diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 4 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/61756-h.zip | bin | 506835 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/61756-h/61756-h.htm | 1566 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/61756-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 319622 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/61756-h/images/illus.jpg | bin | 157594 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/61756.txt | 1455 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/61756.zip | bin | 29323 -> 0 bytes |
9 files changed, 17 insertions, 3021 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..d2196ff --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #61756 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/61756) diff --git a/old/61756-h.zip b/old/61756-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index dea1d89..0000000 --- a/old/61756-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/61756-h/61756-h.htm b/old/61756-h/61756-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 58e7905..0000000 --- a/old/61756-h/61756-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1566 +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 Sphere of the Never-dead, by Sam Carson. - </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; } -.ph1 { font-size: medium; margin: .83em auto; } - - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Sphere of the Never-Dead, by Sam Carson - -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: Sphere of the Never-Dead - -Author: Sam Carson - -Release Date: April 5, 2020 [EBook #61756] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SPHERE OF THE NEVER-DEAD *** - - - - -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="353" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>Sphere of the Never-Dead</h1> - -<h2>By SAM CARSON</h2> - -<p>The Three Brains of Taval had spoken! Kenley<br /> -must die! The cheerful youth from an earlier<br /> -time-strata must enter Death-in-Life. Nothing less<br /> -than a cosmic revolt could postpone his decreed fate.</p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Planet Stories Summer 1940.<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 warm, night air whipped Bob Winslow's face as he crossed the -open space before Kerla Research, Inc., to the car where Jim Kenley, -his roommate and lifelong friend was waiting. A storm was roaring in -from the west, revealing the city's skyline at frequent intervals -silhouetted against a background of sheet lightning. Bob should have -been elated to the point of near explosion, over the news he could give -Jim. Bob was to be promoted for his achievements in polarization of -the newly discovered Decka light stream, and for his development of the -electronoscope that had given astronomy a new universe to explore.</p> - -<p>Instead, Bob had a sixth sense of actual fear, as if something -invisible—invincible, was trailing him. Recently this feeling had -come, sometimes at night, arousing him abruptly, as if actually -touched. All today, and now tonight, the feeling grew that a Presence -was at hand. Small matter if he was to be director of Kerla Research, -Inc., at the age of twenty-six. Bob wondered if his nerves were shot. -Maybe, but he felt steady enough.</p> - -<p>The car was at the curb and Jim, as far removed from a world of -scientific research as one could imagine, swung open the door. "Mean -storm coming," he called. "Must be hail in it. Let's scram for home. We -can listen in to that night ball game."</p> - -<p>Water splashed Bob's face. He was thinking, as he crossed the pavement, -that Jim lived as much in the world of sports as he in the field of -scientific investigation. Jim Kenley worked hard as an auditor in -the daytime. Off duty, it might be football, horse racing, tennis or -baseball. He liked all of them, and could hardly wait for the score, or -result of a standout event. Perhaps that was why Bob liked Jim so well.</p> - -<p>Bob was at the car as the first wave of rain and wind, broken into -needle point mist, obscured lights and broke over them. He saw that, -and then more. He saw Jim catapulted from the car as if pushed by -invisible hands. Then Bob felt himself gripped, and felt, not chill -rain, but absolute zero. It surely took no more time than the fraction -of a second, before he plunged into a white world—a world without -motion, without sound. But in that flicker of time fading so swiftly, -Bob saw men in strange raiment, at first opaque, then solidifying. -He saw, too, an elongated, golden red craft without wheels; and from -it emerged a tall man with a silver skull cap. After that—absolute -zero. It couldn't have been a point above. That was Bob's last -thought—absolute zero.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>A tired sleeper arouses slowly, hovering between consciousness and -dreamland because the mind dreads taking over mastership of the body. -Such was the way Bob Winslow experienced his awakening. It was so -comfortable, to rouse slightly, then plunge back into soft, warm -slumber. At last voices disturbed his brain, and light beat against -closed lids. With a sigh Bob opened his eyes.</p> - -<p>After one startled look Bob closed them briefly. He wasn't in his -room. He was in a strange place, a room with tinted, translucent walls -and concealed lights. The bed, sheet, everything about it, were odd. -Bob started to get up. Sharp pains streaked along arms and legs. -They passed and he tried it again. There was so much to take in: the -squat chairs of semi-transparent material, the room with a screen at -the farther end, flanked with metallic disks. The room itself, while -rectangular, had curved corners.</p> - -<p>There was a peculiar scent in the room, pungent, yet not unpleasant. It -had an exhilarating effect. And Bob thought suddenly of Jim Kenley. He -had to laugh then, for Jim bounced up beside him, eyes wide. "Huh," he -said. "Tornado hit us? What sort of hospital is this?"</p> - -<p>It came back to Bob—his departure from the laboratory building, to the -car as the storm bore down. Then the figures—and the machine! That -wasn't a dream. For Bob knew he was wide awake now, and this place -was real enough. "Maybe," he answered Jim. "I suppose it is a sort of -hospital. But where?"</p> - -<p>"I'm hungry," Jim announced, yawning. "Ouch! Damned funny. Pains all -over. Like I'd been running ten miles. Sa-a-ay! Bob, I got hit out -of the car, and somebody piled ice on me. Hey—where the hell's my -clothes. Let's get out of this dump. Are there any nurses anywhere."</p> - -<p>The disks across the room began to whir, without noise. Before either -could speak again, the screen began to send out a soft glow. Then a -figure materialized, that of a man, full sized, in a sort of garment -fitting like waist jacket and tight trousers, but in a single piece. -The man wore a helmet, chromium bright, and looked no more than forty. -Bob and Jim waited, the former fully aware that a tremendous change, -somehow, had come into their lives. As for Jim Kenley, he merely -grunted. "Movies. Gimme Mickey Mouse, or Popeye. T'hell with Flash -Gordon."</p> - -<p>Then the figure on the screen spoke. His words didn't come from a -speaker. As certain as he believed his own eyes and ears, Bob realized -the man was actually talking to them, from this screen. "I perceive the -actinic frequency treatment has revived you," he said, rather amiably. -"Good. Did either of you experience muscular pains yet?"</p> - -<p>"Say," Jim Kenley exclaimed, "what t'hell's it all about. Yeah, I got -pains. And why? Somebody slugged me, that's why.</p> - -<p>"And if we're okay now, how about sending our clothes around, and no -bill. I didn't start it. And where are we anyway?"</p> - -<p>The man on the screen frowned. "You are not Winslow. No?"</p> - -<p>"I'm Jim Kenley. That's Bob. Say—any of you folks phone Bob's outfit -he got hurt or something?"</p> - -<p>"No." The figure came nearer, growing in perspective. "I believe it is -time to inform you it would be somewhat difficult to notify anyone in -your period of time what happened. You are now existing in the year -3300."</p> - -<p>The pit of Bob's stomach grew chill. Somehow, he had felt from the -moment of awakening, that he had left either his space, or his time -zone. It fit too well with that presentment, and the brief glimpse of -their kidnapers. And as his alert mind began to grasp their situation, -Bob went through panic. There were so many things he wanted to -complete, to eat, to see. There was a girl, not disturbing him yet, but -nevertheless in the background. There was his whole world, the one he -knew, and that was the world in which he wanted to live, and die. Bob's -curiosity wasn't to explore space. He wanted to better fellow men, and -gain information for them. He wondered if Jim could get the staggering -impact of this calm announcement of their fate.</p> - -<p>Jim's reaction was typical. "Baloney. You gotta damned good act, -brother. And I don't know why you're rehearsing on us." Jim sprang out -of bed. "Come on, Bob. Let's get out of this booby hatch." In tight -fitting pajamas of strange fabric, he started around his bed. He struck -an object, bounded back. Whatever it was, Bob couldn't see it. As for -Jim, swearing, fists doubled, he charged. This time he went back and -struck the floor, turning a complete somersault.</p> - -<p>The man on the screen chuckled. "Some take it easy. Some don't. -Winslow, I perceive you understand more readily, till you get a more -complete explanation. Good. Rest assured you shall get it. Now, if you -and your companion walk directly to this screen, I promise you entry to -your future quarters. Go there, put on clothing you will find, and wait -your summons to food."</p> - -<p>Bob nodded. "May I ask a question?"</p> - -<p>"Of course."</p> - -<p>"Granted this is the year 3300, give me a reason to believe you. A -fundamental one. I live in the Twentieth Century, in the year 1940. We -recognize the theory that time and space are relative, that the past -can still exist. But the future—"</p> - -<p>The man's head nodded approvingly. "A sound question, Winslow. For -that request, I introduce myself. I am Vasper, assigned to instruct -you. Believe me when I say you actually are in the year 3300 and upon -the North American continent, in a region once known as Arkansas. So -much for that. You grasp the falseness of past time, balanced against -space. You understand dimly, I am certain—for it was shortly after -1940 that the Palonian theory of the spiral universe was developed from -previous ideas. Well, we know now that the same rule applied to time -and space without beginning, has no final boundary. Thus, if there is -no beginning, there is no end. If past time and space zones exist, then -so must future time and space zones exist. We have proved that very -definitely, in your case. I must go now," Vasper added quickly. He -smiled, eyes flicking to the dazed Jim Kenley struggling to his feet. -"The barrier is gone now. We put it up, for unbelievers. Walk into the -screen. I shall visit you there, within the hour."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The disks ceased whirling. The screen faded to flat white, and -Jim Kenley leaned against his bed, mumbling. "A nut," he said. -"A goof, with the baseball season coming on—and the Belmont -Stakes—and—everything. And my job—a bonus if I finished by the first -of the month!"</p> - -<p>Bob went across to his friend. He felt sick, shaky. The impact of -Vasper's revelation was sufficient to daze any man, Bob felt. Now he -patted Jim's shoulder. "Then we're two nuts, Jim.</p> - -<p>"We're in something, too big to grasp all at once. I'll stick by you, -Jim. Come on, let's do what—what Vasper said."</p> - -<p>Jim looked long and searchingly at Bob. He gripped his hand. "I'm -dumb," he said slowly. "Yeah, I saw men, and a funny looking thing like -a gold tank—before they jumped us."</p> - -<p>"I saw it, too, Jim."</p> - -<p>"Then—then we're really somewhere else." Jim shuddered, then -straightened his body. "Okay Bob. I'll try and take it, if I don't go -nuts. We walk into the screen, huh? Boy—if that isn't hot. Walking -into screens over a thousand years ahead of your time—or is it after."</p> - -<p>Still bewildered, the two walked slowly to the screen, kept on as -the disks sprang into life again. Bob flinched involuntarily, but he -felt no obstacle. They just walked through the screen as if it were -a shadow, and they were in a smaller room, with beds similar to the -ones they had vacated. There was a screen, much smaller, and chairs of -translucent, blue substance. The ceiling was low and glowed faintly, -as if reflecting daylight. But there were no windows. Jim walked to a -door, and it swung open of itself. "Huh. Kind of an electric eye. Hey, -look. Monkey suits."</p> - -<p>There was clothing, and the metal helmets like Vasper wore. Bob rubbed -his chin. "Well, we might as well try 'em on."</p> - -<p>"Yeah," Jim agreed. "But if anybody else I know sees me, I'll be ribbed -for life. Say, that's the funniest stuff. Soft as velvet, but thick. Oh -well—"</p> - -<p>They got into everything but the helmets. "Now what," Jim wondered, -handling the headpiece. "Lighter'n aluminum. And it's got earphones, or -something. See."</p> - -<p>"Put them on," a voice suggested behind them. Turning, they saw Vasper -as he stepped casually through the screen. He was a six footer, built -like a halfback, with ruddy hair and blue eyes. "We must all wear them -in Taval."</p> - -<p>"Why?" Jim demanded bluntly.</p> - -<p>"Why? For instructions from The Three, of course. They are our leaders -and no man may be out of their reach."