diff options
| author | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-01-27 19:45:27 -0800 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | nfenwick <nfenwick@pglaf.org> | 2025-01-27 19:45:27 -0800 |
| commit | bee59e7e7c01eba28c1a7c3f0ab6ed5841faab6d (patch) | |
| tree | 1b851e98cac875345d21793786a1e45d0b632d49 | |
| parent | c816bb16c6c918845a975c14334639220e8ececb (diff) | |
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 4 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/61110-0.txt | 1513 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/61110-0.zip | bin | 29105 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/61110-h.zip | bin | 384353 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/61110-h/61110-h.htm | 1632 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/61110-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 237329 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/61110-h/images/illus.jpg | bin | 118696 -> 0 bytes |
9 files changed, 17 insertions, 3145 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..982b76e --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #61110 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/61110) diff --git a/old/61110-0.txt b/old/61110-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index d654141..0000000 --- a/old/61110-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1513 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tybalt, by Stephen Barr - -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: Tybalt - -Author: Stephen Barr - -Release Date: January 5, 2020 [EBook #61110] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TYBALT *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - TYBALT - - BY STEPHEN BARR - - Adolescence is a perilous time--whether - it is the adolescence of a man, - or of the whole race of Man! - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Worlds of If Science Fiction, March 1962. - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - -The physics teacher, Howard Dax, dismissed the class. He picked up -a felt-covered block and erased the diagrams he had drawn on the -blackboard. He noticed with annoyance that the lines were shaky, and in -one place was an irregular star where the chalk had broken because of -his exasperation at his pupils--or more exactly, one particular pupil. - -When the blackboard was clean to the corners--Howard Dax was a very -precise man--he turned around and saw that the particular pupil was -still sitting at his desk. He was a thin boy of fifteen, called -Mallison, whose dark, wavy hair was too long. It rose in a kind of -breaker over his forehead, and he had sideburns cut to a point. His -expression was neither sullen nor impertinent, but Dax had always -had the feeling that Mallison was concealing intense boredom and only -listened to him perforce. He was sure that the narrow, rather handsome -face was on the verge of sneering. But there had never been quite -anything that he could put his finger on. The boy was definitely not -good at physics, yet he wasn't at the bottom of the class. The thing -was that he gave the impression of being above average intelligence. He -obviously could do very much better if he wanted to. Dax was convinced -that he despised physics, and school in general. - -"Yes?" Dax said. "What is it?" He tried to make his voice sound natural -and casual. - -Mallison stared at him impassively for a moment. Then he said, "You -don't like me, Mr. Dax, do you?" - -"My dear boy, I neither like you nor dislike you," Dax said. He could -feel his hands beginning again to tremble slightly. Damn adrenalin! "I -am merely trying to teach you elementary physics. Why do you ask?" - -"Why do you give me such low grades?" Mallison said, but with no sense -of urgent curiosity. - -Howard Dax thought that the boy's manner was altogether too adult. He -didn't expect deference from a modern teenager, but neither did he like -to be spoken to in such a man-to-man way. No; come to think of it, -man-to-man wasn't quite the phrase. It was off-hand. And yet it was -artificial: Mallison never spoke in this way to his contemporaries. He -usually talked like a ... what was it? Hipster? - -"I give students the grades that in my opinion they deserve," Dax said. -"In your case they are low because I don't think you're trying." - -"I am trying," Mallison said, then added, "sir." - -"You are," Dax said. "Very." He thought the remark was rather neat, -but the boy looked at him without any change of expression. Why was he -here? What did he want to say? "I must confess," Dax went on, "that I -am surprised at your interest in grades. I should have thought that -rock-and-roll was more your style. That and ... er ... racing around -at night in a fast car!" He felt that he was sneering, and made his -face blank. - -"I'm too young for a driver's license," Mallison said. - -"But old enough to pull yourself together and do some real work. You -could do much better in class. You're not stupid." - - * * * * * - -The boy said nothing and continued to stare at him without expression. - -"When I see signs of an improved attitude," Dax said, "and a little -more work, I shall mark you accordingly. One gets the impression -usually that your mind is on other things. Things like jazz records." - -"Didn't you listen to jazz when you were young, Mr. Dax?" - -Howard Dax at thirty-nine hardly thought of himself as old. The boy was -not being exactly fresh, but he had a sort of polite tactlessness. It -was absurd, but he felt that Mallison had the upper hand, somehow. - -Dax had an older brother who had been a lieutenant in World War II, -and he had described to him an occasion on which he had interviewed -an elderly staff sergeant. The staff sergeant in civilian life had -been his brother's boss. Although his manner was scrupulously correct, -there remained an atmosphere of his peacetime ascendancy. Howard Dax -sympathized with his brother. There was nothing actually wrong with -Mallison's manner, but the pupil had the master on the defensive. - -He decided to ignore Mallison's question. He had no idea how the young -nowadays felt about the subject of early Benny Goodman or the emergence -of Barrel House. Why was he even bothering? - -"The point at issue," he said with asperity, "is not whether I used to -listen to jazz twenty-five years ago, but whether you are going to pay -attention in class _now_. I admit you manage to scrape through in the -tests, but this morning, for example, you acted as if you were half -asleep!" - -"I'm sorry. I was very tired." Mallison did look pale. - -"I suppose you were up half the night--cutting a rug." - -Mallison winced at the outdated jargon but he merely shook his head. -There were firm steps in the corridor, and the school principal marched -in. - -Mallison stood up; Dax was still standing. The principal had a small -piece of folded paper in his hand, and did not immediately notice the -boy, whose desk was near the back row and next the open windows. He -went straight to the platform and put the folded paper on Dax's desk. -He nodded curtly and glanced towards the windows, and saw Mallison -sitting there for the first time. - - * * * * * - -"I thought you were alone," he said, turning to Dax. - -"You may go," Dax said to the boy. "That will be all. Remember what -I said." He looked at the folded paper and then at the principal -questioningly. "Yes, Mr. Lightstone?" - -The principal was a short white-haired man with a dogged expression. -He turned again to make sure the boy had left and said. "I want you to -look at this, Dax." He tapped the folded paper, which had been made -into a sort of envelope, with its ends tucked in. Dax bent to examine -it. - -"Pick it up, man! Open it," the principal said, and came around and sat -in the teacher's chair. "Be careful not to spill it!" - -Dax picked up the little packet and opened it. Inside was a teaspoonful -of white powder. "What is it?" he asked. - -"That," said the principal, "is something for our friends upstairs -in the chemistry department to determine. I found it myself, in the -flowerbed right outside these windows!" - -Howard Dax looked puzzled. "I don't think I understand--" - -"If I don't miss my bet," said the principal, "that's heroin!" He -jerked his head towards the windows. "And somebody threw it out of -this classroom!" - -"Oh, I don't think it's heroin, Mr. Lightstone," Dax said. "Heroin has -a distinct glitter, and this seems--" - -"I had the impression you were a physicist, not a chemist," the -principal said. "Besides, the police told us last week that they -believe a gang of narcotics pushers--I think they called them--are -operating in the neighborhood! What else could it be? I've been on the -lookout for something of this sort." - -There was a silence. Dax didn't know what to say. - -He himself was very tired, he had been working late every evening. He -had three different tasks that occupied every minute of his waking -hours: his job as teacher being the least important although the most -essential. The other two were perhaps visionary, but they might lead to -something more exciting than retiring on a pension. - -"Well?" Mr. Lightstone was impatient--his usual condition. "Have you -any ideas? It has been my experience that drug-taking and juvenile -delinquency go together." This was not strictly true as Mr. Lightstone -had never knowingly seen a drug-taker, but he did read the papers. - -"I suppose there is a certain amount of delinquency here," Howard Dax -said uncertainly, "but _narcotics_...." - -"Wake up, man!" the principal said. "You look half asleep! This is a -serious matter. I found the stuff right outside these windows! You must -have some idea of who might be involved. Which are the unruly ones? Who -sits next the windows?" - -Dax glanced at the desk recently left by Mallison. Mallison? One -couldn't exactly call him unruly.... Yet he had the earmarks of a type -he detested and instinctively mistrusted. He even feared him a little, -though not perhaps for reasons of which he was quite aware. - -"Who was that boy that just left?" The principal had noticed the -direction of Dax's glance. "Mallison, wasn't it?" - -"Yes, but the packet might just as well have been thrown from one of -the paths outside." - -"There's no path near here. You know that perfectly well," said the -principal. "There's a wide stretch of grass beyond the flower bed and -no one's allowed to walk on it! I've had my eye on that boy...." - - * * * * * - -Howard Dax thought this over. Come to think of it, he wouldn't put -such a thing past the young smart-alec. Hoodlumism doesn't necessarily -advertise itself in the classroom. - -He looked at the principal. The man had a nerve to accuse _him_ of -seeming half asleep! Working in his private lab after dinner and then -at his desk until all hours, struggling to learn Middle English--or -rather, transitional Anglo-Saxon. He had done well at English lit at -college, even though majoring in science, and Chaucer had come fairly -easy to him. But Twelfth Century speech--and that was what he had -to learn--was something else again. Chaucer himself couldn't have -understood it. He wondered what young Mallison and his hipster friends -would think if they knew his secret occupations. He could just imagine -the sneering. - -"Well, you _could_ be right, I suppose," he said. "He's not my--shall -I say?--favorite pupil." - -"I'm glad you think I could be right," Mr. Lightstone said. "I intend -to hold an investigation. At the first possible opportunity. This very -evening, in fact. At my office, and I shall have young Mallison brought -before us. I shall expect you." He got up and strutted out of the class -room. - -After a few moments Howard Dax followed him. Outside, on his way to the -gate, he passed Mallison, who was standing talking to another boy who -had a similar haircut, but was unfamiliar to the physics teacher. He -thought he was not a pupil of this school. They both became silent as -he drew near them, looking at him without any expression. Dax wondered -if narcotics could be responsible for Mallison's pallor. - -After dinner Dax went into his little lab, which was actually the -kitchenette he never used. On the table and sink was some chemical -apparatus. The principal's remark had been ill-chosen since Dax at -college had started with chemistry as his major and had only switched -to physics in his senior year. He had also become interested in -genetics, and it was this all-around interest in the sciences that had -perhaps militated against him. Nowadays one ought to specialize. - -Well, he was specializing now. - -In an evaporating dish in the sink were some dark brown crystals -that his landlady would have taken for Damerara sugar, but which had -a considerably more complex formula. They would have lent a rather -odd flavor to Indian pudding. The logic which had given rise to this -formula was not merely complex but revolutionary. It involved the -concept of reversibility of entropy--the application of which was -itself unprecedented. - -There were, Howard Dax was aware, certain aspects of germ chemistry -that defied description in terms of classical and mechanistic theory; -details that seemed to require the inversion of Time's arrow. To say -that a physical process was "non-reversible" usually implied the -presence of the probability factor. But that didn't seem to be the -case here. There was the suggestion of prophecy. Or else that time was -flowing backwards. Or ... was it that something flowed backward through -time? - -Then there was the fact that the germ plasm was immortal. Not -indestructible, for the overwhelming majority of zygotes and gametes -died; but if one disregarded the soma, all living germ cells had been -alive since the beginning of life. After terrific work, none of which -would have seemed quite orthodox to his colleagues, Dax had arrived at -the end of theory and the beginning of practical application--at the -taking-off point--the countdown. - - * * * * * - -Lying on