diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 4 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63304-h.zip | bin | 448134 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63304-h/63304-h.htm | 943 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63304-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 255625 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63304-h/images/illus.jpg | bin | 176713 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63304.txt | 831 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63304.zip | bin | 15756 -> 0 bytes |
9 files changed, 17 insertions, 1774 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..63f54aa --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #63304 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63304) diff --git a/old/63304-h.zip b/old/63304-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 18aea61..0000000 --- a/old/63304-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/63304-h/63304-h.htm b/old/63304-h/63304-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index d5f803f..0000000 --- a/old/63304-h/63304-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,943 +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 Doublecross, by James Mac Creigh. - </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;} - -/* Images */ -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -.caption p -{ - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0; - margin: 0.25em 0; -} - -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; -} - - - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Double-Cross, by James MacCreigh - -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: Double-Cross - -Author: James MacCreigh - -Release Date: September 26, 2020 [EBook #63304] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DOUBLE-CROSS *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - - - - - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>DOUBLECROSS</h1> - -<h2>by JAMES Mac CREIGH</h2> - -<p>Revolt was brewing on Venus, led by the<br /> -descendant of the first Earthmen to<br /> -land. Svan was the leader making the final<br /> -plans—plotting them a bit too well.</p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Planet Stories Winter 1944.<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 Officer of the Deck was pleased as he returned to the main lock. -There was no reason why everything shouldn't have been functioning -perfectly, of course, but he was pleased to have it confirmed, all the -same. The Executive Officer was moodily smoking a cigarette in the open -lock, staring out over the dank Venusian terrain at the native town. He -turned.</p> - -<p>"Everything shipshape, I take it!" he commented.</p> - -<p>The OD nodded. "I'll have a blank log if this keeps up," he said. -"Every man accounted for except the delegation, cargo stowed, drivers -ready to lift as soon as they come back."</p> - -<p>The Exec tossed away his cigarette. "<i>If</i> they come back."</p> - -<p>"Is there any question?"</p> - -<p>The Exec shrugged. "I don't know, Lowry," he said. "This is a funny -place. I don't trust the natives."</p> - -<p>Lowry lifted his eyebrows. "Oh? But after all, they're human beings, -just like us—"</p> - -<p>"Not any more. Four or five generations ago they were. Lord, they don't -even look human any more. Those white, flabby skins—I don't like them."</p> - -<p>"Acclimation," Lowry said scientifically. "They had to acclimate -themselves to Venus's climate. They're friendly enough."</p> - -<p>The Exec shrugged again. He stared at the wooden shacks that were the -outskirts of the native city, dimly visible through the ever-present -Venusian mist. The native guard of honor, posted a hundred yards from -the Earth-ship, stood stolidly at attention with their old-fashioned -proton-rifles slung over their backs. A few natives were gazing -wonderingly at the great ship, but made no move to pass the line of -guards.</p> - -<p>"Of course," Lowry said suddenly, "there's a minority who are afraid -of us. I was in town yesterday, and I talked with some of the natives. -They think there will be hordes of immigrants from Earth, now that we -know Venus is habitable. And there's some sort of a paltry underground -group that is spreading the word that the immigrants will drive the -native Venusians—the descendants of the first expedition, that -is—right down into the mud. Well—" he laughed—"maybe they will. -After all, the fittest survive. That's a basic law of—"</p> - -<p>The annunciator over the open lock clanged vigorously, and a metallic -voice rasped: "Officer of the Deck! Post Number One! Instruments -reports a spy ray focused on the main lock!"</p> - -<p>Lowry, interrupted in the middle of a word, jerked his head back and -stared unbelievingly at the tell-tale next to the annunciator. Sure -enough, it was glowing red—might have been glowing for minutes. He -snatched at the hand-phone dangling from the wall, shouted into it. -"Set up a screen! Notify the delegation! Alert a landing party!" But -even while he was giving orders, the warning light flickered suddenly -and went out. Stricken, Lowry turned to the Exec.</p> - -<p>The Executive Officer nodded gloomily. He said, "You see!"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"You see?"</p> - -<p>Svan clicked off the listening-machine and turned around. The five -others in the room looked apprehensive. "You see?" Svan repeated. "From -their own mouths you have heard it. The Council was right."