</p> - -<p>At a nod from Bob, Jim slipped on the featherweight headgear. Bob found -it didn't interfere with ordinary conversation. Vasper regarded them, -smiling. "I know how you feel," he said. "My special task covers your -century. That's why I speak your language so well. All Taval speaks -English, with variations, for we are descendants of North American -peoples. But first, you are to go with me to the Twentieth Century -dining-room." He led the way to the screen. By now Bob wasn't surprised -at entering a room with a familiar look. It was a restaurant, with a -white coated waiter, and the smell of steaming foods. "Boy," Jim cried. -"I could eat a four-inch steak smothered with onions. And coffee—smell -it Bob. Just smell."</p> - -<p>Bob felt like an animal, was conscious of a hunger he had never -possessed before. Obviously Jim was in the same mood, for he fairly -yanked a bowl of soup from the waiter's grasp. And there was steak, -juicy and appetizing. There was bread, coffee, vegetables and even pie. -And as they ate, Vasper sat there, smiling as if very much pleased. -At last both men knew they were filled. Jim sighed, reached dreamily -for a cigarette. "Anyway," he reflected, "it's worth this namby pamby -business—a feed like that. Okay, Vasper—let's hear details."</p> - -<p>Vasper got up. "I've warned you sufficiently," he said. "I think -perhaps I had better take you outside. To see Taval."</p> - -<p>"That the name of your city?" Jim inquired, winking at Bob. "How far is -it from our home?"</p> - -<p>"A few hundred miles," Vasper answered. "And more than a thousand -years, this way—"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>They walked into the inevitable screen Vasper indicated, and at once -found themselves in a green world, almost jungle-like in appearance, -with what appeared to be a mist overhead concealing the sun. There -were buildings, all domed and apparently resting upon queer looking -cushions. There were paths through trees, palms, hardwood, all sorts -of flowers and shrubs, but no streets. Through the foliage people were -moving leisurely, but not in profusion.</p> - -<p>"What's this, a park?" Jim asked.</p> - -<p>"Taval," Vasper answered. It was then Bob, drawn by curiosity, began -to study the sky. It wasn't blue, but ashy gray. Then he exclaimed, -peering more closely. "Why—we're under a great dome—a mile-high one," -he cried.</p> - -<p>Vasper nodded, smiling. "That's right. Taval—one of the domed cities. -There are others—many. All of the Brotherhood."</p> - -<p>Jim found a bench nearby, sat down. "One story houses on cushions. With -funny round tops. No streets. Everything under glass, or something. My -good gosh, and encore. Why did I ever leave home, or did I?"</p> - -<p>Bob joined him. He was excited, and yet strongly moved. His keen, -scientific mind told him thousands of problems had been solved here in -Taval, that Vasper surely was right about the time element. It would -take time to grasp all this. And it was too soon to puzzle why he and -Jim had been brought here. Now he forced a smile. "Suppose," he said, -"you tell us, in a general way, what it's all about."</p> - -<p>Vasper sat down between them, while Jim fumbled for another cigarette. -"Who'll win the World Series?" he muttered. "The Yanks, of course. -But—and there's Placer in the Belmont, smacking 'em over in the Derby -the other day. Placer against Agate Second! What a race. And Tennessee -and Southern Cal—and Texas A & M. Will they be out in front this fall? -Goshamighty. It happened a thousand odd years ago, all this. And I -dunno how it came out. I—" Jim's mouth opened. He slapped his knee. -"Great day, Bob. Suppose I could check up on all the Derbies, and World -Series, and Bowl games for ten years, and got back. Wouldn't I rake in -the dough. Say, that's an idea?"</p> - -<p>"There is no money in Taval," Vasper said quietly. "You do your task -and you are cared for." He turned to Bob. "We are Americans in Taval. -At least," he added, "the descendants of your stock. The machine age -you created with the United States as the driving force, eventually -brought chaos. That and natural disasters. We had few survivors in the -world, by comparison. And then there came Taval, for whom this city is -named. He discovered the key that divorced time and space—"</p> - -<p>"He did," Bob broke in excitedly. "How? We were working on the theory -of overtaking time—by spiraling our speed."</p> - -<p>Vasper nodded. "Yes, that resulted, of course, in the two adventures -to our satellite you called the moon. They were disastrous because -you were ignorant of ether frequencies at the upper end of the cosmic -ray band. But you cannot overtake space by the spiral theory. Always -there would be fractional time, and, therefore, you're always bound by -ordinary dimensions."</p> - -<p>"One million—two million—ten million, as Amos would say," Jim Kenley -put in. "How clear you are, Grandma."</p> - -<p>"Shut up," Bob told him. "Then how did Taval work his theory, Vasper? -That screen—is it a kind of fourth-dimensional business?"</p> - -<p>"It is. But that was worked out later, by a group of his pupils. We -use the same base idea of Taval's, as he perfected it back in 2800. -Discarding time to overtake, or unwind space as you might define it, he -chose to search for a physical way of stopping motion—"</p> - -<p>"I've got it," Bob cried, leaping to his feet. "It came to me—the -night—the night of the storm—absolute zero! That's it! Absolute zero -to stop motion, and therefore, eliminate time and space!"</p> - -<p>"Sit down," Jim advised. "I'm Napoleon and you're Little Caesar. -Remember? And tomorrow's Mayday.... Absolute zero, huh? Well, I said I -felt like I was in a chunk of ice that night."</p> - -<p>"But this screen affair," Bob put in. "It—it's different."</p> - -<p>"Our method of transportation entirely," Vasper affirmed. "Yes, we -need no streets. No walks, save for exercise. Throughout Taval there -are outdoor screens, for convenience. Winslow, I said Taval's idea is -unchanged. It is, although refined. You were right about your absolute -zero. We came to you that way. In the only machine we employ today, -save for the manufacture of the skydome, and our laboratory equipment. -With absolute zero stopping motion, there is neither time nor space. -You know that. Well, the first contact, creating new motion, brings one -to the time in which he is revived."</p> - -<p>"Freezing like that would kill anybody," Jim protested. "It breaks up -tissue."</p> - -<p>"You and Winslow suffered all stoppage of motion in approximately -one-two millionth of a second, my skeptical friend. We brought you to -the portable laboratory, kept you in suspended animation for ten days, -then revived you in another fraction as short as the means we took -possession of your bodies."</p> - -<p>"How long did the process last?" Bob asked.</p> - -<p>"It was exactly thirty days since you reached Taval."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Jim whistled. "No wonder I was hungry. Thirty days."</p> - -<p>"We injected fluids," Vasper told him. "You see, Kenley, we assimilate -food here now chiefly in liquid form. Now the screen—we have reduced -a margin of absolute zero between the walls of the screen, to a width -that your obsolete measuring system cannot cover. The screen itself is -not a physical wall. It is—well, unspatial. That is too advanced for -either of you to grasp now. It is sufficient to explain that you touch -the absolute zero wall, and are revived, all so instantaneously, that -you are not conscious of the change. And in that transition, you reach -any destination you head for."</p> - -<p>"Simple," Jim groaned. "So very, very simple. Okay, and I thought -Aladdin—or whoever he was, just happened to be a myth." Jim studied -Vasper thoughtfully. "And now, my good friend, why are we here?"</p> - -<p>"You," Vasper announced, "are here because of your friend Winslow. -We are few, and we need brains, and fit bodies. Winslow has both. We -search the back centuries constantly for men—and women. Men with -brains to keep our race, and our world existing. We placed the skydome -over all our cities because the sun will cool for a thousand years. We -have learned that and must start now, to keep our plant and animal life -from perishing, till the cycle ends and the earth grows hot again. You, -Jim Kenley, were brought along because you are Winslow's friend, and -your company will be of advantage while he adjusts himself to what must -be an amazing change in his career."</p> - -<p>"A master work of understatement," Bob observed. "Maybe I was serving -my time to better purpose. It was all I wanted to do. Do you think I'm -ever to be happy here?"</p> - -<p>"What sort of ball clubs do you have?" Jim fired at Vasper. "I'll bet -there's not even a golf club."</p> - -<p>Vasper laughed. "You're due for some surprises, Kenley."</p> - -<p>For Bob Winslow, there followed hours that intrigued him. Only here -and there did he meet Taval residents. Vasper explained that by going -directly from point to point, that there was no traffic, that all duty -hours were staggered because Taval at night, was as well illuminated -as by day. The chief plants were operated by robot workers, who could -reproduce their kind in other factories. "Taval, like our other cities, -now needs only brains," Vasper went on. "We maintain sports here to -keep our bodies fit." As he spoke, Vasper undid a tiny container -hanging to one shoulder, extracted a handful of tiny pellets and -swallowed them. At Bob's look of curiosity he smiled. "Energy," he -said. "But we use more fluid food than these. Come, while I take you -to The Three, your companion is at liberty to go across there to the -stadium of sports."</p> - -<p>"I'd like to see that too," Bob said. Vasper nodded. He pointed to an -outside screen. They entered it and found themselves in a great open -air arena. Upon the grass-mantled field a game was in progress, not -unlike basketball. Farther away, a group of young women, the first -Bob had seen, clad in trunks like any miss of the Twentieth Century, -engaged in a game, somewhat like tennis, save that the ball was -larger and a dozen took part in each court. Youths were jogging along -a circular track, and in the distance was a narrow, but rather long -swimming pool. The arena itself, was double the size of any Bob had -ever seen before. "I think," Vasper observed, "that should interest -Kenley. And now, if you have been listening carefully, there comes an -order for us."</p> - -<p>Bob heard it now, a voice speaking slowly, some of the words not -recognizable. The speaker had no accent. Vasper was watching Bob. "The -language has changed," he explained. "That was Fator, the senior of -Taval's Three. He must examine you, assign you your future duties."</p> - -<p>"Future duties!"</p> - -<p>"Of course. Why else did The Three send for you out of time? Your -brain is needed, if we prepare to save the world in the centuries to -come. There are others we are summoning, if we had more apparatus. -Unfortunately, certain elements are scarce, and we have but one—the -one in which they brought you here." So speaking, Vasper led the way to -another screen.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Somehow, Bob had expected to find an aged, bearded man. Instead, Fator, -senior of The Three looked no more than sixty, was clean shaven and his -hair was hardly gray. He was at a desk, in a room minus windows, and -very similar to the other interiors Bob had already seen here. Fator -had his hands upon an inclosed cylinder which gave forth a whirring -sound. He wore a look of deep concentration, and Vasper motioned for -silence till the cylinder ceased whirring. Then Fator rose, walked -across the room and held out a hand.</p> - -<p>"I bid you welcome to Taval, Winslow," he spoke slowly, in his stilted -manner. "You will find more—more sympathy here, than in your time. -More than you had in your own research laboratory."</p> - -<p>"Why—you know about that?"</p> - -<p>Fator nodded, cold gray eyes flicking over Bob's body. "I notice -you are well kept. Splendid. You shall have the same food as you -are accustomed to, sir. Your duties are to be with an advanced -group—charting our universe—as we reach the Peltior Dark."</p> - -<p>Bob stared. "The Peltior Dark," Fator explained, "is as visible now as -the so-called—Oh yes, the Milky Way was in your century. We are going -to strike it in three hundred and twenty nine years."</p> - -<p>"We charted the dark regions with the iconoscope," Bob put in eagerly. -"Till then, our astronomers, working with glass scopes, had only a -vague idea."</p> - -<p>"Still," Fator told him, "our speed toward the first of these abysmal -regions accelerated in the last two centuries. Our sun first will -expand, then contract. Now you see what we are preparing for."</p> - -<p>Bob smiled. "But we'll be gone sir, before this happens."</p> - -<p>Fator's smile was enigmatic. "Perhaps—not. For some of us. I trust you -are reconciled, Winslow. You cannot go back. Otherwise, you are as free -as any resident of Taval. You must remain inside the dome, unless it is -directed otherwise. Our sun is two degrees colder today, and ice covers -the northern hemisphere outside. You could not escape, but I hardly -have to warn you. There are plenty of matters to interest you in our -midst. You are that type. As for your companion—"</p> - -<p>"Kenley's a sensible chap," Bob cut in. "True, he lives for sports. -But he is an excellent auditor—I mean," he floundered, "good at -calculation and all that."</p> - -<p>"We have machines for that, in our cities," Fator replied. And the way -he said it, made Bob feel a tiny cold shudder.