the drainboard near the evaporating dish was a hypodermic -syringe. - -If he were to dissolve the dark brown crystals and inject the solution -into his veins, Dax believed that whatever it was that impeded this -time-reversal would be neutralized. His consciousness--not his body, -his somatic cells--would travel back along the unbroken line of his -identity as a germinal continuity. Back to the extent that the effect -of the chemical would allow. - -He would then be in the body of one of his ancestors. Not spread among -them all, but following the line of greatest genetic valence to one -individual: living in the Twelfth Century A. D. Probably, but not -certainly, somewhere in England, since most of his ancestors came from -there. - -Of course the time might be wrong. He had no way of making a precise -determination. He had experimented with a rabbit, but after the soft -little beast's eyes glazed over in unconsciousness it had immediately -come to. The time taken during its visit to the purlieus of its remote -and unknown forebears was of no duration in the present. And it had at -once attacked him and bitten him savagely. - -It seemed curious that an ancestral rabbit at a period not so very far -back from a biological point of view should have a spirit so foreign to -the rabbits of today. Perhaps the drug had overshot its mark.... - -What if that were to happen in his case? Wouldn't it perhaps take him -to some earlier, non-human form and then, as it were, rebound to the -precise moment in history that the strength of the drug indicated? A -man is not a rabbit. But suppose he found himself not in the body of a -Twelfth Century Englishman--a risky enough situation--but hanging by -his tail from a tree in Java? How long before the hypothetical rebound -to the time of the Plantagenets? - -Howard Dax was too tired to concentrate on the problem: it was probably -moonshine. The rabbit had been frightened, not atavistic. - -The cumulative effect of overwork and irritation at the boy Mallison -and the principal's manner had made him reckless and impatient. He -made a sudden decision to stop worrying about precautions and take the -plunge ... now. - -He had plenty of time before the meeting. The trip to the past would -have no duration in the present. He measured out an amount of distilled -water and stirred the brown crystals into it with a glass rod. Then he -filled the hypodermic and went into his bed-sittingroom. - -He went to his desk and took a last look at a list of early English -irregular verbs and lay down on his sofa, rolling up his sleeve. - -He hardly felt the prick of the needle but he realized that the rather -painful bump on his forehead had distracted his attention from it. - -He looked at the thing he had bumped against. It was wooden and round -in section, about as thick as his neck, and rose at a slight deviation -from the vertical to a circular platform that was supported at other -places by two more wooden uprights. Beyond and above was an immensely -lofty roof of dark timbers. Far to the sides were stone walls. - -He looked down to discover that the cold floor under him was also of -stone, covered here and there with dry yellowish reeds. Then he saw -that he was on all fours. - -Instead of hands he had black, furry paws. - - - II - -Trice, the jester, was getting old. So, he feared, were his jokes. - -His joints were stiff and he could no longer do the amusing contortions -that used so to entertain the Earl and his little court. In fact, the -Earl was getting on, too. He looked as though he was falling asleep in -his chair. Next to him the Lady Godwina was mumbling and giggling--not -at poor Trice's feeble quips, but as a result of too much blackberry -wine mixed with mead. She hiccoughed loudly and the Earl opened his -eyes. - -He glanced at the Lady Godwina with bored distaste, and then at Trice -the jester. Would that the fellow would cease his tedious clowning and -go to the kitchens! Yet he hesitated to get rid of him altogether. -Having a jester at all in these days was a mark of prestige, and he -didn't know where he'd get a replacement. - -Now that King Henry was dead he had fortified his castle like the other -barons. Since feudal pomp had become the fashion he hung onto its -trappings--poor old Trice was one of them. But, ye gods, what stale -jokes! Well, at least they seemed to please the younger serving men, -who must be too young to remember them. - -Trice was unhappily aware that his humor was missing the mark. He fell -back on the one thing that never failed to make them laugh. He swung -his bauble and hit himself on the nose. He staggered back with comic -terror. "Hold on!" he cried to an imaginary assailant. "Not so hard!" -He struck himself again, harder. "Stop! Or I shall appeal to my noble -lord for protection!" - -The Earl smiled faintly; he didn't want to disappoint the old man. -Besides, his nose was bleeding. It really was rather funny. Curious -about these people: they had almost no sense of pain. Trice, seeing the -smile, hit himself again and again, and feeling the blood, he smeared -it over his face in fantastic curlicues. The Earl closed his eyes -again, and Trice caught the eye of the clerk, a young man who had come -from Normandy. He was sneering. The Lady Godwina was singing a little -tune to herself, and paid no attention. - -The old jester shrugged, and turned towards the archway to the kitchens -and offices. Better have supper and go to bed--his head ached and his -nose hurt badly, although the bleeding had stopped. Next to a wooden -stool he caught sight of his cat, Tybalt, staring at him fixedly. -Tybalt. His only friend! he thought to himself. But as he passed him, -the cat, instead of following him out with tail erect to share the -jester's wretched supper, backed cringing under the stool and turned -his head as he went by, keeping his staring eyes on him. Most unusual. -Very un-catlike. - -"Here! Tybalt!" Trice said, but the cat backed further away. - - * * * * * - -Just before he realized what had happened to him, Dax recognized that -the big wooden thing that loomed over him was a stool. - -Maybe it was this realization--and the sight of his own paws--that gave -him an idea of his size, and on looking back at the rest of himself -he knew that he was a cat. Something had gone wrong. The flashback -and subsequent rebound must have taken him far into the dim mammalian -past, but for what duration he could not tell. The transition had been -unconscious. At least he did not remember it. But to judge by the style -of the round stone arches of the hall he was now in--and the stonework -looked brand new--the ultimate effect had been according to plan, and -this was the early Middle Ages. - -A movement caught his eye and he saw it was the cavorting of an -enormous man, dressed in gigantic tattered motley. - -No. He wasn't enormous; it was just the unfamiliar scale of things. The -man was saying something in a booming voice, and Dax began to recognize -it as a form of transitional early English--but with an admixture of -Norman French and some pure Anglo-Saxon phrases. And what an accent! -If this man was typical, how wrong modern research and learned -speculation were! He would have some interesting things to tell the -experts--particularly his tutor--when he got back. - -When he got back.... That was supposed to be in three days -approximately, when the inhibiting effect of the chemical would wear -off. Then he would, he hoped, be swept back to his own time and his -own body. But he was a cat. This was disastrous! How could he speak to -people? He could understand them fairly well, but a cat's bucal cavity -and vocal apparatus were not designed for the sounds of human speech. - -He decided to try his voice, just on the chance, but stopped, horrified -at the muffled yowl that resulted. - -Two rangy hounds, six times his size, roused themselves from the -rush-covered floor and glared growling at the sound with raised -hackles. "Down, Colle! Stop it, Bayard!" a gruff voice commanded, and -they reluctantly sank back again, keeping their fierce eyes on him. Was -this a sample of what he must expect from dogs? He hoped it was merely -his abortive attempt at human speech. Any further communication must be -tried silently. - -He looked around the hall. There were other humans too. Several -men-at-arms standing by the walls and a few serving men. At the big -trestle-board were seated five people--one of them clearly the lord of -the castle--it must be a castle--and the one woman sitting next to him -in soiled finery would be his lady. The place reeked with the stale -odor of humans and dogs, and less obnoxiously the smell of wood smoke -and cooked meat. Dax realized that he now had a feline nose, and made -allowances. After all, the well-to-do bathed themselves, in the still -existing classic tradition, and would until the Black Death. - -The ridiculous giant in motley stopped his capering and came across -the stone flags towards him. As he passed with ponderous footsteps he -looked down and said, "Here, Tybalt!" - -Dax backed under the stool, terrified at the deep, hoarse voice. The -man was probably trying to be gentle. He must keep in mind that he had -a cat's hearing now, and all sounds would seem lower and louder. - - * * * * * - -How were cats treated in Medieval England? He did not know, and he was -not prepared for this contingency. But at least cats as a species had -survived. He hoped he was one of the lucky ones. He must at all costs -manage to keep alive for three days, because if he were killed before -the drug wore off he would not return. - -What would they think at the school? Nothing, of course. He would never -have been there. That would be changing the future ... but you changed -the future every time you exerted your free will, anyhow. - -One of his experimental rats had not come back: it had merely -disappeared with a loud pop. Perhaps an early Colonial terrier had got -it. It might be the best thing to do to take to the woods, and wait out -the time safe from the unknown dangers of men and dogs--but what of the -dangers of the woods? It was winter, to judge by the fire in the hall, -on a raised stone platform in the middle of the floor, from which the -smoke found its way out through a louver in the high roof. And the icy -drafts that came across the floor. Although he was a cat, he had little -confidence of being able to hunt like one, or find refuge from the cold -and snow. - -He decided to follow the court jester. At least the man had spoken to -him kindly. And he had a name: Tybalt. He must remember to answer to -it. - -He got up and began to walk towards the arched doorway through which -the jester had disappeared. - -Walking on all fours felt perfectly natural--rather as if he were -following himself. There was no trouble about keeping in step, or, -rather, just out of it. His mouth was dry and he ran his tongue over -his muzzle ... he could lick his eye! Then he did something that also -felt natural, though pleasantly novel: he waved his tail. Then he stuck -out his claws. They clicked against the flagstones and he sheathed them -again. - -He had never in his life felt so supple and physically complete. He -felt like running up the tapestry that hung by the doorway. - -At the other end of the vaulted corridor that he found himself in he -could see the jester as he went into another chamber that was lit with -a smoky reddish glow. There was an increased smell of cookery, and he -guessed it was the kitchen. - -When he got to the door he could see the jester was being given -something in a bowl that steamed, and a large hunk of dark bread. The -man turned and came out again and saw him. - -"Come along, Tybalt," he said. "Supper for you and me. Come along, old -fellow!" - -Dax followed him across the corridor to a narrow stone stairway in the -thickness of the wall. The winding steps seemed absurdly high. He would -far rather have done the whole thing in two or three long leaps, but -he took the steps one by one. Feline coordination would come to him in -time. - -After an almost totally unlit passage they came to a minute room, -scarcely more than a cell. The jester struck a light with flint and -steel to a tallow candle, and sat down on a low straw-covered bed. The -floor was freezing. Dax jumped up onto a small table, but was instantly -pushed off it. His instinctive jump up and then down happened so -quickly that he only realized in retrospect what a feat it was from a -man's point of view. Yet he had landed clumsily. He was not yet quite a -cat. - - * * * * * - -The jester cut off a piece of dubious-looking meat and threw it onto -the floor. "Wait till it cools, Tybalt," he said, and scratched Dax -behind the ears. Dax was ravenous, which seemed odd considering -he'd had dinner half an hour ago. No, of course not. That was eight -centuries in the future; God knew when Tybalt had last eaten. -Disregarding the admonition he went at once to the meat, which was -pork, and burned his mouth. It smelled glorious. And yet he suspected -that in human form he would have revolted from it. - -He looked up at his master. He had a conviction that he belonged to the -jester. - -He studied the gaunt, blood-smeared face. It looked as if someone had -hit him on the nose. The cap-and-bells, with its attached wimple-shaped -neck piece, had been laid aside. The gray bobbed hair and bony head -looked anything but merry. There was, however, a shrewd reflective -expression in the eyes, and Dax felt that he might well be in an -advantageous position. Being a jester probably involved a certain -amount of tact and discretion, not to mention ingenuity, so he resolved -to try to communicate with him. - -But first he must eat. Would the damned pork never cool? - -The jester was already eating his, in great gulps, alternating it with -bits of the evil-looking bread. There was a stoneware pot that smelled -strongly of musty ale from which he drank every now and then. The -stench of alcohol in it was like spoiled garbage to