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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..98a3705 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #63474 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63474) diff --git a/old/63474-h.zip b/old/63474-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 1eda7d9..0000000 --- a/old/63474-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/63474-h/63474-h.htm b/old/63474-h/63474-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 9f411a0..0000000 --- a/old/63474-h/63474-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1014 +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 Alien Equivalent, by Richard R. 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Smith - -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: Alien Equivalent - -Author: Richard R. Smith - -Release Date: October 16, 2020 [EBook #63474] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ALIEN EQUIVALENT *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>ALIEN EQUIVALENT</h1> - -<h2>By RICHARD R. SMITH</h2> - -<p><i>Martians were weak, sensitive, a dying race,<br /> -frail and impotent before the superiority of master<br /> -Earthmen. Only in the sly and mentally skillful<br /> -game of Duchal might sons of the red planet<br /> -emerge gloriously from their shells.</i></p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Planet Stories Summer 1955.<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>Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the -barbed wire fence.</p> - -<p>Behind him, the Martian city was a maze of strange sounds, angular -buildings, acrid odors and dark shadows.</p> - -<p>Before him, beyond the fence, three spaceships pointed their bows -toward a star-studded sky. The slender ships gleamed dully in the -starlight as they rested on the red desert.</p> - -<p>He touched the money in his pocket to reassure himself that at last, he -had the fare for the trip to Earth.</p> - -<p>His eyes scanned the heavens, searched for the bright light that was -Earth.</p> - -<p>Earth! In itself, the planet meant little to him. The seas, mountains, -valleys and forests did not cause the burning desire inside him.</p> - -<p>He closed his eyes and remembered a brick house in Cleveland and the -brown-haired woman and chubby boy who lived there. He recalled slender, -soft fingers that touched him gently and a small form that waddled -uncertainly across their living room floor.</p> - -<p>Three years ago, he had left Louise and Sammy on Earth. He had come to -Mars to make a small fortune.</p> - -<p>The dream had not materialized: the Mars Mining Corporation didn't want -to pay their employees good salaries although the ores transported to -Earth sold for tremendous profits. They paid their employees as little -as possible.</p> - -<p>It was simple: Governments wanted colonists on Mars to exploit the -planet. Mars Mining wanted colonists to remain and operate their mines. -The two groups, political and business, collaborated and ... while the -trip to Mars cost only a hundred dollars, the return trip to Earth cost -one thousand dollars.</p> - -<p>Because of the high price of living on Mars and the low salaries, the -fee was an encouragement to remain on the planet.</p> - -<p>It had taken him three years to save enough money to rejoin his family.</p> - -<p>Bitterness filled him as he studied the motionless ships. Convertible -spaceships. The bulkheads inside the hull were collapsible and the -space in a ship was constantly adjusted into different size storage -holds and passenger compartments.</p> - -<p>During the voyage to Earth, he would be the only passenger and would -occupy a coffin-like compartment. Every other available foot of space -would be filled with valuable ores.</p> - -<p>When the ship returned to Mars, the passenger compartments would be -spacious, luxurious and comfortable. They would be filled with hundreds -of propaganda-fed, eager colonists who were unaware of the economic -trap before them.</p> - -<p>As he turned and followed the fence toward the spaceport's office -buildings he heard the faint sounds behind him.</p> - -<p>A whisper of movement across the red sand.</p> - -<p>An animal?</p> - -<p>He glanced uneasily at the tiny lights from the office buildings. In -the thin atmosphere, light carried a long distance and was deceptive. -The lights seemed near but he knew he still had a fifteen minute walk -ahead of him.</p> - -<p>Once more he heard the indefinable sound behind him.</p> - -<p>His imagination?</p> - -<p>A Martian?</p> - -<p>An Earthman, a sound of harsh breathing informed him.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>He leaped to one side as the sounds neared his back.</p> - -<p>Too late. Something crashed into the side of his head and bright lights -danced gaily inside his skull.</p> - -<p>He fell and rolled frantically across the soft sand.</p> - -<p>As he scrambled to his feet he saw his attacker, a husky, powerfully -built man. A blackjack dangled loosely from a hand.