</p> - -<p>Fator closed the interview with the word that he—Bob Winslow, would be -answerable to the Senior of Taval's ruling Three. He further said that -Vasper would continue as his instructor for the present. Then, with a -nod, he turned back to his cylinder. It was whirring as Bob and Vasper -stepped into the screen.</p> - -<p>They emerged within the sports arena again, and Bob noted Jim, watching -the games. Then he thought of Fator's cylinder. "That?" Vasper replied -in answer to a question. "He was dictating. We use a system—phonetic. -The fingers of both hands control Taval rays and thereby, the phonetic -words. Fator is writing a story of Taval, or rather, bringing the -history up to date, with a plan for his successor to carry on. That -is," Vasper added, "if he doesn't carry on himself."</p> - -<p>"What do you mean?" Bob demanded. "You haven't discovered immortality!"</p> - -<p>Vasper shook his head. "Unfortunately, no. But—well, there are -whispers. It would be death to mention it openly, what I have heard. Do -not ask me. But in time, listen to the whispers."</p> - -<p>Jim Kenley trotted across the great field, looking more cheerful. "Say, -I told 'em about baseball and they're willing to take a crack at it. -And that tennis business the gals have is red hot. Some swell looking -kids around here. Hey Vasper—they ever marry in Taval?"</p> - -<p>"If The Three decrees, yes. Otherwise, no."</p> - -<p>Jim's face dropped. "Heck, just as I had a redhead squinting at me in -that way. Oh well, when I wake up she'll be gone, and I'll probably -find I'm fired for this spree. Where to now, friend Vasper."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>For days they examined Taval, learned that it took in far more -territory than they had imagined. They visited the vat farms, where -giant plants grew, blossomed and produced heat in the matter of days, -fed by chemicals directly to the roots.</p> - -<p>They visited factories, where food was prepared as concentrates, where -plastics from elements and vegetable tissue were compounded, all by -other machines, not at all like Bob's conception of robots. Indeed, -a lot of machines were operated by tiny mechanisms, all lens and -coils, capable of being carried around by hand. The Taval ray, Bob -learned, was a development starting with the so-called electric eye -of the Twentieth Century. And it didn't take him long to recognize -many fundamentals created by earlier Americans. Then it was he who -came to recognize others, brought into Taval as he. Vasper showed him -a stout, slow-moving person called Miller, who had ridden on Fulton's -Clermont. Miller was a chemist. And there was a slight figure out of -the Twenty Second Century, Gregg by name. He was worrying about the -First World Confederacy threatened with breakup when he was removed to -Taval. Gregg, Vasper explained, had one of the finest of new minds, and -was engaged in sinking shafts into the earth's core, to obtain heat -for Taval. As for Jim, he had taken up with a group of young fellows, -all of athletic build, and all, strangely enough, imported in recent -months. Jim mentioned a boxer, who fought in England while Jackson -was President; of a runner who broke the mile record in 1995, and of -an Olympic star winning his awards at the turn of the Twenty First -century. It amused Bob that Jim appeared to fit in so quickly. Already, -by one means or other, Jim actually had organized a baseball team, -and was considering bowling. "Too bad they ain't got race horses," he -complained to his friend. "They tell me there's one section, south of -Taval, that's clean given over to cows and hogs and horses. Funny."</p> - -<p>"Heard anything about your duties?" Bob inquired.</p> - -<p>"Nope. Got hauled up before your friend Fator the other day. He just -asked me if I enjoyed my meals, and minded taking part in the sports. -Asked if I'd ever been sick, or had any ailments, and they typed my -blood, and a lot of other things."</p> - -<p>At Bob's look, Jim laughed, shrugged his shoulders. "Oh, they're doing -the same thing to the other fellows. And say, Bob. Soon as I get -acclimated, Vasper says, they want me to live at the stadium, with the -other beef eaters."</p> - -<p>Bob didn't know why, but he had a premonition then, of some menace -directed at Jim and his friends. But he was about to be taken to his -group, and Bob felt a growing excitement at the prospect. He couldn't -help that, for Taval, scientifically speaking, was a treasure house for -any man of Bob's type. Vasper told him he should feel proud, in that he -was the only newcomer, other than an actual native of Taval, to join -this advanced group.</p> - -<p>The day Bob heard Fator's voice over the headphones, summoning him -to face the screen, Bob's pulse was racing. Fator did him the honor -of standing before his desk as he spoke. "I am addressing the other -members of the advanced group," he said. "Winslow is to join you now. -Instruct him faithfully, and remember he has so much to study, before -he can be of value to you, and Taval. Come forward, Winslow, and join -your group."</p> - -<p>As Fator vanished, Bob turned, gripped Vasper's hand. The latter looked -sad. "Now I must go back—for another," he whispered. "Good luck—Bob."</p> - -<p>He was due for a surprise, to find the advanced group atop the great -dome, living in translucent quarters, a mile above Taval. There he -met Kalen and Forg, the two scientists in charge. He was shown the -rayscopes, that literally crawled along light waves, to annihilate time -and bring before the human eye universes a billion light years away. -There too, he studied the black wastes of Peltior Dark, and saw the -spectograms that revealed the choking gas areas through which they must -pass.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>There was so much to learn, so much already learned, that Bob Winslow -forgot ordinary hours. The phonetic language wasn't difficult. He spent -his allotted hours in the library, and both Forg and Kalen, men high in -years, yet with agile minds were patient in revealing discoveries some -of them already centuries old. They told him that the entire universe -would suffer, and they were gambling upon a chance to survive such -intense cold passing through Peltior Dark, that the atmosphere would -thaw inside five centuries. After that, they had concluded, provided -there were no changes in the solar system, the sun would resume its -natural sphere.</p> - -<p>"Is there a way of traveling ahead as I have come," Bob asked. "So that -we might learn our fate?"</p> - -<p>Forg looked at Bob thoughtfully. "We have been afraid—of utter -destruction," he said finally. "In that case, we could not return. But -if someone bold enough to make the venture tried it—" He broke off. -Bob knew Forg was thinking of him. All right, he concluded. And even -then, the germ of an idea was born in his mind.</p> - -<p>At the end of the first month, Fator summoned him again. He was pleased -with Bob's progress. It was even more than they had expected. He asked -about Bob's health, then smiled. "I believe a rest period would benefit -you," he said. "You may find your friend Kenley and spend five days—as -you wish."</p> - -<p>"Could Vasper share the rest period with me?" Bob inquired.</p> - -<p>"Yes. I shall advise him. He has been back to your century. He delayed, -for your benefit. You shall learn, upon seeing him."</p> - -<p>Vasper had brought back two more young men. Likewise, he had some -magazines and newspapers. He delivered these in Jim's presence and the -latter grabbed for the sports pages. Bob picked up his choice paper. -There was a headline, and pictures.</p> - -<p class="ph1">THREE DEAD, 47 HURT IN TORNADO</p> - -<p>Bob saw pictures of twisted buildings, wreckage, littering streets. The -entire downtown section of his home city had suffered. Kerla Research -structures had been particularly hard hit. And there, at the bottom of -the page, was his own photograph.</p> - -<p>YOUNG DIRECTOR OF KERLA RESEARCH LOST, read the caption.</p> - -<p>Many bodies were still buried in debris, Bob read, and it was assumed -Bob had met such a fate. Jim interrupted. "Sa-a-ay. The Cincy Reds -are coming right back. Can you tie that? And the Cards—sa-a-ay. The -Nationals will be all tied up again this year. And—" Jim crushed the -paper, tossed it away. He got up, face pale.</p> - -<p>Bob laid his paper aside, walked over and patted Jim's shoulder. "They -said it was a tornado, just as we got kidnaped, Jim. I'm supposed to be -killed. And maybe you. We'll have to forget it, Jim."</p> - -<p>"I wish to hell Vasper hadn't stopped on his way back. Or—that's the -particular hell of it. Vasper going back. And coming just like coming -home on the bus. And look at us. Look at us. Now I want to get back. -Back home. To hell with this—all of it."</p> - -<p>"Hush Jim. Shut up." Vasper looked sorry. He shook his head. "I -thought I was doing you a favor," he apologized. "To tell the truth, -I had never seen such a storm, and I wanted to know how—how intense -it was myself. We—we almost gave up taking you back because of the -disturbance."</p> - -<p>"I wish it had blown you to the year 50,000," Jim said bitterly. "Now -I'm thinking of Yanks and Reds and Cubs, and football and racing, -and—of everything."</p> - -<p>Vasper removed his headgear as Jim sauntered into another room. He -motioned for Bob to do the same thing. In wonder, Bob obeyed. Watching -the screen constantly, Vasper drew nearer. "Did you hear—whispers?" he -asked anxiously. Bob shook his head.</p> - -<p>Vasper hesitated. Then, "I like your friend Jim. Many young men do. But -he is doomed."</p> - -<p>"What!"</p> - -<p>"Not so loud," Vasper said in lower tones. "Jim Kenley is doomed, -unless some way is found. The young men are afraid, as more like -Jim—with strong bodies and no great brains, are being brought here."</p> - -<p>"Go on," Bob answered. "I betray no secrets. What do you mean?"</p> - -<p>"Bodies are plentiful, but brains are not. Bodies can die, but brains -must survive. The Three have decided that."</p> - -<p>Ice raked across Bob's heart. "So what?"</p> - -<p>"At last they know—how to transfer the mind from body to body. Now, do -you understand?" Quickly Vasper slipped on his headgear. Bob imitated -his action mechanically. They were not a moment too soon, for a figure -passed across the screen, bearing an apparatus resembling a miniature -camera. It vanished. Vasper nodded. "Room inspector. He records -everything as he goes across the screen." And now Jim returned. Vasper -suggested going outside. Bob remained in the room. He wanted to think.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Vasper had taken a real chance to get this information to him. Now he -understood why Jim was removed to the stadium barracks. Taval's rulers -had stumbled upon something, more important probably than all other -findings. Brain transference! Old men gaining immortality! Young men -doomed, to premature senility, then death! And Jim among them. Bob felt -sick now.</p> - -<p>There must be a way out. Bob felt his debt to Vasper, for undoubtedly -the latter knew more than he had revealed. Now a chance remark of -Forg's made recently bobbed up in Bob Winslow's mind. "We won't have -to worry about leaving our work undone." That was what Forg had said. -It tied in with another comment by one of the advance group, who -vouchsafed the information to Bob that there would be few additions to -their division.</p> - -<p>Jim returned at that moment. He started talking about organizing two -baseball nines. "Calling 'em the Yanks and Cubs," he laughed. "Say -Vasper—where you going?"</p> - -<p>Vasper had been listening intently, obviously to a message over his -headphone. He whirled, raced toward the screen and vanished. "Can you -tie that," Jim exclaimed. "He's a funny duck. But a good scout, Bob. I -mean, like us. He—"</p> - -<p>Two men materialized on the screen. They stepped into the room. -Addressing Jim, one, a swarthy, wide-shouldered man spoke. "You are to -come with us."</p> - -<p>"Me? I'm suppose to be on leave."</p> - -<p>"I had permission for him to join me," Bob put in.</p> - -<p>The swarthy one looked at Bob. "I have orders," he said slowly.</p> - -<p>Jim swore, looked thoughtful, then shrugged his shoulders. "In this -place, they don't fool with you," he mused. "Okay. See you later, Bob."</p> - -<p>Panic gripped Bob. Vasper hadn't skipped out because of his own orders. -Somebody had tipped him off. "Wait a minute," he addressed the men. -"Maybe I can straighten this out. Fator—"</p> - -<p>"We are under Fator's orders."</p> - -<p>Jim looked pale. "Keep a stiff upper lip, Bob. I know more than you -thought. See you later—if you won't recognize me—"</p> - -<p>For quite a while Bob Winslow paced the room like a caged animal. Jim -did know something. Maybe Vasper had told him, too. Maybe a lot of -young men in Taval were whispering the dread news around, helpless yet, -hoping for some sort of break to check this menace. It was some time -later when Vasper entered the room, caught Bob's eyes with a motion -for silence, beckoning him at the same time. Curious, Bob came to him. -Vasper held out his hand, pointing to the screen.</p> - -<p>They entered a small room, not well lighted. It had no occupants. That -is, not till Vasper removed his headgear, as did Bob. The room had a -false front, painted to resemble walls and furnishings. Two young men -were in the semi darkness behind the false wall.</p> - -<p>"Godi and Lelan," Vasper whispered. "They have arranged this room, once -a guard room and forgotten. They have knowledge."</p> - -<p>"About what? Why they came for Jim?"</p> - -<p>"Yes," said the one known as Godi. "Lelan and I are sons of men near -The Three. We know Fator has learned brain transference and plans to -experiment, first with Forg, of your own group."