diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 4 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/52855-h.zip | bin | 283487 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/52855-h/52855-h.htm | 2154 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/52855-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 83509 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/52855-h/images/illus1.jpg | bin | 113851 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/52855-h/images/illus2.jpg | bin | 50181 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/52855.txt | 2023 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/52855.zip | bin | 34502 -> 0 bytes |
10 files changed, 17 insertions, 4177 deletions
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..adeadf0 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #52855 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/52855) diff --git a/old/52855-h.zip b/old/52855-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index cd66281..0000000 --- a/old/52855-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/52855-h/52855-h.htm b/old/52855-h/52855-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 722b4f9..0000000 --- a/old/52855-h/52855-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2154 +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 Star-sent Knaves, by Keith Laumer. - </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; } - -.blockquot { - margin-left: 5%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Star-Sent Knaves, by Keith Laumer - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: The Star-Sent Knaves - -Author: Keith Laumer - -Illustrator: Jack Gaughan - -Release Date: August 20, 2016 [EBook #52855] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STAR-SENT KNAVES *** - - - - -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="366" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="titlepage"> -<h1><i>THE STAR-SENT KNAVES</i></h1> - -<p>BY KEITH LAUMER</p> - -<p>Illustrated by Gaughan</p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Worlds of Tomorrow June 1963<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">When the Great Galactic Union first encounters<br /> -Earth ... is this what is going to happen?</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph3">I</p> - -<p>Clyde W. Snithian was a bald eagle of a man, dark-eyed, pot-bellied, -with the large, expressive hands of a rug merchant. Round-shouldered -in a loose cloak, he blinked small reddish eyes at Dan Slane's -travel-stained six foot one.</p> - -<p>"Kelly here tells me you've been demanding to see me." He nodded toward -the florid man at his side. He had a high, thin voice, like something -that needed oiling. "Something about important information regarding -safeguarding my paintings."</p> - -<p>"That's right, Mr. Snithian," Dan said. "I believe I can be of great -help to you."</p> - -<p>"Help how? If you've got ideas of bilking me...." The red eyes bored -into Dan like hot pokers.</p> - -<p>"Nothing like that, sir. Now, I know you have quite a system of guards -here—the papers are full of it—"</p> - -<p>"Damned busybodies! Sensation-mongers! If it wasn't for the press, -I'd have no concern for my paintings today!"</p> - -<p>"Yes sir. But my point is, the one really important spot has been left -unguarded."</p> - -<p>"Now, wait a minute—" Kelly started.</p> - -<p>"What's that?" Snithian cut in.</p> - -<p>"You have a hundred and fifty men guarding the house and grounds day -and night—"</p> - -<p>"Two hundred and twenty-five," Kelly snapped.</p> - -<p>"—but no one at all in the vault with the paintings," Slane finished.</p> - -<p>"Of course not," Snithian shrilled. "Why should I post a man in the -vault? It's under constant surveillance from the corridor outside."</p> - -<p>"The Harriman paintings were removed from a locked vault," Dan said. -"There was a special seal on the door. It wasn't broken."</p> - -<p>"By the saints, he's right," Kelly exclaimed. "Maybe we ought to have a -man in that vault."</p> - -<p>"Another idiotic scheme to waste my money," Snithian snapped. "I've -made you responsible for security here, Kelly! Let's have no more -nonsense. And throw this nincompoop out!" Snithian turned and stalked -away, his cloak flapping at his knees.</p> - -<p>"I'll work cheap," Dan called after him as Kelly took his arm. "I'm an -art lover."</p> - -<p>"Never mind that," Kelly said, escorting Dan along the corridor. He -turned in at an office and closed the door.</p> - -<p>"Now, as the old buzzard said, I'm responsible for security here. If -those pictures go, my job goes with them. Your vault idea's not bad. -Just how cheap would you work?"</p> - -<p>"A hundred dollars a week," Dan said promptly. "Plus expenses," he -added.</p> - -<p>Kelly nodded. "I'll fingerprint you and run a fast agency check. If -you're clean, I'll put you on, starting tonight. But keep it quiet."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Dan looked around at the gray walls, with shelves stacked to the low -ceiling with wrapped paintings. Two three-hundred-watt bulbs shed a -white glare over the tile floor, a neat white refrigerator, a bunk, -an arm-chair, a bookshelf and a small table set with paper plates, -plastic utensils and a portable radio—all hastily installed at Kelly's -order. Dan opened the refrigerator, looked over the stock of salami, -liverwurst, cheese and beer. He opened a loaf of bread, built up a -well-filled sandwich, keyed open a can of beer.</p> - -<p>It wasn't fancy, but it would do. Phase one of the plan had gone off -without a hitch.</p> - -<p>Basically, his idea was simple. Art collections had been disappearing -from closely guarded galleries and homes all over the world. It was -obvious that no one could enter a locked vault, remove a stack of large -canvases and leave, unnoticed by watchful guards—and leaving the locks -undamaged.</p> - -<p>Yet the paintings were gone. Someone had been in those vaults—someone -who hadn't entered in the usual way.</p> - -<p>Theory failed at that point; that left the experimental method. The -Snithian collection was the largest west of the Mississippi. With -such a target, the thieves were bound to show up. If Dan sat in the -vault—day and night—waiting—he would see for himself how they -operated.</p> - -<p>He finished his sandwich, went to the shelves and pulled down one of -the brown-paper bundles. Loosening the string binding the package, he -slid a painting into view. It was a gaily colored view of an open-air -cafe, with a group of men and women in gay-ninetyish costumes gathered -at a table. He seemed to remember reading something about it in a -magazine. It was a cheerful scene; Dan liked it. Still, it hardly -seemed worth all the effort....</p> - -<p>He went to the wall switch and turned off the lights. The orange glow -of the filaments died, leaving only a faint illumination from the -night-light over the door. When the thieves arrived, it might give him -a momentary advantage if his eyes were adjusted to the dark. He groped -his way to the bunk.</p> - -<p>So far, so good, he reflected, stretching out. When they showed up, -he'd have to handle everything just right. If he scared them off -there'd be no second chance. He would have lost his crack at—whatever -his discovery might mean to him.</p> - -<p>But he was ready. Let them come.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Eight hours, three sandwiches and six beers later, Dan roused suddenly -from a light doze and sat up on the cot. Between him and the crowded -shelving, a palely luminous framework was materializing in mid-air.</p> - -<p>The apparition was an open-work cage—about the size and shape of an -out-house minus the sheathing, Dan estimated breathlessly. Two figures -were visible within the structure, sitting stiffly in contoured chairs. -They glowed, if anything, more brightly than the framework.</p> - -<p>A faint sound cut into the stillness—a descending whine. The cage -moved jerkily, settling toward the floor. Long blue sparks jumped, -crackling, to span the closing gap; with a grate of metal, the cage -settled against the floor. The spectral men reached for ghostly -switches....</p> - -<p>The glow died.</p> - -<p>Dan was aware of his heart thumping painfully under his ribs. His mouth -was dry. This was the moment he'd been planning for, but now that it -was here—</p> - -<p>Never mind. He took a deep breath, ran over the speeches he had -prepared for the occasion:</p> - -<p><i>Greeting, visitors from the Future....</i></p> - -<p>Hopelessly corny. What about: <i>Welcome to the Twentieth Century....</i></p> - -<p>No good; it lacked spontaneity. The men were rising, their backs to -Dan, stepping out of the skeletal frame. In the dim light it now -looked like nothing more than a rough frame built of steel pipe, with -a cluster of levers in a console before the two seats. And the thieves -looked ordinary enough: Two men in gray coveralls, one slender and -balding, the other shorter and round-faced. Neither of them noticed -Dan, sitting rigid on the cot. The thin man placed a lantern on the -table, twiddled a knob. A warm light sprang up. The visitors looked at -the stacked shelves.</p> - -<p>"Looks like the old boy's been doing all right," the shorter man said. -"Fathead's gonna be pleased."</p> - -<p>"A very gratifying consignment," his companion said. "However, we'd -best hurry, Manny. How much time have we left on this charge?"</p> - -<p>"Plenty. Fifteen minutes anyway."</p> - -<p>The thin man opened a package, glanced at a painting.</p> - -<p>"Ah, magnificent. Almost the equal of Picasso in his puce period."</p> - -<p>Manny shuffled through the other pictures in the stack.</p> - -<p>"Like always," he grumbled. "No nood dames. I like nood dames."</p> - -<p>"Look at this, Manny! The textures alone—"</p> - -<p>Manny looked. "Yeah, nice use of values," he conceded. "But I still -prefer nood dames, Fiorello."</p> - -<p>"And this!" Fiorello lifted the next painting. "Look at that gay play -of rich browns!"</p> - -<p>"I seen richer browns on Thirty-third Street," Manny said. "They was -popular with the sparrows."</p> - -<p>"Manny, sometimes I think your aspirations—"</p> - -<p>"Whatta ya talkin? I use a roll-on." Manny, turning to place a painting -in the cage, stopped dead as he caught sight of Dan. The painting -clattered to the floor. Dan stood, cleared his throat. "Uh...."</p> - -<p>"Oh-oh," Manny said. "A double-cross."</p> - -<p>"I've—ah—been expecting you gentlemen," Dan said. "I—"</p> - -<p>"I told you we couldn't trust no guy with nine fingers on each hand," -Manny whispered hoarsely. He moved toward the cage. "Let's blow, -Fiorello."</p> - -<p>"Wait a minute," Dan said. "Before you do anything hasty—"</p> - -<p>"Don't start nothing, Buster," Manny said cautiously. "We're plenty -tough guys when aroused."</p> - -<p>"I want to talk to you," Dan insisted. "You see, these paintings—"</p> - -<p>"Paintings? Look, it was all a mistake. Like, we figured this was the -gent's room—"</p> - -<p>"Never mind, Manny," Fiorello cut in. "It appears there's been a leak."</p> - -<p>Dan shook his head. "No leak. I simply deduced—"</p> - -<p>"Look, Fiorello," Manny said. "You chin if you want to; I'm doing a -fast fade."</p> - -<p>"Don't act hastily, Manny. You know where you'll end."</p> - -<p>"Wait a minute!" Dan shouted. "I'd like to make a deal with you -fellows."</p> - -<p>"Ah-hah!" Kelly's voice blared from somewhere. "I knew it! Slane, you -crook!"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Dan looked about wildly. The voice seemed to be issuing from a speaker. -It appeared Kelly hedged his bets.</p> - -<p>"Mr. Kelly, I can explain everything!" Dan called. He turned back to -Fiorello. "Listen, I figured out—"</p> - -<p>"Pretty clever!" Kelly's voice barked. "Inside job. But it takes more -than the likes of you to out-fox an old-timer like Eddie Kelly."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps you were right, Manny," Fiorello said. "Complications are -arising. We'd best depart with all deliberate haste." He edged toward -the cage.</p> - -<p>"What about this ginzo?" Manny jerked a thumb toward Dan. "He's on to -us."</p> - -<p>"Can't be helped."</p> - -<p>"Look—I want to go with you!" Dan shouted.</p> - -<p>"I'll bet you do!" Kelly's voice roared. "One more minute and I'll have -the door open and collar the lot of you! Came up through a tunnel, did -you?"</p> - -<p>"You can't go, my dear fellow," Fiorello said. "Room for two, no more."</p> - -<p>Dan whirled to the cot, grabbed up the pistol Kelly had supplied. He -aimed it at Manny. "You stay here, Manny! I'm going with Fiorello in -the time machine."</p> - -<p>"Are you nuts?" Manny demanded.</p> - -<p>"I'm flattered, dear boy," Fiorello said, "but—"</p> - -<p>"Let's get moving. Kelly will have that lock open in a minute."</p> - -<p>"You can't leave me here!" Manny spluttered, watching Dan crowd into -the cage beside Fiorello.</p> - -<p>"We'll send for you," Dan said. "Let's go, Fiorello."</p> - -<p>The balding man snatched suddenly for the gun. Dan wrestled with him. -The pistol fell, bounced on the floor of the cage, skidded into the -far corner of the vault. Manny charged, reaching for Dan as he twisted -aside; Fiorello's elbow caught him in the mouth. Manny staggered back -into the arms of Kelly, bursting red-faced into the vault.</p> - -<p>"Manny!" Fiorello released his grip on Dan, lunged to aid his -companion. Kelly passed Manny to one of three cops crowding in on his -heels. Dan clung to the framework as Fiorello grappled with Kelly. A -cop pushed past them, spotted Dan, moved in briskly for the pinch. Dan -grabbed a lever at random and pulled.</p> - -<p>Sudden silence fell as the walls of the room glowed blue. A spectral -Kelly capered before the cage, fluorescing in the blue-violet. Dan -swallowed hard and nudged a second lever. The cage sank like an -elevator into the floor, vivid blue washing up its sides.</p> - -<p>Hastily he reversed the control. Operating a time machine was tricky -business. One little slip, and the Slane molecules would be squeezing -in among brick and mortar particles....</p> - -<p>But this was no time to be cautious. Things hadn't turned out just the -way he'd planned, but after all, this was what he'd wanted—in a way. -The time machine was his to command. And if he gave up now and crawled -back into the vault, Kelly would gather him in and pin every art theft -of the past decade on him.</p> - -<p>It couldn't be <i>too</i> hard. He'd take it slowly, figure out the -controls....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Dan took a deep breath and tried another lever. The cage rose gently, -in eerie silence. It reached the ceiling and kept going. Dan gritted -his teeth as an eight-inch band of luminescence passed down the cage. -Then he was emerging into a spacious kitchen. A blue-haloed cook -waddled to a luminous refrigerator, caught sight of Dan rising slowly -from the floor, stumbled back, mouth open. The cage rose, penetrated a -second ceiling. Dan looked around at a carpeted hall.</p> - -<p>Cautiously he neutralized the control lever. The cage came to rest an -inch above the floor. As far as Dan could tell, he hadn't traveled so -much as a minute into the past or future.</p> - -<p>He looked over the controls. There should be one labeled "Forward" -and another labeled "Back", but all the levers were plain, unadorned -black. They looked, Dan decided, like ordinary circuit-breaker type -knife-switches. In fact, the whole apparatus had the appearance of -something thrown together hastily from common materials. Still, it -worked. So far he had only found the controls for maneuvering in the -usual three dimensions, but the time switch was bound to be here -somewhere....</p> - -<p>Dan looked up at a movement at the far end of the hall.</p> - -<p>A girl's head and shoulders appeared, coming up a spiral staircase. In -another second she would see him, and give the alarm—and Dan needed -a few moments of peace and quiet in which to figure out the controls. -He moved a lever. The cage drifted smoothly sideways, sliced through -the wall with a flurry of vivid blue light. Dan pushed the lever -back. He was in a bedroom now, a wide chamber with flouncy curtains, a -four-poster under a flowered canopy, a dressing table—</p> - -<p>The door opened and the girl stepped into the room. She was young. Not -over eighteen, Dan thought—as nearly as he could tell with the blue -light playing around her face. She had long hair tied with a ribbon, -and long legs, neatly curved. She wore shorts and carried a tennis -racquet in her left hand and an apple in her right. Her back to Dan and -the cage, she tossed the racquet on a table, took a bite of the apple, -and began briskly unbuttoning her shirt.</p> - -<p>Dan tried moving a lever. The cage edged toward the girl. Another; -he rose gently. The girl tossed the shirt onto a chair and undid the -zipper down the side of the shorts. Another lever; the cage shot toward -the outer wall as the girl reached behind her back....</p> - -<p>Dan blinked at the flash of blue and looked down. He was hovering -twenty feet above a clipped lawn.</p> - -<p>He looked at the levers. Wasn't it the first one in line that moved the -cage ahead? He tried it, shot forward ten feet. Below, a man stepped -out on the terrace, lit a cigarette, paused, started to turn his face -up—</p> - -<p>Dan jabbed at a lever. The cage shot back through the wall. He was in a -plain room with a depression in the floor, a wide window with a planter -filled with glowing blue plants—</p> - -<p>The door opened. Even blue, the girl looked graceful as a deer as she -took a last bite of the apple and stepped into the ten-foot-square -sunken tub. Dan held his breath. The girl tossed the apple core aside, -seemed to suddenly become aware of eyes on her, whirled—</p> - -<p>With a sudden lurch that threw Dan against the steel bars, the -cage shot through the wall into the open air and hurtled off with -an acceleration that kept him pinned, helpless. He groped for the -controls, hauled at a lever. There was no change. The cage rushed -on, rising higher. In the distance, Dan saw the skyline of a town, -approaching with frightful speed. A tall office building reared up -fifteen stories high. He was headed dead for it—</p> - -<p>He covered his ears, braced himself—</p> - -<p>With an abruptness that flung him against the opposite side of the -cage, the machine braked, shot through the wall and slammed to a stop. -Dan sank to the floor of the cage, breathing hard. There was a loud -<i>click!</i> and the glow faded.</p> - -<p>With a lunge, Dan scrambled out of the cage. He stood looking around at -a simple brown-painted office, dimly lit by sunlight filtered through -elaborate venetian blinds. There were posters on the wall, a potted -plant by the door, a heap of framed paintings beside it, and at the far -side of the room a desk. And behind the desk—Something.