</p> - -<p>The younger of the two women sighed. She might have been beautiful, in -spite of her dead-white skin, if there had been a scrap of hair on her -head. "Svan, I'm afraid," she said. "Who are we to decide if this -is a good thing? Our parents came from Earth. Perhaps there will be -trouble at first, if colonists come, but we are of the same blood."</p> - -<p>Svan laughed harshly. "<i>They</i> don't think so. You heard them. We are -not human any more. The officer said it."</p> - -<p>The other woman spoke unexpectedly. "The Council was right," she -agreed. "Svan, what must we do?"</p> - -<p>Svan raised his hand, thoughtfully. "One moment. Ingra, do you still -object?"</p> - -<p>The younger woman shrank back before the glare in his eyes. She looked -around at the others, found them reluctant and uneasy, but visibly -convinced by Svan.</p> - -<p>"No," she said slowly. "I do not object."</p> - -<p>"And the rest of us? Does any of us object?"</p> - -<p>Svan eyed them, each in turn. There was a slow but unanimous gesture of -assent.</p> - -<p>"Good," said Svan. "Then we must act. The Council has told us that we -alone will decide our course of action. We have agreed that, if the -Earth-ship returns, it means disaster for Venus. Therefore, it must not -return."</p> - -<p>An old man shifted restlessly. "But they are strong, Svan," he -complained. "They have weapons. We cannot force them to stay."</p> - -<p>Svan nodded. "No. They will leave. But they will never get back to -Earth."</p> - -<p>"Never get back to Earth?" the old man gasped. "Has the Council -authorized—murder?"</p> - -<p>Svan shrugged. "The Council did not know what we would face. The -Councilmen could not come to the city and see what strength the -Earth-ship has." He paused dangerously. "Toller," he said, "do you -object?"</p> - -<p>Like the girl, the old man retreated before his eyes. His voice was -dull. "What is your plan?" he asked.</p> - -<p>Svan smiled, and it was like a dark flame. He reached to a box at his -feet, held up a shiny metal globe. "One of us will plant this in the -ship. It will be set by means of this dial—" he touched a spot on the -surface of the globe with a pallid finger—"to do nothing for forty -hours. Then—it will explode. Atomite."</p> - -<p>He grinned triumphantly, looking from face to face. The grin -faded uncertainly as he saw what was in their eyes—uncertainty, -irresolution. Abruptly he set the bomb down, savagely ripped six leaves -off a writing tablet on the table next him. He took a pencil and made a -mark on one of them, held it up.</p> - -<p>"We will let chance decide who is to do the work," he said angrily. "Is -there anyone here who is afraid? There will be danger, I think...."</p> - -<p>No answer. Svan jerked his head. "Good," he said. "Ingra, bring me that -bowl."</p> - -<p>Silently the girl picked up an opaque glass bowl from the broad arm -of her chair. It had held Venus-tobacco cigarettes; there were a few -left. She shook them out and handed the bowl to Svan, who was rapidly -creasing the six fatal slips. He dropped them in the bowl, stirred it -with his hand, offered it to the girl. "You first, Ingra," he said.</p> - -<p>She reached in mechanically, her eyes intent on his, took out a slip -and held it without opening it. The bowl went the rounds, till Svan -himself took the last. All eyes were on him. No one had looked at their -slips.</p> - -<p>Svan, too, had left his unopened. He sat at the table, facing them. -"This is the plan," he said. "We will go, all six of us, in my ground -car, to look at the Earth-ship. No one will suspect—the whole city -has been to see it already. One will get out, at the best point we can -find. It is almost dusk now. He can hide, surely, in the vegetation. -The other five will start back. Something will go wrong with the -car—perhaps it will run off the road, start to sink in the swamp. The -guards will be called. There will be commotion—that is easy enough, -after all; a hysterical woman, a few screams, that's all there is to -it. And the sixth person will have his chance to steal to the side -of the ship. The bomb is magnetic. It will not be noticed in the -dark—they will take off before sunrise, because they must travel away -from the sun to return—in forty hours the danger is removed."</p> - -<p>There was comprehension in their eyes, Svan saw ... but still that -uncertainty. Impatiently, he crackled: "Look at the slips!"</p> - -<p>Though he had willed his eyes away from it, his fingers had rebelled. -Instinctively they had opened the slip, turned it over and over, -striving to detect if it was the fatal one. They had felt nothing....</p> - -<p>And his eyes saw nothing. The slip was blank. He gave it but a second's -glance, then looked up to see who had won the lethal game of chance. -Almost he was disappointed.</p> - -<p>Each of the others had looked in that same second. And each was looking -up now, around at his neighbors. Svan waited impatiently for the chosen -one to announce it—a second, ten seconds....</p> - -<p>Then gray understanding came to him. <i>A traitor!</i> his subconscious -whispered. <i>A coward!</i> He stared at them in a new light, saw their -indecision magnified, became opposition.</p> - -<p>Svan thought faster than ever before in his life. If there was a -coward, it would do no good to unmask him. All were wavering, any might -be the one who had drawn the fatal slip. He could insist on inspecting -every one, but—suppose the coward, cornered, fought back? In fractions -of a second, Svan had considered the evidence and reached his decision. -Masked by the table, his hand, still holding the pencil, moved swiftly -beneath the table, marked his own slip.