</p> - -<p>Before he could rise a knee struck him on the jaw. He sank to the -ground.</p> - -<p>The man was on him, pinning him to the sand.</p> - -<p>Farrell's nostrils were filled with the man's acrid body odor.</p> - -<p>A knife glittered in the starlight as it was pressed gently against his -throat.</p> - -<p>"Tell me where the money is," the man ordered. "It'll save time."</p> - -<p>Too stunned to speak, Farrell nodded at his coat pocket.</p> - -<p>The man removed the money and counted rapidly, somehow managing to keep -the knife in his hand while he flipped the bills.</p> - -<p>Satisfied, he stuffed the bills in a pocket and raised the knife for a -fatal lunge.</p> - -<p>His arms pinned at his sides by the man's knees, Farrell knew only one -thing could save him: WORDS.</p> - -<p>"I can get you five times that much," he said quickly, the words -crowding each other in their haste.</p> - -<p>It worked: the knife wavered, hesitated. If he had screamed, "Don't -kill me!" he would have been killed instantly but the simple statement -had aroused his assailant's curiosity.</p> - -<p>"Five times that much?" the man repeated gruffly.</p> - -<p>Phobos, the largest and closest of the two moons, moved visibly -across the dark sky. Suddenly, they were no longer in the shadow of -a building. Moonlight flowed across the man's face and for the first -time, he saw his features.</p> - -<p>He looked up at a rough, almost brutal face with thick lips, fierce -eyes, blunt, broken nose and bushy eyebrows.</p> - -<p>"Five thousand dollars," Farrell confirmed.</p> - -<p>"Where?"</p> - -<p>"Dankor city. You've heard of a Martian game called rhakal?"</p> - -<p>He frowned. "Yeah, I heard of it. I also heard Earthmen don't win very -often."</p> - -<p>"I won," Farrell told him. "Five thousand. I spent most of it but I -saved the thousand to go back to Earth. If you don't kill me, I'll win -five thousand for you."</p> - -<p>His adversary grinned wryly and lowered the knife toward Farrell's -throat. "This sounds like a trick."</p> - -<p>"Trick? How can I trick you? Dankor is off limits to Earthmen. You and -I will be the only—"</p> - -<p>The man cocked his head and asked, "You have any Martian friends in -Dankor?"</p> - -<p>Farrell laughed at the thought, "Martian <i>friends</i>?"</p> - -<p>Some of the wariness left the other's face.</p> - -<p>Everyone knew no Earthman had a Martian friend. The Martians were a -fading but proud race. They resented Earthmen and submitted bitterly -to their presence. Martians did not associate with Earthmen. To do so -would mean loss of social standing and almost always loss of their -lives by the hand of some fanatical anti-Earth group.</p> - -<p>Martians submitted to the invasion of their planet by colonists because -they had no choice: they were few in number, a weak, dying race. -Inwardly, they hated Earthmen and, given the chance, would rid Mars of -all colonists.</p> - -<p>While his antagonist considered the offer, Farrell's mind whirled -rapidly. How could he escape? His body was trapped beneath the man's -weight, unable to move. Call for help? He quickly discarded the idea: -on one side was a Martian city and on the other was the spaceport. -The group of crude stone buildings were inhabited by aliens. Martians -might come and watch him die if he called for help but they'd never try -to save him. The spaceport was deserted except for the empty, waiting -spaceships and the office buildings were too far away for anyone to -hear a cry.</p> - -<p>He could do nothing.</p> - -<p>"I'll give you a chance," his enemy said as he rose to his feet. "You -win five thousand for me and I'll let you keep the thousand and your -life." He placed the knife in a sheath and drew a stubby revolver from -a pocket. "If you make a wrong move, I'll blast you in half. I don't -like to use this thing because it's noisy, but—" He waved the gun and -the action seemed to complete the sentence in itself.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"Let's take a taxi," Farrell suggested as he rose shakily and brushed -red sand from his clothes.</p> - -<p>"No."</p> - -<p>"It'll take an hour to walk there," Farrell protested mildly.</p> - -<p>"We'll walk," the man stated. "We'll walk and we'll take the most -deserted streets."</p> - -<p>Farrell led the way through the small Martian city that bordered the -spaceport and across a narrow stretch of desert to Dankor canal.</p> - -<p>At the canal, he turned and followed it northward, walking on the huge, -weather-smoothed stones that formed one wall of the large waterway.</p> - -<p>Thousands of feet below them, muddy water gurgled roaringly as it -moved southward to the Martian farmlands. In the clear atmosphere, the -opposite wall of the canal ten miles away was a thin, dark line.</p> - -<p>"What's your name?" Farrell asked suddenly.</p> - -<p>"Tharp."</p> - -<p>"Where do you work?"</p> - -<p>"None of your business."</p> - -<p>They walked in silence, the two moons casting double shadows from each -of their bodies.