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph3">II</p> - -<p>Dan gaped at a head the size of a beachball, mounted on a torso like a -hundred-gallon bag of water. Two large brown eyes blinked at him from -points eight inches apart. Immense hands with too many fingers unfolded -and reached to open a brown paper carton, dip in, then toss three -peanuts, deliberately, one by one, into a gaping mouth that opened just -above the brown eyes.</p> - -<p>"Who're you?" a bass voice demanded from somewhere near the floor.</p> - -<p>"I'm ... I'm ... Dan Slane ... your honor."</p> - -<p>"What happened to Manny and Fiorello?"</p> - -<p>"They—I—There was this cop. Kelly—"</p> - -<p>"Oh-oh." The brown eyes blinked deliberately. The many-fingered hands -closed the peanut carton and tucked it into a drawer.</p> - -<p>"Well, it was a sweet racket while it lasted," the basso voice said. "A -pity to terminate so happy an enterprise. Still...." A noise like an -amplified Bronx cheer issued from the wide mouth.</p> - -<p>"How ... what...?"</p> - -<p>"The carrier returns here automatically when the charge drops below a -critical value," the voice said. "A necessary measure to discourage -big ideas on the part of wisenheimers in my employ. May I ask how you -happen to be aboard the carrier, by the way?"</p> - -<p>"I just wanted—I mean, after I figured out—that is, the police ... I -went for help," Dan finished lamely.</p> - -<p>"Help? Out of the picture, unfortunately. One must maintain one's -anonymity, you'll appreciate. My operation here is under wraps at -present. Ah, I don't suppose you brought any paintings?"</p> - -<p>Dan shook his head. He was staring at the posters. His eyes, -accustoming themselves to the gloom of the office, could now make out -the vividly drawn outline of a creature resembling an alligator-headed -giraffe rearing up above scarlet foliage. The next poster showed a face -similar to the beachball behind the desk, with red circles painted -around the eyes. The next was a view of a yellow volcano spouting fire -into a black sky.</p> - -<p>"Too bad." The words seemed to come from under the desk. Dan squinted, -caught a glimpse of coiled purplish tentacles. He gulped and looked up -to catch a brown eye upon him. Only one. The other seemed to be busily -at work studying the ceiling.</p> - -<p>"I hope," the voice said, "that you ain't harboring no reactionary -racial prejudices."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"Gosh, no," Dan reassured the eye. "I'm crazy about—uh—"</p> - -<p>"Vorplischers," the voice said. "From Vorplisch, or Vega, as you call -it." The Bronx cheer sounded again. "How I long to glimpse once more my -native fens! Wherever one wanders, there's no pad like home."</p> - -<p>"That reminds me," Dan said. "I have to be running along now." He -sidled toward the door.</p> - -<p>"Stick around, Dan," the voice rumbled. "How about a drink? I can -offer you Chateau Neuf du Pape, '59, Romance Conte, '32, goat's milk, -Pepsi—"</p> - -<p>"No, thanks."</p> - -<p>"If you don't mind, I believe I'll have a Big Orange." The Vorplischer -swiveled to a small refrigerator, removed an immense bottle fitted with -a nipple and turned back to Dan. "Now, I got a proposition which may be -of some interest to you. The loss of Manny and Fiorello is a serious -blow, but we may yet recoup the situation. You made the scene at a most -opportune time. What I got in mind is, with those two clowns out of the -picture, a vacancy exists on my staff, which you might well fill. How -does that grab you?"</p> - -<p>"You mean you want me to take over operating the time machine?"</p> - -<p>"Time machine?" The brown eyes blinked alternately. "I fear some -confusion exists. I don't quite dig the significance of the term."</p> - -<p>"That thing," Dan jabbed a thumb toward the cage. "The machine I came -here in. You want me—"</p> - -<p>"Time machine," the voice repeated. "Some sort of chronometer, perhaps?"</p> - -<p>"Huh?"</p> - -<p>"I pride myself on my command of the local idiom, yet I confess the -implied concept snows me." The nine-fingered hands folded on the desk. -The beachball head leaned forward interestedly. "Clue me, Dan. What's a -time machine?"</p> - -<p>"Well, it's what you use to travel through time."</p> - -<p>The brown eyes blinked in agitated alternation. "Apparently I've loused -up my investigation of the local cultural background. I had no idea -you were capable of that sort of thing." The immense head leaned back, -the wide mouth opening and closing rapidly. "And to think I've been -spinning my wheels collecting primitive 2-D art!"</p> - -<p>"But—don't you have a time machine? I mean, isn't that one?"</p> - -<p>"That? That's merely a carrier. Now tell me more about your time -machines. A fascinating concept! My superiors will be delighted at -this development—and astonished as well. They regard this planet as -Endsville."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"Your superiors?" Dan eyed the window; much too far to jump. Maybe he -could reach the machine and try a getaway—</p> - -<p>"I hope you're not thinking of leaving suddenly," the beachball said, -following Dan's glance. One of the eighteen fingers touched a six-inch -yellow cylinder lying on the desk. "Until the carrier is fueled, I'm -afraid it's quite useless. But, to put you in the picture, I'd best -introduce myself and explain my mission here. I'm Blote, Trader Fourth -Class, in the employ of the Vegan Confederation. My job is to develop -new sources of novelty items for the impulse-emporiums of the entire -Secondary Quadrant."</p> - -<p>"But the way Manny and Fiorello came sailing in through the wall! That -<i>has</i> to be a time machine they were riding in. Nothing else could just -materialize out of thin air like that."</p> - -<p>"You seem to have a time-machine fixation, Dan," Blote said. "You -shouldn't assume, just because you people have developed time travel, -that everyone has. Now—" Blote's voice sank to a bass whisper—"I'll -make a deal with you, Dan. You'll secure a small time machine in good -condition for me. And in return—"</p> - -<p>"<i>I'm</i> supposed to supply <i>you</i> with a time machine?"</p> - -<p>Blote waggled a stubby forefinger at Dan. "I dislike pointing it out, -Dan, but you are in a rather awkward position at the moment. Illegal -entry, illegal possession of property, trespass—then doubtless some -embarrassment exists back at the Snithian residence. I daresay Mr. -Kelly would have a warm welcome for you. And, of course, I myself would -deal rather harshly with any attempt on your part to take a powder." -The Vegan flexed all eighteen fingers, drummed his tentacles under the -desk, and rolled one eye, bugging the other at Dan.</p> - -<p>"Whereas, on the other hand," Blote's bass voice went on, "you and me -got the basis of a sweet deal. You supply the machine, and I fix you up -with an abundance of the local medium of exchange. Equitable enough, I -should say. What about it, Dan?"</p> - -<p>"Ah, let me see," Dan temporized. "Time machine. Time machine—"</p> - -<p>"Don't attempt to weasel on me, Dan," Blote rumbled ominously.</p> - -<p>"I'd better look in the phone book," Dan suggested.</p> - -<p>Silently, Blote produced a dog-eared directory. Dan opened it.</p> - -<p>"Time, time. Let's see...." He brightened. "Time, Incorporated; local -branch office. Two twenty-one Maple Street."</p> - -<p>"A sales center?" Blote inquired. "Or a manufacturing complex?"</p> - -<p>"Both," Dan said. "I'll just nip over and—"</p> - -<p>"That won't be necessary, Dan," Blote said. "I'll accompany you." He -took the directory, studied it.</p> - -<p>"Remarkable! A common commodity, openly on sale, and I failed to notice -it. Still, a ripe nut can fall from a small tree as well as from a -large." He went to his desk, rummaged, came up with a handful of fuel -cells. "Now, off to gather in the time machine." He took his place in -the carrier, patted the seat beside him with a wide hand. "Come, Dan. -Get a wiggle on."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Hesitantly, Dan moved to the carrier. The bluff was all right up to a -point—but the point had just about been reached. He took his seat. -Blote moved a lever. The familiar blue glow sprang up. "Kindly direct -me, Dan," Blote demanded. "Two twenty-one Maple Street, I believe you -said."</p> - -<p>"I don't know the town very well," Dan said, "but Maple's over that -way."</p> - -<p>Blote worked levers. The carrier shot out into a ghostly afternoon sky. -Faint outlines of buildings, like faded negatives, spread below. Dan -looked around, spotted lettering on a square five-story structure.</p> - -<p>"Over there," he said. Blote directed the machine as it swooped -smoothly toward the flat roof Dan indicated.</p> - -<p>"Better let me take over now," Dan suggested. "I want to be sure to -get us to the right place."</p> - -<p>"Very well, Dan."</p> - -<p>Dan dropped the carrier through the roof, passed down through a dimly -seen office. Blote twiddled a small knob. The scene around the cage -grew even fainter. "Best we remain unnoticed," he explained.</p> - -<p>The cage descended steadily. Dan peered out, searching for identifying -landmarks. He leveled off at the second floor, cruised along a barely -visible corridor. Blote's eyes rolled, studying the small chambers -along both sides of the passage at once.</p> - -<p>"Ah, this must be the assembly area," he exclaimed. "I see the machines -employ a bar-type construction, not unlike our carriers."</p> - -<p>"That's right," Dan said, staring through the haziness. "This is where -they do time...." He tugged at a lever suddenly; the machine veered -left, flickered through a barred door, came to a halt. Two nebulous -figures loomed beside the cage. Dan cut the switch. If he'd guessed -wrong—</p> - -<p>The scene fluoresced, sparks crackling, then popped into sharp focus. -Blote scrambled out, brown eyes swivelling to take in the concrete -walls, the barred door and—</p> - -<p>"You!" a hoarse voice bellowed.</p> - -<p>"Grab him!" someone yelled.</p> - -<p>Blote recoiled, threshing his ambulatory members in a fruitless attempt -to regain the carrier as Manny and Fiorello closed in. Dan hauled at a -lever. He caught a last glimpse of three struggling, blue-lit figures -as the carrier shot away through the cell wall.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph3">III</p> - -<p>Dan slumped back against the seat with a sigh. Now that he was in the -clear, he would have to decide on his next move—fast. There was no -telling what other resources Blote might have. He would have to hide -the carrier, then—</p> - -<p>A low growling was coming from somewhere, rising in pitch and volume. -Dan sat up, alarmed. This was no time for a malfunction.</p> - -<p>The sound rose higher, into a penetrating wail. There was no sign of -mechanical trouble. The carrier glided on, swooping now over a nebulous -landscape of trees and houses. Dan covered his ears against the -deafening shriek, like all the police sirens in town blaring at once. -If the carrier stopped it would be a long fall from here. Dan worked -the controls, dropping toward the distant earth.</p> - -<p>The noise seemed to lessen, descending the scale. Dan slowed, brought -the carrier in to the corner of a wide park. He dropped the last few -inches and cut the switch.</p> - -<p>As the glow died, the siren faded into silence.</p> - -<p>Dan stepped from the carrier and looked around. Whatever the noise -was, it hadn't attracted any attention from the scattered pedestrians -in the park. Perhaps it was some sort of burglar alarm. But if so, why -hadn't it gone into action earlier? Dan took a deep breath. Sound or no -sound, he would have to get back into the carrier and transfer it to a -secluded spot where he could study it at leisure. He stepped back in, -reached for the controls—</p> - -<p>There was a sudden chill in the air. The bright surface of the dials -before him frosted over. There was a loud <i>pop!</i> like a flashbulb -exploding. Dan stared from the seat at an iridescent rectangle -which hung suspended near the carrier. Its surface rippled, faded -to blankness. In a swirl of frosty air, a tall figure dressed in a -tight-fitting white uniform stepped through.</p> - -<p>Dan gaped at the small rounded head, the dark-skinned long-nosed face, -the long, muscular arms, the hands, their backs tufted with curly -red-brown hair, the strange long-heeled feet in soft boots. A neat -pillbox cap with a short visor was strapped low over the deep-set -yellowish eyes, which turned in his direction. The wide mouth opened in -a smile which showed square yellowish teeth.</p> - -<p>"<i>Alors, monsieur</i>," the new-comer said, bending his knees and back in -a quick bow. "<i>Vous ete une indigine, n'est ce pas?</i>"</p> - -<p>"No compree," Dan choked out "Uh ... juh no parlay Fransay...."</p> - -<p>"My error. This is the Anglic colonial sector, isn't it? Stupid of me. -Permit me to introduce myself. I'm Dzhackoon, Field Agent of Class -five, Inter-dimensional Monitor Service."</p> - -<p>"That siren," Dan said. "Was that you?"</p> - -<p>Dzhackoon nodded. "For a moment, it appeared you were disinclined to -stop. I'm glad you decided to be reasonable."</p> - -<p>"What outfit did you say you were with?" Dan asked.</p> - -<p>"The Inter-dimensional Monitor Service."</p> - -<p>"Inter-what?"</p> - -<p>"Dimensional. The word is imprecise, of course, but it's the best our -language coder can do, using the Anglic vocabulary."</p> - -<p>"What do you want with me?"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Dzhackoon smiling reprovingly. "You know the penalty for operation of -an unauthorized reversed-phase vehicle in Interdicted territory. I'm -afraid you'll have to come along with me to Headquarters."</p> - -<p>"Wait a minute! You mean you're arresting me?"</p> - -<p>"That's a harsh term, but I suppose it amounts to that."</p> - -<p>"Look here, uh—Dzhackoon. I just wandered in off the street. I don't -know anything about Interdicts and reversed-whozis vehicles. Just let -me out of here."</p> - -<p>Dzhackoon shook his head. "I'm afraid you'll have to tell it to the -Inspector." He smiled amiably, gestured toward the shimmering rectangle -through which he had arrived. From the edge, it was completely -invisible. It looked, Dan thought, like a hole snipped in reality. He -glanced at Dzhackoon. If he stepped in fast and threw a left to the -head and followed up with a right to the short ribs—</p> - -<p>"I'm armed, of course," the Agent said apologetically.</p> - -<p>"Okay," Dan sighed. "But I'm going under protest."</p> - -<p>"Don't be nervous," Dzhackoon said cheerfully. "Just step through -quickly."</p> - -<p>Dan edged up to the glimmering surface. He gritted his teeth, closed -his eyes and took a step. There was a momentary sensation of searing -heat....</p> - -<p>His eyes flew open. He was in a long, narrow room with walls finished -in bright green tile. Hot yellow light flooded down from the high -ceiling. Along the wall, a series of cubicles were arranged. Tall, -white-uniformed creatures moved briskly about. Nearby stood a group of -short, immensely burly individuals in yellow. Lounging against the wall -at the far end of the room, Dan glimpsed a round-shouldered figure in -red, with great bushes of hair fringing a bright blue face. An arm even -longer than Dzhackoon's wielded a toothpick on a row of great white -fangs.</p> - -<p>"This way," Dzhackoon said. Dan followed him to a cubicle, curious eyes -following him. A creature indistinguishable from the Field Agent except -for a twist of red braid on each wrist looked up from a desk.</p> - -<p>"I've picked up that reversed-phase violator, Ghunt," Dzhackoon said. -"Anglic Sector, Locus C 922A4."</p> - -<p>Ghunt rose. "Let me see; Anglic Sector.... Oh, yes." He extended -a hand. Dan took it gingerly; it was a strange hand—hot, dry and -coarse-skinned, like a dog's paw. He pumped it twice and let it go.</p> - -<p>"Wonderfully expressive," Ghunt said. "Empty hand, no weapon. The -implied savagery...." He eyed Dan curiously.</p> - -<p>"Remarkable. I've studied your branch, of course, but I've never had -the pleasure of actually seeing one of you chaps before. That skin; -amazing. Ah ... may I look at your hands?"</p> - -<p>Dan extended a hand. The other took it in bony fingers, studied it, -turned it over, examined the nails. Stepping closer, he peered at Dan's -eyes and hair.</p> - -<p>"Would you mind opening your mouth, please?" Dan complied. Ghunt -clucked, eyeing the teeth. He walked around Dan, murmuring his -wonderment.</p> - -<p>"Uh ... pardon my asking," Dan said, "but are you what—uh—people are -going to look like in the future?"</p> - -<p>"Eh?" The round yellowish eyes blinked; the wide mouth curved in a -grin. "I doubt that very much, old chap." He chuckled. "Can't undo half -a million years of divergent evolution, you know."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"You mean you're from the past?" Dan croaked.</p> - -<p>"The past? I'm afraid I don't follow you."</p> - -<p>"You don't mean—we're all going to die out and monkeys are going to -take over?" Dan blurted.</p> - -<p>"Monkeys? Let me see. I've heard of them. Some sort of small -primate, like a miniature Anthropos. You have them at home, do you? -Fascinating!" He shook his head regretfully. "I certainly wish -regulations allowed me to pay your sector a visit."</p> - -<p>"But you <i>are</i> time travelers," Dan insisted.</p> - -<p>"Time travelers?" Ghunt laughed aloud.</p> - -<p>"An exploded theory," Dzhackoon said. "Superstition."</p> - -<p>"Then how did you get to the park from here?"</p> - -<p>"A simple focused portal. Merely a matter of elementary stressed-field -mechanics."</p> - -<p>"That doesn't tell me much," Dan said. "Where am I? Who are you?"</p> - -<p>"Explanations are in order, of course," Ghunt said. "Have a chair. Now, -if I remember correctly, in your locus, there are only a few species of -Anthropos extant—"</p> - -<p>"Just the one," Dzhackoon put in. "These fellows look fragile, but oh, -brother!"</p> - -<p>"Oh, yes; I recall. This was the locus where the hairless variant -systematically hunted down other varieties." He clucked at Dan -reprovingly. "Don't you find it lonely?"</p> - -<p>"Of course, there are a couple of rather curious retarded forms there," -Dzhackoon said. "Actual living fossils; sub-intellectual Anthropos. -There's one called the gorilla, and the chimpanzee, the orangutan, the -gibbon—and, of course, a whole spectrum of the miniature forms."</p> - -<p>"I suppose that when the ferocious mutation established its supremacy, -the others retreated to the less competitive ecological niches and -expanded at that level," Ghunt mused. "Pity. I assume the gorilla and -the others are degenerate forms?"</p> - -<p>"Possibly."</p> - -<p>"Excuse me," Dan said. "But about that explanation...."</p> - -<p>"Oh, sorry. Well, to begin with Dzhackoon and I -are—ah—Australopithecines, I believe your term is. We're one of -the many varieties of Anthropos native to normal loci. The workers -in yellow, whom you may have noticed, are akin to your extinct -Neanderthals. Then there are the Pekin derivatives—the blue-faced -chaps—and the Rhodesians——"</p> - -<p>"What are these loci you keep talking about? And how can cave men still -be alive?"