</p> - -<p>In the palm of his hand, Svan held up the slip he had just marked in -secret. His voice was very tired as he said, "I will plant the bomb."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The six conspirators in Svan's old ground car moved slowly along the -main street of the native town. Two Earth-ship sailors, unarmed except -for deceptively flimsy-looking pistols at their hips, stood before the -entrance to the town's Hall of Justice.</p> - -<p>"Good," said Svan, observing them. "The delegation is still here. We -have ample time."</p> - -<p>He half turned in the broad front seat next to the driver, searching -the faces of the others in the car. Which was the coward? he wondered. -Ingra? Her aunt? One of the men?</p> - -<p>The right answer leaped up at him. <i>They all are</i>, he thought. <i>Not one -of them understands what this means. They're afraid.</i></p> - -<p>He clamped his lips. "Go faster, Ingra," he ordered the girl who was -driving. "Let's get this done with."</p> - -<p>She looked at him, and he was surprised to find compassion in her -eyes. Silently she nodded, advanced the fuel-handle so that the clumsy -car jolted a trace more rapidly over the corduroy road. It was quite -dark now. The car's driving light flared yellowishly in front of them, -illuminating the narrow road and the pale, distorted vegetation of the -jungle that surrounded them. Svan noticed it was raining a little. The -present shower would deepen and intensify until midnight, then fall off -again, to halt before morning. But before then they would be done.</p> - -<p>A proton-bolt lanced across the road in front of them. In the silence -that followed its thunderous crash, a man's voice bellowed: "Halt!"</p> - -<p>The girl, Ingra, gasped something indistinguishable, slammed on the -brakes. A Venusian in the trappings of the State Guard advanced on them -from the side of the road, proton-rifle held ready to fire again.</p> - -<p>"Where are you going?" he growled.</p> - -<p>Svan spoke up. "We want to look at the Earth-ship," he said. He opened -the door beside him and stepped out, careless of the drizzle. "We heard -it was leaving tonight," he continued, "and we have not seen it. Is -that not permitted?"</p> - -<p>The guard shook his head sourly. "No one is allowed near the ship. The -order was just issued. It is thought there is danger."</p> - -<p>Svan stepped closer, his teeth bared in what passed for a smile. "It -is urgent," he purred. His right hand flashed across his chest in a -complicated gesture. "Do you understand?"</p> - -<p>Confusion furrowed the guard's hairless brows, then was replaced by -a sudden flare of understanding—and fear. "The Council!" he roared. -"By heaven, yes, I understand! You are the swine that caused this—" -He strove instinctively to bring the clumsy rifle up, but Svan was -faster. His gamble had failed; there was only one course remaining. -He hurled his gross white bulk at the guard, bowled him over against -the splintery logs of the road. The proton-rifle went flying, and Svan -savagely tore at the throat of the guard. Knees, elbows and claw-like -nails—Svan battered at the astonished man with every ounce of strength -in his body. The guard was as big as Svan, but Svan had the initial -advantage ... and it was only a matter of seconds before the guard -lay unconscious, his skull a mass of gore at the back where Svan had -ruthlessly pounded it against the road.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> - <div class="caption"> - <p><i>Svan grunted as his fingers constricted brutally.</i></p> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>Svan rose, panting, stared around. No one else was in sight, save the -petrified five and the ground car. Svan glared at them contemptuously, -then reached down and heaved on the senseless body of the guard. Over -the shoulder of the road the body went, onto the damp swampland of the -jungle. Even while Svan watched the body began to sink. There would be -no trace.</p> - -<p>Svan strode back to the car. "Hurry up," he gasped to the girl. "Now -there is danger for all of us, if they discover he is missing. And keep -a watch for other guards."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Venus has no moon, and no star can shine through its vast cloud layer. -Ensign Lowry, staring anxiously out through the astro-dome in the bow -of the Earth-ship, cursed the blackness.</p> - -<p>"Can't see a thing," he complained to the Exec, steadily writing away -at the computer's table. "Look—are those lights over there?"</p> - -<p>The Exec looked up wearily. He shrugged. "Probably the guards. Of -course, you can't tell. Might be a raiding party."</p> - -<p>Lowry, stung, looked to see if the Exec was smiling, but found no -answer in his stolid face. "Don't joke about it," he said. "Suppose -something happens to the delegation?"</p> - -<p>"Then we're in the soup," the Exec said philosophically. "I told you -the natives were dangerous. Spy-rays! They've been prohibited for the -last three hundred years."</p> - -<p>"It isn't all the natives," Lowry said. "Look how they've doubled the -guard around us. The administration is co-operating every way they -know how. You heard the delegation's report on the intercom. It's this -secret group they call the Council."</p> - -<p>"And how do you know the guards themselves don't belong to it?" the -Exec retorted. "They're all the same to me.... Look, your light's gone -out now. Must have been the guard. They're on the wrong side to be -coming from the town, anyhow...."