</p> - -<p>With a sinking sensation in his stomach, Farrell realized the odds were -against his seeing his family again.</p> - -<p>"How did you learn I had the money?" Farrell asked.</p> - -<p>Tharp grinned broadly. "When anyone makes a reservation on the flight -to Earth, the news gets around. It got around to me." His laughter -sounded brittle in the thin atmosphere.</p> - -<p>After what seemed like years, they arrived at the outskirts of Dankor. -Although it was off-limits, the police patrolled infrequently and even -those patrols were publicly known schedules.</p> - -<p>Dankor was a small cluster of low crumbling buildings. The streets -were littered with filth and pale Martians dressed in rags shuffled -aimlessly with blank eyes as if their world had already died.</p> - -<p>Jars of brilliant fireflies on roof tops illuminated the village. -Imprisoned in the transparent containers, the fluttering insects cast -an eerie, pulsating glow on the dismal buildings.</p> - -<p>Farrell paused before a thick wooden door and kicked it with his right -foot. "The first time I came here," he explained, "I almost broke my -knuckles before they heard me."</p> - -<p>A few minutes later, the door opened.</p> - -<p>"Come in," a bony, wizened Martian invited.</p> - -<p>Tharp remained a few paces behind Farrell as they entered the room.</p> - -<p>The stench of the place made their stomachs churn sickly.</p> - -<p>A group of listless Martians sat in the center of the floor and watched -a large cube-shaped object. Two Martians on opposite sides of the cube -sat before small control panels.</p> - -<p>The Earthmen watched as one Martian touched a button on his control -panel. A green ball inside the cube rose a few inches.</p> - -<p>The other Martian pushed a button and a brown ball at the top of the -hollow cube dropped a few inches.</p> - -<p>A thin Martian with grey hair and watery eyes asked, "You vish gamble?"</p> - -<p>Farrell nodded his head affirmatively.</p> - -<p>The Martian smiled weakly and inquired in broken English, "Vhot is -vager? Monee or duchal?"</p> - -<p>"What in hell is duchal?" Tharp asked.</p> - -<p>"It's hard to explain," Farrell confessed. "But, we'll have to wait -until those Marties are through and you'll see what duchal is when they -finish."</p> - -<p>Farrell squatted on the cold floor.</p> - -<p>Tharp sat two yards to one side.</p> - -<p>Silently they watched the Martian gamblers.</p> - -<p>Several minutes later the emaciated aliens rose from their positions -behind the small control boards.</p> - -<p>"Is the game over?" Tharp asked.</p> - -<p>"Yes. See the Martian with the green tunic? He's the one who lost the -game. The winner will receive a certain measure of duchal from him."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>They watched intently as a strange machine was brought into the room. -The two gamblers sat close to each other. A third Martian attached -electrodes to their heads, then flipped a lever on the ancient, rusty -machine.</p> - -<p>The Martian who lost the game grimaced with pain.</p> - -<p>A needle on the machine's single dial moved all the way to the right, -then quickly returned to its original position.</p> - -<p>An expression of joy spread the victor's thin lips into a wide smile.</p> - -<p>A few seconds later, the electrodes were removed from their heads.</p> - -<p>Tharp grunted his bafflement.</p> - -<p>"Duchal," Farrell explained quickly, "means an expression of sorrow or -pain. By means of that machine, the winner was able to receive in his -brain the sensation of the loser's physical and mental agony at losing -the game."</p> - -<p>"That's what they were betting?" Tharp asked unbelievingly.</p> - -<p>"Yes. It's the same principle as humans who play games merely for -the disappointed expression on the loser's face. The Martians do it -a little differently: they have a machine that transmits the loser's -pain into the victor's brain. The Martians are constructed in such a -way that the agony of another person, implanted in their minds, is very -pleasant to them."</p> - -<p>"They must be crazy!"</p> - -<p>Farrell shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe. Anyway, you have a choice. You -can bet the thousand dollars or a certain amount of duchal."</p> - -<p>"If we bet duchal and lost, we'd only have to pay the Martians a -little ... sensation of agony at losing the game?"</p> - -<p>"Right."</p> - -<p>Tharp laughed. "Hell, let's bet duchal. That'd be better than losing a -thousand bucks if we should lose the game." He slipped his hand into a -pocket and the cloth bulged in Farrell's direction. "And we'd better -win!"</p> - -<p><i>What's the difference?</i> Farrell thought. <i>If we win or lose, you'll -kill me. You can't leave me alive to report you to the police!</i></p> - -<p>"You can play the game," Farrell suggested. "I'll tell you what buttons -to push."</p> - -<p>"Okay. Tell the Martians we want to bet an amount of duchal worth five -thousand. How much would that be on the dial on that gimmick?"