</p> - -<p>Ghunt's eyes wandered past Dan. He jumped to his feet. "Ah, good day, -Inspector!" Dan turned. A grizzled Australopithecine with a tangle of -red braid at collar and wrists stared at him glumly.</p> - -<p>"Harrumph!" the Inspector said. "Albinism and alopecia. Not catching, I -hope?"</p> - -<p>"A genetic deficiency, excellency," Dzhackoon said. "This is a Homo -Sapiens, a naturally bald form from a rather curious locus."</p> - -<p>"Sapiens? Sapiens? Now, that seems to ring a bell." The olster -blinked at Dan. "You're not—" He waggled fingers in instinctive -digital-mnemonic stimulus. Abruptly he stiffened. "Why, this is one -of those fratricidal deviants!" He backed off. "He should be under -restraint, Ghunt! Constable! Get a strong-arm squad in here! This -creature is dangerous!"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"Inspector. I'm sure—" Ghunt started.</p> - -<p>"That's an order!" the Inspector barked. He switched to an -incomprehensible language, bellowed more commands. Several of the -thickset Neanderthal types appeared, moving in to seize Dan's arms. He -looked around at chinless, wide-mouthed brown faces with incongruous -blue eyes and lank blond hair.</p> - -<p>"What's this all about?" he demanded. "I want a lawyer!"</p> - -<p>"Never mind that!" the Inspector shouted. "I know how to deal with -miscreants of your stripe!" He stared distastefully at Dan. "Hairless! -Putty-colored! Revolting! Planning more mayhem, are you? Preparing to -branch out into the civilized loci to wipe out all competitive life, is -that it?"</p> - -<p>"I brought him here, Inspector," Dzhackoon put in. "It was a routine -traffic violation."</p> - -<p>"I'll decide what's routine here! Now, Sapiens! What fiendish scheme -have you up your sleeve, eh?"</p> - -<p>"Daniel Slane, civilian, social security number 456-7329-988," Dan said.</p> - -<p>"Eh?"</p> - -<p>"Name, rank and serial number," Dan explained. "I'm not answering any -other questions."</p> - -<p>"This means penal relocation, Sapiens! Unlawful departure from native -locus, willful obstruction of justice—"</p> - -<p>"You forgot being born without permission, and unauthorized breathing."</p> - -<p>"Insolence!" the Inspector snarled. "I'm warning you, Sapiens, it's -in my power to make things miserable for you. Now, how did you induce -Agent Dzhackoon to bring you here?"</p> - -<p>"Well, a good fairy came and gave me three wishes—"</p> - -<p>"Take him away," the Inspector screeched. "Sector 97; an unoccupied -locus."</p> - -<p>"Unoccupied? That seems pretty extreme, doesn't it?" one of the guards -commented, wrinkling his heavily ridged brow.</p> - -<p>"Unoccupied! If it bothers you, perhaps I can arrange for you to join -him there!"</p> - -<p>The Neanderthaloid guard yawned widely, showing white teeth. He nodded -to Dan, motioned him ahead. "Don't mind Spoghodo," he said loudly. -"He's getting old."</p> - -<p>"Sorry about all this," a voice hissed near Dan's ear. Dzhackoon—or -Ghunt, he couldn't say which—leaned near. "I'm afraid you'll have -to go along to the penal area, but I'll try to straighten things out -later."</p> - -<p>Back in the concourse, Dan's guard escorted him past cubicles where -busy IDMS agents reported to harassed seniors, through an archway into -a room lined with narrow gray panels. It looked like a gym locker room.</p> - -<p>"Ninety-seven," the guard said. He went to a wall chart, studied the -fine print with the aid of a blunt, hairy finger, then set a dial on -the wall. "Here we go," he said. He pushed a button beside one of the -lockers. Its surface clouded and became iridescent.</p> - -<p>"Just step through fast. Happy landings."</p> - -<p>"Thanks," Dan ducked his head and pushed through the opening in a puff -of frost.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>He was standing on a steep hillside, looking down across a sweep of -meadow to a plain far below. There were clumps of trees, and a river. -In the distance a herd of animals grazed among low shrubbery. No road -wound along the valley floor; no boats dotted the river; no village -nestled at its bend. The far hills were innocent of trails, fences, -houses, the rectangles of plowed acres. There were no contrails in the -wide blue sky. No vagrant aroma of exhaust fumes, no mutter of internal -combustion, no tin cans, no pop bottles—</p> - -<p>In short, no people.</p> - -<p>Dan turned. The Portal still shimmered faintly in the bright air. He -thrust his head through, found himself staring into the locker room. -The yellow-clad Neanderthaloid glanced at him.</p> - -<p>"Say," Dan said, ignoring the sensation of a hot wire around his neck, -"can't we talk this thing over?"</p> - -<p>"Better get your head out of there before it shuts down," the guard -said cheerfully. "Otherwise—ssskkkttt!"</p> - -<p>"What about some reading matter? And look, I get these head colds. Does -the temperature drop here at night? Any dangerous animals? What do I -eat?"</p> - -<p>"Here," the guard reached into a hopper, took out a handful of -pamphlets. "These are supposed to be for guys that are relocated -without prejudice. You know, poor slobs that just happened to see too -much; but I'll let you have one. Let's see ... Anglic, Anglic...." He -selected one, handed it to Dan.</p> - -<p>"Thanks."</p> - -<p>"Better get clear."</p> - -<p>Dan withdrew his head. He sat down on the grass and looked over the -booklet. It was handsomely printed in gay colors. WELCOME TO RELOCATION -CENTER NO. 23 said the cover. Below the heading was a photo of a group -of sullen-looking creatures of varying heights and degrees of hairiness -wearing paper hats. The caption read: <i>New-comers Are Welcomed Into a -Gay Round of Social Activity. Hi, New-comer!</i></p> - -<p>Dan opened the book. A photo showed a scene identical to the one before -him, except that in place of the meadow, there was a park-like expanse -of lawn, dotted with rambling buildings with long porches lined with -rockers. There were picnic tables under spreading trees, and beyond, on -the river, a yacht basin crowded with canoes and row-boats.</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> -<p>"Life In a Community Center is Grand Fun!" Dan read. "Activities! -Brownies, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Sea Scouts, Tree -Scouts, Cave Scouts, PTA, Shriners, Bear Cult, Rotary, Daughters of -the Eastern Star, Mothers of the Big Banana, Dianetics—you name it! A -Group for Everyone, and Everyone in a Group!</p> - -<p>Classes in conversational Urdu, Sprotch, Yiddish, Gaelic, Fundu, etc; -knot-tying, rug-hooking, leather-work, Greek Dancing, finger-painting -and many, many others!</p> - -<p>Little Theatre!</p> - -<p>Indian Dance Pageants!</p> - -<p>Round Table Discussions!</p> - -<p>Town Meetings!</p></div> - -<p>Dan thumbed on through the pages of emphatic print, stopped at a -double-page spread labeled, <i>A Few Do's and Don'ts</i>.</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>* All of us want to make a GO of relocation. So—let's remember the -Uranium Rule: Don't Do It! The Other Guy May Be Bigger!</p> - -<p>* Remember the Other Fellow's Taboos!</p> - -<p>What to you might be merely a wholesome picnic or mating bee may -offend others. What some are used to doing in groups, others consider -a solitary activity. Most taboos have to do with eating, sex, -elimination or gods; so remember look before you sit down, lie down, -squat down or kneel down!</p> - -<p>* Ladies With Beards Please Note:</p> - -<p>Friend husband may be on the crew clearing clogged drains—so watch -that shedding in the lavatories, eh, girls? And you fellas, too! Sure, -good grooming pays—but groom each other out in the open, okay?</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>* NOTE: There has been some agitation for separate but equal -facilities. Now, honestly, folks; is that in the spirit of Center -No. 23? Males and females <i>will continue to use the same johns</i> as -always. No sexual chauvinism will be tolerated.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>* A Word To The Kiddies!</p> - -<p>No brachiating will be permitted in the Social Center area. After all, -a lot of the Dads sleep up there. There are plenty of other trees!</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>* Daintiness Pays!</p> - -<p>In these more-active-than-ever days, Personal Effluvium can get away -from us almost before we notice. And that hearty scent may not be as -satisfying to others as it is to ourselves! So remember, fellas: watch -that P. E.! (Lye soap, eau de Cologne, flea powder and other beauty -aids available at supply shed!)</p></div> - -<p>Dan tossed the book aside. There were worse things than solitude. It -looked like a pretty nice world—and it was all his.</p> - -<p>The entire North American continent, all of South America, Europe, -Asia, Africa—the works. He could cut down trees, build a hut, furnish -it. There'd be hunting—he could make a bow and arrows—and the skins -would do to make clothes. He could start a little farming, fish the -streams, sun bathe—all the things he'd never had time to do back home. -It wouldn't be so bad. And eventually Dzhackoon would arrange for his -release. It might be just the kind of vacation—</p> - -<p>"Ah Dan, my boy!" a bass voice boomed. Dan jumped and spun around.</p> - -<p>Blote's immense face blinked at him from the Portal. There was a large -green bruise over one eye. He wagged a finger reproachfully.</p> - -<p>"That was a dirty trick, Dan. My former employees were somewhat -disgruntled, I'm sorry to say. But we'd best be off now. There's no -time to waste."</p> - -<p>"How did you get here?" Dan demanded.</p> - -<p>"I employed a pocket signaler to recall my carrier—and none too soon." -He touched his bruised eye gingerly. "A glance at the instruments -showed me that you had visited the park. I followed and observed a TDMS -Portal. Being of an adventurous turn and, of course, concerned for your -welfare, I stepped through—"</p> - -<p>"Why didn't they arrest you? I was picked up for operating the carrier."</p> - -<p>"They had some such notion. A whiff of stun gas served to discourage -them. Now let's hurry along before the management revives."</p> - -<p>"Wait a minute, Blote. I'm not sure I want to be rescued by you—in -spite of your concern for my welfare."</p> - -<p>"Rubbish, Dan! Come along." Blote looked around. "Frightful place! No -population! No commerce! No deals!"</p> - -<p>"It has its compensations. I think I'll stay. You run along."</p> - -<p>"Abandon a colleague? Never!"</p> - -<p>"If you're still expecting me to deliver a time machine, you're out of -luck. I don't have one."</p> - -<p>"No? Ah, well, in a way I'm relieved. Such a device would upset -accepted physical theory. Now, Dan, you mustn't imagine I harbor -ulterior motives—but I believe our association will yet prove -fruitful."</p> - -<p>Dan rubbed a finger across his lower lip thoughtfully. "Look, Blote. -You need my help. Maybe you can help me at the same time. If I come -along, I want it understood that we work together. I have an idea—"</p> - -<p>"But of course, Dan! Now shake a leg!"</p> - -<p>Dan sighed and stepped through the portal. The yellow-clad guard lay on -the floor, snoring. Blote led the way back into the great hall. TDMS -officials were scattered across the floor, slumped over desks, or lying -limp in chairs. Blote stopped before one of a row of shimmering portals.</p> - -<p>"After you, Dan."</p> - -<p>"Are you sure this is the right one?"</p> - -<p>"Quite."</p> - -<p>Dan stepped through in the now familiar chill and found himself back in -the park. A small dog sniffing at the carrier caught sight of Blote, -lowered his leg and fled.</p> - -<p>"I want to pay Mr. Snithian a visit," Dan said, climbing into a seat.</p> - -<p>"My idea exactly," Blote agreed, lowering his bulk into place.</p> - -<p>"Don't get the idea I'm going to help you steal anything."</p> - -<p>"Dan! A most unkind remark. I merely wish to look into certain matters."</p> - -<p>"Just so you don't start looking into the safe."</p> - -<p>Blote tsked, moved a lever. The carrier climbed over a row of blue -trees and headed west.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph3">IV</p> - -<p>Blote brought the carrier in high over the Snithian Estate, dropped -lower and descended gently through the roof. The pale, spectral -servants moving about their duties in the upper hall failed to notice -the wraith-like cage passing soundlessly among them.</p> - -<p>In the dining room, Dan caught sight of the girl—Snithian's daughter, -perhaps—arranging shadowy flowers on a sideboard.</p> - -<p>"Let me take it," Dan whispered. Blote nodded. Dan steered for the -kitchen, guided the carrier to the spot on which he had first emerged -from the vault, then edged down through the floor. He brought the -carrier to rest and neutralized all switches in a shower of sparks and -blue light.</p> - -<p>The vault door stood open. There were pictures stacked on the bunk now, -against the wall, on the floor. Dan stepped from the carrier, went to -the nearest heap of paintings. They had been dumped hastily, it seemed. -They weren't even wrapped. He examined the topmost canvas, still in a -heavy frame; as though, he reflected, it had just been removed from a -gallery wall—</p> - -<p>"Let's look around for Snithian," Dan said. "I want to talk to him."</p> - -<p>"I suggest we investigate the upper floors, Dan. Doubtless his personal -pad is there."</p> - -<p>"You use the carrier; I'll go up and look the house over."</p> - -<p>"As you wish, Dan." Blote and the carrier flickered and faded from view.</p> - -<p>Dan stooped, picked up the pistol he had dropped in the scuffle with -Fiorello and stepped out into the hall. All was silent. He climbed -stairs, looked into rooms. The house seemed deserted. On the third -floor he went along a corridor, checking each room. The last room on -the west side was fitted as a study. There was a stack of paintings on -a table near the door. Dan went to them, examined the top one.</p> - -<p>It looked familiar. Wasn't it one that <i>Look</i> said was in the Art -Institute at Chicago?</p> - -<p>There was a creak as of an un-oiled hinge. Dan spun around. A door -stood open at the far side of the room—a connecting door to a bedroom, -probably.</p> - -<p>"Keep well away from the carrier, Mr. Slane," a high thin voice said -from the shadows. The tall, cloaked figure of W. Clyde Snithian stepped -into view, a needle-barreled pistol in his hand.</p> - -<p>"I thought you'd be back," he piped. "It makes my problem much simpler. -If you hadn't appeared soon, it would have been necessary for me to -shift the scene of my operations. That would have been a nuisance."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Dan eyed the gun. "There are a lot more paintings downstairs than -there were when I left," he said. "I don't know much about art, but I -recognize a few of them."</p> - -<p>"Copies," Snithian snapped.</p> - -<p>"This is no copy," Dan tapped the top painting on the stack. "It's an -original. You can feel the brush-work."</p> - -<p>"Not prints, of course. Copies." Snithian whinnied. "Exact copies."</p> - -<p>"These paintings are stolen, Mr. Snithian. Why would a wealthy man like -you take to stealing art?"</p> - -<p>"I'm not here to answer questions, Mr. Slane!" The weapon in Snithian's -hand bugged. A wave of pain swept over Dan. Snithian cackled, lowering -the gun. "You'll soon learn better manners."</p> - -<p>Dan's hand went to his pocket, came out holding the automatic. He aimed -it at Snithian's face. The industrialist froze, eyes on Dan's gun.</p> - -<p>"Drop the gun." Snithian's weapon clattered to the floor. "Now let's go -and find Kelly."</p> - -<p>"Wait!" Snithian shrilled. "I can make you a rich man, Slane."</p> - -<p>"Not by stealing paintings."</p> - -<p>"You don't understand. This is more than petty larceny!"</p> - -<p>"That's right. It's grand larceny. These pictures are worth thousands."</p> - -<p>"I can show you things that will completely change your attitude. -Actually, I've acted throughout in the best interests of humanity!"</p> - -<p>Dan gestured with the gun. "Don't plan anything clever. I'm not used to -guns. This thing will go off at the least excuse, and then I'd have a -murder to explain."</p> - -<p>"That would be an inexcusable blunder on your part!" Snithian keened. -"I'm a very important figure, Slane." He crossed the deep-pile rug to -a glass-doored cabinet. "This," he said, taking out a flat black box, -"contains a fortune in precious stones." He lifted the lid. Dan stepped -closer. A row of brilliant red gems nestled in a bed of cotton.</p> - -<p>"Rubies?"</p> - -<p>"Flawless—and perfectly matched." Snithian whinnied. "<i>Perfectly</i> -matched. Worth a fortune. They're yours, if you cooperate."</p> - -<p>"You said you were going to change my attitude. Better get started."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"Listen to me, Slane. I'm not operating independently. I'm employed -by the Ivroy, whose power is incalculable. My assignment has been to -rescue from destruction irreplaceable works of art fated to be consumed -in atomic fire."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean—fated?"</p> - -<p>"The Ivroy knows these things. These paintings—all your art—are -unique in the galaxy. Others admire but they cannot emulate. In the -cosmos of the far future, the few surviving treasures of dawn art will -be valued beyond all other wealth. They alone will give a renewed -glimpse of the universe as it appeared to the eyes of your strange race -in its glory."</p> - -<p>"My strange race?"</p> - -<p>Snithian drew himself up. "I am not of your race." He threw his cloak -aside and straightened.</p> - -<p>Dan gaped as Snithian's body unfolded, rising up, long, three-jointed -arms flexing, stretching out. The bald head ducked now under the beamed -ceiling. Snithian chuckled shrilly.</p> - -<p>"What about that inflexible attitude of yours, now, Mr. Slane?" he -piped. "Have I made my point?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, but—" Dan squeaked. He cleared his throat and tried again. "But -I've still got the gun."</p> - -<p>"Oh, that." An eight-foot arm snaked out, flicked the gun aside. "I've -only temporized with you because you can be useful to me, Mr. Slane. I -dislike running about, and I therefore employ locals to do my running -for me. Accept my offer of employment, and you'll be richly rewarded."</p> - -<p>"Why me?"</p> - -<p>"You already know of my presence here. If I can enlist your loyalty, -there will be no need to dispose of you, with the attendant annoyance -from police, relatives and busybodies. I'd like you to act as my agent -in the collection of the works."</p> - -<p>"Nuts to you!" Dan said. "I'm not helping any bunch of skinheads commit -robbery."</p> - -<p>"This is for the Ivroy, you fool!" Snithian said. "The mightiest power -in the cosmos!"</p> - -<p>"This Ivroy doesn't sound so hot to me—robbing art galleries—"</p> - -<p>"To be adult is to be disillusioned. Only realities count. But no -matter. The question remains: Will you serve me loyally?"</p> - -<p>"Hell, no!" Dan snapped.</p> - -<p>"Too bad. I see you mean what you say. It's to be expected, I suppose. -Even an infant fire-cat has fangs."