Dax. How had he -ever been able to drink whisky? The thought of it was disgusting. The -meat was cool enough now--in fact stone cold--and he tore it to pieces -with his pointed teeth and bolted it unchewed. It was marvelous. - -"Well, Tybalt?" the jester said, putting aside his bowl. "No mice -today? We are not very lucky, we two, are we?" He made a snapping with -his fingers and Dax jumped up onto the pallet beside him. The old man -stroked his back gently, but he had a very strong smell. Dax supposed -he would get used to his new keen senses in time. He hoped it would be -soon. It was very cold in the jester's cell and he intended to creep -close at bed time. In the meanwhile how was he going to make known his -true identity? Obviously speech was impossible; and Morse-code tapping -with his paw was out of the question. - -You wouldn't get very far with mere facial expressions, either. Anyway, -to most human eyes a cat has but two: contentment and fear. He looked -around wondering if there were any small movable objects that he could -arrange into the form of the letters of the alphabet--even a piece of -string might do. But he feared that the man couldn't read. Anyway there -was no string to be seen. - -Then on the table, which was scarcely more than a high bench, he saw a -rosary with wooden beads. - -He got up and stretched--never in his life had he been able to stretch -like this--and jumped delicately over onto the table. The jester -reached out and swept him off it. Not roughly, but it was obvious -he wasn't allowed there. This time his landing was more skillful. -He sat on the cold floor and tried to think how he could get hold of -the beads. If he had them on the floor he could push them into an -arresting shape. A triangle perhaps, or a figure eight, that would -catch the jester's eye. He looked up at a movement and saw that the -man had picked up a small vellum book and was holding it close to his -face. What luck! he could read after all! But how was he going to make -letters? Near the sill of the door were some pieces of straw. He went -over and examined them. He realized that a cat's vision is rather poor -compared to a man's: quick to notice and interpret motion, but in other -respects the over-large pupils, meant for nocturnal hunting, gave an -inferior and uncertain image. - - * * * * * - -The straw was dirty and smelled of horses, but it ought to do. The -trouble was that when his face was close enough to pick it up with his -teeth he could scarcely make it out. He couldn't tell at first whether -he had one or many in his mouth. He felt that his whiskers should -tell him, but he was unaccustomed to their use. He padded over to the -jester's feet and dropped the straws. He backed off and looked at them, -then with his paw he ineptly pushed them into an A. - -He looked up. The jester was lost in his reading. - -Dax waited patiently, but the reading went on, and he patted the man's -foot with carefully sheathed claws. The jester glanced at him, though -not at the crude, straw A, and smiled. - -"What now, Tybalt? More supper? That you will have to catch -for yourself. See--it's all gone! Share-and-share alike, old -friend. I weigh eight stone. You're but a scant four pound, so -correspondingly...." He returned to his reading. - -Dax went and picked out some more straw which he brought back and -attempted to arrange in a B, but gave it up and made an E instead. Then -he made two crosses and a triangle. - -AEXXΔ. - -It looked like a fraternity. Then he mewed. - -The man looked down again with a faint frown. He didn't seem to notice -the straw shapes; judging from the way he held the book he was quite -short-sighted. "Out?" he asked. "Out for a rat, poor Tybalt? Or to lie -by the embers in the hall?" He shook his head and got up, and went to -the door to open it. Dax jumped onto the bed and mewed again. The man -paused with his hand on the latch, looking puzzled. Dax jumped down and -dabbed with his paw next each letter successively. - -"Why, what is this?" the old man said, smiling again. "Playfulness? The -kitten is back!" He went to the table and picking up the bauble, made a -feint with the stuffed bladder over Dax's head. Dax dodged it irritably -and mewed again; three times in quick succession. - -This caught the attention of the jester, who laid down the bauble. -"Ah! A Tritheist! Will it get you a mouse, Tybalt? Will it keep off -evil spirits? It's said the imps love cats--so beware of moonlight and -mistletoe!" He picked Dax up and stroked him. - -It was infuriating. - -Dax was aware that the Medieval mind was very different from the -modern, but there must be some meeting point. Too bad this wasn't -Friar Roger Bacon--he'd have got his attention in no time. But he was -a hundred years too early. His immediate problem was to seek out some -person who had enough imagination and curiosity to take notice of a cat -who behaved not as a cat. If he had only known this was going to happen! - -He tried mewing again, but the jester only smiled, so he mewed once, -then twice and then three times. The jester shook his head admiringly. -Like most of his contemporaries the world for him was filled with -wonders. It was an age of faith, not of speculation. - -A pale moon showed through a narrow slit in the wall, which was -unglazed, and he became aware that the light from the tallow dip was -yellow, and the jester's costume red and green. - -So it was all nonsense about cats having no color vision--anyway, -hadn't some woman in California disproved that? Against the moon he -could see the black outline of full-grown leaves on the nearby trees -and knew it was not yet winter but autumn. When winter came in earnest, -everyone from scullion to the lord of the manor would bed down in the -Great Hall where the fire was. But the stonework of the castle was -cold, and he felt himself getting drowsy. - -The old jester put down his book, crossed himself and blew out the -light. Dax could hear him burrowing into the straw of his bed, and -nestled beside him. - - - III - -When he woke it was not quite dark, and a faint gray dawn came into the -cell. - -The jester was snoring. Somewhere Dax thought he heard a rat. His -muscles tensed, and he found himself on his feet by instinct--the idea -of a rat was surprisingly attractive and he was hungry again. The noise -stopped. He remembered that he had been having a dream--a strange -nightmare of chasing after Mallison and catching him, and tearing -him ... with his claws and teeth. - -A rusty bell started ringing somewhere in the castle. - -The jester snorted, sat up and looked out of the narrow window. Then -he lit the candle and said his prayers, kneeling on his bed. Dax -stretched, and the old man cleaned his teeth with a splinter and took -a draught from the ale pot. It had a sour stench, but Dax found that -he no longer minded--there were so many conflicting smells around, the -most interesting of which had been the rat. A new, more immediately -hopeful one, was of cooking that drifted up from below. It seemed that -these people ate meat for their breakfast. And they liked it early. - -"Come along, Tybalt," the jester said, putting on his headdress, and -went to the door. Dax slipped through quickly so as not to get his tail -caught as the jester closed it. They went down the winding stairs again. - -At the bottom they came upon another cat--a big red tom--who on -catching sight of Dax fluffed his tail and laid back his ears, -spitting. Dax had a momentary impulse to see if communication was -possible with him, but the big cat yowled and fled down the hallway. - -"Ah, Tybalt," the old man said. "Jesters and cats! Even their own kind -spits at them!" As they got to the kitchen Dax saw the two hounds that -had growled at him the night before. He was glad that they were now -leashed and in the charge of a boy in a short woolen surcoat. - -But when they saw Dax the boy was unable to hold them back, and they -jerked their leashes from his hand and came running and barking. Dax -was terrified. He bolted ahead of them along the vaulted corridor and -into the Great Hall, but came face to face with another brace of hounds -whose ears pricked up at the sound. Dax without any conscious thought -dodged sideways and ran up the tapestry on the wall. - -His sharp claws had good foothold on the tough canvas backing. But at -the top he almost lost his grip, and scarcely managed to get over onto -the musicians' gallery from which the tapestry hung. He crouched there, -trembling, while the din below increased. He could hear men shouting at -the dogs, and the jester's voice calling him. He mewed loudly for help. - - * * * * * - -After a while he heard the old man's footsteps on the wooden ladder. -He was picked up and comforted, but he was so dizzy with fear that he -could hardly see. The jester seemed to think he was calm, and put him -on his shoulder and went down the ladder again. The hounds had been -taken away. But Dax stayed where he was with his eyes shut, holding on -tight. - -"Well, Trice!" Dax opened his eyes and saw the lord of the manor -glowering at the jester, and then at him. So Trice was the jester's -name. An odd one. The Earl stood with his hands on his hips and seemed -irritated rather than angry. "What's this I hear? The cat runs at my -hounds and tries to scratch!" - -"Oh, no, sir," Trice said. "It was the other way! They ran at him! -Tybalt has never scratched!" - -"Scratched or no, I wish you'd give him to one of the villagers," the -Earl said. "I don't want the hounds upset, and Lady Godwina doesn't -like cats. Besides, he'll ruin the tapestry." - -"But, my lord, he catches the rats! And he's my ... friend." - -"The dogs catch the rats," the Earl said shortly. "Give him away." - -"Well, my lord, the mice...." - -"The red tom gets them." - -The old man put up a hand to Dax protectively. "But, noble lord, what -would I do without my pet?" Dax glanced at the tired face next his and -saw tears in the eyes, but he had a determined look. "If he cannot -stay, I ... I must go, too!" - -The Earl opened his eyes at this, but he smiled. "I see you are loyal, -old Trice," he said. "I hope you are as loyal to me!" - -The Earl turned away. Trice put Dax on the floor and started back -towards the kitchens. - -"Come, Tybalt," he said. "Or there'll be none left for us." - -Dax wished he were still on the shoulder, and stayed close to the -jester's feet. Things were not going well at all. It had become as much -a problem of survival as of research and communication, but when they -got to the kitchen and the hounds were nowhere about, he decided that -perhaps the two problems were inter-related. After a meal of scraps he -felt more secure. Not seeing his master he went to look for him in the -Great Hall. - -When he got there he saw that the Earl and his wife and retainers were -eating boiled meat. He remembered that his tutor in Middle English had -said the main meal in Medieval times was eaten in the morning. The -four hounds were squabbling over bones that were thrown to them on the -rush-covered flagstones under the trestle-board, and didn't notice him. -Trice was not to be seen. After a while the boy in the woolen surcoat -was told to take them out. He fastened leashes to their collars and led -them through a large doorway in the far wall. Dax looked at the Earl: -he had a fairly intelligent face, and he had shown forbearance towards -Trice, so he thought he would make another try. - -The Lady Godwina got up unsteadily from her chair and left the hall--on -the way to the lady's solar, Dax guessed; and he padded across to the -Earl. When he got to the foot of the high-backed chair--it looked like -a detached choir-stall from a gothic church--he patted the Earl's foot. - -The Earl looked down at him and frowned. - -Dax patted the foot again; three times. Then he mewed three times, and -repeated the patting. The Earl blinked and got up, backing away. Dax -mewed three times again, and the Earl crossed himself. - -"Saints preserve my soul! What have we here?" - - * * * * * - -Dax turned around three times, getting his hind legs crossed and -nearly falling down. "Send for Trice at once!" the Earl shouted. "His -cat Tybalt has a fit! Careful!" he said to a serving man who had come -forward with outstretched hands. "Take care you are not bitten! He is -unclean!" - -Dax backed away and ran to the open door, and out. - -There was a brilliant sun and he could see nothing at first--and when -he did it was blurred, owing to the vertical shape of his contracted -pupils. It was much warmer than the night before, and the leaves -were brown on the trees. There was no courtyard and gateway, with -drawbridge and moat beyond, as he had rather expected. Instead he was -on cobblestones, surrounded at intervals by small houses, with trees -between them. The village was built against the castle, somewhat in -the French manner, but the houses were wretched affairs of mud-daubed -reeds on wooden framing: hardly better than hovels. Only a few had -more than one story. Smoke was coming up from every chimney, and the -men were evidently on their way to work in the fields. They carried -crude-looking farm implements and were dressed in coarse homespun -with their legs padded and cross-gartered. They were a sorry lot: -blank-faced and half starved. - -Dax heard footsteps behind him and turned. - -A young man with blond short hair and a Norman nose had come out of -the doorway. He looked at Dax with amused curiosity, and squatted -down, putting out a hand. At this proximity his eyes showed bloodshot -and there was a beery smell. He said something that Dax could not -understand--it sounded vaguely like a kind of French, but Dax had not -studied medieval Norman. Still, it had a kindly sound. Dax rubbed -against the hand. This man, at least, did not share the Earl's -diagnosis. What was his position in the Earl's household? Not his -son--he looked too unlike him. Would he be his clerk? He had a clerkly -look--what is it in a face that makes it seem scholarly? And his