. He fell, -and the wind rolled him over and over in the sand like a tumbleweed. -The skirt flew up around his face. He could not get up again. - -He returned to the cave. - -Soon after, while they sat huddled together, watching the chaos of -tumbling rocks, lightning, and driving rain, the high-pitched keening -came again. A sphere of blue fire appeared in the east. Its brilliance -put the lightning to shame. It bore down on the cave swiftly, -purposefully. Stinson prepared himself to leave. In spite of his desire -to protect Sybtl, it was useless to get himself killed when he was -powerless to help her. But at the last moment it veered off. - -"Fiend!" Stinson screamed the word, vaguely marvelling at his own fury. - -The blue sphere turned and came back. - -"Monster!" - -Again. - -"Murderer!" - -"Adolescent!" - -This time it kept going. The rain and wind ceased. Lightning stopped. -Thunder rumbled distantly. Clouds disappeared. Stinson and Sybtl -emerged from the cave. - -There was no longer a question of attack from the webfoots, the storm -had taken care of that. The fierce sun began its work of drying rocks -and throwing shadows and coaxing life out into the open again. Down in -the canyon a bird sang, a lonely, cheerful twitter. - -"The Sand God is tired," Sybtl said. "He is not angry now. I'm glad. -Perhaps he will let you stay." - -"No. Even if he allowed it, I couldn't stay. My people could never live -here with a God who is half devil." - - * * * * * - -The cone of sand suddenly appeared. It stood in the canyon, its base -on a level with the cave. It was quiet. It was dull gray in color. It -exuded impressions of death, of hopeful words solemnly spoken over -lowered coffins, of cold earth and cold space, of dank, wet catacombs, -of creeping, crawling nether things. - -The bird's twitter stopped abruptly. - -"Earthman," the Sand God said, as if he were about to make a statement. - -Stinson ignored him. He glanced down at Sybtl, who sensed that this was -a time for good-bys. He thought, perhaps I can stay here alone with -her. The webfoots might find us, or the Sand God might destroy us in -one of his fits, but it might be worth it. - -"Don't go," she said. "Not yet." - -"Earthman, hear me." - -"I hear you." - -"Why does your mind shrink backward?" - -"I've decided not to bring my people here." - -"_You_ decided?" - -"Certainly," Stinson said boldly. "Call it rationalization, if you -wish. You ordered us away; and I have several good reasons for not -coming here if the door was open." - -"I've changed my mind. You will be welcomed." - -"Listen to that, will you?" Stinson said angrily. "Just listen! You -set yourself up as a God for the webfoots. You get them eating out of -your hand. Then what do you do? You throw a fit. Yes, a fit! Like an -adolescent. Worse." - -"Earthman, wait...." - -"No!" Stinson shot back. "You've owned this planet for a million -years. You have brooded here alone since before my people discovered -fire, and in all those ages you never learned self-control. I can't -subject my people to the whims of an entity who throws a planetary fit -when it pleases him." - -Stinson relaxed. He'd had his say. Sybtl trembled beside him. A small -mammal, round, furry, hopped by, sniffing inquisitively. - -Sybtl said, "Is the Sand God happy?" She shook her head. "No, he is not -happy. He is old, old, old. I can feel it. My people say that when one -gets too old it is well to die. But Gods never die, do they? I would -not like to be a God." - -"Stinson," the Sand God said. "You said I was adolescent. You are -correct. Do you remember I told you how my people, the entire race, -left their bodies at the same time? Do you imagine all of us were -adults?" - -"I suppose not. Sounds reasonable. How old were you?" - -"Chronologically, by our standards, I was nine years old." - -"But you continued to develop after...." - -"No." - - * * * * * - -Stinson tried to imagine it. At first there must have been a single -voice crying into a monstrous emptiness, "Mother, where are you? -_MOTHER!_ Where is _everyone_?" A frenzied searching of the planet, -the solar system, the galaxy. Then a returning to the planet. Empty.... -Change. Buildings, roads, bridges weathering slowly. Such a race would -have built of durable metal. Durable? Centuries, eons passed. Buildings -crumbled to dust, dust blew away. Bridges eroded, fell, decomposed -into basic elements. The shape of constellations changed. All trace -of civilization passed except in the cavern of the heated pool. -Constellations disappeared, new patterns formed in the night sky. The -unutterably total void of time--FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND YEARS! - -And a nine-year-old child brooding over an empty world. - -"I don't understand why your development stopped," Stinson said. - -"Nor do I. But perhaps ... well, I sense that I would continue, if you -brought your people here. You have already taught me the value of -life. There is a oneness, a bond that ties each living thing to every -other living thing. It is a lesson my people never knew. Select any -portion of this planet that suits you. Take the web-footed woman for -your wife. Have children. I promise never to harm you in any way." - -"The webfoots?" - -"You and they shall share the planet." - -The Sand God disappeared. Sybtl said; "Is the Sand God angry again?" - -"No, he is not angry." - -"I'm glad. You will leave now?" - -"No. This is my home." - -She laughed softly. "You are a strange God." - -"Listen," he said, "I am not a God. Get that through your head." - -She drew him into the cave. Her lips were cool and sweet. The cave was -pleasantly warm. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The God Next Door, by Bill Doede - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE GOD NEXT DOOR *** - -***** This file should be named 51699.txt or 51699.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/1/6/9/51699/ - -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 public domain print editions means that no -one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation -(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without -permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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