</p> - -<p>"You're damn right I mean it. How did you get Manny and Fiorello on -your payroll? I'm surprised even a couple of bums would go to work for -a scavenger like you."</p> - -<p>"I suppose you refer to the precious pair recruited by Blote. That was -a mistake, I fear. It seemed perfectly reasonable at the time. Tell me, -how did you overcome the Vegan? They're a very capable race, generally -speaking."</p> - -<p>"You and he work together, eh?" Dan said. "That makes things a little -clearer. This is the collection station and Blote is the fence."</p> - -<p>"Enough of your conjectures. You leave me no choice but to dispose of -you. It's a nuisance, but it can't be helped. I'm afraid I'll have to -ask you to accompany me down to the vault."</p> - -<p>Dan eyed the door; if he were going to make a break, now was the time—</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The whine of the carrier sounded. The ghostly cage glided through the -wall and settled gently between Dan and Snithian. The glow died.</p> - -<p>Blote waved cheerfully to Dan as he eased his grotesque bulk from the -seat.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus1.jpg" width="359" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>"Good day to you, Snithian," Blote boomed. "I see you've met Dan. An -enterprising fellow."</p> - -<p>"What brings you here, Gom Blote?" Snithian shrilled. "I thought you'd -be well on your way to Vorplisch by now."</p> - -<p>"I was tempted, Snithian. But I don't spook easy. There is the matter -of some unfinished business."</p> - -<p>"Excellent!" Snithian exclaimed. "I'll have another consignment ready -for you by tomorrow."</p> - -<p>"Tomorrow! How is it possible, with Manny and Fiorello lodged in the -hoosegow?" Blote looked around; his eye fell on the stacked paintings. -He moved across to them, lifted one, glanced at the next, then shuffled -rapidly through the stack. He turned.</p> - -<p>"What duplicity is this, Snithian!" he rumbled. "All identical! -Our agreement called for limited editions, not mass production! My -principals will be furious! My reputation—"</p> - -<p>"Shrivel your reputation!" Snithian keened. "I have more serious -problems at the moment! My entire position's been compromised. I'm -faced with the necessity for disposing of this blundering fool!"</p> - -<p>"Dan? Why, I'm afraid I can't allow that, Snithian." Blote moved to -the carrier, dumped an armful of duplicate paintings in the cage. -"Evidence," he said. "The confederation has methods for dealing with -sharp practice. Come, Dan, if you're ready...."</p> - -<p>"You dare to cross me?" Snithian hissed. "I, who act for the Ivroy?"</p> - -<p>Blote motioned to the carrier. "Get in, Dan. We'll be going now." He -rolled both eyes to bear on Snithian. "And I'll deal with you later," -he rumbled. "No one pulls a fast one on Gom Blote, Trader Fourth -Class—or on the Vegan Federation."</p> - -<p>Snithian moved suddenly, flicking out a spidery arm to seize the weapon -he had dropped, aim and trigger. Dan, in a wash of pain, felt his knees -fold. He fell slackly to the floor. Beside him, Blote sagged, his -tentacles limp.</p> - -<p>"I credited you with more intelligence," Snithian cackled. "Now I have -an extra ton of protoplasm to dispose of. The carrier will be useful in -that connection."</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph3">V</p> - -<p>Dan felt a familiar chill in the air. A Portal appeared. In a puff of -icy mist, a tall figure stepped through.</p> - -<p>Gone was the tight uniform. In its place, the lanky Australopithecine -wore skin-tight blue-jeans and a loose sweat shirt. An oversized -beret clung to the small round head. Immense dark glasses covered -the yellowish eyes, and sandals flapped on the bare, long-toed feet. -Dzhackoon waved a long cigarette holder at the group.</p> - -<p>"Ah, a stroke of luck! How nice to find you standing by. I had expected -to have to conduct an intensive search within the locus. Thus the -native dress. However—" Dzhackoon's eyes fell on Snithian standing -stiffly by, the gun out of sight.</p> - -<p>"You're of a race unfamiliar to me," he said. "Still, I assume you're -aware of the Interdict on all Anthropoid populated loci?"</p> - -<p>"And who might you be?" Snithian inquired loftily.</p> - -<p>"I'm a Field Agent of the Inter-dimensional Monitor Service."</p> - -<p>"Ah, yes. Well, your Interdict means nothing to me. I'm operating -directly under Ivroy auspices." Snithian touched a glittering pin on -his drab cloak.</p> - -<p>Dzhackoon sighed. "There goes the old arrest record."</p> - -<p>"He's a crook!" Dan cut in. "He's been robbing art galleries!"</p> - -<p>"Keep calm, Dan," Blote murmured, "no need to be overly explicit."</p> - -<p>The Agent turned to look the Trader over.</p> - -<p>"Vegan, aren't you? I imagine you're the fellow I've been chasing."</p> - -<p>"Who, me?" the bass voice rumbled. "Look, officer, I'm a home-loving -family man, just passing through. As a matter of fact—"</p> - -<p>The uniformed creature nodded toward the paintings in the carrier. -"Gathered a few souvenirs, I see."</p> - -<p>"For the wives and kiddy. Just a little something to brighten up the -hive."</p> - -<p>"The penalty for exploitation of a sub-cultural anthropoid-occupied -body is stasis for a period not to exceed one reproductive cycle. If I -recall my Vegan biology, that's quite a period."</p> - -<p>"Why, officer! Surely you're not putting the arm on a respectable -law-abiding being like me? Why, I lost a tentacle fighting in defense -of peace—" As he talked, Blote moved toward the carrier.</p> - -<p>"—your name, my dear fellow," he went on. "I'll mention it to the -Commissioner, a very close friend of mine." Abruptly the Vegan reached -for a lever—</p> - -<p>The long arms in the tight white jacket reached to haul him back -effortlessly. "That was unwise, sir. Now I'll be forced to recommend -subliminal reorientation during stasis." He clamped stout handcuffs on -Blote's broad wrists.</p> - -<p>"You Vegans," he said, dusting his hands briskly. "Will you never -learn?"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"Now, officer," Blote said, "You're acting hastily. Actually, I'm -working in the interest of this little world, as my associate Dan -will gladly confirm. I have information which will be of considerable -interest to you. Snithian has stated that he is in the employ of the -Ivroy—"</p> - -<p>"If the Ivroy's so powerful, why was it necessary to hire Snithian to -steal pictures?" Dan interrupted.</p> - -<p>"Perish the thought, Dan. Snithian's assignment was merely to duplicate -works of art and transmit them to the Ivroy."</p> - -<p>"Here," Snithian cut in. "Restrain that obscene mouth!"</p> - -<p>Dzhackoon raised a hand. "Kindly remain silent, sir. Permit my -prisoners their little chat."</p> - -<p>"You may release them to my custody," Snithian snapped.</p> - -<p>Dzhackoon shook his head. "Hardly, sir. A most improper -suggestion—even from an agent of the Ivroy." He nodded at Dan. "You -may continue."</p> - -<p>"How do you duplicate works of art?" Dan demanded.</p> - -<p>"With a matter duplicator. But, as I was saying, Snithian saw an -opportunity to make extra profits by retaining the works for repeated -duplications and sale to other customers—such as myself."</p> - -<p>"You mean there are other—customers—around?"</p> - -<p>"I have dozens of competitors, Dan, all busy exporting your artifacts. -You are an industrious and talented race, you know."</p> - -<p>"What do they buy?"</p> - -<p>"A little of everything, Dan. It's had an influence on your designs -already, I'm sorry to say. The work is losing its native purity."</p> - -<p>Dan nodded. "I have had the feeling some of this modern furniture was -designed for Martians."</p> - -<p>"Ganymedans, mostly. The Martians are graphic arts fans, while your -automobiles are designed for the Plutonian trade. They have a baroque -sense of humor."</p> - -<p>"What will the Ivroy do when he finds out Snithian's been -double-crossing him?"</p> - -<p>"He'll think of something, I daresay. I blame myself for his defection, -in a way. You see, it was my carrier which made it possible for -Snithian to carry out his thefts. Originally, he would simply enter -a gallery, inconspicuously scan a picture, return home and process -the recording through the duplicator. The carrier gave him the idea -of removing works en masse, duplicating them and returning them the -next day. Alas, I agreed to join forces with him. He grew greedy. He -retained the paintings here and proceeded to produce vast numbers of -copies—which he doubtless sold to my competitors, the crook!"</p> - -<p>Dzhackoon had whipped out a notebook and was jotting rapidly.</p> - -<p>"Now, let's have those names and addresses," he said. "This will be the -biggest round-up in TDMS history."</p> - -<p>"And the pinch will be yours, dear sir," Blote said. "I foresee early -promotion for you." He held out his shackled wrists. "Would you mind?"</p> - -<p>"Well...." Dzhackoon unlocked the cuffs. "I think I'm on firm ground. -Just don't mention it to Inspector Spoghodo."</p> - -<p>"You can't do that!" Snithian snapped. "These persons are dangerous!"</p> - -<p>"That is my decision. Now—"</p> - -<p>Snithian brought out the pistol with a sudden movement. "I'll brook no -interference from meddlers—"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>There was a sound from the door. All heads turned. The girl Dan had -seen in the house stood in the doorway, glancing calmly from Snithian -to Blote to Dzhackoon. When her eyes met Dan's she smiled. Dan thought -he had never seen such a beautiful face—and the figure matched.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus2.jpg" width="170" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>"Get out, you fool!" Snithian snapped. "No; come inside, and shut the -door."</p> - -<p>"Leave the girl out of this, Snithian," Dan croaked.</p> - -<p>"Now I'll have to destroy all of you," Snithian keened. "You first of -all, ugly native!" He aimed the gun at Dan.</p> - -<p>"Put the gun down, Mr. Snithian," the girl said in a warm, melodious -voice. She seemed completely unworried by the grotesque aliens, Dan -noted abstractedly.</p> - -<p>Snithian swiveled on her. "You dare—!"</p> - -<p>"Oh, yes, I dare, Snithian." Her voice had a firm ring now. Snithian -stared at her. "Who ... are you...?"</p> - -<p>"I am the Ivroy."</p> - -<p>Snithian wilted. The gun fell to the floor. His fantastically tall -figure drooped, his face suddenly gray.</p> - -<p>"Return to your home, Snithian," the girl said sadly. "I will deal with -you later."</p> - -<p>"But ... but...." His voice was a thin squeak.</p> - -<p>"Did you think you could conceal your betrayal from the Ivroy?" she -said softly.</p> - -<p>Snithian turned and blundered from the room, ducking under the low -door. The Ivroy turned to Dzhackoon.</p> - -<p>"You and your Service are to be commended," she said. "I leave the -apprehension of the culprits to you." She nodded at Blote. "I will rely -on you to assist in the task—and to limit your operations thereafter -to non-interdicted areas."</p> - -<p>"But of course, your worship. You have my word as a Vegan. Do visit me -on Vorplisch some day. I'd love the wives and kiddy to meet you." He -blinked rapidly. "So long, Dan. It's been crazy cool."</p> - -<p>Dzhackoon and Blote stepped through the Portal. It shimmered and winked -out. The Ivroy faced Dan. He swallowed hard, watching the play of light -in the shoulder-length hair, golden, fine as spun glass....</p> - -<p>"Your name is Dan?"</p> - -<p>"Dan Slane," he said. He took a deep breath. "Are you really the Ivroy?"</p> - -<p>"I am of the Ivroy, who are many and one."</p> - -<p>"But you look like—just a beautiful girl."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The Ivroy smiled. Her teeth were as even as matched pearls, Dan -thought, and as white as—</p> - -<p>"I <i>am</i> a girl, Dan. We are cousins, you and I—separated by the long -mystery of time."</p> - -<p>"Blote—and Dzhackoon and Snithian, too—seemed to think the Ivroy ran -the Universe. But—"</p> - -<p>The Ivroy put her hand on Dan's. It was as soft as a flower petal.</p> - -<p>"Don't trouble yourself over this just now, Dan. Would you like to -become my agent? I need a trustworthy friend to help me in my work -here."</p> - -<p>"Doing what?" Dan heard himself say.</p> - -<p>"Watching over the race which will one day become the Ivroy."</p> - -<p>"I don't understand all this—but I'm willing to try."</p> - -<p>"There will be much to learn, Dan. The full use of the mind, control of -aging and disease.... Our work will require many centuries."</p> - -<p>"Centuries? But—"</p> - -<p>"I'll teach you, Dan."</p> - -<p>"It sounds great," Dan said. "Too good to be true. But how do you know -I'm the man for the job? Don't I have to take some kind of test?"</p> - -<p>She looked up at him, smiling, her lips slightly parted. On impulse, -Dan put a hand under her chin, drew her face close and kissed her on -the mouth....</p> - -<p>A full minute later, the Ivroy, nestled in Dan's arms, looked up at him -again.</p> - -<p>"You passed the test," she said.</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Star-Sent Knaves, by Keith Laumer - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STAR-SENT KNAVES *** - -***** This file should be named 52855-h.htm or 52855-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/8/5/52855/ - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you - are located before using this ebook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: 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/52855-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/52855-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 1776801..0000000 --- a/old/52855-h/images/cover.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/52855-h/images/illus1.jpg b/old/52855-h/images/illus1.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index e1bf4a2..0000000 --- a/old/52855-h/images/illus1.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/52855-h/images/illus2.jpg b/old/52855-h/images/illus2.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 1185cf4..0000000 --- a/old/52855-h/images/illus2.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/52855.txt b/old/52855.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 870f528..0000000 --- a/old/52855.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2023 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Star-Sent Knaves, by Keith Laumer - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - - - -Title: The Star-Sent Knaves - -Author: Keith Laumer - -Illustrator: Jack Gaughan - -Release Date: August 20, 2016 [EBook #52855] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STAR-SENT KNAVES *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - THE STAR-SENT KNAVES - - BY KEITH LAUMER - - Illustrated by Gaughan - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Worlds of Tomorrow June 1963 - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - - - - When the Great Galactic Union first encounters - Earth ... is this what is going to happen? - - -I - -Clyde W. Snithian was a bald eagle of a man, dark-eyed, pot-bellied, -with the large, expressive hands of a rug merchant. Round-shouldered -in a loose cloak, he blinked small reddish eyes at Dan Slane's -travel-stained six foot one. - -"Kelly here tells me you've been demanding to see me." He nodded toward -the florid man at his side. He had a high, thin voice, like something -that needed oiling. "Something about important information regarding -safeguarding my paintings." - -"That's right, Mr. Snithian," Dan said. "I believe I can be of great -help to you." - -"Help how? If you've got ideas of bilking me...." The red eyes bored -into Dan like hot pokers. - -"Nothing like that, sir. Now, I know you have quite a system of guards -here--the papers are full of it--" - -"Damned busybodies! Sensation-mongers! If it wasn't for the press, -I'd have no concern for my paintings today!" - -"Yes sir. But my point is, the one really important spot has been left -unguarded." - -"Now, wait a minute--" Kelly started. - -"What's that?" Snithian cut in. - -"You have a hundred and fifty men guarding the house and grounds day -and night--" - -"Two hundred and twenty-five," Kelly snapped. - -"--but no one at all in the vault with the paintings," Slane finished. - -"Of course not," Snithian shrilled. "Why should I post a man in the -vault? It's under constant surveillance from the corridor outside." - -"The Harriman paintings were removed from a locked vault," Dan said. -"There was a special seal on the door. It wasn't broken." - -"By the saints, he's right," Kelly exclaimed. "Maybe we ought to have a -man in that vault." - -"Another idiotic scheme to waste my money," Snithian snapped. "I've -made you responsible for security here, Kelly! Let's have no more -nonsense. And throw this nincompoop out!" Snithian turned and stalked -away, his cloak flapping at his knees. - -"I'll work cheap," Dan called after him as Kelly took his arm. "I'm an -art lover." - -"Never mind that," Kelly said, escorting Dan along the corridor. He -turned in at an office and closed the door. - -"Now, as the old buzzard said, I'm responsible for security here. If -those pictures go, my job goes with them. Your vault idea's not bad. -Just how cheap would you work?" - -"A hundred dollars a week," Dan said promptly. "Plus expenses," he -added. - -Kelly nodded. "I'll fingerprint you and run a fast agency check. If -you're clean, I'll put you on, starting tonight. But keep it quiet." - - * * * * * - -Dan looked around at the gray walls, with shelves stacked to the low -ceiling with wrapped paintings. Two three-hundred-watt bulbs shed a -white glare over the tile floor, a neat white refrigerator, a bunk, -an arm-chair, a bookshelf and a small table set with paper plates, -plastic utensils and a portable radio--all hastily installed at Kelly's -order. Dan opened the refrigerator, looked over the stock of salami, -liverwurst, cheese and beer. He opened a loaf of bread, built up a -well-filled sandwich, keyed open a can of beer. - -It wasn't fancy, but it would do. Phase one of the plan had gone off -without a hitch. - -Basically, his idea was simple. Art collections had been disappearing -from closely guarded galleries and homes all over the world. It was -obvious that no one could enter a locked vault, remove a stack of large -canvases and leave, unnoticed by watchful guards--and leaving the locks -undamaged. - -Yet the paintings were gone. Someone had been in those vaults--someone -who hadn't entered in the usual way. - -Theory failed at that point; that left the experimental method. The -Snithian collection was the largest west of the Mississippi. With -such a target, the thieves were bound to show up. If Dan sat in the -vault--day and night--waiting--he would see for himself how they -operated. - -He finished his sandwich, went to the shelves and pulled down one of -the brown-paper bundles. Loosening the string binding the package, he -slid a painting into view. It