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Svan hesitated only a fraction of a second after the girl turned the -lights out and stopped the car. Then he reached in the compartment -under the seat. If he took a little longer than seemed necessary to get -the atomite bomb out of the compartment, none of the others noticed. -Certainly it did not occur to them that there had been <i>two</i> bombs in -the compartment, though Svan's hand emerged with only one.</p> - -<p>He got out of the car, holding the sphere. "This will do for me," he -said. "They won't be expecting anyone to come from behind the ship—we -were wise to circle around. Now, you know what you must do?"</p> - -<p>Ingra nodded, while the others remained mute. "We must circle back -again," she parroted. "We are to wait five minutes, then drive the car -into the swamp. We will create a commotion, attract the guards."</p> - -<p>Svan, listening, thought: <i>It's not much of a plan. The guards would -not be drawn away. I am glad I can't trust these five any more. If -they must be destroyed, it is good that their destruction will serve a -purpose.</i></p> - -<p>Aloud, he said, "You understand. If I get through, I will return to the -city on foot. No one will suspect anything if I am not caught, because -the bomb will not explode until the ship is far out in space. Remember, -you are in no danger from the guards."</p> - -<p><i>From the guards</i>, his mind echoed. He smiled. At least, they would -feel no pain, never know what happened. With the amount of atomite in -that bomb in the compartment, they would merely be obliterated in a -ground-shaking crash.</p> - -<p>Abruptly he swallowed, reminded of the bomb that was silently counting -off the seconds. "Go ahead," he ordered. "I will wait here."</p> - -<p>"Svan." The girl, Ingra, leaned over to him. Impulsively she reached -for him, kissed him. "Good luck to you, Svan," she said.</p> - -<p>"Good luck," repeated the others. Then silently the electric motor of -the car took hold. Skilfully the girl backed it up, turned it around, -sent it lumbering back down the road. Only after she had traveled a few -hundred feet by the feel of the road did she turn the lights on again.</p> - -<p>Svan looked after them. The kiss had surprised him. What did it mean? -Was it an error that the girl should die with the others?</p> - -<p>There was an instant of doubt in his steel-shackled mind, then it was -driven away. Perhaps she was loyal, yet certainly she was weak. And -since he could not know which was the one who had received the marked -slip, and feared to admit it, it was better they all should die.</p> - -<p>He advanced along the midnight road to where the ground rose and the -jungle plants thinned out. Ahead, on an elevation, were the rain-dimmed -lights of the Earth-ship, set down in the center of a clearing made by -its own fierce rockets. Svan's mist-trained eyes spotted the circling -figures of sentries, and knew that these would be the ship's own. -They would not be as easily overcome as the natives, not with those -slim-shafted blasters they carried. Only deceit could get him to the -side of the ship.</p> - -<p>Svan settled himself at the side of the road, waiting for his chance. -He had perhaps three minutes to wait; he reckoned. His fingers went -absently to the pouch in his wide belt, closed on the slip of paper. He -turned it over without looking at it, wondering who had drawn the first -cross, and been a coward. Ingra? One of the men?</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>He became abruptly conscious of a commotion behind him. A ground car -was racing along the road. He spun around and was caught in the glare -of its blinding driving-light, as it bumped to a slithering stop.</p> - -<p>Paralyzed, he heard the girl's voice. "Svan! They're coming! They found -the guard's rifle, and they're looking for us! Thirty Earthmen, Svan, -with those frightful guns. They fired at us, but we got away and came -for you. We must flee!"</p> - -<p>He stared unseeingly at the light. "Go away!" he croaked unbelievingly. -Then his muscles jerked into action. The time was almost up—the bomb -in the car—</p> - -<p>"Go away!" he shrieked, and turned to run. His fists clenched and -swinging at his side, he made a dozen floundering steps before -something immense pounded at him from behind. He felt himself lifted -from the road, sailing, swooping, dropping with annihilating force -onto the hard, charred earth of the clearing. Only then did he hear the -sound of the explosion, and as the immense echoes died away he began to -feel the pain seeping into him from his hideously racked body....</p> - -<p>The Flight Surgeon rose from beside him. "He's still alive," he said -callously to Lowry, who had just come up. "It won't last long, though. -What've you got there?"</p> - -<p>Lowry, a bewildered expression on his beardless face, held out the two -halves of a metallic sphere. Dangling ends of wires showed where a -connection had been broken. "He had a bomb," he said. "A magnetic-type, -delayed-action atomite bomb. There must have been another in the car, -and it went off. They—they were planning to bomb us."</p> - -<p>"Amazing," the surgeon said dryly. "Well, they won't do any bombing -now."</p> - -<p>Lowry was staring at the huddled, mutilated form of Svan. He shuddered. -The surgeon, seeing the shudder, grasped his shoulder.