</p> - -<p>"When?"</p> - -<p>"Within the hour. That is why he sent for Jim Kenley."</p> - -<p>Bob looked at the three, all sober faced, rebellious. "You like Jim," -he suggested.</p> - -<p>"He is—swell," Godi put in. "That is his word for things he likes. -Fator has no right to take any of our bodies, for housing brains of old -men."</p> - -<p>"But we are helpless," Lelan sighed. "Godi and I, like others born of -Taval families, are safe. But the Jim Kenleys brought out of time—they -must suffer. It is not right. When I am old I am ready to die."</p> - -<p>Vasper nodded. "I do not want to go back, and take men of my age, for -such purposes. It's murder, no less. We do not believe in murder, here -in Taval."</p> - -<p>Fator! He had appeared so benevolent. He was a brilliant man. Bob could -understand in a way. Fator was ambitious for his period of stewardship, -to reach all the goals he had set. And he could live himself, through -his brain, till he had gained those objectives. And Forg! Jim's body -and Forg's brain, toiling at his own side in the years to come. Bob -shuddered. But what to do? If the experiment was so nearly at hand—</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Yes, there was a chance. It came to Bob in a wave of inspiration. It -was a chance that had about as long odds as his own at returning to -1940. The single, time-space transfer machine! If it could be called -a machine. Vasper should know of it. He had made so many trips. Now he -met his Taval friend's troubled eyes. "The machine," he whispered.</p> - -<p>Vasper looked scared. "No. One dies attempting to even touch it, except -at Fator's orders. It is a sacred trust of a hundred men. To try and -reach it means you would be exploded, into sheer gas."</p> - -<p>"But if Fator gave an order," Bob went on, "what then?"</p> - -<p>Vasper shrugged his shoulders. "Obedience, of course. But Fator will -not give such an order."</p> - -<p>Godi plucked Bob's arm. "I think I understand," he spoke quietly. "If -such an order was given. In Fator's place, I mean. Then one would die, -but perhaps you could gain the machine."</p> - -<p>"True, Godi. But the only little item lacking, is how to give that -order, and then keep Fator from canceling it."</p> - -<p>"I think I could attend to that," Lelan put in. "My duties are in the -rooms of The Three. I know that the other two are sick old men, and -Fator alone directs us. I know his directing room, from where all -his orders originate. In fact, I go in and out at will, because I am -responsible for all equipment."</p> - -<p>Bob looked at Vasper. "Where would this experiment be held—Forg's, and -Jim—"</p> - -<p>"I do not know, unless it be in Fator's rooms. Again, it might be -somewhere else. Fator has a secret workroom."</p> - -<p>Bob sank to a stool, mind going over the picture. Presently he looked -up at Lelan. "If we left here at precisely the same moment, you to the -directing room, Vasper and I to where I could be near the time-space -transfer machine, I'm willing to, well, make a try and get in the -machine. But Vasper, or someone must tell me what to do."</p> - -<p>"That is impossible," Vasper told him. "However I can operate -everything. Winslow, I wish to go with you and Jim. Back to your 1940."</p> - -<p>"But they'd come and get us—I mean you in particular."</p> - -<p>Vasper smiled. "There is one way, my friend, they cannot reach us. We -keep the machine. But before that, we take Fator along, to drop into -another time. Then there will be no brains transferred, and there will -be no new machine, for many, many years. I know. This one took fifty -years of construction."</p> - -<p>"We might fail," Bob muttered. He looked at Godi and Lelan. Godi spoke -up. "I have heard whispers of Fator's secret workroom. Maybe I can find -it, if you fail otherwise. I leave now." He turned, pressed Lelan's -hand. "We do this for Jim Kenley, one—one swell sportsman," he said, -then hurried around the false wall.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>They stood there for minutes, the remaining three, whispering final -details, Bob felt alternate hot and cold chills now, as he realized -his own end, should they fail. Or Lelan fail. Lelan assured them he -would not fail. "You shall have the orders before the count of ten," he -swore. "The guard will fall back and admit you."</p> - -<p>They walked around the false wall, toward the screen. Then the trio -stiffened. A room inspector, his tiny apparatus turned their way, was -visible. Now he entered boldly. "What's this," he demanded. "This -place—you three—unauthorized here!" He pressed the side of his -apparatus and a pale light flickered. Vasper and Lelan leaped together, -struck the room inspector, all three crashing to the floor. Vasper got -up first. He snatched a plastic chair, brought it down on the man's -head. Lelan was jumping up and down. "The alarm's given. We've got -seconds, at the most. Now—now—we've got a chance—"</p> - -<p>Lelan went through the screen first. Then Vasper grasped Bob's hand. -"Just go with me," he cried. "Don't think where you're headed." They -came into a large, domed structure, and Bob saw it—the golden hued, -snubnosed machine, looking more like a submarine than anything else. -Guards were tumbling out of screens. They bore slender, black wands. -But already Bob knew those wands could blast any known substance, at -almost any distance. The men formed a circle about the machine, and -wands were leveled at the pair. "If Lelan fails—we're gone," Vasper -cried. "They have orders to kill—anyone. Unless the word comes."</p> - -<p>They were a hundred feet from the machine, before the largest screen. -It was hopeless to rush the men. For even if Vasper could get inside -the machine, they would be gas instead of humans before sprinting -twenty feet. It was tempting to wheel and dash back through the screen. -And yet the alarm surely was out now, and it wouldn't take long to -identify the guilty. Then it was that Vasper cried out. "Look. They've -made no move. They have the order from Lelan."</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" width="513" height="500" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>Not a guard moved, true, but the wands were still leveled. And now -Vasper strode forward. Bob's knees felt weak, but he followed. Panic -was upon him, so much that he felt an almost overwhelming urge to dash -for the machine. As for Vasper, he spoke no word. It was evident the -guards were dumbfounded, still suspicious, but powerless for the moment -to halt them. And Vasper reached up, moved a hand and a door slid open. -The pair entered.</p> - -<p>Already the men outside were in motion. As one a half hundred rushed -toward the door. But Vasper had it closed. "Lelan's in trouble," he -called, running forward to a turret. "Hang on. We're going to Fator's -quarters—to his entrance hall."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The domed ceiling melted. In one continuous motion they seemed to blend -into another building, beneath another dome, more brightly lighted. -There were men, guards, but Vasper groaned. "Fator is not here," he -shouted.</p> - -<p>Bob was conscious of a voice sounding in his earphone. It -was high pitched, insistent. "Tell Vasper—my legs are gone. -Fator—Stadium—underneath—" Lelan's voice died in a great sigh. Bob -pictured the onrush of guards, blasting their friend's body bit by bit -into gas. Bob shouted the words to Vasper, who nodded. They made the -arena field first, and there was Godi, racing toward them and pointing -toward the tower overlooking the stadium entrance. Then Godi reached -the tower, pointed downward.</p> - -<p>Even as Godi pointed vigorously into the earth, he seemed to swell, to -grow abruptly, into a white cloud that became mist. Guards were coming -across the field. Vasper circled the machine above the dissolving mist. -Then, with an air of decision, he pointed the machine earthward.</p> - -<p>This was no sudden transition by means of fourth-dimensional powers. -The machine struck, and they became the center of an exploding mass of -soil and masonry. And as quickly, they dived into a great, underground -chamber.</p> - -<p>There, visible to the invaders, was Fator. There were two beds, side by -side. One held Jim Kenley, bared to the waist. Forg was stretched upon -the other. Fator had his hands upraised, and Vasper got down, ran to -the exit and waved his hand. "You take Fator. I'll take care of Jim," -he called. Bob was outside as quickly. He realized the chance they must -take now. Let the screens pour in a horde of guards and the machine's -security for them would vanish. Fator was fumbling for a wand. It had -fallen to the floor. Now Fator was bent over, hand outstretched. Bob -made a dive. He struck the director of Taval, sent him beyond reach.</p> - -<p>Vasper was racing toward the machine with Jim's body. Forg made feeble -efforts to raise as Bob, the death wand in his possession, grabbed -Fator's arm. "Get up," he snarled. "You kill no buddy of mine, for his -body. Get up, or I'll blow you out of Taval."</p> - -<p>Fator wasn't calm now. He looked wolfish, screaming curses, clawing for -the wand. He resisted, and Bob started dragging him. And now men did -pour forth from screens, wands before them. "Blast him," Fator shouted. -"Quick—"</p> - -<p>Bob yanked Fator around, holding him as a screen. He held the wand -before him. "Okay," he said. "Let's start."</p> - -<p>It was a bluff. Vasper shouted encouragement. But Fator fought, and -almost pulled away, while guards circled at a safe distance, hesitating -to attack. They followed, till Bob was below the machine entrance. It -was a three-foot climb, and Fator himself laughed. "When he turns to -push me in, use the ray," he ordered.</p> - -<p>Bob stood there. He was stymied. He heard Vasper talking. He must be -talking to Jim. Then Bob felt a hand. "Jim's coming around," he said. -"Hold tight when we pull." Hands slid under both shoulders. Fator let -out a scream of sheer terror now, and both Jim and Vasper tugged. -Guards ran toward them. Vasper calmly snatched Bob's wand. He made a -quick flip and the room became a cloud of white mist. Then, as he and -Jim pulled Bob and Fator inside, Vasper closed the door and jumped -for the control turret. Fator was still struggling, but Bob and Jim -held to him, as Vasper directed. Up through the earth they roared and -the stadium field was in bold relief, for one brief moment. It was -Bob's last glimpse of Taval. For the roaring increased, and the ports -admitted a nightmare of flashing, ever-changing lights, coupled with -deepest darkness. Then the roaring stopped. The lights slowed. Motion -ceased; Vasper climbed down, stared at Fator thoughtfully. "Your brain -can hunt a body—in the Sixth Century," he said.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Bob saw green fields, the ocean in the distance, blue and dotted with -sails. They were atop a hill, and vineyards stretched downward, to -a city at the water's edge. Fator stared, then nodded. "I was too -ambitious," he sighed. "Too ambitious." He stepped down, without -a backward look. Vasper closed the door, and when he reached the -controls, the roaring, and the succession of shifting colored lights, -like tinted lightning, recommenced. Bob had no idea how long it took -them. Jim, looking pale, suddenly woke up fully. "Gosh," he shouted. "I -wish we could go back, for a while," he called.</p> - -<p>"Why?" Bob wanted to know.</p> - -<p>"Why—right away my Yanks and Cubs were to tangle for a five-game -series, and Lelan's to pitch for the Cubs."</p> - -<p>Bob looked at Vasper, who smiled sadly, shook his head. Bob didn't -explain what had happened to Lelan, who had given his life for this -friend from the Twentieth Century. Then the machine jolted to earth. -It was night outside. Vasper opened the door, extended his hand. "That -glow is your home city," he said. "You have been away exactly sixty-one -days, my friends. Perhaps you can explain that both were taken to -hospitals out of the city during the excitement, after the great storm, -and your identities were lost, due to great stress."</p> - -<p>Bob nodded. "Yes, that can be explained. We'll arrange that, Vasper. -But now, the problem is—well, you. Come and live with us. We'll make -it up, for all this."</p> - -<p>But Vasper shook his head. "No. I would be difficult to explain, -perhaps. Or at least, my conveyance, eh?" He smiled.</p> - -<p>"But you can't go back to Taval," Jim protested. "You've broken a half -dozen laws, and swiped their precious machine."</p> - -<p>"True. I doubt I could ever return," Vasper affirmed. He sighed. "I've -been something I regret now. Very much. But life has its compensations, -Bob and Jim. Perhaps I would have kept right on, kidnaping, as you -say, to bolster up our civilization. But Fator's discovery—that made -the difference. It is possible there might be a revolt in Taval. I can -discover that, by visiting a later time than the year 3300. Meanwhile," -he added, "there are some many periods of our history I want to -investigate. From the beginning. Think of that. The stone age. The ice -ages. When the world was young. I can go when and where I please, right -on down the ages. What a story I could dictate, when I grow old."</p> - -<p>"You make me want to join you," Bob muttered. But he already felt a -curiosity about Kerla Research, and the rebuilding. He could think of -a particular restaurant, and of shows, and people he wanted to talk -with again. Jim put it into words. "Boy-oh-boy. Shows. Who won the -Belmont. And they're thinking of the Series—and football. And all the -gang—they'll want to know where I recovered, huh. And my folks—" -Jim's voice broke. As for Vasper, he put an arm about Jim's shoulder. -Then he came over, pressed Bob's hand. "Maybe," he smiled, "I might -visit you, some time, and take you for—well a sort of leave. If you -care."