was a gaily colored view of an open-air -cafe, with a group of men and women in gay-ninetyish costumes gathered -at a table. He seemed to remember reading something about it in a -magazine. It was a cheerful scene; Dan liked it. Still, it hardly -seemed worth all the effort.... - -He went to the wall switch and turned off the lights. The orange glow -of the filaments died, leaving only a faint illumination from the -night-light over the door. When the thieves arrived, it might give him -a momentary advantage if his eyes were adjusted to the dark. He groped -his way to the bunk. - -So far, so good, he reflected, stretching out. When they showed up, -he'd have to handle everything just right. If he scared them off -there'd be no second chance. He would have lost his crack at--whatever -his discovery might mean to him. - -But he was ready. Let them come. - - * * * * * - -Eight hours, three sandwiches and six beers later, Dan roused suddenly -from a light doze and sat up on the cot. Between him and the crowded -shelving, a palely luminous framework was materializing in mid-air. - -The apparition was an open-work cage--about the size and shape of an -out-house minus the sheathing, Dan estimated breathlessly. Two figures -were visible within the structure, sitting stiffly in contoured chairs. -They glowed, if anything, more brightly than the framework. - -A faint sound cut into the stillness--a descending whine. The cage -moved jerkily, settling toward the floor. Long blue sparks jumped, -crackling, to span the closing gap; with a grate of metal, the cage -settled against the floor. The spectral men reached for ghostly -switches.... - -The glow died. - -Dan was aware of his heart thumping painfully under his ribs. His mouth -was dry. This was the moment he'd been planning for, but now that it -was here-- - -Never mind. He took a deep breath, ran over the speeches he had -prepared for the occasion: - -_Greeting, visitors from the Future...._ - -Hopelessly corny. What about: _Welcome to the Twentieth Century...._ - -No good; it lacked spontaneity. The men were rising, their backs to -Dan, stepping out of the skeletal frame. In the dim light it now -looked like nothing more than a rough frame built of steel pipe, with -a cluster of levers in a console before the two seats. And the thieves -looked ordinary enough: Two men in gray coveralls, one slender and -balding, the other shorter and round-faced. Neither of them noticed -Dan, sitting rigid on the cot. The thin man placed a lantern on the -table, twiddled a knob. A warm light sprang up. The visitors looked at -the stacked shelves. - -"Looks like the old boy's been doing all right," the shorter man said. -"Fathead's gonna be pleased." - -"A very gratifying consignment," his companion said. "However, we'd -best hurry, Manny. How much time have we left on this charge?" - -"Plenty. Fifteen minutes anyway." - -The thin man opened a package, glanced at a painting. - -"Ah, magnificent. Almost the equal of Picasso in his puce period." - -Manny shuffled through the other pictures in the stack. - -"Like always," he grumbled. "No nood dames. I like nood dames." - -"Look at this, Manny! The textures alone--" - -Manny looked. "Yeah, nice use of values," he conceded. "But I still -prefer nood dames, Fiorello." - -"And this!" Fiorello lifted the next painting. "Look at that gay play -of rich browns!" - -"I seen richer browns on Thirty-third Street," Manny said. "They was -popular with the sparrows." - -"Manny, sometimes I think your aspirations--" - -"Whatta ya talkin? I use a roll-on." Manny, turning to place a painting -in the cage, stopped dead as he caught sight of Dan. The painting -clattered to the floor. Dan stood, cleared his throat. "Uh...." - -"Oh-oh," Manny said. "A double-cross." - -"I've--ah--been expecting you gentlemen," Dan said. "I--" - -"I told you we couldn't trust no guy with nine fingers on each hand," -Manny whispered hoarsely. He moved toward the cage. "Let's blow, -Fiorello." - -"Wait a minute," Dan said. "Before you do anything hasty--" - -"Don't start nothing, Buster," Manny said cautiously. "We're plenty -tough guys when aroused." - -"I want to talk to you," Dan insisted. "You see, these paintings--" - -"Paintings? Look, it was all a mistake. Like, we figured this was the -gent's room--" - -"Never mind, Manny," Fiorello cut in. "It appears there's been a leak." - -Dan shook his head. "No leak. I simply deduced--" - -"Look, Fiorello," Manny said. "You chin if you want to; I'm doing a -fast fade." - -"Don't act hastily, Manny. You know where you'll end." - -"Wait a minute!" Dan shouted. "I'd like to make a deal with you -fellows." - -"Ah-hah!" Kelly's voice blared from somewhere. "I knew it! Slane, you -crook!" - - * * * * * - -Dan looked about wildly. The voice seemed to be issuing from a speaker. -It appeared Kelly hedged his bets. - -"Mr. Kelly, I can explain everything!" Dan called. He turned back to -Fiorello. "Listen, I figured out--" - -"Pretty clever!" Kelly's voice barked. "Inside job. But it takes more -than the likes of you to out-fox an old-timer like Eddie Kelly." - -"Perhaps you were right, Manny," Fiorello said. "Complications are -arising. We'd best depart with all deliberate haste." He edged toward -the cage. - -"What about this ginzo?" Manny jerked a thumb toward Dan. "He's on to -us." - -"Can't be helped." - -"Look--I want to go with you!" Dan shouted. - -"I'll bet you do!" Kelly's voice roared. "One more minute and I'll have -the door open and collar the lot of you! Came up through a tunnel, did -you?" - -"You can't go, my dear fellow," Fiorello said. "Room for two, no more." - -Dan whirled to the cot, grabbed up the pistol Kelly had supplied. He -aimed it at Manny. "You stay here, Manny! I'm going with Fiorello in -the time machine." - -"Are you nuts?" Manny demanded. - -"I'm flattered, dear boy," Fiorello said, "but--" - -"Let's get moving. Kelly will have that lock open in a minute." - -"You can't leave me here!" Manny spluttered, watching Dan crowd into -the cage beside Fiorello. - -"We'll send for you," Dan said. "Let's go, Fiorello." - -The balding man snatched suddenly for the gun. Dan wrestled with him. -The pistol fell, bounced on the floor of the cage, skidded into the -far corner of the vault. Manny charged, reaching for Dan as he twisted -aside; Fiorello's elbow caught him in the mouth. Manny staggered back -into the arms of Kelly, bursting red-faced into the vault. - -"Manny!" Fiorello released his grip on Dan, lunged to aid his -companion. Kelly passed Manny to one of three cops crowding in on his -heels. Dan clung to the framework as Fiorello grappled with Kelly. A -cop pushed past them, spotted Dan, moved in briskly for the pinch. Dan -grabbed a lever at random and pulled. - -Sudden silence fell as the walls of the room glowed blue. A spectral -Kelly capered before the cage, fluorescing in the blue-violet. Dan -swallowed hard and nudged a second lever. The cage sank like an -elevator into the floor, vivid blue washing up its sides. - -Hastily he reversed the control. Operating a time machine was tricky -business. One little slip, and the Slane molecules would be squeezing -in among brick and mortar particles.... - -But this was no time to be cautious. Things hadn't turned out just the -way he'd planned, but after all, this was what he'd wanted--in a way. -The time machine was his to command. And if he gave up now and crawled -back into the vault, Kelly would gather him in and pin every art theft -of the past decade on him. - -It couldn't be _too_ hard. He'd take it slowly, figure out the -controls.... - - * * * * * - -Dan took a deep breath and tried another lever. The cage rose gently, -in eerie silence. It reached the ceiling and kept going. Dan gritted -his teeth as an eight-inch band of luminescence passed down the cage. -Then he was emerging into a spacious kitchen. A blue-haloed cook -waddled to a luminous refrigerator, caught sight of Dan rising slowly -from the floor, stumbled back, mouth open. The cage rose, penetrated a -second ceiling. Dan looked around at a carpeted hall. - -Cautiously he neutralized the control lever. The cage came to rest an -inch above the floor. As far as Dan could tell, he hadn't traveled so -much as a minute into the past or future. - -He looked over the controls. There should be one labeled "Forward" -and another labeled "Back", but all the levers were plain, unadorned -black. They looked, Dan decided, like ordinary circuit-breaker type -knife-switches. In fact, the whole apparatus had the appearance of -something thrown together hastily from common materials. Still, it -worked. So far he had only found the controls for maneuvering in the -usual three dimensions, but the time switch was bound to be here -somewhere.... - -Dan looked up at a movement at the far end of the hall. - -A girl's head and shoulders appeared, coming up a spiral staircase. In -another second she would see him, and give the alarm--and Dan needed -a few moments of peace and quiet in which to figure out the controls. -He moved a lever. The cage drifted smoothly sideways, sliced through -the wall with a flurry of vivid blue light. Dan pushed the lever -back. He was in a bedroom now, a wide chamber with flouncy curtains, a -four-poster under a flowered canopy, a dressing table-- - -The door opened and the girl stepped into the room. She was young. Not -over eighteen, Dan thought--as nearly as he could tell with the blue -light playing around her face. She had long hair tied with a ribbon, -and long legs, neatly curved. She wore shorts and carried a tennis -racquet in her left hand and an apple in her right. Her back to Dan and -the cage, she tossed the racquet on a table, took a bite of the apple, -and began briskly unbuttoning her shirt. - -Dan tried moving a lever. The cage edged toward the girl. Another; -he rose gently. The girl tossed the shirt onto a chair and undid the -zipper down the side of the shorts. Another lever; the cage shot toward -the outer wall as the girl reached behind her back.... - -Dan blinked at the flash of blue and looked down. He was hovering -twenty feet above a clipped lawn. - -He looked at the levers. Wasn't it the first one in line that moved the -cage ahead? He tried it, shot forward ten feet. Below, a man stepped -out on the terrace, lit a cigarette, paused, started to turn his face -up-- - -Dan jabbed at a lever. The cage shot back through the wall. He was in a -plain room with a depression in the floor, a wide window with a planter -filled with glowing blue plants-- - -The door opened. Even blue, the girl looked graceful as a deer as she -took a last bite of the apple and stepped into the ten-foot-square -sunken tub. Dan held his breath. The girl tossed the apple core aside, -seemed to suddenly become aware of eyes on her, whirled-- - -With a sudden lurch that threw Dan against the steel bars, the -cage shot through the wall into the open air and hurtled off with -an acceleration that kept him pinned, helpless. He groped for the -controls, hauled at a lever. There was no change. The cage rushed -on, rising higher. In the distance, Dan saw the skyline of a town, -approaching with frightful speed. A tall office building reared up -fifteen stories high. He was headed dead for it-- - -He covered his ears, braced himself-- - -With an abruptness that flung him against the opposite side of the -cage, the machine braked, shot through the wall and slammed to a stop. -Dan sank to the floor of the cage, breathing hard. There was a loud -_click!_ and the glow faded. - -With a lunge, Dan scrambled out of the cage. He stood looking around at -a simple brown-painted office, dimly lit by sunlight filtered through -elaborate venetian blinds. There were posters on the wall, a potted -plant by the door, a heap of framed paintings beside it, and at the far -side of the room a desk. And behind the desk--Something. - - -II - -Dan gaped at a head the size of a beachball, mounted on a torso like a -hundred-gallon bag of water. Two large brown eyes blinked at him from -points eight inches apart. Immense hands with too many fingers unfolded -and reached to open a brown paper carton, dip in, then toss three -peanuts, deliberately, one by one, into a gaping mouth that opened just -above the brown eyes. - -"Who're you?" a bass voice demanded from somewhere near the floor. - -"I'm ... I'm ... Dan Slane ... your honor." - -"What happened to Manny and Fiorello?" - -"They--I--There was this cop. Kelly--" - -"Oh-oh." The brown eyes blinked deliberately. The many-fingered hands -closed the peanut carton and tucked it into a drawer. - -"Well, it was a sweet racket while it lasted," the basso voice said. "A -pity to terminate so happy an enterprise. Still...." A noise like an -amplified Bronx cheer issued from the wide mouth. - -"How ... what...?" - -"The carrier returns here automatically when the charge drops below a -critical value," the voice said. "A necessary measure to discourage -big ideas on the part of wisenheimers in my employ. May I ask how you -happen to be aboard the carrier, by the way?" - -"I just wanted--I mean, after I figured out--that is, the police ... I -went for help," Dan finished lamely. - -"Help? Out of the picture, unfortunately. One must maintain one's -anonymity, you'll appreciate. My operation here is under wraps at -present. Ah, I don't suppose you brought any paintings?" - -Dan shook his head. He was staring at the posters. His eyes, -accustoming themselves to the gloom of the office, could now make out -the vividly drawn outline of a creature resembling an alligator-headed -giraffe rearing up above scarlet foliage. The next poster showed a face -similar to the beachball behind the desk, with red circles painted -around the eyes. The next was a view of a yellow volcano spouting fire -into a black sky. - -"Too bad." The words seemed to come from under the desk. Dan squinted, -caught a glimpse of coiled purplish tentacles. He gulped and looked up -to catch a brown eye upon him. Only one. The other seemed to be busily -at work studying the ceiling. - -"I hope," the voice said, "that you ain't harboring no reactionary -racial prejudices." - - * * * * * - -"Gosh, no," Dan reassured the eye. "I'm crazy about--uh--" - -"Vorplischers," the voice said. "From Vorplisch, or Vega, as you call -it." The Bronx cheer sounded again. "How I long to glimpse once more my -native fens! Wherever one wanders, there's no pad like home." - -"That reminds me," Dan said. "I have to be running along now." He -sidled toward the door. - -"Stick around, Dan," the voice rumbled. "How about a drink? I can -offer you Chateau Neuf du Pape, '59, Romance Conte, '32, goat's milk, -Pepsi--" - -"No, thanks." - -"If you don't mind, I believe I'll have a Big Orange." The Vorplischer -swiveled to a small refrigerator, removed an immense bottle fitted with -a nipple and turned back to Dan. "Now, I got a proposition which may be -of some interest to you. The loss of Manny and Fiorello is a serious -blow, but we may yet recoup the situation. You made the scene at a most -opportune time. What I got in mind is, with those two clowns out of the -picture, a vacancy exists on my staff, which you might well fill. How -does that grab you?" - -"You mean you want me to take over operating the time machine?" - -"Time machine?" The brown eyes blinked alternately. "I fear some -confusion exists. I don't quite dig the significance of the term." - -"That thing," Dan jabbed a thumb toward the cage. "The machine I came -here in. You want me--" - -"Time machine," the voice repeated. "Some sort of chronometer, perhaps?" - -"Huh?" - -"I pride myself on my command of the local idiom, yet I confess the -implied concept snows me." The nine-fingered hands folded on the desk. -The beachball head leaned forward interestedly. "Clue me, Dan. What's a -time machine?" - -"Well, it's what you use to travel through time." - -The brown eyes blinked in agitated alternation. "Apparently I've loused -up my investigation of the local cultural background. I had no idea -you were capable of that sort of thing." The immense head leaned back, -the wide mouth opening and closing rapidly. "And to think I've been -spinning my wheels collecting primitive 2-D art!" - -"But--don't you have a time machine? I mean, isn't that one?" - -"That? That's merely a carrier. Now tell me more about your time -machines. A fascinating concept! My superiors will be delighted at -this development--and astonished as well. They regard this planet as -Endsville." - - * * * * * - -"Your superiors?" Dan eyed the window; much too far to jump. Maybe he -could reach the machine and try a getaway-- - -"I hope you're not thinking of leaving suddenly," the beachball said, -following Dan's glance. One of the eighteen fingers touched a six-inch -yellow cylinder lying on the desk. "Until the carrier is fueled, I'm -afraid it's quite useless. But, to put you in the picture, I'd best -introduce myself and explain my mission here. I'm Blote, Trader Fourth -Class, in the employ of the Vegan Confederation. My job is to develop -new sources of novelty items for the impulse-emporiums of the entire -Secondary Quadrant." - -"But the way Manny and Fiorello came sailing in through the wall! That -_has_ to be a time machine they were riding in. Nothing else could just -materialize out of thin air like that." - -"You seem to have a time-machine fixation, Dan," Blote said. "You -shouldn't assume, just because you people have developed time travel, -that everyone has. Now--" Blote's voice sank to a bass whisper--"I'll -make a deal with you, Dan. You'll secure a small time machine in good -condition for me. And in return--" - -"_I'm_ supposed to supply _you_ with a time machine?" - -Blote waggled a stubby forefinger at Dan. "I dislike pointing it out, -Dan, but you are in a rather awkward position at the moment. Illegal -entry, illegal possession of property, trespass--then doubtless some -embarrassment exists back at the Snithian residence. I daresay Mr. -Kelly would have a warm welcome for you. And, of course, I myself would -deal rather harshly with any attempt on your part to take a powder." -The Vegan flexed all eighteen fingers, drummed his tentacles under the -desk, and rolled one eye, bugging the other at Dan. - -"Whereas, on the other hand," Blote's bass voice went on, "you and me -got the basis of a sweet deal. You supply the machine, and I fix you up -with an abundance of the local medium of exchange. Equitable enough, I -should say. What about it, Dan?" - -"Ah, let me see," Dan temporized. "Time machine. Time machine--" - -"Don't attempt to weasel on me, Dan," Blote rumbled ominously. - -"I'd better look in the phone book," Dan suggested. - -Silently, Blote produced a dog-eared directory. Dan opened it. - -"Time, time. Let's see...." He brightened. "Time, Incorporated; local -branch office. Two twenty-one Maple Street." - -"A sales center?" Blote inquired. "Or a manufacturing complex?" - -"Both," Dan said. "I'll just nip over and--" - -"That won't be necessary, Dan," Blote said. "I'll accompany you." He -took the directory, studied it. - -"Remarkable! A common commodity, openly on sale, and I failed to notice -it. Still, a ripe nut can fall from