hands -were more fit for holding a pen than a mattock or a sword. - -Well, give it another try. - -Dax wished he could make an ingratiating sound, and found he was -purring. He looked around for something he could use as a signal; -mewing and tapping seemed to be misunderstood. A few yards away the -cobblestones gave place to dirt, and he started towards it. It might do -for a blackboard. He looked back, but the clerk had not moved. - -Dax wondered how a cat might beckon, lacking a forefinger. He waited -until he caught the young man's eye, and tried to beckon with his -head but it had no results. He continued on to the patch of dirt and -scratched a triangle, and to his relief the clerk got up and came to -him. When he was standing over him, Dax scratched two words in Latin: -_homo sum_, and looked up. - -The clerk was staring with his mouth open. - - * * * * * - -Good, thought Dax: Latin was the _lingua Franca_ of medieval Europe, -and went on with his scratching. _Humani nihil a me alienum_-- - -There was a gasp and he looked up again. The young man had closed his -eyes and had the back of his hand against his forehead. He turned and -walked to the castle door, holding his head. Dax sat down in disgust. -A Twelfth Century hangover, indeed! A shadow fell across him and he -turned. - -Three villagers: two men, and a woman in a hood were behind him. -They had an expectant air, and, realizing that they were doubtless -illiterate, he drew a large five-pointed star. - -The effect on them was volcanic. - -The woman screeched and threw her skirt over her head. The men crossed -themselves and one of them turned and ran. The other slashed at Dax -with a bill-hook and then, shouting, "Bewitched! Bewitched!" he, too, -ran. The bill-hook missed Dax, thanks to his instinctive leap to one -side, but the woman continued her noise and more people came out of -the cottages, armed with farming implements and sticks. Everyone was -shouting and offering advice. The main thread of their discourse was: -Possessed! Possessed! Kill it! The Devil Incarnate! - -Dax was hemmed in on three sides. He started back for the castle, but -the big doorway was filled with onlookers, one of whom stepped forward, -aiming a crossbow. There was a clank followed by a hissing in the air, -and the bolt thumped into the ground next to him. The bowman cursed -and began to wind up his bow with a crannikin. Dax's fur stood out -all over him and he made a mad dash towards a group of women who had -nothing in their hands but besoms of birch twigs. It was a fortunate -choice. - -Two or three women made abortive swats at him and the others backed -away, leaving a clear path. In front of him was an open space and a -tall tree. - -Almost before he knew it he was near its top and the whole village was -milling around near its base, looking up with red angry faces. - -"Fire the tree!" someone shouted. - -"T'won't burn. It's an elm!" - -"Well, _I_ shan't climb it!" - -"I won't have my tree burn!" an indignant voice yelled, but was drowned -out. Small children were jumping up and down in excitement, and some -teen-age boys threw stones but none of them reached him. Dax spat -furiously. Teen-agers were the same through the ages! - -"Cut it down, then!" - -"T'will fall on my house!" (A woman's voice.) - -The shouting died down, and Dax hung on till his claws ached. There -seemed to be a conference going on. The castle appeared to have lost -interest, which relieved him; if there was to be any more crossbow -shooting he stood little chance. After a short while the subject of -the conference became apparent as men began arriving with bundles of -dry sticks and faggots. To Dax's horror these were piled about the -trunk and set alight. Then, as the flames began to rise, green boughs -were added and a thick cloud of suffocating smoke came up. - - * * * * * - -Desperately he tried to find escape. One of the elm's long branches -reached out almost over the roof of one of the houses, but it meant -climbing down into the heart of the choking cloud. Beyond the house -he suddenly caught sight of his master, Trice, who waved to him -beseechingly. It gave him courage. Holding his breath, he began to back -down the trunk until he felt the branch under him. Then he twisted -round and ran along it with his heart pounding. A cat has small lungs -for its size and holding his breath was a torment--but at last he was -free of the smoke, and he took a breath of clean air. - -The roof seemed to be within reach, and the crowd had temporarily lost -sight of him in the smoke. - -He could hear the jester's voice, but for some reason he couldn't -understand him--it sounded like gibberish. He crept out until the -thinning branch began to bend and, just as shouts went up from the more -observant villagers, he leapt. - -He landed on the thatch--and almost lost his hold, but he was just -able to scramble to the rooftree, and ran along the ridge. There was -more shouting. Either these ones spoke a dialect or the excitement had -put Middle English out of his head: he could barely understand them. -Something about Widow Aelthreda's cottage--something about a witch.... - -He slithered down the far side of the thatching and landed on a window -box of late purple daisies. The parchment-covered window next him was -open and he slipped inside just as the crowd turned the corner. - -He found himself in a small, bare upstairs room, insufficiently lit -by the single window, but he could easily see into the most profound -shadows. Under a chest in the corner was a mouse, frozen with terror. -Dax was still out of breath, but he crept toward it, and as it ran out -along the baseboard he intercepted it. He ate it--all. - -As he washed his face he wondered with diminishing nervousness what all -the shouting and noise outside meant. - -In a little while he heard footsteps and a woman came into the room. -When she saw him she made some noises with her mouth, and Dax ran to -her. She picked him up and began to stroke him very pleasantly. Then -there were more noises from below and presently there were a lot of -people in the room. The woman dropped him for some reason. - -He ran under a big, low wooden thing, but a big iron thing was pushed -at him. It had a sharp point, and he had to come out. This time the -man with the bill-hook did not miss, but the pain lasted only for an -instant. - -And ... and ... he was more conscious of the sound made by the -hypodermic as it fell on the floor and broke. - -He looked at it with annoyance, and felt the slight prick on his arm. -He got up and went to his bathroom, where he dabbed it with antiseptic. -He saw that he'd better shave before going to the meeting. Well, the -drug hadn't worked. What a waste of time. What a pity. - -Perhaps a larger dose? He must experiment some more. - -He started shaving. - - - IV - -When he got to the principal's office--a little late, which was -not entirely by accident--he found that Mallison and a few of his -fellow-students were sitting opposite the desk in hard chairs. - -The principal behind it gave Dax a reprimanding look, and then one at -his watch. On one side of him were a group of teachers and a member -of the school board who Dax remembered was Mr. Lightstone's especial -crony. On the other were Mrs. Lightstone--a dour but subservient -partner to her husband--and an empty chair. - -The principal pointed to the chair and said, "We have been waiting -for your arrival to begin, Mr. Dax." He turned to Mallison as Dax sat -down, and said, "You are, I believe, what is known as a 'hep-cat'?" He -waited but Mallison said nothing. His face was very white and he looked -sullen. "Well, answer me, sir!" the principal said loudly. - -"You didn't ask me anything," the boy said in a low voice. "You told -me." - -The principal pushed his lips out and breathed deeply. He took -something from his pocket and held it up. Dax saw it was the packet of -alleged heroin. - -"Did you throw this out of the window of Mr. Dax's class room?" - -The boy looked at it incomprehendingly and shook his head. - -"Do you know what it is? Have you seen this packet before?" - -"No, Mr. Lightstone...." - -"You sound uncertain. Think carefully, Mallison." The principal put the -packet on his desk and unfolded it. Everyone bent forward and looked at -it--including Mallison, who shook his head again. - -Dax leaned across Mrs. Lightstone and whispered to her husband, "Did -you have it analyzed?" - -The principal shook his head impatiently. "Not yet! There was no one in -the Chemistry Department!" He cleared his throat importantly. "Well? -What have you to say?" - -Mallison apparently had nothing to say. He swallowed and looked at -one of the boys next him. Mr. Lightstone leaned back in his chair and -turned to address the group on his right--the school board man in -particular. "This," he said, tapping the packet, "was thrown out of a -window of the physics class room today. These are the boys that sit -next those windows. I have every reason to suspect Mallison." - -The group nodded. Dax realized that they had been briefed in advance. -The boy Mallison had certainly a sulky and uncooperative air. He seemed -the epitome of juvenile delinquency on the defensive, and yet.... - - * * * * * - -"You," the principal said to the boys, "are a little band of -trouble-makers. You cut classes, you stay up late and go to what I -believe you call juke-joints. I have heard reports of your riding in -hot-rods!" He paused significantly. - -"None of us here's got a car," Mallison said in a flat voice. He was -definitely sneering now. "I've never even _seen_ a real drag-race!" - -Mr. Lightstone blinked. The word was unfamiliar to him, but it had a -disreputable ring to it. "And I suppose you've never taken narcotics?" - -There was a dead silence. Mallison clamped his mouth shut, and his face -became wooden. - -Mr. Lightstone addressed the boy next him. "Have _you_ ever seen any of -the boys use this?" He tapped the packet again. "Did you see Mallison -throw it out of the window? You sit behind him!" - -The boy looked blank and glanced at Mallison. "No, sir," he said. - -"But you couldn't have missed seeing him!" - -"Excuse me a minute," Dax said. "These boys aren't a _band_ exactly. -They just happen to sit next the windows." - -Mr. Lightstone looked offended but resourceful. "They picked those -seats themselves. That's what a clique does. It--" - -"I assign all the pupils to their desks," Dax said, and felt he was -turning pink. - -The principal took this in his stride by ignoring it. "And _you_," he -said to the boy on Mallison's other side. "What have you to say?" - -The boy frowned and stuttered. - -Dax was beginning to feel annoyed although he didn't know exactly why. -For one thing, he had let himself seem to be defending Mallison. It -was his craze for accuracy, of course. "I don't understand why the -parents of these boys aren't here," he was surprised to hear himself -say. "It seems to me they ought to have some kind of defense counsel if -there is going to be a trial." - -The principal looked at him steadily. "Would _you_ care to act in that -capacity?" - -Dax felt that he was getting redder than ever. "Have you had a doctor -examine Mallison for ... for the effects of narcotics?" he said. -"Where are these policemen you said you spoke to? Shouldn't they be -informed of your suspicions, instead of holding a kind of star chamber -inquisition? It's ... it's _medieval_!" - -Mr. Lightstone glared at him in astonishment. - -Dax had a sudden thought. "The chemistry lab is right over my class -room," he said. "Why couldn't the packet have fallen from there?" - -"What would _they_ be doing with heroin?" - -"But we don't know yet that--" - -The principal interrupted him and swept his arm in a gesture of -all-inclusive condemnation. "We will in good time! But if you have -never seen guilt before, you see it now!" He looked at the startled -young faces with abhorrence. "Look at them!" - - * * * * * - -Dax had a curious and violent revulsion, although he hadn't followed -the line of reasoning in Lightstone's last remark. In fact, he -realized that he hadn't really heard the words. But the principal's -angry face made his hackles rise. - -The principal had a menacing look. He was the most dangerous looking -thing he had ever seen. A convulsive shudder went through all of Dax's -muscles, and he leapt--straight across Mrs. Lightstone's lap, who fell -over backwards, screaming. Everyone was making loud, garbled noises, -and he was on top of Lightstone, scratching and biting. - -He heard himself give a loud, warlike and triumphant yowl. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tybalt, by Stephen Barr - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TYBALT *** - -***** This file should be named 61110-0.txt or 61110-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/1/1/1/61110/ - -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/61110-0.zip b/old/61110-0.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index e162e67..0000000 --- a/old/61110-0.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/61110-h.zip b/old/61110-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index db567a0..0000000 --- a/old/61110-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/61110-h/61110-h.htm b/old/61110-h/61110-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index dbd46f3..0000000 --- a/old/61110-h/61110-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1632 +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 Tybalt, by Stephen Barr. - </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 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; } -.ph1 { font-size: large; margin: .83em auto; } - -.ph2 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; } -.ph2 { font-size: medium; margin: .83em auto; } - - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Tybalt, by Stephen Barr - -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: Tybalt - -Author: Stephen Barr - -Release Date: January 5, 2020 [EBook #61110] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TYBALT *** - - - - -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="331" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>TYBALT</h1> - -<h2>BY STEPHEN BARR</h2> - -<p class="ph1">Adolescence is a perilous time—whether<br /> -it is the adolescence of a man,<br /> -or of the whole race of Man!