</p> - -<p>"Better them than us," he said. "It's poetic justice if I ever saw it. -They had it coming...." He paused thoughtfully, staring at a piece of -paper between his fingers. "This is the only part I don't get," he said.</p> - -<p>"What's that?" Lowry craned his neck. "A piece of paper with a cross on -it? What about it?"</p> - -<p>The surgeon shrugged. "He had it clenched in his hand," he said. "Had -the devil of a time getting it loose from him." He turned it over -slowly, displayed the other side. "Now what in the world would he be -doing carrying a scrap of paper with a cross marked on both sides?"</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Double-Cross, by James MacCreigh - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DOUBLE-CROSS *** - -***** This file should be named 63304-h.htm or 63304-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/3/0/63304/ - -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/63304-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/63304-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index de02612..0000000 --- a/old/63304-h/images/cover.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/63304-h/images/illus.jpg b/old/63304-h/images/illus.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 1da1a4c..0000000 --- a/old/63304-h/images/illus.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/63304.txt b/old/63304.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 7106f71..0000000 --- a/old/63304.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,831 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Double-Cross, by James MacCreigh - -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: Double-Cross - -Author: James MacCreigh - -Release Date: September 26, 2020 [EBook #63304] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DOUBLE-CROSS *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - DOUBLECROSS - - by JAMES Mac CREIGH - - Revolt was brewing on Venus, led by the - descendant of the first Earthmen to - land. Svan was the leader making the final - plans--plotting them a bit too well. - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Planet Stories Winter 1944. - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - -The Officer of the Deck was pleased as he returned to the main lock. -There was no reason why everything shouldn't have been functioning -perfectly, of course, but he was pleased to have it confirmed, all the -same. The Executive Officer was moodily smoking a cigarette in the open -lock, staring out over the dank Venusian terrain at the native town. He -turned. - -"Everything shipshape, I take it!" he commented. - -The OD nodded. "I'll have a blank log if this keeps up," he said. -"Every man accounted for except the delegation, cargo stowed, drivers -ready to lift as soon as they come back." - -The Exec tossed away his cigarette. "_If_ they come back." - -"Is there any question?" - -The Exec shrugged. "I don't know, Lowry," he said. "This is a funny -place. I don't trust the natives." - -Lowry lifted his eyebrows. "Oh? But after all, they're human beings, -just like us--" - -"Not any more. Four or five generations ago they were. Lord, they don't -even look human any more. Those white, flabby skins--I don't like them." - -"Acclimation," Lowry said scientifically. "They had to acclimate -themselves to Venus's climate. They're friendly enough." - -The Exec shrugged again. He stared at the wooden shacks that were the -outskirts of the native city, dimly visible through the ever-present -Venusian mist. The native guard of honor, posted a hundred yards from -the Earth-ship, stood stolidly at attention with their old-fashioned -proton-rifles slung over their backs. A few natives were gazing -wonderingly at the great ship, but made no move to pass the line of -guards. - -"Of course," Lowry said suddenly, "there's a minority who are afraid -of us. I was in town yesterday, and I talked with some of the natives. -They think there will be hordes of immigrants from Earth, now that we -know Venus is habitable. And there's some sort of a paltry underground -group that is spreading the word that the immigrants will drive the -native Venusians--the descendants of the first expedition, that -is--right down into the mud. Well--" he laughed--"maybe they will. -After all, the fittest survive. That's a basic law of--" - -The annunciator over the open lock clanged vigorously, and a metallic -voice rasped: "Officer of the Deck! Post Number One! Instruments -reports a spy ray focused on the main lock!" - -Lowry, interrupted in the middle of a word, jerked his head back and -stared unbelievingly at the tell-tale next to the annunciator. Sure -enough, it was glowing red--might have been glowing for minutes. He -snatched at the hand-phone dangling from the wall, shouted into it. -"Set up a screen! Notify the delegation! Alert a landing party!" But -even while he was giving orders, the warning light flickered suddenly -and went out. Stricken, Lowry turned to the Exec. - -The Executive Officer nodded gloomily. He said, "You see!" - - * * * * * - -"You see?" - -Svan clicked off the listening-machine and turned around. The five -others in the room looked apprehensive. "You see?" Svan repeated. "From -their own mouths you have heard it. The Council was right." - -The younger of the two women sighed. She might have been beautiful, in -spite of her dead-white skin, if there had been a scrap of hair on her -head. "Svan, I'm afraid," she said. "Who are we to decide if this -is a good thing? Our parents came from Earth. Perhaps there will be -trouble