a small tree as well as from a -large." He went to his desk, rummaged, came up with a handful of fuel -cells. "Now, off to gather in the time machine." He took his place in -the carrier, patted the seat beside him with a wide hand. "Come, Dan. -Get a wiggle on." - - * * * * * - -Hesitantly, Dan moved to the carrier. The bluff was all right up to a -point--but the point had just about been reached. He took his seat. -Blote moved a lever. The familiar blue glow sprang up. "Kindly direct -me, Dan," Blote demanded. "Two twenty-one Maple Street, I believe you -said." - -"I don't know the town very well," Dan said, "but Maple's over that -way." - -Blote worked levers. The carrier shot out into a ghostly afternoon sky. -Faint outlines of buildings, like faded negatives, spread below. Dan -looked around, spotted lettering on a square five-story structure. - -"Over there," he said. Blote directed the machine as it swooped -smoothly toward the flat roof Dan indicated. - -"Better let me take over now," Dan suggested. "I want to be sure to -get us to the right place." - -"Very well, Dan." - -Dan dropped the carrier through the roof, passed down through a dimly -seen office. Blote twiddled a small knob. The scene around the cage -grew even fainter. "Best we remain unnoticed," he explained. - -The cage descended steadily. Dan peered out, searching for identifying -landmarks. He leveled off at the second floor, cruised along a barely -visible corridor. Blote's eyes rolled, studying the small chambers -along both sides of the passage at once. - -"Ah, this must be the assembly area," he exclaimed. "I see the machines -employ a bar-type construction, not unlike our carriers." - -"That's right," Dan said, staring through the haziness. "This is where -they do time...." He tugged at a lever suddenly; the machine veered -left, flickered through a barred door, came to a halt. Two nebulous -figures loomed beside the cage. Dan cut the switch. If he'd guessed -wrong-- - -The scene fluoresced, sparks crackling, then popped into sharp focus. -Blote scrambled out, brown eyes swivelling to take in the concrete -walls, the barred door and-- - -"You!" a hoarse voice bellowed. - -"Grab him!" someone yelled. - -Blote recoiled, threshing his ambulatory members in a fruitless attempt -to regain the carrier as Manny and Fiorello closed in. Dan hauled at a -lever. He caught a last glimpse of three struggling, blue-lit figures -as the carrier shot away through the cell wall. - - -III - -Dan slumped back against the seat with a sigh. Now that he was in the -clear, he would have to decide on his next move--fast. There was no -telling what other resources Blote might have. He would have to hide -the carrier, then-- - -A low growling was coming from somewhere, rising in pitch and volume. -Dan sat up, alarmed. This was no time for a malfunction. - -The sound rose higher, into a penetrating wail. There was no sign of -mechanical trouble. The carrier glided on, swooping now over a nebulous -landscape of trees and houses. Dan covered his ears against the -deafening shriek, like all the police sirens in town blaring at once. -If the carrier stopped it would be a long fall from here. Dan worked -the controls, dropping toward the distant earth. - -The noise seemed to lessen, descending the scale. Dan slowed, brought -the carrier in to the corner of a wide park. He dropped the last few -inches and cut the switch. - -As the glow died, the siren faded into silence. - -Dan stepped from the carrier and looked around. Whatever the noise -was, it hadn't attracted any attention from the scattered pedestrians -in the park. Perhaps it was some sort of burglar alarm. But if so, why -hadn't it gone into action earlier? Dan took a deep breath. Sound or no -sound, he would have to get back into the carrier and transfer it to a -secluded spot where he could study it at leisure. He stepped back in, -reached for the controls-- - -There was a sudden chill in the air. The bright surface of the dials -before him frosted over. There was a loud _pop!_ like a flashbulb -exploding. Dan stared from the seat at an iridescent rectangle -which hung suspended near the carrier. Its surface rippled, faded -to blankness. In a swirl of frosty air, a tall figure dressed in a -tight-fitting white uniform stepped through. - -Dan gaped at the small rounded head, the dark-skinned long-nosed face, -the long, muscular arms, the hands, their backs tufted with curly -red-brown hair, the strange long-heeled feet in soft boots. A neat -pillbox cap with a short visor was strapped low over the deep-set -yellowish eyes, which turned in his direction. The wide mouth opened in -a smile which showed square yellowish teeth. - -"_Alors, monsieur_," the new-comer said, bending his knees and back in -a quick bow. "_Vous ete une indigine, n'est ce pas?_" - -"No compree," Dan choked out "Uh ... juh no parlay Fransay...." - -"My error. This is the Anglic colonial sector, isn't it? Stupid of me. -Permit me to introduce myself. I'm Dzhackoon, Field Agent of Class -five, Inter-dimensional Monitor Service." - -"That siren," Dan said. "Was that you?" - -Dzhackoon nodded. "For a moment, it appeared you were disinclined to -stop. I'm glad you decided to be reasonable." - -"What outfit did you say you were with?" Dan asked. - -"The Inter-dimensional Monitor Service." - -"Inter-what?" - -"Dimensional. The word is imprecise, of course, but it's the best our -language coder can do, using the Anglic vocabulary." - -"What do you want with me?" - - * * * * * - -Dzhackoon smiling reprovingly. "You know the penalty for operation of -an unauthorized reversed-phase vehicle in Interdicted territory. I'm -afraid you'll have to come along with me to Headquarters." - -"Wait a minute! You mean you're arresting me?" - -"That's a harsh term, but I suppose it amounts to that." - -"Look here, uh--Dzhackoon. I just wandered in off the street. I don't -know anything about Interdicts and reversed-whozis vehicles. Just let -me out of here." - -Dzhackoon shook his head. "I'm afraid you'll have to tell it to the -Inspector." He smiled amiably, gestured toward the shimmering rectangle -through which he had arrived. From the edge, it was completely -invisible. It looked, Dan thought, like a hole snipped in reality. He -glanced at Dzhackoon. If he stepped in fast and threw a left to the -head and followed up with a right to the short ribs-- - -"I'm armed, of course," the Agent said apologetically. - -"Okay," Dan sighed. "But I'm going under protest." - -"Don't be nervous," Dzhackoon said cheerfully. "Just step through -quickly." - -Dan edged up to the glimmering surface. He gritted his teeth, closed -his eyes and took a step. There was a momentary sensation of searing -heat.... - -His eyes flew open. He was in a long, narrow room with walls finished -in bright green tile. Hot yellow light flooded down from the high -ceiling. Along the wall, a series of cubicles were arranged. Tall, -white-uniformed creatures moved briskly about. Nearby stood a group of -short, immensely burly individuals in yellow. Lounging against the wall -at the far end of the room, Dan glimpsed a round-shouldered figure in -red, with great bushes of hair fringing a bright blue face. An arm even -longer than Dzhackoon's wielded a toothpick on a row of great white -fangs. - -"This way," Dzhackoon said. Dan followed him to a cubicle, curious eyes -following him. A creature indistinguishable from the Field Agent except -for a twist of red braid on each wrist looked up from a desk. - -"I've picked up that reversed-phase violator, Ghunt," Dzhackoon said. -"Anglic Sector, Locus C 922A4." - -Ghunt rose. "Let me see; Anglic Sector.... Oh, yes." He extended -a hand. Dan took it gingerly; it was a strange hand--hot, dry and -coarse-skinned, like a dog's paw. He pumped it twice and let it go. - -"Wonderfully expressive," Ghunt said. "Empty hand, no weapon. The -implied savagery...." He eyed Dan curiously. - -"Remarkable. I've studied your branch, of course, but I've never had -the pleasure of actually seeing one of you chaps before. That skin; -amazing. Ah ... may I look at your hands?" - -Dan extended a hand. The other took it in bony fingers, studied it, -turned it over, examined the nails. Stepping closer, he peered at Dan's -eyes and hair. - -"Would you mind opening your mouth, please?" Dan complied. Ghunt -clucked, eyeing the teeth. He walked around Dan, murmuring his -wonderment. - -"Uh ... pardon my asking," Dan said, "but are you what--uh--people are -going to look like in the future?" - -"Eh?" The round yellowish eyes blinked; the wide mouth curved in a -grin. "I doubt that very much, old chap." He chuckled. "Can't undo half -a million years of divergent evolution, you know." - - * * * * * - -"You mean you're from the past?" Dan croaked. - -"The past? I'm afraid I don't follow you." - -"You don't mean--we're all going to die out and monkeys are going to -take over?" Dan blurted. - -"Monkeys? Let me see. I've heard of them. Some sort of small -primate, like a miniature Anthropos. You have them at home, do you? -Fascinating!" He shook his head regretfully. "I certainly wish -regulations allowed me to pay your sector a visit." - -"But you _are_ time travelers," Dan insisted. - -"Time travelers?" Ghunt laughed aloud. - -"An exploded theory," Dzhackoon said. "Superstition." - -"Then how did you get to the park from here?" - -"A simple focused portal. Merely a matter of elementary stressed-field -mechanics." - -"That doesn't tell me much," Dan said. "Where am I? Who are you?" - -"Explanations are in order, of course," Ghunt said. "Have a chair. Now, -if I remember correctly, in your locus, there are only a few species of -Anthropos extant--" - -"Just the one," Dzhackoon put in. "These fellows look fragile, but oh, -brother!" - -"Oh, yes; I recall. This was the locus where the hairless variant -systematically hunted down other varieties." He clucked at Dan -reprovingly. "Don't you find it lonely?" - -"Of course, there are a couple of rather curious retarded forms there," -Dzhackoon said. "Actual living fossils; sub-intellectual Anthropos. -There's one called the gorilla, and the chimpanzee, the orangutan, the -gibbon--and, of course, a whole spectrum of the miniature forms." - -"I suppose that when the ferocious mutation established its supremacy, -the others retreated to the less competitive ecological niches and -expanded at that level," Ghunt mused. "Pity. I assume the gorilla and -the others are degenerate forms?" - -"Possibly." - -"Excuse me," Dan said. "But about that explanation...." - -"Oh, sorry. Well, to begin with Dzhackoon and I -are--ah--Australopithecines, I believe your term is. We're one of -the many varieties of Anthropos native to normal loci. The workers -in yellow, whom you may have noticed, are akin to your extinct -Neanderthals. Then there are the Pekin derivatives--the blue-faced -chaps--and the Rhodesians----" - -"What are these loci you keep talking about? And how can cave men still -be alive?" - -Ghunt's eyes wandered past Dan. He jumped to his feet. "Ah, good day, -Inspector!" Dan turned. A grizzled Australopithecine with a tangle of -red braid at collar and wrists stared at him glumly. - -"Harrumph!" the Inspector said. "Albinism and alopecia. Not catching, I -hope?" - -"A genetic deficiency, excellency," Dzhackoon said. "This is a Homo -Sapiens, a naturally bald form from a rather curious locus." - -"Sapiens? Sapiens? Now, that seems to ring a bell." The olster -blinked at Dan. "You're not--" He waggled fingers in instinctive -digital-mnemonic stimulus. Abruptly he stiffened. "Why, this is one -of those fratricidal deviants!" He backed off. "He should be under -restraint, Ghunt! Constable! Get a strong-arm squad in here! This -creature is dangerous!" - - * * * * * - -"Inspector. I'm sure--" Ghunt started. - -"That's an order!" the Inspector barked. He switched to an -incomprehensible language, bellowed more commands. Several of the -thickset Neanderthal types appeared, moving in to seize Dan's arms. He -looked around at chinless, wide-mouthed brown faces with incongruous -blue eyes and lank blond hair. - -"What's this all about?" he demanded. "I want a lawyer!" - -"Never mind that!" the Inspector shouted. "I know how to deal with -miscreants of your stripe!" He stared distastefully at Dan. "Hairless! -Putty-colored! Revolting! Planning more mayhem, are you? Preparing to -branch out into the civilized loci to wipe out all competitive life, is -that it?" - -"I brought him here, Inspector," Dzhackoon put in. "It was a routine -traffic violation." - -"I'll decide what's routine here! Now, Sapiens! What fiendish scheme -have you up your sleeve, eh?" - -"Daniel Slane, civilian, social security number 456-7329-988," Dan said. - -"Eh?" - -"Name, rank and serial number," Dan explained. "I'm not answering any -other questions." - -"This means penal relocation, Sapiens! Unlawful departure from native -locus, willful obstruction of justice--" - -"You forgot being born without permission, and unauthorized breathing." - -"Insolence!" the Inspector snarled. "I'm warning you, Sapiens, it's -in my power to make things miserable for you. Now, how did you induce -Agent Dzhackoon to bring you here?" - -"Well, a good fairy came and gave me three wishes--" - -"Take him away," the Inspector screeched. "Sector 97; an unoccupied -locus." - -"Unoccupied? That seems pretty extreme, doesn't it?" one of the guards -commented, wrinkling his heavily ridged brow. - -"Unoccupied! If it bothers you, perhaps I can arrange for you to join -him there!" - -The Neanderthaloid guard yawned widely, showing white teeth. He nodded -to Dan, motioned him ahead. "Don't mind Spoghodo," he said loudly. -"He's getting old." - -"Sorry about all this," a voice hissed near Dan's ear. Dzhackoon--or -Ghunt, he couldn't say which--leaned near. "I'm afraid you'll have -to go along to the penal area, but I'll try to straighten things out -later." - -Back in the concourse, Dan's guard escorted him past cubicles where -busy IDMS agents reported to harassed seniors, through an archway into -a room lined with narrow gray panels. It looked like a gym locker room. - -"Ninety-seven," the guard said. He went to a wall chart, studied the -fine print with the aid of a blunt, hairy finger, then set a dial on -the wall. "Here we go," he said. He pushed a button beside one of the -lockers. Its surface clouded and became iridescent. - -"Just step through fast. Happy landings." - -"Thanks," Dan ducked his head and pushed through the opening in a puff -of frost. - - * * * * * - -He was standing on a steep hillside, looking down across a sweep of -meadow to a plain far below. There were clumps of trees, and a river. -In the distance a herd of animals grazed among low shrubbery. No road -wound along the valley floor; no boats dotted the river; no village -nestled at its bend. The far hills were innocent of trails, fences, -houses, the rectangles of plowed acres. There were no contrails in the -wide blue sky. No vagrant aroma of exhaust fumes, no mutter of internal -combustion, no tin cans, no pop bottles-- - -In short, no people. - -Dan turned. The Portal still shimmered faintly in the bright air. He -thrust his head through, found himself staring into the locker room. -The yellow-clad Neanderthaloid glanced at him. - -"Say," Dan said, ignoring the sensation of a hot wire around his neck, -"can't we talk this thing over?" - -"Better get your head out of there before it shuts down," the guard -said cheerfully. "Otherwise--ssskkkttt!" - -"What about some reading matter? And look, I get these head colds. Does -the temperature drop here at night? Any dangerous animals? What do I -eat?" - -"Here," the guard reached into a hopper, took out a handful of -pamphlets. "These are supposed to be for guys that are relocated -without prejudice. You know, poor slobs that just happened to see too -much; but I'll let you have one. Let's see ... Anglic, Anglic...." He -selected one, handed it to Dan. - -"Thanks." - -"Better get clear." - -Dan withdrew his head. He sat down on the grass and looked over the -booklet. It was handsomely printed in gay colors. WELCOME TO RELOCATION -CENTER NO. 23 said the cover. Below the heading was a photo of a group -of sullen-looking creatures of varying heights and degrees of hairiness -wearing paper hats. The caption read: _New-comers Are Welcomed Into a -Gay Round of Social Activity. Hi, New-comer!