</p> - -<p>"Care! I'll make it my vacation this same time next year. For a month. -We'll go back—and forward too. And Jim—"</p> - -<p>"You're wrong there," Jim said flatly. "I'll entertain Vasper here, -in good old 1940, or 45. But I'm not leaving this place, unless," he -added, "I can run up ahead six months some time, and get the series and -Bowl game results. You know, just for luck."</p> - -<p>And that was that. Vasper reentered the golden tinted machine. They -could see him, silver headgear gleaming, through the turret plastic -hood. He waved a hand. Then a roar, and the machine was gone.</p> - -<p>Below, lights of a row of cars marked a highway. Bob and Jim, both -silent, trudged down the hill, toward the highway. Once more they must -live where time and space counted very much indeed.</p> - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Sphere of the Never-Dead, by Sam Carson - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SPHERE OF THE NEVER-DEAD *** - -***** This file should be named 61756-h.htm or 61756-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/1/7/5/61756/ - -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/61756-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/61756-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index f91b2a9..0000000 --- a/old/61756-h/images/cover.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/61756-h/images/illus.jpg b/old/61756-h/images/illus.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 31da94a..0000000 --- a/old/61756-h/images/illus.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/61756.txt b/old/61756.txt deleted file mode 100644 index cdd4338..0000000 --- a/old/61756.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1455 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Sphere of the Never-Dead, by Sam Carson - -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: Sphere of the Never-Dead - -Author: Sam Carson - -Release Date: April 5, 2020 [EBook #61756] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SPHERE OF THE NEVER-DEAD *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - Sphere of the Never-Dead - - By SAM CARSON - - The Three Brains of Taval had spoken! Kenley - must die! The cheerful youth from an earlier - time-strata must enter Death-in-Life. Nothing less - than a cosmic revolt could postpone his decreed fate. - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Planet Stories Summer 1940. - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - -The warm, night air whipped Bob Winslow's face as he crossed the -open space before Kerla Research, Inc., to the car where Jim Kenley, -his roommate and lifelong friend was waiting. A storm was roaring in -from the west, revealing the city's skyline at frequent intervals -silhouetted against a background of sheet lightning. Bob should have -been elated to the point of near explosion, over the news he could give -Jim. Bob was to be promoted for his achievements in polarization of -the newly discovered Decka light stream, and for his development of the -electronoscope that had given astronomy a new universe to explore. - -Instead, Bob had a sixth sense of actual fear, as if something -invisible--invincible, was trailing him. Recently this feeling had -come, sometimes at night, arousing him abruptly, as if actually -touched. All today, and now tonight, the feeling grew that a Presence -was at hand. Small matter if he was to be director of Kerla Research, -Inc., at the age of twenty-six. Bob wondered if his nerves were shot. -Maybe, but he felt steady enough. - -The car was at the curb and Jim, as far removed from a world of -scientific research as one could imagine, swung open the door. "Mean -storm coming," he called. "Must be hail in it. Let's scram for home. We -can listen in to that night ball game." - -Water splashed Bob's face. He was thinking, as he crossed the pavement, -that Jim lived as much in the world of sports as he in the field of -scientific investigation. Jim Kenley worked hard as an auditor in -the daytime. Off duty, it might be football, horse racing, tennis or -baseball. He liked all of them, and could hardly wait for the score, or -result of a standout event. Perhaps that was why Bob liked Jim so well. - -Bob was at the car as the first wave of rain and wind, broken into -needle point mist, obscured lights and broke over them. He saw that, -and then more. He saw Jim catapulted from the car as if pushed by -invisible hands. Then Bob felt himself gripped, and felt, not chill -rain, but absolute zero. It surely took no more time than the fraction -of a second, before he plunged into a white world--a world without -motion, without sound. But in that flicker of time fading so swiftly, -Bob saw men in strange raiment, at first opaque, then solidifying. -He saw, too, an elongated, golden red craft without wheels; and from -it emerged a tall man with a silver skull cap. After that--absolute -zero. It couldn't have been a point above. That was Bob's last -thought--absolute zero. - - - -A tired sleeper arouses slowly, hovering between consciousness and -dreamland because the mind dreads taking over mastership of the body. -Such was the way Bob Winslow experienced his awakening. It was so -comfortable, to rouse slightly, then plunge back into soft, warm -slumber. At last voices disturbed his brain, and light beat against -closed lids. With a sigh Bob opened his eyes. - -After one startled look Bob closed them briefly. He wasn't in his -room. He was in a strange place, a room with tinted, translucent walls -and concealed lights. The bed, sheet, everything about it, were odd. -Bob started to get up. Sharp pains streaked along arms and legs. -They passed and he tried it again. There was so much to take in: the -squat chairs of semi-transparent material, the room with a screen at -the farther end, flanked with metallic disks. The room itself, while -rectangular, had curved corners. - -There was a peculiar scent in the room, pungent, yet not unpleasant. It -had an exhilarating effect. And Bob thought suddenly of Jim Kenley. He -had to laugh then, for Jim bounced up beside him, eyes wide. "Huh," he -said. "Tornado hit us? What sort of hospital is this?" - -It came back to Bob--his departure from the laboratory building, to the -car as the storm bore down. Then the figures--and the machine! That -wasn't a dream. For Bob knew he was wide awake now, and this place -was real enough. "Maybe," he answered Jim. "I suppose it is a sort of -hospital. But where?" - -"I'm hungry," Jim announced, yawning. "Ouch! Damned funny. Pains all -over. Like I'd been running ten miles. Sa-a-ay! Bob, I got hit out -of the car, and somebody piled ice on me. Hey--where the hell's my -clothes. Let's get out of this dump. Are there any nurses anywhere." - -The disks across the room began to whir, without noise. Before either -could speak again, the screen began to send out a soft glow. Then a -figure materialized, that of a man, full sized, in a sort of garment -fitting like waist jacket and tight trousers, but in a single piece. -The man wore a helmet, chromium bright, and looked no more than forty. -Bob and Jim waited, the former fully aware that a tremendous change, -somehow, had come into their lives. As for Jim Kenley, he merely -grunted. "Movies. Gimme Mickey Mouse, or Popeye. T'hell with Flash -Gordon." - -Then the figure on the screen spoke. His words didn't come from a -speaker. As certain as he believed his own eyes and ears, Bob realized -the man was actually talking to them, from this screen. "I perceive the -actinic frequency treatment has revived you," he said, rather amiably. -"Good. Did either of you experience muscular pains yet?" - -"Say," Jim Kenley exclaimed, "what t'hell's it all about. Yeah, I got -pains. And why? Somebody slugged me, that's why. - -"And if we're okay now, how about sending our clothes around, and no -bill. I didn't start it. And where are we anyway?" - -The man on the screen frowned. "You are not Winslow. No?" - -"I'm Jim Kenley. That's Bob. Say--any of you folks phone Bob's outfit -he got hurt or something?" - -"No." The figure came nearer, growing in perspective. "I believe it is -time to inform you it would be somewhat difficult to notify anyone in -your period of time what happened. You are now existing in the year -3300." - -The pit of Bob's stomach grew chill. Somehow, he had felt from the -moment of awakening, that he had left either his space, or his time -zone. It fit too well with that presentment, and the brief glimpse of -their kidnapers. And as his alert mind began to grasp their situation, -Bob went through panic. There were so many things he wanted to -complete, to eat, to see. There was a girl, not disturbing him yet, but -nevertheless in the background. There was his whole world, the one he -knew, and that was the world in which he wanted to live, and die. Bob's -curiosity wasn't to explore space. He wanted to better fellow men, and -gain information for them. He wondered if Jim could get the staggering -impact of this calm announcement of their fate. - -Jim's reaction was typical. "Baloney. You gotta damned good act, -brother. And I don't know why you're rehearsing on us." Jim sprang out -of bed. "Come on, Bob. Let's get out of this booby hatch." In tight -fitting pajamas of strange fabric, he started around his bed. He struck -an object, bounded back. Whatever it was, Bob couldn't see it. As for -Jim, swearing, fists doubled, he charged. This time he went back and -struck the floor, turning a complete somersault. - -The man on the screen chuckled. "Some take it easy. Some don't. -Winslow, I perceive you understand more readily, till you get a more -complete explanation. Good. Rest assured you shall get it. Now, if you -and your companion walk directly to this screen, I promise you entry to -your future quarters. Go there, put on clothing you will find, and wait -your summons to food." - -Bob nodded. "May I ask a question?" - -"Of course." - -"Granted this is the year 3300, give me a reason to believe you. A -fundamental one. I live in the Twentieth Century, in the year 1940. We -recognize the theory that time and space are relative, that the past -can still exist. But the future--" - -The man's head nodded approvingly. "A sound question, Winslow. For -that request, I introduce myself. I am Vasper, assigned to instruct -you. Believe me when I say you actually are in the year 3300 and upon -the North American continent, in a region once known as Arkansas. So -much for that. You grasp the falseness of past time, balanced against -space. You understand dimly, I am certain--for it was shortly after -1940 that the Palonian theory of the spiral universe was developed from -previous ideas. Well, we know now that the same rule applied to time -and space without beginning, has no final boundary. Thus, if there is -no beginning, there is no end. If past time and space zones exist, then -so must future time and space zones exist. We have proved that very -definitely, in your case. I must go now," Vasper added quickly. He -smiled, eyes flicking to the dazed Jim Kenley struggling to his feet. -"The barrier is gone now. We put it up, for unbelievers. Walk into the -screen. I shall visit you there, within the hour." - - - -The disks ceased whirling. The screen faded to flat white, and -Jim Kenley leaned against his bed, mumbling. "A nut," he said. -"A goof, with the baseball season coming on--and the Belmont -Stakes--and--everything. And my job--a bonus if I finished by the first -of the month!" - -Bob went across to his friend. He felt sick, shaky. The impact of -Vasper's revelation was sufficient to daze any man, Bob felt. Now he -patted Jim's shoulder. "Then we're two nuts, Jim. - -"We're in something, too big to grasp all at once. I'll stick by you, -Jim. Come on, let's do what--what Vasper said." - -Jim looked long and searchingly at Bob. He gripped his hand. "I'm -dumb," he said slowly. "Yeah, I saw men, and a funny looking thing like -a gold tank--before they jumped us." - -"I saw it, too, Jim." - -"Then--then we're really somewhere else." Jim shuddered, then -straightened his body. "Okay Bob. I'll try and take it, if I don't go -nuts. We walk into the screen, huh? Boy--if that isn't hot. Walking -into screens over a thousand years ahead of your time--or is it after." - -Still bewildered, the two walked slowly to the screen, kept on as -the disks sprang into life again. Bob flinched involuntarily, but he -felt no obstacle. They just walked through the screen as if it were -a shadow, and they were in a smaller room, with beds similar to the -ones they had vacated. There was a screen, much smaller, and chairs of -translucent, blue substance. The ceiling was low and glowed faintly, -as if reflecting daylight. But there were no windows. Jim walked to a -door, and it swung open of itself. "Huh. Kind of an electric eye. Hey, -look. Monkey suits." - -There was clothing, and the metal helmets like Vasper wore. Bob rubbed -his chin. "Well, we might as well try 'em on." - -"Yeah," Jim agreed. "But if anybody else I know sees me, I'll be ribbed -for life. Say, that's the funniest stuff. Soft as velvet, but thick. Oh -well--" - -They got into everything but the helmets. "Now what," Jim wondered, -handling the headpiece. "Lighter'n aluminum. And it's got earphones, or -something. See." - -"Put them on," a voice suggested behind them. Turning, they saw Vasper -as he stepped casually through the screen. He was a six footer, built -like a halfback, with ruddy hair and blue eyes. "We must all wear them -in Taval." - -"Why?" Jim demanded bluntly. - -"Why? For instructions from The Three, of course. They