</p> - -<p>Farrell pointed at the graduation to the extreme right of the dial. -"See that line? That would be worth five thousand in duchal. The same -amount the Martian bet."</p> - -<p>Tharp smiled as he remembered how easily the Martian gambler had paid -that amount of duchal. If they lost the game, he'd have no trouble -paying the gambling debt.</p> - -<p>"Five thousand," Farrell told the waiting Martian. "We'll bet duchal."</p> - -<p>The Martian smiled happily, disappeared for a few minutes and returned -with a large bag.</p> - -<p>Without ceremony he spilled the contents on the stone floor.</p> - -<p>Tharp gasped when he saw the golden earrings, cups, anklets, rings and -bracelets studded with diamonds. They were easily worth more than eight -thousand dollars.</p> - -<p>"Why the hell are they living in dumps like this when they have that -kind of stuff? They could buy—" He hesitated as if the incompleted -sentence indicated an infinite list of articles.</p> - -<p>"It means nothing to them," Farrell explained. "They have a different -monetary system. Most Martians are so poor, even the rich ones can't -buy anything more valuable than food, clothes and shelter. And the -Martians are too stubborn to trade with Earthmen."</p> - -<p>He reflected idly that on all of Mars the only place where the two -races associated was in gambling rooms like this. Even there, the -Martians' attitude was stiff and business-like.</p> - -<p>The group of aliens shuffled about uneasily, impatient for the game to -begin.</p> - -<p>"You ready to start?" Farrell asked.</p> - -<p>"Sure."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>"The object of the game is to get those balls at the top of the cube to -the bottom level. The Martian will try to get the ones at the bottom to -the top. The balls are governed by the control panels. It's like three -dimension Chinese checkers."</p> - -<p>"Sasush rhakol," a Martian said loudly.</p> - -<p>"The game has started. Push the top green button."</p> - -<p>Tharp thrust with a grimy finger.</p> - -<p>The game lasted several minutes. Each time it was their turn to move, -Farrell told Tharp what button to push. Even while the game progressed, -the husky man watched Farrell out of the corners of his eyes. Farrell -realized that even with the distraction of the game, he'd have no -chance to launch a surprise attack on his enemy.</p> - -<p>Finally the Martian gambler rose. His colorless lips spread in a wide -grin of anticipation.</p> - -<p>"We lost!" Tharp exclaimed.</p> - -<p>Farrell agreed, "We lost. Anyway, all we lost was a little duchal."</p> - -<p>The Martians gathered around the two Earthmen; attached electrodes from -the alien machine to Tharp's head.</p> - -<p>Three minutes later, Tharp still sat with the electrodes attached to -his skull. The Martians were impatient.</p> - -<p>"What's the matter?" Tharp inquired angrily. "The game between the -Martians, it only took the loser a few seconds to pay the duchal!"</p> - -<p>"That's right," Farrell agreed. "But look at the dial."</p> - -<p>Tharp stared at the motionless instrument.</p> - -<p>"Duchal is an expression of mental or physical agony," Farrell reminded -him. "Concentrate and feel sorry you lost."</p> - -<p>He assumed a thoughtful expression. The indicator wavered slightly.</p> - -<p>"Not so good. See, there are ten graduations on the dial. The needle -has to touch the tenth before you pay the amount of duchal you owe. So -far, the needle hasn't passed the first graduation. In other words, you -haven't paid a tenth of the duchal!"</p> - -<p>Tharp drew his revolver.</p> - -<p>The Martians did not like the sight of a gun in an Earthman's hand. -They had no way of knowing that it was meant for Farrell and not -themselves. A dozen aliens threw themselves on Tharp and quickly -disarmed him.</p> - -<p>Ten Martians held an outraged Tharp motionless while an eleventh -removed alien handcuffs from his tunic and placed pairs around his -wrists and ankles.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>Farrell recovered his money.</p> - -<p>"Martians aren't thieves," he informed the angry man who struggled in -vain at the metal bindings. "And therefore, they like to see everyone -pay their debts. They'll keep you here until you pay the wager. You -see, by being behind the control board and pushing the buttons, you're -the one who has to pay the duchal although I told you what buttons to -push."</p> - -<p>"A trick!" Tharp screamed.</p> - -<p>Tharp's face reddened. "You won't get far," he threatened. "I'll pay -this duchal in a few minutes; they'll let me free and I'll—"</p> - -<p>"You don't realize," Farrell interrupted, "Martians are sickly, -sensitive people and they're adept at projecting sensations of agony -from their brains. On the other hand, Earthmen are strong physically -and know nothing about projecting physical or mental pain—"</p> - -<p>He paused to watch three Martians who removed gleaming, sharp knives -from their tunics.</p> - -<p>They pressed the blades against Tharp's arms.