</p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Worlds of If Science Fiction, March 1962.<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>The physics teacher, Howard Dax, dismissed the class. He picked up -a felt-covered block and erased the diagrams he had drawn on the -blackboard. He noticed with annoyance that the lines were shaky, and in -one place was an irregular star where the chalk had broken because of -his exasperation at his pupils—or more exactly, one particular pupil.</p> - -<p>When the blackboard was clean to the corners—Howard Dax was a very -precise man—he turned around and saw that the particular pupil was -still sitting at his desk. He was a thin boy of fifteen, called -Mallison, whose dark, wavy hair was too long. It rose in a kind of -breaker over his forehead, and he had sideburns cut to a point. His -expression was neither sullen nor impertinent, but Dax had always -had the feeling that Mallison was concealing intense boredom and only -listened to him perforce. He was sure that the narrow, rather handsome -face was on the verge of sneering. But there had never been quite -anything that he could put his finger on. The boy was definitely not -good at physics, yet he wasn't at the bottom of the class. The thing -was that he gave the impression of being above average intelligence. He -obviously could do very much better if he wanted to. Dax was convinced -that he despised physics, and school in general.</p> - -<p>"Yes?" Dax said. "What is it?" He tried to make his voice sound natural -and casual.</p> - -<p>Mallison stared at him impassively for a moment. Then he said, "You -don't like me, Mr. Dax, do you?"</p> - -<p>"My dear boy, I neither like you nor dislike you," Dax said. He could -feel his hands beginning again to tremble slightly. Damn adrenalin! "I -am merely trying to teach you elementary physics. Why do you ask?"</p> - -<p>"Why do you give me such low grades?" Mallison said, but with no sense -of urgent curiosity.</p> - -<p>Howard Dax thought that the boy's manner was altogether too adult. He -didn't expect deference from a modern teenager, but neither did he like -to be spoken to in such a man-to-man way. No; come to think of it, -man-to-man wasn't quite the phrase. It was off-hand. And yet it was -artificial: Mallison never spoke in this way to his contemporaries. He -usually talked like a ... what was it? Hipster?</p> - -<p>"I give students the grades that in my opinion they deserve," Dax said. -"In your case they are low because I don't think you're trying."</p> - -<p>"I am trying," Mallison said, then added, "sir."</p> - -<p>"You are," Dax said. "Very." He thought the remark was rather neat, -but the boy looked at him without any change of expression. Why was he -here? What did he want to say? "I must confess," Dax went on, "that I -am surprised at your interest in grades. I should have thought that -rock-and-roll was more your style. That and ... er ... racing around -at night in a fast car!" He felt that he was sneering, and made his -face blank.</p> - -<p>"I'm too young for a driver's license," Mallison said.</p> - -<p>"But old enough to pull yourself together and do some real work. You -could do much better in class. You're not stupid."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The boy said nothing and continued to stare at him without expression.</p> - -<p>"When I see signs of an improved attitude," Dax said, "and a little -more work, I shall mark you accordingly. One gets the impression -usually that your mind is on other things. Things like jazz records."</p> - -<p>"Didn't you listen to jazz when you were young, Mr. Dax?"</p> - -<p>Howard Dax at thirty-nine hardly thought of himself as old. The boy was -not being exactly fresh, but he had a sort of polite tactlessness. It -was absurd, but he felt that Mallison had the upper hand, somehow.</p> - -<p>Dax had an older brother who had been a lieutenant in World War II, -and he had described to him an occasion on which he had interviewed -an elderly staff sergeant. The staff sergeant in civilian life had -been his brother's boss. Although his manner was scrupulously correct, -there remained an atmosphere of his peacetime ascendancy. Howard Dax -sympathized with his brother. There was nothing actually wrong with -Mallison's manner, but the pupil had the master on the defensive.</p> - -<p>He decided to ignore Mallison's question. He had no idea how the young -nowadays felt about the subject of early Benny Goodman or the emergence -of Barrel House. Why was he even bothering?</p> - -<p>"The point at issue," he said with asperity, "is not whether I used to -listen to jazz twenty-five years ago, but whether you are going to pay -attention in class <i>now</i>. I admit you manage to scrape through in the -tests, but this morning, for example, you acted as if you were half -asleep!"</p> - -<p>"I'm sorry. I was very tired." Mallison did look pale.</p> - -<p>"I suppose you were up half the night—cutting a rug."</p> - -<p>Mallison winced at the outdated jargon but he merely shook his head. -There were firm steps in the corridor, and the school principal marched -in.</p> - -<p>Mallison stood up; Dax was still standing. The principal had a small -piece of folded paper in his hand, and did not immediately notice the -boy, whose desk was near the back row and next the open windows. He -went straight to the platform and put the folded paper on Dax's desk. -He nodded curtly and glanced towards the windows, and saw Mallison -sitting there for the first time.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"I thought you were alone," he said, turning to Dax.</p> - -<p>"You may go," Dax said to the boy. "That will be all. Remember what -I said." He looked at the folded paper and then at the principal -questioningly. "Yes, Mr. Lightstone?"</p> - -<p>The principal was a short white-haired man with a dogged expression. -He turned again to make sure the boy had left and said. "I want you to -look at this, Dax." He tapped the folded paper, which had been made -into a sort of envelope, with its ends tucked in. Dax bent to examine -it.</p> - -<p>"Pick it up, man! Open it," the principal said, and came around and sat -in the teacher's chair. "Be careful not to spill it!"</p> - -<p>Dax picked up the little packet and opened it. Inside was a teaspoonful -of white powder. "What is it?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"That," said the principal, "is something for our friends upstairs -in the chemistry department to determine. I found it myself, in the -flowerbed right outside these windows!"</p> - -<p>Howard Dax looked puzzled. "I don't think I understand—"</p> - -<p>"If I don't miss my bet," said the principal, "that's heroin!" He -jerked his head towards the windows. "And somebody threw it out of -this classroom!"</p> - -<p>"Oh, I don't think it's heroin, Mr. Lightstone," Dax said. "Heroin has -a distinct glitter, and this seems—"</p> - -<p>"I had the impression you were a physicist, not a chemist," the -principal said. "Besides, the police told us last week that they -believe a gang of narcotics pushers—I think they called them—are -operating in the neighborhood! What else could it be? I've been on the -lookout for something of this sort."</p> - -<p>There was a silence. Dax didn't know what to say.</p> - -<p>He himself was very tired, he had been working late every evening. He -had three different tasks that occupied every minute of his waking -hours: his job as teacher being the least important although the most -essential. The other two were perhaps visionary, but they might lead to -something more exciting than retiring on a pension.</p> - -<p>"Well?" Mr. Lightstone was impatient—his usual condition. "Have you -any ideas? It has been my experience that drug-taking and juvenile -delinquency go together." This was not strictly true as Mr. Lightstone -had never knowingly seen a drug-taker, but he did read the papers.</p> - -<p>"I suppose there is a certain amount of delinquency here," Howard Dax -said uncertainly, "but <i>narcotics</i>...."</p> - -<p>"Wake up, man!" the principal said. "You look half asleep! This is a -serious matter. I found the stuff right outside these windows! You must -have some idea of who might be involved. Which are the unruly ones? Who -sits next the windows?"</p> - -<p>Dax glanced at the desk recently left by Mallison. Mallison? One -couldn't exactly call him unruly.... Yet he had the earmarks of a type -he detested and instinctively mistrusted. He even feared him a little, -though not perhaps for reasons of which he was quite aware.</p> - -<p>"Who was that boy that just left?" The principal had noticed the -direction of Dax's glance. "Mallison, wasn't it?"</p> - -<p>"Yes, but the packet might just as well have been thrown from one of -the paths outside."</p> - -<p>"There's no path near here. You know that perfectly well," said the -principal. "There's a wide stretch of grass beyond the flower bed and -no one's allowed to walk on it! I've had my eye on that boy...."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Howard Dax thought this over. Come to think of it, he wouldn't put -such a thing past the young smart-alec. Hoodlumism doesn't necessarily -advertise itself in the classroom.</p> - -<p>He looked at the principal. The man had a nerve to accuse <i>him</i> of -seeming half asleep! Working in his private lab after dinner and then -at his desk until all hours, struggling to learn Middle English—or -rather, transitional Anglo-Saxon. He had done well at English lit at -college, even though majoring in science, and Chaucer had come fairly -easy to him. But Twelfth Century speech—and that was what he had -to learn—was something else again. Chaucer himself couldn't have -understood it. He wondered what young Mallison and his hipster friends -would think if they knew his secret occupations. He could just imagine -the sneering.</p> - -<p>"Well, you <i>could</i> be right, I suppose," he said. "He's not my—shall -I say?—favorite pupil."</p> - -<p>"I'm glad you think I could be right," Mr. Lightstone said. "I intend -to hold an investigation. At the first possible opportunity. This very -evening, in fact. At my office, and I shall have young Mallison brought -before us. I shall expect you." He got up and strutted out of the class -room.</p> - -<p>After a few moments Howard Dax followed him. Outside, on his way to the -gate, he passed Mallison, who was standing talking to another boy who -had a similar haircut, but was unfamiliar to the physics teacher. He -thought he was not a pupil of this school. They both became silent as -he drew near them, looking at him without any expression. Dax wondered -if narcotics could be responsible for Mallison's pallor.</p> - -<p>After dinner Dax went into his little lab, which was actually the -kitchenette he never used. On the table and sink was some chemical -apparatus. The principal's remark had been ill-chosen since Dax at -college had started with chemistry as his major and had only switched -to physics in his senior year. He had also become interested in -genetics, and it was this all-around interest in the sciences that had -perhaps militated against him. Nowadays one ought to specialize.</p> - -<p>Well, he was specializing now.</p> - -<p>In an evaporating dish in the sink were some dark brown crystals -that his landlady would have taken for Damerara sugar, but which had -a considerably more complex formula. They would have lent a rather -odd flavor to Indian pudding. The logic which had given rise to this -formula was not merely complex but revolutionary. It involved the -concept of reversibility of entropy—the application of which was -itself unprecedented.</p> - -<p>There were, Howard Dax was aware, certain aspects of germ chemistry -that defied description in terms of classical and mechanistic theory; -details that seemed to require the inversion of Time's arrow. To say -that a physical process was "non-reversible" usually implied the -presence of the probability factor. But that didn't seem to be the -case here. There was the suggestion of prophecy. Or else that time was -flowing backwards. Or ... was it that something flowed backward through -time?</p> - -<p>Then there was the fact that the germ plasm was immortal. Not -indestructible, for the overwhelming majority of zygotes and gametes -died; but if one disregarded the soma, all living germ cells had been -alive since the beginning of life. After terrific work, none of which -would have seemed quite orthodox to his colleagues, Dax had arrived at -the end of theory and the beginning of practical application—at the -taking-off point—the countdown.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Lying on the drainboard near the evaporating dish was a hypodermic -syringe.</p> - -<p>If he were to dissolve the dark brown crystals and inject the solution -into his veins, Dax believed that whatever it was that impeded this -time-reversal would be neutralized. His consciousness—not his body, -his somatic cells—would travel back along the unbroken line of his -identity as a germinal continuity. Back to the extent that the effect -of the chemical would allow.</p> - -<p>He would then be in the body of one of his ancestors. Not spread among -them all, but following the line of greatest genetic valence to one -individual: living in the Twelfth Century A. D. Probably, but not -certainly, somewhere in England, since most of his ancestors came from -there.</p> - -<p>Of course the time might be wrong. He had no way of making a precise -determination. He had experimented with a rabbit, but after the soft -little beast's eyes glazed over in unconsciousness it had immediately -come to. The time taken during its visit to the purlieus of its remote -and unknown forebears was of no duration in the present. And it had at -once attacked him and bitten him savagely.