are our leaders -and no man may be out of their reach." - -At a nod from Bob, Jim slipped on the featherweight headgear. Bob found -it didn't interfere with ordinary conversation. Vasper regarded them, -smiling. "I know how you feel," he said. "My special task covers your -century. That's why I speak your language so well. All Taval speaks -English, with variations, for we are descendants of North American -peoples. But first, you are to go with me to the Twentieth Century -dining-room." He led the way to the screen. By now Bob wasn't surprised -at entering a room with a familiar look. It was a restaurant, with a -white coated waiter, and the smell of steaming foods. "Boy," Jim cried. -"I could eat a four-inch steak smothered with onions. And coffee--smell -it Bob. Just smell." - -Bob felt like an animal, was conscious of a hunger he had never -possessed before. Obviously Jim was in the same mood, for he fairly -yanked a bowl of soup from the waiter's grasp. And there was steak, -juicy and appetizing. There was bread, coffee, vegetables and even pie. -And as they ate, Vasper sat there, smiling as if very much pleased. -At last both men knew they were filled. Jim sighed, reached dreamily -for a cigarette. "Anyway," he reflected, "it's worth this namby pamby -business--a feed like that. Okay, Vasper--let's hear details." - -Vasper got up. "I've warned you sufficiently," he said. "I think -perhaps I had better take you outside. To see Taval." - -"That the name of your city?" Jim inquired, winking at Bob. "How far is -it from our home?" - -"A few hundred miles," Vasper answered. "And more than a thousand -years, this way--" - - - -They walked into the inevitable screen Vasper indicated, and at once -found themselves in a green world, almost jungle-like in appearance, -with what appeared to be a mist overhead concealing the sun. There -were buildings, all domed and apparently resting upon queer looking -cushions. There were paths through trees, palms, hardwood, all sorts -of flowers and shrubs, but no streets. Through the foliage people were -moving leisurely, but not in profusion. - -"What's this, a park?" Jim asked. - -"Taval," Vasper answered. It was then Bob, drawn by curiosity, began -to study the sky. It wasn't blue, but ashy gray. Then he exclaimed, -peering more closely. "Why--we're under a great dome--a mile-high one," -he cried. - -Vasper nodded, smiling. "That's right. Taval--one of the domed cities. -There are others--many. All of the Brotherhood." - -Jim found a bench nearby, sat down. "One story houses on cushions. With -funny round tops. No streets. Everything under glass, or something. My -good gosh, and encore. Why did I ever leave home, or did I?" - -Bob joined him. He was excited, and yet strongly moved. His keen, -scientific mind told him thousands of problems had been solved here in -Taval, that Vasper surely was right about the time element. It would -take time to grasp all this. And it was too soon to puzzle why he and -Jim had been brought here. Now he forced a smile. "Suppose," he said, -"you tell us, in a general way, what it's all about." - -Vasper sat down between them, while Jim fumbled for another cigarette. -"Who'll win the World Series?" he muttered. "The Yanks, of course. -But--and there's Placer in the Belmont, smacking 'em over in the Derby -the other day. Placer against Agate Second! What a race. And Tennessee -and Southern Cal--and Texas A & M. Will they be out in front this fall? -Goshamighty. It happened a thousand odd years ago, all this. And I -dunno how it came out. I--" Jim's mouth opened. He slapped his knee. -"Great day, Bob. Suppose I could check up on all the Derbies, and World -Series, and Bowl games for ten years, and got back. Wouldn't I rake in -the dough. Say, that's an idea?" - -"There is no money in Taval," Vasper said quietly. "You do your task -and you are cared for." He turned to Bob. "We are Americans in Taval. -At least," he added, "the descendants of your stock. The machine age -you created with the United States as the driving force, eventually -brought chaos. That and natural disasters. We had few survivors in the -world, by comparison. And then there came Taval, for whom this city is -named. He discovered the key that divorced time and space--" - -"He did," Bob broke in excitedly. "How? We were working on the theory -of overtaking time--by spiraling our speed." - -Vasper nodded. "Yes, that resulted, of course, in the two adventures -to our satellite you called the moon. They were disastrous because -you were ignorant of ether frequencies at the upper end of the cosmic -ray band. But you cannot overtake space by the spiral theory. Always -there would be fractional time, and, therefore, you're always bound by -ordinary dimensions." - -"One million--two million--ten million, as Amos would say," Jim Kenley -put in. "How clear you are, Grandma." - -"Shut up," Bob told him. "Then how did Taval work his theory, Vasper? -That screen--is it a kind of fourth-dimensional business?" - -"It is. But that was worked out later, by a group of his pupils. We -use the same base idea of Taval's, as he perfected it back in 2800. -Discarding time to overtake, or unwind space as you might define it, he -chose to search for a physical way of stopping motion--" - -"I've got it," Bob cried, leaping to his feet. "It came to me--the -night--the night of the storm--absolute zero! That's it! Absolute zero -to stop motion, and therefore, eliminate time and space!" - -"Sit down," Jim advised. "I'm Napoleon and you're Little Caesar. -Remember? And tomorrow's Mayday.... Absolute zero, huh? Well, I said I -felt like I was in a chunk of ice that night." - -"But this screen affair," Bob put in. "It--it's different." - -"Our method of transportation entirely," Vasper affirmed. "Yes, we -need no streets. No walks, save for exercise. Throughout Taval there -are outdoor screens, for convenience. Winslow, I said Taval's idea is -unchanged. It is, although refined. You were right about your absolute -zero. We came to you that way. In the only machine we employ today, -save for the manufacture of the skydome, and our laboratory equipment. -With absolute zero stopping motion, there is neither time nor space. -You know that. Well, the first contact, creating new motion, brings one -to the time in which he is revived." - -"Freezing like that would kill anybody," Jim protested. "It breaks up -tissue." - -"You and Winslow suffered all stoppage of motion in approximately -one-two millionth of a second, my skeptical friend. We brought you to -the portable laboratory, kept you in suspended animation for ten days, -then revived you in another fraction as short as the means we took -possession of your bodies." - -"How long did the process last?" Bob asked. - -"It was exactly thirty days since you reached Taval." - - - -Jim whistled. "No wonder I was hungry. Thirty days." - -"We injected fluids," Vasper told him. "You see, Kenley, we assimilate -food here now chiefly in liquid form. Now the screen--we have reduced -a margin of absolute zero between the walls of the screen, to a width -that your obsolete measuring system cannot cover. The screen itself is -not a physical wall. It is--well, unspatial. That is too advanced for -either of you to grasp now. It is sufficient to explain that you touch -the absolute zero wall, and are revived, all so instantaneously, that -you are not conscious of the change. And in that transition, you reach -any destination you head for." - -"Simple," Jim groaned. "So very, very simple. Okay, and I thought -Aladdin--or whoever he was, just happened to be a myth." Jim studied -Vasper thoughtfully. "And now, my good friend, why are we here?" - -"You," Vasper announced, "are here because of your friend Winslow. -We are few, and we need brains, and fit bodies. Winslow has both. We -search the back centuries constantly for men--and women. Men with -brains to keep our race, and our world existing. We placed the skydome -over all our cities because the sun will cool for a thousand years. We -have learned that and must start now, to keep our plant and animal life -from perishing, till the cycle ends and the earth grows hot again. You, -Jim Kenley, were brought along because you are Winslow's friend, and -your company will be of advantage while he adjusts himself to what must -be an amazing change in his career." - -"A master work of understatement," Bob observed. "Maybe I was serving -my time to better purpose. It was all I wanted to do. Do you think I'm -ever to be happy here?" - -"What sort of ball clubs do you have?" Jim fired at Vasper. "I'll bet -there's not even a golf club." - -Vasper laughed. "You're due for some surprises, Kenley." - -For Bob Winslow, there followed hours that intrigued him. Only here -and there did he meet Taval residents. Vasper explained that by going -directly from point to point, that there was no traffic, that all duty -hours were staggered because Taval at night, was as well illuminated -as by day. The chief plants were operated by robot workers, who could -reproduce their kind in other factories. "Taval, like our other cities, -now needs only brains," Vasper went on. "We maintain sports here to -keep our bodies fit." As he spoke, Vasper undid a tiny container -hanging to one shoulder, extracted a handful of tiny pellets and -swallowed them. At Bob's look of curiosity he smiled. "Energy," he -said. "But we use more fluid food than these. Come, while I take you -to The Three, your companion is at liberty to go across there to the -stadium of sports." - -"I'd like to see that too," Bob said. Vasper nodded. He pointed to an -outside screen. They entered it and found themselves in a great open -air arena. Upon the grass-mantled field a game was in progress, not -unlike basketball. Farther away, a group of young women, the first -Bob had seen, clad in trunks like any miss of the Twentieth Century, -engaged in a game, somewhat like tennis, save that the ball was -larger and a dozen took part in each court. Youths were jogging along -a circular track, and in the distance was a narrow, but rather long -swimming pool. The arena itself, was double the size of any Bob had -ever seen before. "I think," Vasper observed, "that should interest -Kenley. And now, if you have been listening carefully, there comes an -order for us." - -Bob heard it now, a voice speaking slowly, some of the words not -recognizable. The speaker had no accent. Vasper was watching Bob. "The -language has changed," he explained. "That was Fator, the senior of -Taval's Three. He must examine you, assign you your future duties." - -"Future duties!" - -"Of course. Why else did The Three send for you out of time? Your -brain is needed, if we prepare to save the world in the centuries to -come. There are others we are summoning, if we had more apparatus. -Unfortunately, certain elements are scarce, and we have but one--the -one in which they brought you here." So speaking, Vasper led the way to -another screen. - - - -Somehow, Bob had expected to find an aged, bearded man. Instead, Fator, -senior of The Three looked no more than sixty, was clean shaven and his -hair was hardly gray. He was at a desk, in a room minus windows, and -very similar to the other interiors Bob had already seen here. Fator -had his hands upon an inclosed cylinder which gave forth a whirring -sound. He wore a look of deep concentration, and Vasper motioned for -silence till the cylinder ceased whirring. Then Fator rose, walked -across the room and held out a hand. - -"I bid you welcome to Taval, Winslow," he spoke slowly, in his stilted -manner. "You will find more--more sympathy here, than in your time. -More than you had in your own research laboratory." - -"Why--you know about that?" - -Fator nodded, cold gray eyes flicking over Bob's body. "I notice -you are well kept. Splendid. You shall have the same food as you -are accustomed to, sir. Your duties are to be with an advanced -group--charting our universe--as we reach the Peltior Dark." - -Bob stared. "The Peltior Dark," Fator explained, "is as visible now as -the so-called--Oh yes, the Milky Way was in your century. We are going -to strike it in three hundred and twenty nine years." - -"We charted the dark regions with the iconoscope," Bob put in eagerly. -"Till then, our astronomers, working with glass scopes, had only a -vague idea." - -"Still," Fator told him, "our speed toward the first of these abysmal -regions accelerated in the last two centuries. Our sun first will -expand, then contract. Now you see what we are preparing for." - -Bob smiled. "But we'll be gone sir, before this happens." - -Fator's smile was enigmatic. "Perhaps--not. For some of us. I trust you -are reconciled, Winslow. You cannot go back. Otherwise, you are as free -as any resident of Taval. You must remain inside the dome, unless it is -directed otherwise. Our sun is two degrees colder today, and ice covers -the northern hemisphere outside. You could not escape, but I hardly -have to warn you. There are plenty of matters to interest you in our -midst. You are that type. As for your companion--" - -"Kenley's a sensible chap," Bob cut in. "True, he lives for sports. -But he is an excellent auditor--I mean," he floundered, "good at -calculation and all that." - -"We have machines for that, in our cities," Fator replied. And the way -he said it, made Bob feel a tiny cold shudder. - -Fator closed the interview with the word that he--Bob Winslow, would be -answerable to the Senior of Taval's ruling Three. He further said that -Vasper would continue as his instructor for the present. Then, with a -nod, he turned back to his cylinder. It was whirring as Bob and Vasper -stepped into the screen. - -They emerged within the sports arena again, and Bob noted Jim, watching -the games. Then he thought of