at first, if colonists come, but we are of the same blood." - -Svan laughed harshly. "_They_ don't think so. You heard them. We are -not human any more. The officer said it." - -The other woman spoke unexpectedly. "The Council was right," she -agreed. "Svan, what must we do?" - -Svan raised his hand, thoughtfully. "One moment. Ingra, do you still -object?" - -The younger woman shrank back before the glare in his eyes. She looked -around at the others, found them reluctant and uneasy, but visibly -convinced by Svan. - -"No," she said slowly. "I do not object." - -"And the rest of us? Does any of us object?" - -Svan eyed them, each in turn. There was a slow but unanimous gesture of -assent. - -"Good," said Svan. "Then we must act. The Council has told us that we -alone will decide our course of action. We have agreed that, if the -Earth-ship returns, it means disaster for Venus. Therefore, it must not -return." - -An old man shifted restlessly. "But they are strong, Svan," he -complained. "They have weapons. We cannot force them to stay." - -Svan nodded. "No. They will leave. But they will never get back to -Earth." - -"Never get back to Earth?" the old man gasped. "Has the Council -authorized--murder?" - -Svan shrugged. "The Council did not know what we would face. The -Councilmen could not come to the city and see what strength the -Earth-ship has." He paused dangerously. "Toller," he said, "do you -object?" - -Like the girl, the old man retreated before his eyes. His voice was -dull. "What is your plan?" he asked. - -Svan smiled, and it was like a dark flame. He reached to a box at his -feet, held up a shiny metal globe. "One of us will plant this in the -ship. It will be set by means of this dial--" he touched a spot on the -surface of the globe with a pallid finger--"to do nothing for forty -hours. Then--it will explode. Atomite." - -He grinned triumphantly, looking from face to face. The grin -faded uncertainly as he saw what was in their eyes--uncertainty, -irresolution. Abruptly he set the bomb down, savagely ripped six leaves -off a writing tablet on the table next him. He took a pencil and made a -mark on one of them, held it up. - -"We will let chance decide who is to do the work," he said angrily. "Is -there anyone here who is afraid? There will be danger, I think...." - -No answer. Svan jerked his head. "Good," he said. "Ingra, bring me that -bowl." - -Silently the girl picked up an opaque glass bowl from the broad arm -of her chair. It had held Venus-tobacco cigarettes; there were a few -left. She shook them out and handed the bowl to Svan, who was rapidly -creasing the six fatal slips. He dropped them in the bowl, stirred it -with his hand, offered it to the girl. "You first, Ingra," he said. - -She reached in mechanically, her eyes intent on his, took out a slip -and held it without opening it. The bowl went the rounds, till Svan -himself took the last. All eyes were on him. No one had looked at their -slips. - -Svan, too, had left his unopened. He sat at the table, facing them. -"This is the plan," he said. "We will go, all six of us, in my ground -car, to look at the Earth-ship. No one will suspect--the whole city -has been to see it already. One will get out, at the best point we can -find. It is almost dusk now. He can hide, surely, in the vegetation. -The other five will start back. Something will go wrong with the -car--perhaps it will run off the road, start to sink in the swamp. The -guards will be called. There will be commotion--that is easy enough, -after all; a hysterical woman, a few screams, that's all there is to -it. And the sixth person will have his chance to steal to the side -of the ship. The bomb is magnetic. It will not be noticed in the -dark--they will take off before sunrise, because they must travel away -from the sun to return--in forty hours the danger is removed." - -There was comprehension in their eyes, Svan saw ... but still that -uncertainty. Impatiently, he crackled: "Look at the slips!" - -Though he had willed his eyes away from it, his fingers had rebelled. -Instinctively they had opened the slip, turned it over and over, -striving to detect if it was the fatal one. They had felt nothing.... - -And his eyes saw nothing. The slip was blank. He gave it but a second's -glance, then looked up to see who had won the lethal game of chance. -Almost he was disappointed. - -Each of the others had looked in that same second. And each was looking -up now, around at his neighbors. Svan waited impatiently for the chosen -one to announce it--a second, ten seconds.... - -Then gray understanding came to him. _A traitor!_ his subconscious -whispered. _A coward!_ He stared at them in a new light, saw their -indecision magnified, became opposition. - -Svan thought faster than ever before in his life. If there was a -coward, it would do no good to unmask him. All were wavering, any might -be the one who had drawn the fatal slip. He could insist on inspecting -every one, but--suppose the coward, cornered, fought back? In fractions -of a second, Svan had considered the evidence and reached his decision. -Masked by the table, his hand, still holding the pencil, moved swiftly -beneath the table, marked his own slip. - -In the palm of his hand, Svan held up the slip he had just marked in -secret. His voice was very tired as he said, "I will plant the bomb." - - * * * * * - -The six conspirators in Svan's old ground car moved slowly along the -main street of the native town. Two Earth-ship sailors, unarmed except -for deceptively flimsy-looking pistols