</p> - -<p>It seemed curious that an ancestral rabbit at a period not so very far -back from a biological point of view should have a spirit so foreign to -the rabbits of today. Perhaps the drug had overshot its mark....</p> - -<p>What if that were to happen in his case? Wouldn't it perhaps take him -to some earlier, non-human form and then, as it were, rebound to the -precise moment in history that the strength of the drug indicated? A -man is not a rabbit. But suppose he found himself not in the body of a -Twelfth Century Englishman—a risky enough situation—but hanging by -his tail from a tree in Java? How long before the hypothetical rebound -to the time of the Plantagenets?</p> - -<p>Howard Dax was too tired to concentrate on the problem: it was probably -moonshine. The rabbit had been frightened, not atavistic.</p> - -<p>The cumulative effect of overwork and irritation at the boy Mallison -and the principal's manner had made him reckless and impatient. He -made a sudden decision to stop worrying about precautions and take the -plunge ... now.</p> - -<p>He had plenty of time before the meeting. The trip to the past would -have no duration in the present. He measured out an amount of distilled -water and stirred the brown crystals into it with a glass rod. Then he -filled the hypodermic and went into his bed-sittingroom.</p> - -<p>He went to his desk and took a last look at a list of early English -irregular verbs and lay down on his sofa, rolling up his sleeve.</p> - -<p>He hardly felt the prick of the needle but he realized that the rather -painful bump on his forehead had distracted his attention from it.</p> - -<p>He looked at the thing he had bumped against. It was wooden and round -in section, about as thick as his neck, and rose at a slight deviation -from the vertical to a circular platform that was supported at other -places by two more wooden uprights. Beyond and above was an immensely -lofty roof of dark timbers. Far to the sides were stone walls.</p> - -<p>He looked down to discover that the cold floor under him was also of -stone, covered here and there with dry yellowish reeds. Then he saw -that he was on all fours.</p> - -<p>Instead of hands he had black, furry paws.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph1">II</p> - -<p>Trice, the jester, was getting old. So, he feared, were his jokes.</p> - -<p>His joints were stiff and he could no longer do the amusing contortions -that used so to entertain the Earl and his little court. In fact, the -Earl was getting on, too. He looked as though he was falling asleep in -his chair. Next to him the Lady Godwina was mumbling and giggling—not -at poor Trice's feeble quips, but as a result of too much blackberry -wine mixed with mead. She hiccoughed loudly and the Earl opened his -eyes.</p> - -<p>He glanced at the Lady Godwina with bored distaste, and then at Trice -the jester. Would that the fellow would cease his tedious clowning and -go to the kitchens! Yet he hesitated to get rid of him altogether. -Having a jester at all in these days was a mark of prestige, and he -didn't know where he'd get a replacement.</p> - -<p>Now that King Henry was dead he had fortified his castle like the other -barons. Since feudal pomp had become the fashion he hung onto its -trappings—poor old Trice was one of them. But, ye gods, what stale -jokes! Well, at least they seemed to please the younger serving men, -who must be too young to remember them.</p> - -<p>Trice was unhappily aware that his humor was missing the mark. He fell -back on the one thing that never failed to make them laugh. He swung -his bauble and hit himself on the nose. He staggered back with comic -terror. "Hold on!" he cried to an imaginary assailant. "Not so hard!" -He struck himself again, harder. "Stop! Or I shall appeal to my noble -lord for protection!"</p> - -<p>The Earl smiled faintly; he didn't want to disappoint the old man. -Besides, his nose was bleeding. It really was rather funny. Curious -about these people: they had almost no sense of pain. Trice, seeing the -smile, hit himself again and again, and feeling the blood, he smeared -it over his face in fantastic curlicues. The Earl closed his eyes -again, and Trice caught the eye of the clerk, a young man who had come -from Normandy. He was sneering. The Lady Godwina was singing a little -tune to herself, and paid no attention.</p> - -<p>The old jester shrugged, and turned towards the archway to the kitchens -and offices. Better have supper and go to bed—his head ached and his -nose hurt badly, although the bleeding had stopped. Next to a wooden -stool he caught sight of his cat, Tybalt, staring at him fixedly. -Tybalt. His only friend! he thought to himself. But as he passed him, -the cat, instead of following him out with tail erect to share the -jester's wretched supper, backed cringing under the stool and turned -his head as he went by, keeping his staring eyes on him. Most unusual. -Very un-catlike.</p> - -<p>"Here! Tybalt!" Trice said, but the cat backed further away.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Just before he realized what had happened to him, Dax recognized that -the big wooden thing that loomed over him was a stool.</p> - -<p>Maybe it was this realization—and the sight of his own paws—that gave -him an idea of his size, and on looking back at the rest of himself -he knew that he was a cat. Something had gone wrong. The flashback -and subsequent rebound must have taken him far into the dim mammalian -past, but for what duration he could not tell. The transition had been -unconscious. At least he did not remember it. But to judge by the style -of the round stone arches of the hall he was now in—and the stonework -looked brand new—the ultimate effect had been according to plan, and -this was the early Middle Ages.</p> - -<p>A movement caught his eye and he saw it was the cavorting of an -enormous man, dressed in gigantic tattered motley.</p> - -<p>No. He wasn't enormous; it was just the unfamiliar scale of things. The -man was saying something in a booming voice, and Dax began to recognize -it as a form of transitional early English—but with an admixture of -Norman French and some pure Anglo-Saxon phrases. And what an accent! -If this man was typical, how wrong modern research and learned -speculation were! He would have some interesting things to tell the -experts—particularly his tutor—when he got back.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" width="324" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>When he got back.... That was supposed to be in three days -approximately, when the inhibiting effect of the chemical would wear -off. Then he would, he hoped, be swept back to his own time and his -own body. But he was a cat. This was disastrous! How could he speak to -people? He could understand them fairly well, but a cat's bucal cavity -and vocal apparatus were not designed for the sounds of human speech.</p> - -<p>He decided to try his voice, just on the chance, but stopped, horrified -at the muffled yowl that resulted.</p> - -<p>Two rangy hounds, six times his size, roused themselves from the -rush-covered floor and glared growling at the sound with raised -hackles. "Down, Colle! Stop it, Bayard!" a gruff voice commanded, and -they reluctantly sank back again, keeping their fierce eyes on him. Was -this a sample of what he must expect from dogs? He hoped it was merely -his abortive attempt at human speech. Any further communication must be -tried silently.</p> - -<p>He looked around the hall. There were other humans too. Several -men-at-arms standing by the walls and a few serving men. At the big -trestle-board were seated five people—one of them clearly the lord of -the castle—it must be a castle—and the one woman sitting next to him -in soiled finery would be his lady. The place reeked with the stale -odor of humans and dogs, and less obnoxiously the smell of wood smoke -and cooked meat. Dax realized that he now had a feline nose, and made -allowances. After all, the well-to-do bathed themselves, in the still -existing classic tradition, and would until the Black Death.</p> - -<p>The ridiculous giant in motley stopped his capering and came across -the stone flags towards him. As he passed with ponderous footsteps he -looked down and said, "Here, Tybalt!"</p> - -<p>Dax backed under the stool, terrified at the deep, hoarse voice. The -man was probably trying to be gentle. He must keep in mind that he had -a cat's hearing now, and all sounds would seem lower and louder.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>How were cats treated in Medieval England? He did not know, and he was -not prepared for this contingency. But at least cats as a species had -survived. He hoped he was one of the lucky ones. He must at all costs -manage to keep alive for three days, because if he were killed before -the drug wore off he would not return.</p> - -<p>What would they think at the school? Nothing, of course. He would never -have been there. That would be changing the future ... but you changed -the future every time you exerted your free will, anyhow.</p> - -<p>One of his experimental rats had not come back: it had merely -disappeared with a loud pop. Perhaps an early Colonial terrier had got -it. It might be the best thing to do to take to the woods, and wait out -the time safe from the unknown dangers of men and dogs—but what of the -dangers of the woods? It was winter, to judge by the fire in the hall, -on a raised stone platform in the middle of the floor, from which the -smoke found its way out through a louver in the high roof. And the icy -drafts that came across the floor. Although he was a cat, he had little -confidence of being able to hunt like one, or find refuge from the cold -and snow.</p> - -<p>He decided to follow the court jester. At least the man had spoken to -him kindly. And he had a name: Tybalt. He must remember to answer to -it.</p> - -<p>He got up and began to walk towards the arched doorway through which -the jester had disappeared.</p> - -<p>Walking on all fours felt perfectly natural—rather as if he were -following himself. There was no trouble about keeping in step, or, -rather, just out of it. His mouth was dry and he ran his tongue over -his muzzle ... he could lick his eye! Then he did something that also -felt natural, though pleasantly novel: he waved his tail. Then he stuck -out his claws. They clicked against the flagstones and he sheathed them -again.</p> - -<p>He had never in his life felt so supple and physically complete. He -felt like running up the tapestry that hung by the doorway.</p> - -<p>At the other end of the vaulted corridor that he found himself in he -could see the jester as he went into another chamber that was lit with -a smoky reddish glow. There was an increased smell of cookery, and he -guessed it was the kitchen.</p> - -<p>When he got to the door he could see the jester was being given -something in a bowl that steamed, and a large hunk of dark bread. The -man turned and came out again and saw him.</p> - -<p>"Come along, Tybalt," he said. "Supper for you and me. Come along, old -fellow!"</p> - -<p>Dax followed him across the corridor to a narrow stone stairway in the -thickness of the wall. The winding steps seemed absurdly high. He would -far rather have done the whole thing in two or three long leaps, but -he took the steps one by one. Feline coordination would come to him in -time.</p> - -<p>After an almost totally unlit passage they came to a minute room, -scarcely more than a cell. The jester struck a light with flint and -steel to a tallow candle, and sat down on a low straw-covered bed. The -floor was freezing. Dax jumped up onto a small table, but was instantly -pushed off it. His instinctive jump up and then down happened so -quickly that he only realized in retrospect what a feat it was from a -man's point of view. Yet he had landed clumsily. He was not yet quite a -cat.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The jester cut off a piece of dubious-looking meat and threw it onto -the floor. "Wait till it cools, Tybalt," he said, and scratched Dax -behind the ears. Dax was ravenous, which seemed odd considering -he'd had dinner half an hour ago. No, of course not. That was eight -centuries in the future; God knew when Tybalt had last eaten. -Disregarding the admonition he went at once to the meat, which was -pork, and burned his mouth. It smelled glorious. And yet he suspected -that in human form he would have revolted from it.</p> - -<p>He looked up at his master. He had a conviction that he belonged to the -jester.</p> - -<p>He studied the gaunt, blood-smeared face. It looked as if someone had -hit him on the nose. The cap-and-bells, with its attached wimple-shaped -neck piece, had been laid aside. The gray bobbed hair and bony head -looked anything but merry. There was, however, a shrewd reflective -expression in the eyes, and Dax felt that he might well be in an -advantageous position. Being a jester probably involved a certain -amount of tact and discretion, not to mention ingenuity, so he resolved -to try to communicate with him.</p> - -<p>But first he must eat. Would the damned pork never cool?</p> - -<p>The jester was already eating his, in great gulps, alternating it with -bits of the evil-looking bread. There was a stoneware pot that smelled -strongly of musty ale from which he drank every now and then. The -stench of alcohol in it was like spoiled garbage to Dax. How had he -ever been able to drink whisky? The thought of it was disgusting. The -meat was cool enough now—in fact stone cold—and he tore it to pieces -with his pointed teeth and bolted it unchewed. It was marvelous.