Fator's cylinder. "That?" Vasper replied -in answer to a question. "He was dictating. We use a system--phonetic. -The fingers of both hands control Taval rays and thereby, the phonetic -words. Fator is writing a story of Taval, or rather, bringing the -history up to date, with a plan for his successor to carry on. That -is," Vasper added, "if he doesn't carry on himself." - -"What do you mean?" Bob demanded. "You haven't discovered immortality!" - -Vasper shook his head. "Unfortunately, no. But--well, there are -whispers. It would be death to mention it openly, what I have heard. Do -not ask me. But in time, listen to the whispers." - -Jim Kenley trotted across the great field, looking more cheerful. "Say, -I told 'em about baseball and they're willing to take a crack at it. -And that tennis business the gals have is red hot. Some swell looking -kids around here. Hey Vasper--they ever marry in Taval?" - -"If The Three decrees, yes. Otherwise, no." - -Jim's face dropped. "Heck, just as I had a redhead squinting at me in -that way. Oh well, when I wake up she'll be gone, and I'll probably -find I'm fired for this spree. Where to now, friend Vasper." - - - -For days they examined Taval, learned that it took in far more -territory than they had imagined. They visited the vat farms, where -giant plants grew, blossomed and produced heat in the matter of days, -fed by chemicals directly to the roots. - -They visited factories, where food was prepared as concentrates, where -plastics from elements and vegetable tissue were compounded, all by -other machines, not at all like Bob's conception of robots. Indeed, -a lot of machines were operated by tiny mechanisms, all lens and -coils, capable of being carried around by hand. The Taval ray, Bob -learned, was a development starting with the so-called electric eye -of the Twentieth Century. And it didn't take him long to recognize -many fundamentals created by earlier Americans. Then it was he who -came to recognize others, brought into Taval as he. Vasper showed him -a stout, slow-moving person called Miller, who had ridden on Fulton's -Clermont. Miller was a chemist. And there was a slight figure out of -the Twenty Second Century, Gregg by name. He was worrying about the -First World Confederacy threatened with breakup when he was removed to -Taval. Gregg, Vasper explained, had one of the finest of new minds, and -was engaged in sinking shafts into the earth's core, to obtain heat -for Taval. As for Jim, he had taken up with a group of young fellows, -all of athletic build, and all, strangely enough, imported in recent -months. Jim mentioned a boxer, who fought in England while Jackson -was President; of a runner who broke the mile record in 1995, and of -an Olympic star winning his awards at the turn of the Twenty First -century. It amused Bob that Jim appeared to fit in so quickly. Already, -by one means or other, Jim actually had organized a baseball team, -and was considering bowling. "Too bad they ain't got race horses," he -complained to his friend. "They tell me there's one section, south of -Taval, that's clean given over to cows and hogs and horses. Funny." - -"Heard anything about your duties?" Bob inquired. - -"Nope. Got hauled up before your friend Fator the other day. He just -asked me if I enjoyed my meals, and minded taking part in the sports. -Asked if I'd ever been sick, or had any ailments, and they typed my -blood, and a lot of other things." - -At Bob's look, Jim laughed, shrugged his shoulders. "Oh, they're doing -the same thing to the other fellows. And say, Bob. Soon as I get -acclimated, Vasper says, they want me to live at the stadium, with the -other beef eaters." - -Bob didn't know why, but he had a premonition then, of some menace -directed at Jim and his friends. But he was about to be taken to his -group, and Bob felt a growing excitement at the prospect. He couldn't -help that, for Taval, scientifically speaking, was a treasure house for -any man of Bob's type. Vasper told him he should feel proud, in that he -was the only newcomer, other than an actual native of Taval, to join -this advanced group. - -The day Bob heard Fator's voice over the headphones, summoning him -to face the screen, Bob's pulse was racing. Fator did him the honor -of standing before his desk as he spoke. "I am addressing the other -members of the advanced group," he said. "Winslow is to join you now. -Instruct him faithfully, and remember he has so much to study, before -he can be of value to you, and Taval. Come forward, Winslow, and join -your group." - -As Fator vanished, Bob turned, gripped Vasper's hand. The latter looked -sad. "Now I must go back--for another," he whispered. "Good luck--Bob." - -He was due for a surprise, to find the advanced group atop the great -dome, living in translucent quarters, a mile above Taval. There he -met Kalen and Forg, the two scientists in charge. He was shown the -rayscopes, that literally crawled along light waves, to annihilate time -and bring before the human eye universes a billion light years away. -There too, he studied the black wastes of Peltior Dark, and saw the -spectograms that revealed the choking gas areas through which they must -pass. - - - -There was so much to learn, so much already learned, that Bob Winslow -forgot ordinary hours. The phonetic language wasn't difficult. He spent -his allotted hours in the library, and both Forg and Kalen, men high in -years, yet with agile minds were patient in revealing discoveries some -of them already centuries old. They told him that the entire universe -would suffer, and they were gambling upon a chance to survive such -intense cold passing through Peltior Dark, that the atmosphere would -thaw inside five centuries. After that, they had concluded, provided -there were no changes in the solar system, the sun would resume its -natural sphere. - -"Is there a way of traveling ahead as I have come," Bob asked. "So that -we might learn our fate?" - -Forg looked at Bob thoughtfully. "We have been afraid--of utter -destruction," he said finally. "In that case, we could not return. But -if someone bold enough to make the venture tried it--" He broke off. -Bob knew Forg was thinking of him. All right, he concluded. And even -then, the germ of an idea was born in his mind. - -At the end of the first month, Fator summoned him again. He was pleased -with Bob's progress. It was even more than they had expected. He asked -about Bob's health, then smiled. "I believe a rest period would benefit -you," he said. "You may find your friend Kenley and spend five days--as -you wish." - -"Could Vasper share the rest period with me?" Bob inquired. - -"Yes. I shall advise him. He has been back to your century. He delayed, -for your benefit. You shall learn, upon seeing him." - -Vasper had brought back two more young men. Likewise, he had some -magazines and newspapers. He delivered these in Jim's presence and the -latter grabbed for the sports pages. Bob picked up his choice paper. -There was a headline, and pictures. - - THREE DEAD, 47 HURT IN TORNADO - -Bob saw pictures of twisted buildings, wreckage, littering streets. The -entire downtown section of his home city had suffered. Kerla Research -structures had been particularly hard hit. And there, at the bottom of -the page, was his own photograph. - -YOUNG DIRECTOR OF KERLA RESEARCH LOST, read the caption. - -Many bodies were still buried in debris, Bob read, and it was assumed -Bob had met such a fate. Jim interrupted. "Sa-a-ay. The Cincy Reds -are coming right back. Can you tie that? And the Cards--sa-a-ay. The -Nationals will be all tied up again this year. And--" Jim crushed the -paper, tossed it away. He got up, face pale. - -Bob laid his paper aside, walked over and patted Jim's shoulder. "They -said it was a tornado, just as we got kidnaped, Jim. I'm supposed to be -killed. And maybe you. We'll have to forget it, Jim." - -"I wish to hell Vasper hadn't stopped on his way back. Or--that's the -particular hell of it. Vasper going back. And coming just like coming -home on the bus. And look at us. Look at us. Now I want to get back. -Back home. To hell with this--all of it." - -"Hush Jim. Shut up." Vasper looked sorry. He shook his head. "I -thought I was doing you a favor," he apologized. "To tell the truth, -I had never seen such a storm, and I wanted to know how--how intense -it was myself. We--we almost gave up taking you back because of the -disturbance." - -"I wish it had blown you to the year 50,000," Jim said bitterly. "Now -I'm thinking of Yanks and Reds and Cubs, and football and racing, -and--of everything." - -Vasper removed his headgear as Jim sauntered into another room. He -motioned for Bob to do the same thing. In wonder, Bob obeyed. Watching -the screen constantly, Vasper drew nearer. "Did you hear--whispers?" he -asked anxiously. Bob shook his head. - -Vasper hesitated. Then, "I like your friend Jim. Many young men do. But -he is doomed." - -"What!" - -"Not so loud," Vasper said in lower tones. "Jim Kenley is doomed, -unless some way is found. The young men are afraid, as more like -Jim--with strong bodies and no great brains, are being brought here." - -"Go on," Bob answered. "I betray no secrets. What do you mean?" - -"Bodies are plentiful, but brains are not. Bodies can die, but brains -must survive. The Three have decided that." - -Ice raked across Bob's heart. "So what?" - -"At last they know--how to transfer the mind from body to body. Now, do -you understand?" Quickly Vasper slipped on his headgear. Bob imitated -his action mechanically. They were not a moment too soon, for a figure -passed across the screen, bearing an apparatus resembling a miniature -camera. It vanished. Vasper nodded. "Room inspector. He records -everything as he goes across the screen." And now Jim returned. Vasper -suggested going outside. Bob remained in the room. He wanted to think. - - - -Vasper had taken a real chance to get this information to him. Now he -understood why Jim was removed to the stadium barracks. Taval's rulers -had stumbled upon something, more important probably than all other -findings. Brain transference! Old men gaining immortality! Young men -doomed, to premature senility, then death! And Jim among them. Bob felt -sick now. - -There must be a way out. Bob felt his debt to Vasper, for undoubtedly -the latter knew more than he had revealed. Now a chance remark of -Forg's made recently bobbed up in Bob Winslow's mind. "We won't have -to worry about leaving our work undone." That was what Forg had said. -It tied in with another comment by one of the advance group, who -vouchsafed the information to Bob that there would be few additions to -their division. - -Jim returned at that moment. He started talking about organizing two -baseball nines. "Calling 'em the Yanks and Cubs," he laughed. "Say -Vasper--where you going?" - -Vasper had been listening intently, obviously to a message over his -headphone. He whirled, raced toward the screen and vanished. "Can you -tie that," Jim exclaimed. "He's a funny duck. But a good scout, Bob. I -mean, like us. He--" - -Two men materialized on the screen. They stepped into the room. -Addressing Jim, one, a swarthy, wide-shouldered man spoke. "You are to -come with us." - -"Me? I'm suppose to be on leave." - -"I had permission for him to join me," Bob put in. - -The swarthy one looked at Bob. "I have orders," he said slowly. - -Jim swore, looked thoughtful, then shrugged his shoulders. "In this -place, they don't fool with you," he mused. "Okay. See you later, Bob." - -Panic gripped Bob. Vasper hadn't skipped out because of his own orders. -Somebody had tipped him off. "Wait a minute," he addressed the men. -"Maybe I can straighten this out. Fator--" - -"We are under Fator's orders." - -Jim looked pale. "Keep a stiff upper lip, Bob. I know more than you -thought. See you later--if you won't recognize me--" - -For quite a while Bob Winslow paced the room like a caged animal. Jim -did know something. Maybe Vasper had told him, too. Maybe a lot of -young men in Taval were whispering the dread news around, helpless yet, -hoping for some sort of break to check this menace. It was some time -later when Vasper entered the room, caught Bob's eyes with a motion -for silence, beckoning him at the same time. Curious, Bob came to him. -Vasper held out his hand, pointing to the screen. - -They entered a small room, not well lighted. It had no occupants. That -is, not till Vasper removed his headgear, as did Bob. The room had a -false front, painted to resemble walls and furnishings. Two young men -were in the semi darkness behind the false wall. - -"Godi and Lelan," Vasper whispered. "They have arranged this room, once -a guard room and forgotten. They have knowledge." - -"About what? Why they came for Jim?" - -"Yes," said the one known as Godi. "Lelan and I are sons of men near -The Three. We know Fator has learned brain transference and plans to -experiment, first with Forg, of your own group." - -"When?" - -"Within the hour. That is why he sent for Jim Kenley." - -Bob looked at the three, all sober faced, rebellious. "You like Jim," -he suggested. - -"He is--swell," Godi put in. "That is his word for things he likes. -Fator has no right to take any of our bodies, for housing brains of old -men." - -"But we are helpless," Lelan sighed. "Godi and I, like others born of -Taval families, are safe. But the Jim Kenleys brought out of time--they -must suffer. It is not right. When I am old I am ready to die." - -Vasper nodded. "I do not want to go back, and take men of my age, for -such purposes. It's murder, no less. We do not believe in murder, here -in Taval." - -Fator! He had appeared so benevolent. He was a brilliant man. Bob could -understand in a way. Fator was ambitious for his period of stewardship, -to