at their hips, stood before the -entrance to the town's Hall of Justice. - -"Good," said Svan, observing them. "The delegation is still here. We -have ample time." - -He half turned in the broad front seat next to the driver, searching -the faces of the others in the car. Which was the coward? he wondered. -Ingra? Her aunt? One of the men? - -The right answer leaped up at him. _They all are_, he thought. _Not one -of them understands what this means. They're afraid._ - -He clamped his lips. "Go faster, Ingra," he ordered the girl who was -driving. "Let's get this done with." - -She looked at him, and he was surprised to find compassion in her -eyes. Silently she nodded, advanced the fuel-handle so that the clumsy -car jolted a trace more rapidly over the corduroy road. It was quite -dark now. The car's driving light flared yellowishly in front of them, -illuminating the narrow road and the pale, distorted vegetation of the -jungle that surrounded them. Svan noticed it was raining a little. The -present shower would deepen and intensify until midnight, then fall off -again, to halt before morning. But before then they would be done. - -A proton-bolt lanced across the road in front of them. In the silence -that followed its thunderous crash, a man's voice bellowed: "Halt!" - -The girl, Ingra, gasped something indistinguishable, slammed on the -brakes. A Venusian in the trappings of the State Guard advanced on them -from the side of the road, proton-rifle held ready to fire again. - -"Where are you going?" he growled. - -Svan spoke up. "We want to look at the Earth-ship," he said. He opened -the door beside him and stepped out, careless of the drizzle. "We heard -it was leaving tonight," he continued, "and we have not seen it. Is -that not permitted?" - -The guard shook his head sourly. "No one is allowed near the ship. The -order was just issued. It is thought there is danger." - -Svan stepped closer, his teeth bared in what passed for a smile. "It -is urgent," he purred. His right hand flashed across his chest in a -complicated gesture. "Do you understand?" - -Confusion furrowed the guard's hairless brows, then was replaced by -a sudden flare of understanding--and fear. "The Council!" he roared. -"By heaven, yes, I understand! You are the swine that caused this--" -He strove instinctively to bring the clumsy rifle up, but Svan was -faster. His gamble had failed; there was only one course remaining. -He hurled his gross white bulk at the guard, bowled him over against -the splintery logs of the road. The proton-rifle went flying, and Svan -savagely tore at the throat of the guard. Knees, elbows and claw-like -nails--Svan battered at the astonished man with every ounce of strength -in his body. The guard was as big as Svan, but Svan had the initial -advantage ... and it was only a matter of seconds before the guard -lay unconscious, his skull a mass of gore at the back where Svan had -ruthlessly pounded it against the road. - -[Illustration: _Svan grunted as his fingers constricted brutally._] - -Svan rose, panting, stared around. No one else was in sight, save the -petrified five and the ground car. Svan glared at them contemptuously, -then reached down and heaved on the senseless body of the guard. Over -the shoulder of the road the body went, onto the damp swampland of the -jungle. Even while Svan watched the body began to sink. There would be -no trace. - -Svan strode back to the car. "Hurry up," he gasped to the girl. "Now -there is danger for all of us, if they discover he is missing. And keep -a watch for other guards." - - * * * * * - -Venus has no moon, and no star can shine through its vast cloud layer. -Ensign Lowry, staring anxiously out through the astro-dome in the bow -of the Earth-ship, cursed the blackness. - -"Can't see a thing," he complained to the Exec, steadily writing away -at the computer's table. "Look--are those lights over there?" - -The Exec looked up wearily. He shrugged. "Probably the guards. Of -course, you can't tell. Might be a raiding party." - -Lowry, stung, looked to see if the Exec was smiling, but found no -answer in his stolid face. "Don't joke about it," he said. "Suppose -something happens to the delegation?" - -"Then we're in the soup," the Exec said philosophically. "I told you -the natives were dangerous. Spy-rays! They've been prohibited for the -last three hundred years." - -"It isn't all the natives," Lowry said. "Look how they've doubled the -guard around us. The administration is co-operating every way they -know how. You heard the delegation's report on the intercom. It's this -secret group they call the Council." - -"And how do you know the guards themselves don't belong to it?" the -Exec retorted. "They're all the same to me.... Look, your light's gone -out now. Must have been the guard. They're on the wrong side to be -coming from the town, anyhow...." - - * * * * * - -Svan hesitated only a fraction of a second after the girl turned the -lights out and stopped the car. Then he reached in the compartment -under the seat. If he took a little longer than seemed necessary to get -the atomite bomb out of the compartment, none of the others noticed. -Certainly it did not occur to them that there had been _two_ bombs in -the compartment, though Svan's hand emerged with only one. - -He got out of the car, holding the sphere. "This will do for me," he -said. "They won't be expecting anyone to come from behind the ship--we -were wise to circle around. Now, you know what you must do?" - -Ingra nodded, while the others remained mute. "We