</p> - -<p>"Well, Tybalt?" the jester said, putting aside his bowl. "No mice -today? We are not very lucky, we two, are we?" He made a snapping with -his fingers and Dax jumped up onto the pallet beside him. The old man -stroked his back gently, but he had a very strong smell. Dax supposed -he would get used to his new keen senses in time. He hoped it would be -soon. It was very cold in the jester's cell and he intended to creep -close at bed time. In the meanwhile how was he going to make known his -true identity? Obviously speech was impossible; and Morse-code tapping -with his paw was out of the question.</p> - -<p>You wouldn't get very far with mere facial expressions, either. Anyway, -to most human eyes a cat has but two: contentment and fear. He looked -around wondering if there were any small movable objects that he could -arrange into the form of the letters of the alphabet—even a piece of -string might do. But he feared that the man couldn't read. Anyway there -was no string to be seen.</p> - -<p>Then on the table, which was scarcely more than a high bench, he saw a -rosary with wooden beads.</p> - -<p>He got up and stretched—never in his life had he been able to stretch -like this—and jumped delicately over onto the table. The jester -reached out and swept him off it. Not roughly, but it was obvious -he wasn't allowed there. This time his landing was more skillful. -He sat on the cold floor and tried to think how he could get hold of -the beads. If he had them on the floor he could push them into an -arresting shape. A triangle perhaps, or a figure eight, that would -catch the jester's eye. He looked up at a movement and saw that the -man had picked up a small vellum book and was holding it close to his -face. What luck! he could read after all! But how was he going to make -letters? Near the sill of the door were some pieces of straw. He went -over and examined them. He realized that a cat's vision is rather poor -compared to a man's: quick to notice and interpret motion, but in other -respects the over-large pupils, meant for nocturnal hunting, gave an -inferior and uncertain image.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The straw was dirty and smelled of horses, but it ought to do. The -trouble was that when his face was close enough to pick it up with his -teeth he could scarcely make it out. He couldn't tell at first whether -he had one or many in his mouth. He felt that his whiskers should -tell him, but he was unaccustomed to their use. He padded over to the -jester's feet and dropped the straws. He backed off and looked at them, -then with his paw he ineptly pushed them into an A.</p> - -<p>He looked up. The jester was lost in his reading.</p> - -<p>Dax waited patiently, but the reading went on, and he patted the man's -foot with carefully sheathed claws. The jester glanced at him, though -not at the crude, straw A, and smiled.</p> - -<p>"What now, Tybalt? More supper? That you will have to catch -for yourself. See—it's all gone! Share-and-share alike, old -friend. I weigh eight stone. You're but a scant four pound, so -correspondingly...." He returned to his reading.</p> - -<p>Dax went and picked out some more straw which he brought back and -attempted to arrange in a B, but gave it up and made an E instead. Then -he made two crosses and a triangle.</p> - -<p>AEXXΔ.</p> - -<p>It looked like a fraternity. Then he mewed.</p> - -<p>The man looked down again with a faint frown. He didn't seem to notice -the straw shapes; judging from the way he held the book he was quite -short-sighted. "Out?" he asked. "Out for a rat, poor Tybalt? Or to lie -by the embers in the hall?" He shook his head and got up, and went to -the door to open it. Dax jumped onto the bed and mewed again. The man -paused with his hand on the latch, looking puzzled. Dax jumped down and -dabbed with his paw next each letter successively.</p> - -<p>"Why, what is this?" the old man said, smiling again. "Playfulness? The -kitten is back!" He went to the table and picking up the bauble, made a -feint with the stuffed bladder over Dax's head. Dax dodged it irritably -and mewed again; three times in quick succession.</p> - -<p>This caught the attention of the jester, who laid down the bauble. -"Ah! A Tritheist! Will it get you a mouse, Tybalt? Will it keep off -evil spirits? It's said the imps love cats—so beware of moonlight and -mistletoe!" He picked Dax up and stroked him.</p> - -<p>It was infuriating.</p> - -<p>Dax was aware that the Medieval mind was very different from the -modern, but there must be some meeting point. Too bad this wasn't -Friar Roger Bacon—he'd have got his attention in no time. But he was -a hundred years too early. His immediate problem was to seek out some -person who had enough imagination and curiosity to take notice of a cat -who behaved not as a cat. If he had only known this was going to happen!</p> - -<p>He tried mewing again, but the jester only smiled, so he mewed once, -then twice and then three times. The jester shook his head admiringly. -Like most of his contemporaries the world for him was filled with -wonders. It was an age of faith, not of speculation.</p> - -<p>A pale moon showed through a narrow slit in the wall, which was -unglazed, and he became aware that the light from the tallow dip was -yellow, and the jester's costume red and green.</p> - -<p>So it was all nonsense about cats having no color vision—anyway, -hadn't some woman in California disproved that? Against the moon he -could see the black outline of full-grown leaves on the nearby trees -and knew it was not yet winter but autumn. When winter came in earnest, -everyone from scullion to the lord of the manor would bed down in the -Great Hall where the fire was. But the stonework of the castle was -cold, and he felt himself getting drowsy.</p> - -<p>The old jester put down his book, crossed himself and blew out the -light. Dax could hear him burrowing into the straw of his bed, and -nestled beside him.</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph1">III</p> - -<p>When he woke it was not quite dark, and a faint gray dawn came into the -cell.</p> - -<p>The jester was snoring. Somewhere Dax thought he heard a rat. His -muscles tensed, and he found himself on his feet by instinct—the idea -of a rat was surprisingly attractive and he was hungry again. The noise -stopped. He remembered that he had been having a dream—a strange -nightmare of chasing after Mallison and catching him, and tearing -him ... with his claws and teeth.</p> - -<p>A rusty bell started ringing somewhere in the castle.</p> - -<p>The jester snorted, sat up and looked out of the narrow window. Then -he lit the candle and said his prayers, kneeling on his bed. Dax -stretched, and the old man cleaned his teeth with a splinter and took -a draught from the ale pot. It had a sour stench, but Dax found that -he no longer minded—there were so many conflicting smells around, the -most interesting of which had been the rat. A new, more immediately -hopeful one, was of cooking that drifted up from below. It seemed that -these people ate meat for their breakfast. And they liked it early.</p> - -<p>"Come along, Tybalt," the jester said, putting on his headdress, and -went to the door. Dax slipped through quickly so as not to get his tail -caught as the jester closed it. They went down the winding stairs again.</p> - -<p>At the bottom they came upon another cat—a big red tom—who on -catching sight of Dax fluffed his tail and laid back his ears, -spitting. Dax had a momentary impulse to see if communication was -possible with him, but the big cat yowled and fled down the hallway.</p> - -<p>"Ah, Tybalt," the old man said. "Jesters and cats! Even their own kind -spits at them!" As they got to the kitchen Dax saw the two hounds that -had growled at him the night before. He was glad that they were now -leashed and in the charge of a boy in a short woolen surcoat.</p> - -<p>But when they saw Dax the boy was unable to hold them back, and they -jerked their leashes from his hand and came running and barking. Dax -was terrified. He bolted ahead of them along the vaulted corridor and -into the Great Hall, but came face to face with another brace of hounds -whose ears pricked up at the sound. Dax without any conscious thought -dodged sideways and ran up the tapestry on the wall.</p> - -<p>His sharp claws had good foothold on the tough canvas backing. But at -the top he almost lost his grip, and scarcely managed to get over onto -the musicians' gallery from which the tapestry hung. He crouched there, -trembling, while the din below increased. He could hear men shouting at -the dogs, and the jester's voice calling him. He mewed loudly for help.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>After a while he heard the old man's footsteps on the wooden ladder. -He was picked up and comforted, but he was so dizzy with fear that he -could hardly see. The jester seemed to think he was calm, and put him -on his shoulder and went down the ladder again. The hounds had been -taken away. But Dax stayed where he was with his eyes shut, holding on -tight.</p> - -<p>"Well, Trice!" Dax opened his eyes and saw the lord of the manor -glowering at the jester, and then at him. So Trice was the jester's -name. An odd one. The Earl stood with his hands on his hips and seemed -irritated rather than angry. "What's this I hear? The cat runs at my -hounds and tries to scratch!"</p> - -<p>"Oh, no, sir," Trice said. "It was the other way! They ran at him! -Tybalt has never scratched!"</p> - -<p>"Scratched or no, I wish you'd give him to one of the villagers," the -Earl said. "I don't want the hounds upset, and Lady Godwina doesn't -like cats. Besides, he'll ruin the tapestry."</p> - -<p>"But, my lord, he catches the rats! And he's my ... friend."</p> - -<p>"The dogs catch the rats," the Earl said shortly. "Give him away."</p> - -<p>"Well, my lord, the mice...."</p> - -<p>"The red tom gets them."</p> - -<p>The old man put up a hand to Dax protectively. "But, noble lord, what -would I do without my pet?" Dax glanced at the tired face next his and -saw tears in the eyes, but he had a determined look. "If he cannot -stay, I ... I must go, too!"</p> - -<p>The Earl opened his eyes at this, but he smiled. "I see you are loyal, -old Trice," he said. "I hope you are as loyal to me!"</p> - -<p>The Earl turned away. Trice put Dax on the floor and started back -towards the kitchens.</p> - -<p>"Come, Tybalt," he said. "Or there'll be none left for us."</p> - -<p>Dax wished he were still on the shoulder, and stayed close to the -jester's feet. Things were not going well at all. It had become as much -a problem of survival as of research and communication, but when they -got to the kitchen and the hounds were nowhere about, he decided that -perhaps the two problems were inter-related. After a meal of scraps he -felt more secure. Not seeing his master he went to look for him in the -Great Hall.</p> - -<p>When he got there he saw that the Earl and his wife and retainers were -eating boiled meat. He remembered that his tutor in Middle English had -said the main meal in Medieval times was eaten in the morning. The -four hounds were squabbling over bones that were thrown to them on the -rush-covered flagstones under the trestle-board, and didn't notice him. -Trice was not to be seen. After a while the boy in the woolen surcoat -was told to take them out. He fastened leashes to their collars and led -them through a large doorway in the far wall. Dax looked at the Earl: -he had a fairly intelligent face, and he had shown forbearance towards -Trice, so he thought he would make another try.</p> - -<p>The Lady Godwina got up unsteadily from her chair and left the hall—on -the way to the lady's solar, Dax guessed; and he padded across to the -Earl. When he got to the foot of the high-backed chair—it looked like -a detached choir-stall from a gothic church—he patted the Earl's foot.</p> - -<p>The Earl looked down at him and frowned.</p> - -<p>Dax patted the foot again; three times. Then he mewed three times, and -repeated the patting. The Earl blinked and got up, backing away. Dax -mewed three times again, and the Earl crossed himself.</p> - -<p>"Saints preserve my soul! What have we here?"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Dax turned around three times, getting his hind legs crossed and -nearly falling down. "Send for Trice at once!" the Earl shouted. "His -cat Tybalt has a fit! Careful!" he said to a serving man who had come -forward with outstretched hands. "Take care you are not bitten! He is -unclean!"</p> - -<p>Dax backed away and ran to the open door, and out.</p> - -<p>There was a brilliant sun and he could see nothing at first—and when -he did it was blurred, owing to the vertical shape of his contracted -pupils. It was much warmer than the night before, and the leaves -were brown on the trees. There was no courtyard and gateway, with -drawbridge and moat beyond, as he had rather expected. Instead he was -on cobblestones, surrounded at intervals by small houses, with trees -between them. The village was built against the castle, somewhat in -the French manner, but the houses were wretched affairs of mud-daubed -reeds on wooden framing: hardly better than hovels. Only a few had -more than one story. Smoke was coming up from every chimney, and the -men were evidently on their way to work in the fields. They carried -crude-looking farm implements and were dressed in coarse homespun -with their legs padded and cross-gartered. They were a sorry lot: -blank-faced and half starved.</p> - -<p>Dax heard footsteps behind him and turned.</p> - -<p>A young man with blond short hair and a Norman nose had come out of -the doorway. He looked at Dax with amused curiosity, and squatted -down, putting out a hand. At this proximity his eyes showed bloodshot -and there was a beery smell. He said something that Dax could not -understand—it sounded vaguely like a kind of French, but Dax had not -studied medieval Norman. Still, it had a kindly sound. Dax rubbed -against the hand. This man, at least, did not share the Earl's -diagnosis. What was his position in the Earl's household? Not his -son—he looked too unlike him. Would he be his clerk? He had a clerkly -look—what is it in a face that makes it seem scholarly? And his hands -were more fit for holding a pen than a mattock or a sword.