</p> - -<p>The knives cut through his coat, shirt and flesh. The cloth reddened -quickly.</p> - -<p>"They want their duchal payment," Farrell informed him. "They'll get it -if they have to slice you to ribbons."</p> - -<p>Tharp's wild eyes stared at the dial before him. The needle touched the -second graduation, then settled to the "0" position.</p> - -<p>"You see," Farrell continued, "it's a matter of equivalent. Earthmen -are so strong, they have to really <i>suffer</i> physically before they can -match a duchal payment that a Martian can create as easy as snapping -his fingers!"</p> - -<p>Once more, the glittering knives bit into Tharp's flesh.</p> - -<p>He screamed with pain.</p> - -<p>"<i>Get help! Get help before they kill me!</i>"</p> - -<p>Farrell went for help.</p> - -<p>But, once beyond the thick door that suddenly suffocated Tharp's shrill -screams of pain, he didn't run for help.</p> - -<p>He walked slowly.</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Alien Equivalent, by Richard R. 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Smith - -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: Alien Equivalent - -Author: Richard R. Smith - -Release Date: October 16, 2020 [EBook #63474] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ALIEN EQUIVALENT *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - ALIEN EQUIVALENT - - By RICHARD R. SMITH - - _Martians were weak, sensitive, a dying race, - frail and impotent before the superiority of master - Earthmen. Only in the sly and mentally skillful - game of Duchal might sons of the red planet - emerge gloriously from their shells._ - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Planet Stories Summer 1955. - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - -Chester Farrell emerged from the narrow alley and paused before the -barbed wire fence. - -Behind him, the Martian city was a maze of strange sounds, angular -buildings, acrid odors and dark shadows. - -Before him, beyond the fence, three spaceships pointed their bows -toward a star-studded sky. The slender ships gleamed dully in the -starlight as they rested on the red desert. - -He touched the money in his pocket to reassure himself that at last, he -had the fare for the trip to Earth. - -His eyes scanned the heavens, searched for the bright light that was -Earth. - -Earth! In itself, the planet meant little to him. The seas, mountains, -valleys and forests did not cause the burning desire inside him. - -He closed his eyes and remembered a brick house in Cleveland and the -brown-haired woman and chubby boy who lived there. He recalled slender, -soft fingers that touched him gently and a small form that waddled -uncertainly across their living room floor. - -Three years ago, he had left Louise and Sammy on Earth. He had come to -Mars to make a small fortune. - -The dream had not materialized: the Mars Mining Corporation didn't want -to pay their employees good salaries although the ores transported to -Earth sold for tremendous profits. They paid their employees as little -as possible. - -It was simple: Governments wanted colonists on Mars to exploit the -planet. Mars Mining wanted colonists to remain and operate their mines. -The two groups, political and business, collaborated and ... while the -trip to Mars cost only a hundred dollars, the return trip to Earth cost -one thousand dollars. - -Because of the high price of living on Mars and the low salaries, the -fee was an encouragement to remain on the planet. - -It had taken him three years to save enough money to rejoin his family. - -Bitterness filled him as he studied the motionless ships. Convertible -spaceships. The bulkheads inside the hull were collapsible and the -space in a ship was constantly adjusted into different size storage -holds and passenger compartments. - -During the voyage to Earth, he would be the only passenger and would -occupy a coffin-like compartment. Every other available foot of space -would be filled with valuable ores. - -When the ship returned to Mars, the passenger compartments would be -spacious, luxurious and comfortable. They would be filled with hundreds -of propaganda-fed, eager colonists who were unaware of the economic -trap before them. - -As he turned and followed the fence toward the spaceport's office -buildings he heard the faint sounds behind him. - -A whisper of movement across the red sand. - -An animal? - -He glanced uneasily at the tiny lights from the office buildings. In -the thin atmosphere, light carried a long distance and was deceptive. -The lights seemed near but he knew he still had a fifteen minute walk -ahead of him. - -Once more he heard the indefinable sound behind him. - -His imagination? - -A Martian? - -An Earthman, a sound of harsh breathing informed him. - - * * * * * - -He leaped to one side as the sounds neared his back. - -Too late. Something crashed into the side of his head and bright lights -danced gaily inside his skull. - -He fell and rolled frantically across the soft sand. - -As he scrambled to his feet he saw his attacker, a husky, powerfully -built man. A blackjack dangled loosely from a hand. - -Before he could rise a knee struck him on the jaw. He sank to the -ground. - -The man was on him, pinning him to the sand. - -Farrell's nostrils were filled with the man's acrid body odor. - -A knife glittered in the starlight as it was pressed gently against his -throat. - -"Tell me where the money is," the man ordered. "It'll save time." - -Too stunned to speak, Farrell nodded at his coat pocket. - -The man removed the money and counted rapidly, somehow managing to keep -the knife in his hand while he flipped the bills. - -Satisfied, he stuffed the bills in a pocket and raised the knife for a -fatal lunge. - -His arms pinned at his sides by the man's knees, Farrell knew only one -thing could save him: WORDS. - -"I can get you five times that much," he said quickly, the words -crowding each other in their haste. - -It worked: the knife wavered, hesitated. If he had screamed, "Don't -kill me!" he would have been killed instantly but the simple statement -had aroused his assailant's curiosity. - -"Five times that much?" the man repeated gruffly. - -Phobos, the largest and closest of the two moons, moved visibly -across the dark sky. Suddenly, they were no longer in the shadow of -a building. Moonlight flowed across the man's face and for the first -time, he saw his features. - -He looked up at a rough, almost brutal face with thick lips, fierce -eyes, blunt, broken nose and bushy eyebrows. - -"Five thousand dollars," Farrell confirmed. - -"Where?" - -"Dankor city. You've heard of a Martian game called rhakal?" - -He frowned. "Yeah, I heard of it. I also heard Earthmen don't win very -often." - -"I won," Farrell told him. "Five thousand. I spent most of it but I -saved the thousand to go back to Earth. If you don't kill me, I'll win -five thousand for you." - -His adversary grinned wryly and lowered the knife toward Farrell's -throat. "This sounds like a trick." - -"Trick? How can I trick you? Dankor is off limits to Earthmen. You and -I will be the only--" - -The man cocked his head and asked, "You have any Martian friends in -Dankor?" - -Farrell laughed at the thought, "Martian _friends_?" - -Some of the wariness left the other's face. - -Everyone knew no Earthman had a Martian friend. The Martians were a -fading but proud race. They resented Earthmen and submitted bitterly -to their presence. Martians did not associate with Earthmen. To do so -would mean loss of social standing and almost always loss of their -lives by the hand of some fanatical anti-Earth group. - -Martians submitted to the invasion of their planet by colonists because -they had no choice: they were few in number, a weak, dying race. -Inwardly, they hated Earthmen and, given the chance, would rid Mars of -all colonists. - -While his antagonist considered the offer, Farrell's mind whirled -rapidly. How could he escape? His body was trapped beneath the man's -weight, unable to move. Call for help? He quickly discarded the idea: -on one side was a Martian city and on the other was the spaceport. -The group of crude stone buildings were inhabited by aliens. Martians -might come and watch him die if he called for help but they'd never try -to save him. The spaceport was deserted except for the empty, waiting -spaceships and the office buildings were too far away for anyone to -hear a cry. - -He could do nothing. - -"I'll give you a chance," his enemy said as he rose to his feet. "You -win five thousand for me and I'll let you keep the thousand and your -life." He placed the knife in a sheath and drew a stubby revolver from -a pocket. "If you make a wrong move, I'll blast you in half. I don't -like to use this thing because it's noisy, but--" He waved the gun and -the action seemed to complete the sentence in itself. - - * * * * * - -"Let's take a taxi," Farrell suggested as he rose shakily and brushed -red sand from his clothes. - -"No." - -"It'll take an hour to walk there," Farrell protested mildly. - -"We'll walk," the man stated. "We'll walk and we'll take the most -deserted streets." - -Farrell led the way through the small Martian city that bordered the -spaceport and across a narrow stretch of desert to Dankor canal. - -At the canal, he turned and followed it northward, walking on the huge, -weather-smoothed stones that formed one wall of the large waterway. - -Thousands of feet below them, muddy water gurgled roaringly as it -moved southward to the Martian farmlands. In the clear atmosphere, the -opposite wall of the canal ten miles away was a thin, dark line. - -"What's your name?" Farrell asked suddenly. - -"Tharp." - -"Where do you work?" - -"None of your business." - -They walked in silence, the two moons casting double shadows from each -of their bodies. - -With a sinking sensation in his stomach, Farrell realized the odds were -against his seeing his family again. - -"How did you learn I had the money?" Farrell asked. - -Tharp grinned broadly. "When anyone makes a reservation on the flight -to Earth, the news gets around. It got around to