must circle back -again," she parroted. "We are to wait five minutes, then drive the car -into the swamp. We will create a commotion, attract the guards." - -Svan, listening, thought: _It's not much of a plan. The guards would -not be drawn away. I am glad I can't trust these five any more. If -they must be destroyed, it is good that their destruction will serve a -purpose._ - -Aloud, he said, "You understand. If I get through, I will return to the -city on foot. No one will suspect anything if I am not caught, because -the bomb will not explode until the ship is far out in space. Remember, -you are in no danger from the guards." - -_From the guards_, his mind echoed. He smiled. At least, they would -feel no pain, never know what happened. With the amount of atomite in -that bomb in the compartment, they would merely be obliterated in a -ground-shaking crash. - -Abruptly he swallowed, reminded of the bomb that was silently counting -off the seconds. "Go ahead," he ordered. "I will wait here." - -"Svan." The girl, Ingra, leaned over to him. Impulsively she reached -for him, kissed him. "Good luck to you, Svan," she said. - -"Good luck," repeated the others. Then silently the electric motor of -the car took hold. Skilfully the girl backed it up, turned it around, -sent it lumbering back down the road. Only after she had traveled a few -hundred feet by the feel of the road did she turn the lights on again. - -Svan looked after them. The kiss had surprised him. What did it mean? -Was it an error that the girl should die with the others? - -There was an instant of doubt in his steel-shackled mind, then it was -driven away. Perhaps she was loyal, yet certainly she was weak. And -since he could not know which was the one who had received the marked -slip, and feared to admit it, it was better they all should die. - -He advanced along the midnight road to where the ground rose and the -jungle plants thinned out. Ahead, on an elevation, were the rain-dimmed -lights of the Earth-ship, set down in the center of a clearing made by -its own fierce rockets. Svan's mist-trained eyes spotted the circling -figures of sentries, and knew that these would be the ship's own. -They would not be as easily overcome as the natives, not with those -slim-shafted blasters they carried. Only deceit could get him to the -side of the ship. - -Svan settled himself at the side of the road, waiting for his chance. -He had perhaps three minutes to wait; he reckoned. His fingers went -absently to the pouch in his wide belt, closed on the slip of paper. He -turned it over without looking at it, wondering who had drawn the first -cross, and been a coward. Ingra? One of the men? - - * * * * * - -He became abruptly conscious of a commotion behind him. A ground car -was racing along the road. He spun around and was caught in the glare -of its blinding driving-light, as it bumped to a slithering stop. - -Paralyzed, he heard the girl's voice. "Svan! They're coming! They found -the guard's rifle, and they're looking for us! Thirty Earthmen, Svan, -with those frightful guns. They fired at us, but we got away and came -for you. We must flee!" - -He stared unseeingly at the light. "Go away!" he croaked unbelievingly. -Then his muscles jerked into action. The time was almost up--the bomb -in the car-- - -"Go away!" he shrieked, and turned to run. His fists clenched and -swinging at his side, he made a dozen floundering steps before -something immense pounded at him from behind. He felt himself lifted -from the road, sailing, swooping, dropping with annihilating force -onto the hard, charred earth of the clearing. Only then did he hear the -sound of the explosion, and as the immense echoes died away he began to -feel the pain seeping into him from his hideously racked body.... - -The Flight Surgeon rose from beside him. "He's still alive," he said -callously to Lowry, who had just come up. "It won't last long, though. -What've you got there?" - -Lowry, a bewildered expression on his beardless face, held out the two -halves of a metallic sphere. Dangling ends of wires showed where a -connection had been broken. "He had a bomb," he said. "A magnetic-type, -delayed-action atomite bomb. There must have been another in the car, -and it went off. They--they were planning to bomb us." - -"Amazing," the surgeon said dryly. "Well, they won't do any bombing -now." - -Lowry was staring at the huddled, mutilated form of Svan. He shuddered. -The surgeon, seeing the shudder, grasped his shoulder. - -"Better them than us," he said. "It's poetic justice if I ever saw it. -They had it coming...." He paused thoughtfully, staring at a piece of -paper between his fingers. "This is the only part I don't get," he said. - -"What's that?" Lowry craned his neck. "A piece of paper with a cross on -it? What about it?" - -The surgeon shrugged. "He had it clenched in his hand," he said. "Had -the devil of a time getting it loose from him." He turned it over -slowly, displayed the other side. "Now what in the world would he be -doing carrying a scrap of paper with a cross marked on both sides?" - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Double-Cross, by James MacCreigh - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DOUBLE-CROSS *** - -***** This file should be named 63304.txt or 63304.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/3/0/63304/ - -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/63304.zip b/old/63304.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index a5f3e84..0000000 --- a/old/63304.zip +++ /dev/null |