</p> - -<p>Well, give it another try.</p> - -<p>Dax wished he could make an ingratiating sound, and found he was -purring. He looked around for something he could use as a signal; -mewing and tapping seemed to be misunderstood. A few yards away the -cobblestones gave place to dirt, and he started towards it. It might do -for a blackboard. He looked back, but the clerk had not moved.</p> - -<p>Dax wondered how a cat might beckon, lacking a forefinger. He waited -until he caught the young man's eye, and tried to beckon with his -head but it had no results. He continued on to the patch of dirt and -scratched a triangle, and to his relief the clerk got up and came to -him. When he was standing over him, Dax scratched two words in Latin: -<i>homo sum</i>, and looked up.</p> - -<p>The clerk was staring with his mouth open.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Good, thought Dax: Latin was the <i>lingua Franca</i> of medieval Europe, -and went on with his scratching. <i>Humani nihil a me alienum</i>—</p> - -<p>There was a gasp and he looked up again. The young man had closed his -eyes and had the back of his hand against his forehead. He turned and -walked to the castle door, holding his head. Dax sat down in disgust. -A Twelfth Century hangover, indeed! A shadow fell across him and he -turned.</p> - -<p>Three villagers: two men, and a woman in a hood were behind him. -They had an expectant air, and, realizing that they were doubtless -illiterate, he drew a large five-pointed star.</p> - -<p>The effect on them was volcanic.</p> - -<p>The woman screeched and threw her skirt over her head. The men crossed -themselves and one of them turned and ran. The other slashed at Dax -with a bill-hook and then, shouting, "Bewitched! Bewitched!" he, too, -ran. The bill-hook missed Dax, thanks to his instinctive leap to one -side, but the woman continued her noise and more people came out of -the cottages, armed with farming implements and sticks. Everyone was -shouting and offering advice. The main thread of their discourse was: -Possessed! Possessed! Kill it! The Devil Incarnate!</p> - -<p>Dax was hemmed in on three sides. He started back for the castle, but -the big doorway was filled with onlookers, one of whom stepped forward, -aiming a crossbow. There was a clank followed by a hissing in the air, -and the bolt thumped into the ground next to him. The bowman cursed -and began to wind up his bow with a crannikin. Dax's fur stood out -all over him and he made a mad dash towards a group of women who had -nothing in their hands but besoms of birch twigs. It was a fortunate -choice.</p> - -<p>Two or three women made abortive swats at him and the others backed -away, leaving a clear path. In front of him was an open space and a -tall tree.</p> - -<p>Almost before he knew it he was near its top and the whole village was -milling around near its base, looking up with red angry faces.</p> - -<p>"Fire the tree!" someone shouted.</p> - -<p>"T'won't burn. It's an elm!"</p> - -<p>"Well, <i>I</i> shan't climb it!"</p> - -<p>"I won't have my tree burn!" an indignant voice yelled, but was drowned -out. Small children were jumping up and down in excitement, and some -teen-age boys threw stones but none of them reached him. Dax spat -furiously. Teen-agers were the same through the ages!</p> - -<p>"Cut it down, then!"</p> - -<p>"T'will fall on my house!" (A woman's voice.)</p> - -<p>The shouting died down, and Dax hung on till his claws ached. There -seemed to be a conference going on. The castle appeared to have lost -interest, which relieved him; if there was to be any more crossbow -shooting he stood little chance. After a short while the subject of -the conference became apparent as men began arriving with bundles of -dry sticks and faggots. To Dax's horror these were piled about the -trunk and set alight. Then, as the flames began to rise, green boughs -were added and a thick cloud of suffocating smoke came up.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Desperately he tried to find escape. One of the elm's long branches -reached out almost over the roof of one of the houses, but it meant -climbing down into the heart of the choking cloud. Beyond the house -he suddenly caught sight of his master, Trice, who waved to him -beseechingly. It gave him courage. Holding his breath, he began to back -down the trunk until he felt the branch under him. Then he twisted -round and ran along it with his heart pounding. A cat has small lungs -for its size and holding his breath was a torment—but at last he was -free of the smoke, and he took a breath of clean air.</p> - -<p>The roof seemed to be within reach, and the crowd had temporarily lost -sight of him in the smoke.</p> - -<p>He could hear the jester's voice, but for some reason he couldn't -understand him—it sounded like gibberish. He crept out until the -thinning branch began to bend and, just as shouts went up from the more -observant villagers, he leapt.</p> - -<p>He landed on the thatch—and almost lost his hold, but he was just -able to scramble to the rooftree, and ran along the ridge. There was -more shouting. Either these ones spoke a dialect or the excitement had -put Middle English out of his head: he could barely understand them. -Something about Widow Aelthreda's cottage—something about a witch....</p> - -<p>He slithered down the far side of the thatching and landed on a window -box of late purple daisies. The parchment-covered window next him was -open and he slipped inside just as the crowd turned the corner.</p> - -<p>He found himself in a small, bare upstairs room, insufficiently lit -by the single window, but he could easily see into the most profound -shadows. Under a chest in the corner was a mouse, frozen with terror. -Dax was still out of breath, but he crept toward it, and as it ran out -along the baseboard he intercepted it. He ate it—all.</p> - -<p>As he washed his face he wondered with diminishing nervousness what all -the shouting and noise outside meant.</p> - -<p>In a little while he heard footsteps and a woman came into the room. -When she saw him she made some noises with her mouth, and Dax ran to -her. She picked him up and began to stroke him very pleasantly. Then -there were more noises from below and presently there were a lot of -people in the room. The woman dropped him for some reason.</p> - -<p>He ran under a big, low wooden thing, but a big iron thing was pushed -at him. It had a sharp point, and he had to come out. This time the -man with the bill-hook did not miss, but the pain lasted only for an -instant.</p> - -<p>And ... and ... he was more conscious of the sound made by the -hypodermic as it fell on the floor and broke.</p> - -<p>He looked at it with annoyance, and felt the slight prick on his arm. -He got up and went to his bathroom, where he dabbed it with antiseptic. -He saw that he'd better shave before going to the meeting. Well, the -drug hadn't worked. What a waste of time. What a pity.</p> - -<p>Perhaps a larger dose? He must experiment some more.</p> - -<p>He started shaving.</p> - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="ph1">IV</p> - -<p>When he got to the principal's office—a little late, which was -not entirely by accident—he found that Mallison and a few of his -fellow-students were sitting opposite the desk in hard chairs.</p> - -<p>The principal behind it gave Dax a reprimanding look, and then one at -his watch. On one side of him were a group of teachers and a member -of the school board who Dax remembered was Mr. Lightstone's especial -crony. On the other were Mrs. Lightstone—a dour but subservient -partner to her husband—and an empty chair.</p> - -<p>The principal pointed to the chair and said, "We have been waiting -for your arrival to begin, Mr. Dax." He turned to Mallison as Dax sat -down, and said, "You are, I believe, what is known as a 'hep-cat'?" He -waited but Mallison said nothing. His face was very white and he looked -sullen. "Well, answer me, sir!" the principal said loudly.</p> - -<p>"You didn't ask me anything," the boy said in a low voice. "You told -me."</p> - -<p>The principal pushed his lips out and breathed deeply. He took -something from his pocket and held it up. Dax saw it was the packet of -alleged heroin.</p> - -<p>"Did you throw this out of the window of Mr. Dax's class room?"</p> - -<p>The boy looked at it incomprehendingly and shook his head.</p> - -<p>"Do you know what it is? Have you seen this packet before?"</p> - -<p>"No, Mr. Lightstone...."</p> - -<p>"You sound uncertain. Think carefully, Mallison." The principal put the -packet on his desk and unfolded it. Everyone bent forward and looked at -it—including Mallison, who shook his head again.</p> - -<p>Dax leaned across Mrs. Lightstone and whispered to her husband, "Did -you have it analyzed?"</p> - -<p>The principal shook his head impatiently. "Not yet! There was no one in -the Chemistry Department!" He cleared his throat importantly. "Well? -What have you to say?"</p> - -<p>Mallison apparently had nothing to say. He swallowed and looked at -one of the boys next him. Mr. Lightstone leaned back in his chair and -turned to address the group on his right—the school board man in -particular. "This," he said, tapping the packet, "was thrown out of a -window of the physics class room today. These are the boys that sit -next those windows. I have every reason to suspect Mallison."</p> - -<p>The group nodded. Dax realized that they had been briefed in advance. -The boy Mallison had certainly a sulky and uncooperative air. He seemed -the epitome of juvenile delinquency on the defensive, and yet....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"You," the principal said to the boys, "are a little band of -trouble-makers. You cut classes, you stay up late and go to what I -believe you call juke-joints. I have heard reports of your riding in -hot-rods!" He paused significantly.</p> - -<p>"None of us here's got a car," Mallison said in a flat voice. He was -definitely sneering now. "I've never even <i>seen</i> a real drag-race!"</p> - -<p>Mr. Lightstone blinked. The word was unfamiliar to him, but it had a -disreputable ring to it. "And I suppose you've never taken narcotics?"</p> - -<p>There was a dead silence. Mallison clamped his mouth shut, and his face -became wooden.</p> - -<p>Mr. Lightstone addressed the boy next him. "Have <i>you</i> ever seen any of -the boys use this?" He tapped the packet again. "Did you see Mallison -throw it out of the window? You sit behind him!"</p> - -<p>The boy looked blank and glanced at Mallison. "No, sir," he said.</p> - -<p>"But you couldn't have missed seeing him!"</p> - -<p>"Excuse me a minute," Dax said. "These boys aren't a <i>band</i> exactly. -They just happen to sit next the windows."</p> - -<p>Mr. Lightstone looked offended but resourceful. "They picked those -seats themselves. That's what a clique does. It—"</p> - -<p>"I assign all the pupils to their desks," Dax said, and felt he was -turning pink.</p> - -<p>The principal took this in his stride by ignoring it. "And <i>you</i>," he -said to the boy on Mallison's other side. "What have you to say?"</p> - -<p>The boy frowned and stuttered.</p> - -<p>Dax was beginning to feel annoyed although he didn't know exactly why. -For one thing, he had let himself seem to be defending Mallison. It -was his craze for accuracy, of course. "I don't understand why the -parents of these boys aren't here," he was surprised to hear himself -say. "It seems to me they ought to have some kind of defense counsel if -there is going to be a trial."</p> - -<p>The principal looked at him steadily. "Would <i>you</i> care to act in that -capacity?"</p> - -<p>Dax felt that he was getting redder than ever. "Have you had a doctor -examine Mallison for ... for the effects of narcotics?" he said. -"Where are these policemen you said you spoke to? Shouldn't they be -informed of your suspicions, instead of holding a kind of star chamber -inquisition? It's ... it's <i>medieval</i>!"</p> - -<p>Mr. Lightstone glared at him in astonishment.</p> - -<p>Dax had a sudden thought. "The chemistry lab is right over my class -room," he said. "Why couldn't the packet have fallen from there?"</p> - -<p>"What would <i>they</i> be doing with heroin?"</p> - -<p>"But we don't know yet that—"</p> - -<p>The principal interrupted him and swept his arm in a gesture of -all-inclusive condemnation. "We will in good time! But if you have -never seen guilt before, you see it now!" He looked at the startled -young faces with abhorrence. "Look at them!"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Dax had a curious and violent revulsion, although he hadn't followed -the line of reasoning in Lightstone's last remark. In fact, he -realized that he hadn't really heard the words. But the principal's -angry face made his hackles rise.</p> - -<p>The principal had a menacing look. He was the most dangerous looking -thing he had ever seen. A convulsive shudder went through all of Dax's -muscles, and he leapt—straight across Mrs. Lightstone's lap, who fell -over backwards, screaming. Everyone was making loud, garbled noises, -and he was on top of Lightstone, scratching and biting.</p> - -<p>He heard himself give a loud, warlike and triumphant yowl.</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tybalt, by Stephen Barr - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TYBALT *** - -***** This file should be named 61110-h.htm or 61110-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/1/1/1/61110/ - -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/61110-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/61110-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 2cec91b..0000000 --- a/old/61110-h/images/cover.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/61110-h/images/illus.jpg b/old/61110-h/images/illus.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index a9e7766..0000000 --- a/old/61110-h/images/illus.jpg +++ /dev/null |