me." His laughter -sounded brittle in the thin atmosphere. - -After what seemed like years, they arrived at the outskirts of Dankor. -Although it was off-limits, the police patrolled infrequently and even -those patrols were publicly known schedules. - -Dankor was a small cluster of low crumbling buildings. The streets -were littered with filth and pale Martians dressed in rags shuffled -aimlessly with blank eyes as if their world had already died. - -Jars of brilliant fireflies on roof tops illuminated the village. -Imprisoned in the transparent containers, the fluttering insects cast -an eerie, pulsating glow on the dismal buildings. - -Farrell paused before a thick wooden door and kicked it with his right -foot. "The first time I came here," he explained, "I almost broke my -knuckles before they heard me." - -A few minutes later, the door opened. - -"Come in," a bony, wizened Martian invited. - -Tharp remained a few paces behind Farrell as they entered the room. - -The stench of the place made their stomachs churn sickly. - -A group of listless Martians sat in the center of the floor and watched -a large cube-shaped object. Two Martians on opposite sides of the cube -sat before small control panels. - -The Earthmen watched as one Martian touched a button on his control -panel. A green ball inside the cube rose a few inches. - -The other Martian pushed a button and a brown ball at the top of the -hollow cube dropped a few inches. - -A thin Martian with grey hair and watery eyes asked, "You vish gamble?" - -Farrell nodded his head affirmatively. - -The Martian smiled weakly and inquired in broken English, "Vhot is -vager? Monee or duchal?" - -"What in hell is duchal?" Tharp asked. - -"It's hard to explain," Farrell confessed. "But, we'll have to wait -until those Marties are through and you'll see what duchal is when they -finish." - -Farrell squatted on the cold floor. - -Tharp sat two yards to one side. - -Silently they watched the Martian gamblers. - -Several minutes later the emaciated aliens rose from their positions -behind the small control boards. - -"Is the game over?" Tharp asked. - -"Yes. See the Martian with the green tunic? He's the one who lost the -game. The winner will receive a certain measure of duchal from him." - - * * * * * - -They watched intently as a strange machine was brought into the room. -The two gamblers sat close to each other. A third Martian attached -electrodes to their heads, then flipped a lever on the ancient, rusty -machine. - -The Martian who lost the game grimaced with pain. - -A needle on the machine's single dial moved all the way to the right, -then quickly returned to its original position. - -An expression of joy spread the victor's thin lips into a wide smile. - -A few seconds later, the electrodes were removed from their heads. - -Tharp grunted his bafflement. - -"Duchal," Farrell explained quickly, "means an expression of sorrow or -pain. By means of that machine, the winner was able to receive in his -brain the sensation of the loser's physical and mental agony at losing -the game." - -"That's what they were betting?" Tharp asked unbelievingly. - -"Yes. It's the same principle as humans who play games merely for -the disappointed expression on the loser's face. The Martians do it -a little differently: they have a machine that transmits the loser's -pain into the victor's brain. The Martians are constructed in such a -way that the agony of another person, implanted in their minds, is very -pleasant to them." - -"They must be crazy!" - -Farrell shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe. Anyway, you have a choice. You -can bet the thousand dollars or a certain amount of duchal." - -"If we bet duchal and lost, we'd only have to pay the Martians a -little ... sensation of agony at losing the game?" - -"Right." - -Tharp laughed. "Hell, let's bet duchal. That'd be better than losing a -thousand bucks if we should lose the game." He slipped his hand into a -pocket and the cloth bulged in Farrell's direction. "And we'd better -win!" - -_What's the difference?_ Farrell thought. _If we win or lose, you'll -kill me. You can't leave me alive to report you to the police!_ - -"You can play the game," Farrell suggested. "I'll tell you what buttons -to push." - -"Okay. Tell the Martians we want to bet an amount of duchal worth five -thousand. How much would that be on the dial on that gimmick?" - -Farrell pointed at the graduation to the extreme right of the dial. -"See that line? That would be worth five thousand in duchal. The same -amount the Martian bet." - -Tharp smiled as he remembered how easily the Martian gambler had paid -that amount of duchal. If they lost the game, he'd have no trouble -paying the gambling debt. - -"Five thousand," Farrell told the waiting Martian. "We'll bet duchal." - -The Martian smiled happily, disappeared for a few minutes and returned -with a large bag. - -Without ceremony he spilled the contents on the stone floor. - -Tharp gasped when he saw the golden earrings, cups, anklets, rings and -bracelets studded with diamonds. They were easily worth more than eight -thousand dollars. - -"Why the hell are they living in dumps like this when they have that -kind of stuff? They could buy--" He hesitated as if the incompleted -sentence indicated an infinite list of articles. - -"It means nothing to them," Farrell explained. "They have a different -monetary system. Most Martians are so poor, even the rich ones can't -buy anything more valuable than food, clothes and shelter. And the -Martians are too stubborn to trade with Earthmen." - -He reflected idly that on all of Mars the only place where the two -races associated was in gambling rooms like this. Even there, the -Martians' attitude was stiff and business-like. - -The group of aliens shuffled about uneasily, impatient for the game to -begin. - -"You ready to start?" Farrell asked. - -"Sure." - - * * * * * - -"The object of the game is to get those balls at the top of the cube to -the bottom level. The Martian will try to get the ones at the bottom to -the top. The balls are governed by the control panels. It's like three -dimension Chinese checkers." - -"Sasush rhakol," a Martian said loudly. - -"The game has started. Push the top green button." - -Tharp thrust with a grimy finger. - -The game lasted several minutes. Each time it was their turn to move, -Farrell told Tharp what button to push. Even while the game progressed, -the husky man watched Farrell out of the corners of his eyes. Farrell -realized that even with the distraction of the game, he'd have no -chance to launch a surprise attack on his enemy. - -Finally the Martian gambler rose. His colorless lips spread in a wide -grin of anticipation. - -"We lost!" Tharp exclaimed. - -Farrell agreed, "We lost. Anyway, all we lost was a little duchal." - -The Martians gathered around the two Earthmen; attached electrodes from -the alien machine to Tharp's head. - -Three minutes later, Tharp still sat with the electrodes attached to -his skull. The Martians were impatient. - -"What's the matter?" Tharp inquired angrily. "The game between the -Martians, it only took the loser a few seconds to pay the duchal!" - -"That's right," Farrell agreed. "But look at the dial." - -Tharp stared at the motionless instrument. - -"Duchal is an expression of mental or physical agony," Farrell reminded -him. "Concentrate and feel sorry you lost." - -He assumed a thoughtful expression. The indicator wavered slightly. - -"Not so good. See, there are ten graduations on the dial. The needle -has to touch the tenth before you pay the amount of duchal you owe. So -far, the needle hasn't passed the first graduation. In other words, you -haven't paid a tenth of the duchal!" - -Tharp drew his revolver. - -The Martians did not like the sight of a gun in an Earthman's hand. -They had no way of knowing that it was meant for Farrell and not -themselves. A dozen aliens threw themselves on Tharp and quickly -disarmed him. - -Ten Martians held an outraged Tharp motionless while an eleventh -removed alien handcuffs from his tunic and placed pairs around his -wrists and ankles. - -Farrell recovered his money. - -"Martians aren't thieves," he informed the angry man who struggled in -vain at the metal bindings. "And therefore, they like to see everyone -pay their debts. They'll keep you here until you pay the wager. You -see, by being behind the control board and pushing the buttons, you're -the one who has to pay the duchal although I told you what buttons to -push." - -"A trick!" Tharp screamed. - -Tharp's face reddened. "You won't get far," he threatened. "I'll pay -this duchal in a few minutes; they'll let me free and I'll--" - -"You don't realize," Farrell interrupted, "Martians are sickly, -sensitive people and they're adept at projecting sensations of agony -from their brains. On the other hand, Earthmen are strong physically -and know nothing about projecting physical or mental pain--" - -He paused to watch three Martians who removed gleaming, sharp knives -from their tunics. - -They pressed the blades against Tharp's arms. - -The knives cut through his coat, shirt and flesh. The cloth reddened -quickly. - -"They want their duchal payment," Farrell informed him. "They'll get it -if they have to slice you to ribbons." - -Tharp's wild eyes stared at the dial before him. The needle touched the -second graduation, then settled to the "0" position. - -"You see," Farrell continued, "it's a matter of equivalent. Earthmen -are so strong, they have to really _suffer_ physically before they can -match a duchal payment that a Martian can create as easy as snapping -his fingers!" - -Once more, the glittering knives bit into Tharp's flesh. - -He screamed with pain. - -"_Get help! Get help before they kill me!_" - -Farrell went for help. - -But, once beyond the thick door that suddenly suffocated Tharp's shrill -screams of pain, he didn't run for help. - -He walked slowly. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Alien Equivalent, by Richard R. 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