_ - -Dan opened the book. A photo showed a scene identical to the one before -him, except that in place of the meadow, there was a park-like expanse -of lawn, dotted with rambling buildings with long porches lined with -rockers. There were picnic tables under spreading trees, and beyond, on -the river, a yacht basin crowded with canoes and row-boats. - - "Life In a Community Center is Grand Fun!" Dan read. "Activities! - Brownies, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Sea Scouts, Tree - Scouts, Cave Scouts, PTA, Shriners, Bear Cult, Rotary, Daughters of - the Eastern Star, Mothers of the Big Banana, Dianetics--you name - it! A Group for Everyone, and Everyone in a Group! - - Classes in conversational Urdu, Sprotch, Yiddish, Gaelic, Fundu, - etc; knot-tying, rug-hooking, leather-work, Greek Dancing, - finger-painting and many, many others! - - Little Theatre! - - Indian Dance Pageants! - - Round Table Discussions! - - Town Meetings! - -Dan thumbed on through the pages of emphatic print, stopped at a -double-page spread labeled, _A Few Do's and Don'ts_. - - * All of us want to make a GO of relocation. So--let's remember the - Uranium Rule: Don't Do It! The Other Guy May Be Bigger! - - * Remember the Other Fellow's Taboos! - - What to you might be merely a wholesome picnic or mating bee may - offend others. What some are used to doing in groups, others - consider a solitary activity. Most taboos have to do with eating, - sex, elimination or gods; so remember look before you sit down, - lie down, squat down or kneel down! - - * Ladies With Beards Please Note: - - Friend husband may be on the crew clearing clogged drains--so - watch that shedding in the lavatories, eh, girls? And you fellas, - too! Sure, good grooming pays--but groom each other out in the - open, okay? - - * * * * * - - * NOTE: There has been some agitation for separate but equal - facilities. Now, honestly, folks; is that in the spirit of Center - No. 23? Males and females _will continue to use the same johns_ - as always. No sexual chauvinism will be tolerated. - - * * * * * - - * A Word To The Kiddies! - - No brachiating will be permitted in the Social Center area. After - all, a lot of the Dads sleep up there. There are plenty of other - trees! - - * * * * * - - * Daintiness Pays! - - In these more-active-than-ever days, Personal Effluvium can get - away from us almost before we notice. And that hearty scent may not - be as satisfying to others as it is to ourselves! So remember, - fellas: watch that P. E.! (Lye soap, eau de Cologne, flea powder - and other beauty aids available at supply shed!) - -Dan tossed the book aside. There were worse things than solitude. It -looked like a pretty nice world--and it was all his. - -The entire North American continent, all of South America, Europe, -Asia, Africa--the works. He could cut down trees, build a hut, furnish -it. There'd be hunting--he could make a bow and arrows--and the skins -would do to make clothes. He could start a little farming, fish the -streams, sun bathe--all the things he'd never had time to do back home. -It wouldn't be so bad. And eventually Dzhackoon would arrange for his -release. It might be just the kind of vacation-- - -"Ah Dan, my boy!" a bass voice boomed. Dan jumped and spun around. - -Blote's immense face blinked at him from the Portal. There was a large -green bruise over one eye. He wagged a finger reproachfully. - -"That was a dirty trick, Dan. My former employees were somewhat -disgruntled, I'm sorry to say. But we'd best be off now. There's no -time to waste." - -"How did you get here?" Dan demanded. - -"I employed a pocket signaler to recall my carrier--and none too soon." -He touched his bruised eye gingerly. "A glance at the instruments -showed me that you had visited the park. I followed and observed a TDMS -Portal. Being of an adventurous turn and, of course, concerned for your -welfare, I stepped through--" - -"Why didn't they arrest you? I was picked up for operating the carrier." - -"They had some such notion. A whiff of stun gas served to discourage -them. Now let's hurry along before the management revives." - -"Wait a minute, Blote. I'm not sure I want to be rescued by you--in -spite of your concern for my welfare." - -"Rubbish, Dan! Come along." Blote looked around. "Frightful place! No -population! No commerce! No deals!" - -"It has its compensations. I think I'll stay. You run along." - -"Abandon a colleague? Never!" - -"If you're still expecting me to deliver a time machine, you're out of -luck. I don't have one." - -"No? Ah, well, in a way I'm relieved. Such a device would upset -accepted physical theory. Now, Dan, you mustn't imagine I harbor -ulterior motives--but I believe our association will yet prove -fruitful." - -Dan rubbed a finger across his lower lip thoughtfully. "Look, Blote. -You need my help. Maybe you can help me at the same time. If I come -along, I want it understood that we work together. I have an idea--" - -"But of course, Dan! Now shake a leg!" - -Dan sighed and stepped through the portal. The yellow-clad guard lay on -the floor, snoring. Blote led the way back into the great hall. TDMS -officials were scattered across the floor, slumped over desks, or lying -limp in chairs. Blote stopped before one of a row of shimmering portals. - -"After you, Dan." - -"Are you sure this is the right one?" - -"Quite." - -Dan stepped through in the now familiar chill and found himself back in -the park. A small dog sniffing at the carrier caught sight of Blote, -lowered his leg and fled. - -"I want to pay Mr. Snithian a visit," Dan said, climbing into a seat. - -"My idea exactly," Blote agreed, lowering his bulk into place. - -"Don't get the idea I'm going to help you steal anything." - -"Dan! A most unkind remark. I merely wish to look into certain matters." - -"Just so you don't start looking into the safe." - -Blote tsked, moved a lever. The carrier climbed over a row of blue -trees and headed west. - - -IV - -Blote brought the carrier in high over the Snithian Estate, dropped -lower and descended gently through the roof. The pale, spectral -servants moving about their duties in the upper hall failed to notice -the wraith-like cage passing soundlessly among them. - -In the dining room, Dan caught sight of the girl--Snithian's daughter, -perhaps--arranging shadowy flowers on a sideboard. - -"Let me take it," Dan whispered. Blote nodded. Dan steered for the -kitchen, guided the carrier to the spot on which he had first emerged -from the vault, then edged down through the floor. He brought the -carrier to rest and neutralized all switches in a shower of sparks and -blue light. - -The vault door stood open. There were pictures stacked on the bunk now, -against the wall, on the floor. Dan stepped from the carrier, went to -the nearest heap of paintings. They had been dumped hastily, it seemed. -They weren't even wrapped. He examined the topmost canvas, still in a -heavy frame; as though, he reflected, it had just been removed from a -gallery wall-- - -"Let's look around for Snithian," Dan said. "I want to talk to him." - -"I suggest we investigate the upper floors, Dan. Doubtless his personal -pad is there." - -"You use the carrier; I'll go up and look the house over." - -"As you wish, Dan." Blote and the carrier flickered and faded from view. - -Dan stooped, picked up the pistol he had dropped in the scuffle with -Fiorello and stepped out into the hall. All was silent. He climbed -stairs, looked into rooms. The house seemed deserted. On the third -floor he went along a corridor, checking each room. The last room on -the west side was fitted as a study. There was a stack of paintings on -a table near the door. Dan went to them, examined the top one. - -It looked familiar. Wasn't it one that _Look_ said was in the Art -Institute at Chicago? - -There was a creak as of an un-oiled hinge. Dan spun around. A door -stood open at the far side of the room--a connecting door to a bedroom, -probably. - -"Keep well away from the carrier, Mr. Slane," a high thin voice said -from the shadows. The tall, cloaked figure of W. Clyde Snithian stepped -into view, a needle-barreled pistol in his hand. - -"I thought you'd be back," he piped. "It makes my problem much simpler. -If you hadn't appeared soon, it would have been necessary for me to -shift the scene of my operations. That would have been a nuisance." - - * * * * * - -Dan eyed the gun. "There are a lot more paintings downstairs than -there were when I left," he said. "I don't know much about art, but I -recognize a few of them." - -"Copies," Snithian snapped. - -"This is no copy," Dan tapped the top painting on the stack. "It's an -original. You can feel the brush-work." - -"Not prints, of course. Copies." Snithian whinnied. "Exact copies." - -"These paintings are stolen, Mr. Snithian. Why would a wealthy man like -you take to stealing art?" - -"I'm not here to answer questions, Mr. Slane!" The weapon in Snithian's -hand bugged. A wave of pain swept over Dan. Snithian cackled, lowering -the gun. "You'll soon learn better manners." - -Dan's hand went to his pocket, came out holding the automatic. He aimed -it at Snithian's face. The industrialist froze, eyes on Dan's gun. - -"Drop the gun." Snithian's weapon clattered to the floor. "Now let's go -and find Kelly." - -"Wait!" Snithian shrilled. "I can make you a rich man, Slane." - -"Not by stealing paintings." - -"You don't understand. This is more than petty larceny!" - -"That's right. It's grand larceny. These pictures are worth thousands." - -"I can show you things that will completely change your attitude. -Actually, I've acted throughout in the best interests of humanity!" - -Dan gestured with the gun. "Don't plan anything clever. I'm not used to -guns. This thing will go off at the least excuse, and then I'd have a -murder to explain." - -"That would be an inexcusable blunder on your part!" Snithian keened. -"I'm a very important figure, Slane." He crossed the deep-pile rug to -a glass-doored cabinet. "This," he said, taking out a flat black box, -"contains a fortune in precious stones." He lifted the lid. Dan stepped -closer. A row of brilliant red gems nestled in a bed of cotton. - -"Rubies?" - -"Flawless--and perfectly matched." Snithian whinnied. "_Perfectly_ -matched. Worth a fortune. They're yours, if you cooperate." - -"You said you were going to change my attitude. Better get started." - - * * * * * - -"Listen to me, Slane. I'm not operating independently. I'm employed -by the Ivroy, whose power is incalculable. My assignment has been to -rescue from destruction irreplaceable works of art fated to be consumed -in atomic fire." - -"What do you mean--fated?" - -"The Ivroy knows these things. These paintings--all your art--are -unique in the galaxy. Others admire but they cannot emulate. In the -cosmos of the far future, the few surviving treasures of dawn art will -be valued beyond all other wealth. They alone will give a renewed -glimpse of the universe as it appeared to the eyes of your strange race -in its glory." - -"My strange race?" - -Snithian drew himself up. "I am not of your race." He threw his cloak -aside and straightened. - -Dan gaped as Snithian's body unfolded, rising up, long, three-jointed -arms flexing, stretching out. The bald head ducked now under the beamed -ceiling. Snithian chuckled shrilly. - -"What about that inflexible attitude of yours, now, Mr. Slane?" he -piped. "Have I made my point?" - -"Yes, but--" Dan squeaked. He cleared his throat and tried again. "But -I've still got the gun." - -"Oh, that." An eight-foot arm snaked out, flicked the gun aside. "I've -only temporized with you because you can be useful to me, Mr. Slane. I -dislike running about, and I therefore employ locals to do my running -for me. Accept my offer of employment, and you'll be richly rewarded." - -"Why me?" - -"You already know of my presence here. If I can enlist your loyalty, -there will be no need to dispose of you, with the attendant annoyance -from police, relatives and busybodies. I'd like you to act as my agent -in the collection of the works." - -"Nuts to you!" Dan said. "I'm not helping any bunch of skinheads commit -robbery." - -"This is for the Ivroy, you fool!" Snithian said. "The mightiest power -in the cosmos!" - -"This Ivroy doesn't sound so hot to me--robbing art galleries--" - -"To be adult is to be disillusioned. Only realities count. But no -matter. The question remains: Will you serve me loyally?" - -"Hell, no!" Dan snapped. - -"Too bad. I see you mean what you say. It's to be expected, I suppose. -Even an infant fire-cat has fangs." - -"You're damn right I mean it. How did you get Manny and Fiorello on -your payroll? I'm surprised even a couple of bums would go to work for -a scavenger like you." - -"I suppose you refer to the precious pair recruited by Blote. That was -a mistake, I fear. It seemed perfectly reasonable at the time. Tell me, -how did you overcome the Vegan? They're a very capable race, generally -speaking." - -"You and he work together, eh?" Dan said. "That makes things a little -clearer. This is the collection station and Blote is the fence." - -"Enough of your conjectures. You leave me no choice but to dispose of -you. It's a nuisance, but it can't be helped. I'm afraid I'll have to -ask you to accompany me down to the vault." - -Dan eyed the door; if he were going to make a break, now was the time-- - - * * * * * - -The whine of the carrier sounded. The ghostly cage glided through the -wall and settled gently between Dan and Snithian. The glow died. - -Blote waved cheerfully to Dan as he eased his grotesque bulk from the -seat. - -"Good day to you, Snithian," Blote boomed. "I see you've met Dan. An -enterprising fellow." - -"What brings you here, Gom Blote?" Snithian shrilled. "I thought you'd -be well on your way to Vorplisch by now." - -"I was tempted, Snithian. But I don't spook easy. There is the matter -of some unfinished business." - -"Excellent!" Snithian exclaimed. "I'll have another consignment ready -for you by tomorrow." - -"Tomorrow! How is it possible, with Manny and Fiorello lodged in the -hoosegow?" Blote looked around; his eye fell on the stacked paintings. -He moved across to them, lifted one, glanced at the next, then shuffled -rapidly through the stack. He turned. - -"What duplicity is this, Snithian!" he rumbled. "All identical! -Our agreement called for limited editions, not mass production! My -principals will be furious! My reputation--" - -"Shrivel your reputation!" Snithian keened. "I have more serious -problems at the moment! My entire position's been compromised. I'm -faced with the necessity for disposing of this blundering fool!" - -"Dan? Why, I'm afraid I can't allow that, Snithian." Blote moved to -the carrier, dumped an armful of duplicate paintings in the cage. -"Evidence," he said. "The confederation has methods for dealing with -sharp practice. Come, Dan, if you're ready...." - -"You dare to cross me?" Snithian hissed. "I, who act for the Ivroy?" - -Blote motioned to the carrier. "Get in, Dan. We'll be going now." He -rolled both eyes to bear on Snithian. "And I'll deal with you later," -he rumbled. "No one pulls a fast one on Gom Blote, Trader Fourth -Class--or on the Vegan Federation." - -Snithian moved suddenly, flicking out a spidery arm to seize the weapon -he had dropped, aim and trigger. Dan, in a wash of pain, felt his knees -fold. He fell slackly to the floor. Beside him, Blote sagged, his -tentacles limp. - -"I credited you with more intelligence," Snithian cackled. "Now I have -an extra ton of protoplasm to dispose of. The carrier will be useful in -that connection." - - -V - -Dan felt a familiar chill in the air. A Portal appeared. In a puff of -icy mist, a tall figure stepped through. - -Gone was the tight uniform. In its place, the lanky Australopithecine -wore skin-tight blue-jeans and a loose sweat shirt. An oversized -beret clung to the small round head. Immense dark glasses covered -the yellowish eyes, and sandals flapped on the bare, long-toed feet. -Dzhackoon waved a long cigarette holder at the group. - -"Ah, a stroke of luck! How nice to find you standing by. I had expected -to have to conduct an intensive search within the locus. Thus the -native dress. However--" Dzhackoon's eyes fell on Snithian standing -stiffly by, the gun out of sight. - -"You're of a race unfamiliar to me," he said. "Still, I assume you're -aware of the Interdict on all Anthropoid populated loci?" - -"And who might you be?" Snithian inquired loftily. - -"I'm a Field Agent of the Inter-dimensional Monitor Service." - -"Ah, yes. Well, your Interdict means nothing to me. I'm operating -directly under Ivroy auspices." Snithian touched a glittering pin on -his drab cloak. - -Dzhackoon sighed. "There goes the old arrest record." - -"He's a crook!" Dan cut in. "He's been robbing art galleries!" - -"Keep calm, Dan," Blote murmured, "no need to be overly explicit." - -The Agent turned to look the Trader over. - -"Vegan, aren't you? I imagine you're the fellow I've been chasing." - -"Who, me?" the bass voice rumbled. "Look, officer, I'm a home-loving -family man, just passing through. As a matter of fact--" - -The uniformed creature nodded toward the paintings in the carrier. -"Gathered a few souvenirs, I see." - -"For the wives and kiddy. Just a little something to brighten up the -hive." - -"The penalty for exploitation of a sub-cultural anthropoid-occupied -body is stasis for a period not to exceed one reproductive cycle. If I -recall my Vegan biology, that's quite a period." - -"Why, officer! Surely you're not putting the arm on a respectable -law-abiding being like me? Why, I lost a tentacle fighting in defense -of peace--" As he talked, Blote moved toward the carrier. - -"--your name, my dear fellow," he went on. "I'll mention it to the -Commissioner, a very close friend of mine." Abruptly the Vegan reached -for a lever-- - -The long arms in the tight white jacket reached to haul him back -effortlessly. "That was unwise, sir. Now I'll be forced to recommend -subliminal reorientation during stasis." He clamped stout handcuffs on -Blote's broad wrists. - -"You Vegans," he said, dusting his hands briskly. "Will you never -learn?" - - * * * * * - -"Now, officer," Blote said, "You're acting hastily. Actually, I'm -working in the interest of this little world, as my associate Dan -will gladly confirm. I have information which will be of considerable -interest to you. Snithian has stated that he is in the employ of the -Ivroy--" - -"If the Ivroy's so powerful, why was it necessary to hire Snithian to -steal pictures?" Dan interrupted. - -"Perish the thought, Dan. Snithian's assignment was merely to duplicate -works of art and transmit them to the Ivroy." - -"Here," Snithian cut in. "Restrain that obscene mouth!" - -Dzhackoon raised a hand. "Kindly remain silent, sir. Permit my -prisoners their little chat." - -"You may release them to my custody," Snithian snapped. - -Dzhackoon shook his head. "Hardly, sir. A most improper -suggestion--even from an agent of the Ivroy." He nodded at Dan. "You -may continue." - -"How do you duplicate works of art?" Dan demanded. - -"With a matter duplicator. But, as I was saying, Snithian saw an -opportunity to make extra profits by retaining the works for repeated -duplications and sale to other customers--such as myself." - -"You mean there are other--customers--around?" - -"I have dozens of competitors, Dan, all busy exporting your artifacts. -You are an industrious and talented race, you know." - -"What do they buy?" - -"A little of everything, Dan. It's had an influence on your designs -already, I'm sorry to say. The work is losing its native purity." - -Dan nodded. "I have had the feeling some of this modern furniture was -designed for Martians." - -"Ganymedans, mostly. The Martians are graphic arts fans, while your -automobiles are designed for the Plutonian trade. They have a baroque -sense of humor." - -"What will the Ivroy do when he finds out Snithian's been -double-crossing him?" - -"He'll think of something, I daresay. I blame myself for his defection, -in a way. You see, it was my carrier which made it possible for -Snithian to carry out his thefts. Originally, he would simply enter -a gallery, inconspicuously scan a picture, return home and process -the recording through the duplicator. The carrier gave him the idea -of removing works en masse, duplicating them and returning them the -next day. Alas, I agreed to join forces with him. He grew greedy. He -retained the paintings here and proceeded to produce vast numbers of -copies--which he doubtless sold to my competitors, the crook!" - -Dzhackoon had whipped out a notebook and was jotting rapidly. - -"Now, let's have those names and addresses," he said. "This will be the -biggest round-up in TDMS history." - -"And the pinch will be yours, dear sir," Blote said. "I foresee early -promotion for you." He held out his shackled wrists. "Would you mind?" - -"Well...." Dzhackoon unlocked the cuffs. "I think I'm on firm ground. -Just don't mention it to Inspector Spoghodo." - -"You can't do that!" Snithian snapped. "These persons are dangerous!" - -"That is my decision. Now--" - -Snithian brought out the pistol with a sudden movement. "I'll brook no -interference from meddlers--" - - * * * * * - -There was a sound from the door. All heads turned. The girl Dan had -seen in the house stood in the doorway, glancing calmly from Snithian -to Blote to Dzhackoon. When her eyes met Dan's she smiled. Dan thought -he had never seen such a beautiful face--and the figure matched. - -"Get out, you fool!" Snithian snapped. "No; come inside, and shut the -door." - -"Leave the girl out of this, Snithian," Dan croaked. - -"Now I'll have to destroy all of you," Snithian keened. "You first of -all, ugly native!" He aimed the gun at Dan. - -"Put the gun down, Mr. Snithian," the girl said in a warm, melodious -voice. She seemed completely unworried by the grotesque aliens, Dan -noted abstractedly. - -Snithian swiveled on her. "You dare--!" - -"Oh, yes, I dare, Snithian." Her voice had a firm ring now. Snithian -stared at her. "Who ... are you...?" - -"I am the Ivroy." - -Snithian wilted. The gun fell to the floor. His fantastically tall -figure drooped, his face suddenly gray. - -"Return to your home, Snithian," the girl said sadly. "I will deal with -you later." - -"But ... but...." His voice was a thin squeak. - -"Did you think you could conceal your betrayal from the Ivroy?" she -said softly. - -Snithian turned and blundered from the room, ducking under the low -door. The Ivroy turned to Dzhackoon. - -"You and your Service are to be commended," she said. "I leave the -apprehension of the culprits to you." She nodded at Blote. "I will rely -on you to assist in the task--and to limit your operations thereafter -to non-interdicted areas." - -"But of course, your worship. You have my word as a Vegan. Do visit me -on Vorplisch some day. I'd love the wives and kiddy to meet you." He -blinked rapidly. "So long, Dan. It's been crazy cool." - -Dzhackoon and Blote stepped through the Portal. It shimmered and winked -out. The Ivroy faced Dan. He swallowed hard, watching the play of light -in the shoulder-length hair, golden, fine as spun glass.... - -"Your name is Dan?" - -"Dan Slane," he said. He took a deep breath. "Are you really the Ivroy?" - -"I am of the Ivroy, who are many and one." - -"But you look like--just a beautiful girl." - - * * * * * - -The Ivroy smiled. Her teeth were as even as matched pearls, Dan -thought, and as white as-- - -"I _am_ a girl, Dan. We are cousins, you and I--separated by the long -mystery of time." - -"Blote--and Dzhackoon and Snithian, too--seemed to think the Ivroy ran -the Universe. But--" - -The Ivroy put her hand on Dan's. It was as soft as a flower petal. - -"Don't trouble yourself over this just now, Dan. Would you like to -become my agent? I need a trustworthy friend to help me in my work -here." - -"Doing what?" Dan heard himself say. - -"Watching over the race which will one day become the Ivroy." - -"I don't understand all this--but I'm willing to try." - -"There will be much to learn, Dan. The full use of the mind, control of -aging and disease.... Our work will require many centuries." - -"Centuries? But--" - -"I'll teach you, Dan." - -"It sounds great," Dan said. "Too good to be true. But how do you know -I'm the man for the job? Don't I have to take some kind of test?" - -She looked up at him, smiling, her lips slightly parted. On impulse, -Dan put a hand under her chin, drew her face close and kissed her on -the mouth.... - -A full minute later, the Ivroy, nestled in Dan's arms, looked up at him -again. - -"You passed the test," she said. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Star-Sent Knaves, by Keith Laumer - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE STAR-SENT KNAVES *** - -***** This file should be named 52855.txt or 52855.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/5/2/8/5/52855/ - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part -of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm -concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark, -and may not be used if you charge for the eBooks, unless you receive -specific permission. If you do not charge anything for copies of this -eBook, complying with the rules is very easy. You may use this eBook -for nearly any purpose such as creation of derivative works, reports, -performances and research. They may be modified and printed and given -away--you may do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks -not protected by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the -trademark license, especially commercial redistribution. - -START: FULL LICENSE - -THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE -PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK - -To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free -distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work -(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full -Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at -www.gutenberg.org/license. - -Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works - -1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to -and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property -(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all -the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or -destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your -possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a -Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound -by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the -person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph -1.E.8. - -1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be -used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who -agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few -things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See -paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this -agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below. - -1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the -Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection -of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual -works in the collection are in the public domain in the United -States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the -United States and you are located in the United States, we do not -claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing, -displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as -all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope -that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting -free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm -works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the -Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily -comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the -same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when -you share it without charge with others. - -1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern -what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are -in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, -check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this -agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, -distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any -other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no -representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any -country outside the United States. - -1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: - -1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other -immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear -prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work -on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the -phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, -performed, viewed, copied or distributed: - - This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and - most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no - restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it - under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this - eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the - United States, you'll have to check the laws of the country where you - are located before using this ebook. - -1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is -derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not -contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the -copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in -the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are -redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project -Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply -either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or -obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted -with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution -must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any -additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms -will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works -posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the -beginning of this work. - -1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm -License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this -work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. - -1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this -electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without -prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with -active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project -Gutenberg-tm License. - -1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, -compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including -any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access -to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format -other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official -version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site -(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense -to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means -of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain -Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the -full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. - -1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, -performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works -unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. - -1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing -access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works -provided that - -* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from - the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method - you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed - to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has - agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid - within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are - legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty - payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project - Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in - Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg - Literary Archive Foundation." - -* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies - you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he - does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm - License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all - copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue - all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm - works. - -* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of - any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the - electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of - receipt of the work. - -* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free - distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. - -1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than -are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing -from both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and The -Project Gutenberg Trademark LLC, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm -trademark. Contact the Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. - -1.F. - -1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable -effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread -works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project -Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may -contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate -or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other -intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or -other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or -cannot be read by your equipment. - -1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right -of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project -Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project -Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all -liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal -fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT -LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE -PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE -TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE -LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR -INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH -DAMAGE. - -1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a -defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can -receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a -written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you -received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium -with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you -with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in -lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person -or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second -opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If -the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing -without further opportunities to fix the problem. - -1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth -in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO -OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT -LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. - -1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied -warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of -damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement -violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the -agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or -limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or -unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the -remaining provisions. - -1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the -trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone -providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in -accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the -production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm -electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, -including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of -the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this -or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or -additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any -Defect you cause. - -Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm - -Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of -electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of -computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It -exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations -from people in all walks of life. - -Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the -assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's -goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will -remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project -Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure -and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future -generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see -Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at -www.gutenberg.org Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit -501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the -state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal -Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification -number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by -U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. - -The Foundation's principal office is in Fairbanks, Alaska, with the -mailing address: PO Box 750175, Fairbanks, AK 99775, but its -volunteers and employees are scattered throughout numerous -locations. Its business office is located at 809 North 1500 West, Salt -Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up to -date contact information can be found at the Foundation's web site and -official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact - -For additional contact information: - - Dr. Gregory B. Newby - Chief Executive and Director - gbnewby@pglaf.org - -Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg -Literary Archive Foundation - -Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide -spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of -increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be -freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest -array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations -($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt -status with the IRS. - -The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating -charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United -States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a -considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up -with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations -where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND -DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular -state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate - -While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we -have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition -against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who -approach us with offers to donate. - -International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make -any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from -outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. - -Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation -methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other -ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To -donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate - -Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. - -Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project -Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be -freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and -distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of -volunteer support. - -Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed -editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in -the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not -necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper -edition. - -Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search -facility: www.gutenberg.org - -This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, -including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary -Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to -subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. - diff --git a/old/52855.zip b/old/52855.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index b9bda03..0000000 --- a/old/52855.zip +++ /dev/null |