reach all the goals he had set. And he could live himself, through -his brain, till he had gained those objectives. And Forg! Jim's body -and Forg's brain, toiling at his own side in the years to come. Bob -shuddered. But what to do? If the experiment was so nearly at hand-- - - - -Yes, there was a chance. It came to Bob in a wave of inspiration. It -was a chance that had about as long odds as his own at returning to -1940. The single, time-space transfer machine! If it could be called -a machine. Vasper should know of it. He had made so many trips. Now he -met his Taval friend's troubled eyes. "The machine," he whispered. - -Vasper looked scared. "No. One dies attempting to even touch it, except -at Fator's orders. It is a sacred trust of a hundred men. To try and -reach it means you would be exploded, into sheer gas." - -"But if Fator gave an order," Bob went on, "what then?" - -Vasper shrugged his shoulders. "Obedience, of course. But Fator will -not give such an order." - -Godi plucked Bob's arm. "I think I understand," he spoke quietly. "If -such an order was given. In Fator's place, I mean. Then one would die, -but perhaps you could gain the machine." - -"True, Godi. But the only little item lacking, is how to give that -order, and then keep Fator from canceling it." - -"I think I could attend to that," Lelan put in. "My duties are in the -rooms of The Three. I know that the other two are sick old men, and -Fator alone directs us. I know his directing room, from where all -his orders originate. In fact, I go in and out at will, because I am -responsible for all equipment." - -Bob looked at Vasper. "Where would this experiment be held--Forg's, and -Jim--" - -"I do not know, unless it be in Fator's rooms. Again, it might be -somewhere else. Fator has a secret workroom." - -Bob sank to a stool, mind going over the picture. Presently he looked -up at Lelan. "If we left here at precisely the same moment, you to the -directing room, Vasper and I to where I could be near the time-space -transfer machine, I'm willing to, well, make a try and get in the -machine. But Vasper, or someone must tell me what to do." - -"That is impossible," Vasper told him. "However I can operate -everything. Winslow, I wish to go with you and Jim. Back to your 1940." - -"But they'd come and get us--I mean you in particular." - -Vasper smiled. "There is one way, my friend, they cannot reach us. We -keep the machine. But before that, we take Fator along, to drop into -another time. Then there will be no brains transferred, and there will -be no new machine, for many, many years. I know. This one took fifty -years of construction." - -"We might fail," Bob muttered. He looked at Godi and Lelan. Godi spoke -up. "I have heard whispers of Fator's secret workroom. Maybe I can find -it, if you fail otherwise. I leave now." He turned, pressed Lelan's -hand. "We do this for Jim Kenley, one--one swell sportsman," he said, -then hurried around the false wall. - - - -They stood there for minutes, the remaining three, whispering final -details, Bob felt alternate hot and cold chills now, as he realized -his own end, should they fail. Or Lelan fail. Lelan assured them he -would not fail. "You shall have the orders before the count of ten," he -swore. "The guard will fall back and admit you." - -They walked around the false wall, toward the screen. Then the trio -stiffened. A room inspector, his tiny apparatus turned their way, was -visible. Now he entered boldly. "What's this," he demanded. "This -place--you three--unauthorized here!" He pressed the side of his -apparatus and a pale light flickered. Vasper and Lelan leaped together, -struck the room inspector, all three crashing to the floor. Vasper got -up first. He snatched a plastic chair, brought it down on the man's -head. Lelan was jumping up and down. "The alarm's given. We've got -seconds, at the most. Now--now--we've got a chance--" - -Lelan went through the screen first. Then Vasper grasped Bob's hand. -"Just go with me," he cried. "Don't think where you're headed." They -came into a large, domed structure, and Bob saw it--the golden hued, -snubnosed machine, looking more like a submarine than anything else. -Guards were tumbling out of screens. They bore slender, black wands. -But already Bob knew those wands could blast any known substance, at -almost any distance. The men formed a circle about the machine, and -wands were leveled at the pair. "If Lelan fails--we're gone," Vasper -cried. "They have orders to kill--anyone. Unless the word comes." - -They were a hundred feet from the machine, before the largest screen. -It was hopeless to rush the men. For even if Vasper could get inside -the machine, they would be gas instead of humans before sprinting -twenty feet. It was tempting to wheel and dash back through the screen. -And yet the alarm surely was out now, and it wouldn't take long to -identify the guilty. Then it was that Vasper cried out. "Look. They've -made no move. They have the order from Lelan." - -Not a guard moved, true, but the wands were still leveled. And now -Vasper strode forward. Bob's knees felt weak, but he followed. Panic -was upon him, so much that he felt an almost overwhelming urge to dash -for the machine. As for Vasper, he spoke no word. It was evident the -guards were dumbfounded, still suspicious, but powerless for the moment -to halt them. And Vasper reached up, moved a hand and a door slid open. -The pair entered. - -Already the men outside were in motion. As one a half hundred rushed -toward the door. But Vasper had it closed. "Lelan's in trouble," he -called, running forward to a turret. "Hang on. We're going to Fator's -quarters--to his entrance hall." - - - -The domed ceiling melted. In one continuous motion they seemed to blend -into another building, beneath another dome, more brightly lighted. -There were men, guards, but Vasper groaned. "Fator is not here," he -shouted. - -Bob was conscious of a voice sounding in his earphone. It -was high pitched, insistent. "Tell Vasper--my legs are gone. -Fator--Stadium--underneath--" Lelan's voice died in a great sigh. Bob -pictured the onrush of guards, blasting their friend's body bit by bit -into gas. Bob shouted the words to Vasper, who nodded. They made the -arena field first, and there was Godi, racing toward them and pointing -toward the tower overlooking the stadium entrance. Then Godi reached -the tower, pointed downward. - -Even as Godi pointed vigorously into the earth, he seemed to swell, to -grow abruptly, into a white cloud that became mist. Guards were coming -across the field. Vasper circled the machine above the dissolving mist. -Then, with an air of decision, he pointed the machine earthward. - -This was no sudden transition by means of fourth-dimensional powers. -The machine struck, and they became the center of an exploding mass of -soil and masonry. And as quickly, they dived into a great, underground -chamber. - -There, visible to the invaders, was Fator. There were two beds, side by -side. One held Jim Kenley, bared to the waist. Forg was stretched upon -the other. Fator had his hands upraised, and Vasper got down, ran to -the exit and waved his hand. "You take Fator. I'll take care of Jim," -he called. Bob was outside as quickly. He realized the chance they must -take now. Let the screens pour in a horde of guards and the machine's -security for them would vanish. Fator was fumbling for a wand. It had -fallen to the floor. Now Fator was bent over, hand outstretched. Bob -made a dive. He struck the director of Taval, sent him beyond reach. - -Vasper was racing toward the machine with Jim's body. Forg made feeble -efforts to raise as Bob, the death wand in his possession, grabbed -Fator's arm. "Get up," he snarled. "You kill no buddy of mine, for his -body. Get up, or I'll blow you out of Taval." - -Fator wasn't calm now. He looked wolfish, screaming curses, clawing for -the wand. He resisted, and Bob started dragging him. And now men did -pour forth from screens, wands before them. "Blast him," Fator shouted. -"Quick--" - -Bob yanked Fator around, holding him as a screen. He held the wand -before him. "Okay," he said. "Let's start." - -It was a bluff. Vasper shouted encouragement. But Fator fought, and -almost pulled away, while guards circled at a safe distance, hesitating -to attack. They followed, till Bob was below the machine entrance. It -was a three-foot climb, and Fator himself laughed. "When he turns to -push me in, use the ray," he ordered. - -Bob stood there. He was stymied. He heard Vasper talking. He must be -talking to Jim. Then Bob felt a hand. "Jim's coming around," he said. -"Hold tight when we pull." Hands slid under both shoulders. Fator let -out a scream of sheer terror now, and both Jim and Vasper tugged. -Guards ran toward them. Vasper calmly snatched Bob's wand. He made a -quick flip and the room became a cloud of white mist. Then, as he and -Jim pulled Bob and Fator inside, Vasper closed the door and jumped -for the control turret. Fator was still struggling, but Bob and Jim -held to him, as Vasper directed. Up through the earth they roared and -the stadium field was in bold relief, for one brief moment. It was -Bob's last glimpse of Taval. For the roaring increased, and the ports -admitted a nightmare of flashing, ever-changing lights, coupled with -deepest darkness. Then the roaring stopped. The lights slowed. Motion -ceased; Vasper climbed down, stared at Fator thoughtfully. "Your brain -can hunt a body--in the Sixth Century," he said. - - - -Bob saw green fields, the ocean in the distance, blue and dotted with -sails. They were atop a hill, and vineyards stretched downward, to -a city at the water's edge. Fator stared, then nodded. "I was too -ambitious," he sighed. "Too ambitious." He stepped down, without -a backward look. Vasper closed the door, and when he reached the -controls, the roaring, and the succession of shifting colored lights, -like tinted lightning, recommenced. Bob had no idea how long it took -them. Jim, looking pale, suddenly woke up fully. "Gosh," he shouted. "I -wish we could go back, for a while," he called. - -"Why?" Bob wanted to know. - -"Why--right away my Yanks and Cubs were to tangle for a five-game -series, and Lelan's to pitch for the Cubs." - -Bob looked at Vasper, who smiled sadly, shook his head. Bob didn't -explain what had happened to Lelan, who had given his life for this -friend from the Twentieth Century. Then the machine jolted to earth. -It was night outside. Vasper opened the door, extended his hand. "That -glow is your home city," he said. "You have been away exactly sixty-one -days, my friends. Perhaps you can explain that both were taken to -hospitals out of the city during the excitement, after the great storm, -and your identities were lost, due to great stress." - -Bob nodded. "Yes, that can be explained. We'll arrange that, Vasper. -But now, the problem is--well, you. Come and live with us. We'll make -it up, for all this." - -But Vasper shook his head. "No. I would be difficult to explain, -perhaps. Or at least, my conveyance, eh?" He smiled. - -"But you can't go back to Taval," Jim protested. "You've broken a half -dozen laws, and swiped their precious machine." - -"True. I doubt I could ever return," Vasper affirmed. He sighed. "I've -been something I regret now. Very much. But life has its compensations, -Bob and Jim. Perhaps I would have kept right on, kidnaping, as you -say, to bolster up our civilization. But Fator's discovery--that made -the difference. It is possible there might be a revolt in Taval. I can -discover that, by visiting a later time than the year 3300. Meanwhile," -he added, "there are some many periods of our history I want to -investigate. From the beginning. Think of that. The stone age. The ice -ages. When the world was young. I can go when and where I please, right -on down the ages. What a story I could dictate, when I grow old." - -"You make me want to join you," Bob muttered. But he already felt a -curiosity about Kerla Research, and the rebuilding. He could think of -a particular restaurant, and of shows, and people he wanted to talk -with again. Jim put it into words. "Boy-oh-boy. Shows. Who won the -Belmont. And they're thinking of the Series--and football. And all the -gang--they'll want to know where I recovered, huh. And my folks--" -Jim's voice broke. As for Vasper, he put an arm about Jim's shoulder. -Then he came over, pressed Bob's hand. "Maybe," he smiled, "I might -visit you, some time, and take you for--well a sort of leave. If you -care." - -"Care! I'll make it my vacation this same time next year. For a month. -We'll go back--and forward too. And Jim--" - -"You're wrong there," Jim said flatly. "I'll entertain Vasper here, -in good old 1940, or 45. But I'm not leaving this place, unless," he -added, "I can run up ahead six months some time, and get the series and -Bowl game results. You know, just for luck." - -And that was that. Vasper reentered the golden tinted machine. They -could see him, silver headgear gleaming, through the turret plastic -hood. He waved a hand. Then a roar, and the machine was gone. - -Below, lights of a row of cars marked a highway. Bob and Jim, both -silent, trudged down the hill, toward the highway. Once more they must -live where time and space counted very much indeed. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Sphere of the Never-Dead, by Sam Carson - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SPHERE OF THE NEVER-DEAD *** - -***** This file should be named 61756.txt or 61756.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/1/7/5/61756/ - -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/61756.zip b/old/61756.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 40ecc05..0000000 --- a/old/61756.zip +++ /dev/null |
