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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..d97cc8d --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #63475 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63475) diff --git a/old/63475-h.zip b/old/63475-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 836673b..0000000 --- a/old/63475-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/63475-h/63475-h.htm b/old/63475-h/63475-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 0acb7c1..0000000 --- a/old/63475-h/63475-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,963 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=us-ascii" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Brides of Ool, by M. A. Cummings. - </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; -} - -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 The Brides Of Ool, by M. A. Cummings - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Brides Of Ool - -Author: M. A. Cummings - -Release Date: October 16, 2020 [EBook #63475] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BRIDES OF OOL *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>THE BRIDES OF OOL</h1> - -<p>By M. A. CUMMINGS</p> - -<p><i>The Goddess of Love had never showered Ool with<br /> -her favors. He was the saddest lover this side<br /> -of Io ... either that, or the most skillful lady<br /> -killer since the invention of Gilk's death-ray.</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>As the soft tones of the morning gong sounded through the cabin Ool -yawned and stretched. Then he grinned, remembering. This was the -first morning of his honeymoon. Of course, honeymoons were even more -out-of-date than marriage services. But Loris had wanted both and Ool -was willing to let her have her way.</p> - -<p>Funny to think that after all this time Loris was really his. His hand -caressed the form lying beside him, the flesh smooth and cold as marble.</p> - -<p>Cold! He sat up suddenly, staring at the girl. The pearly lustre -of her skin had faded to a chalky white, and he could see no sign -of breathing. Frantically he felt for a heartbeat. There was none. -Loris—his beautiful Loris, was dead.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>As the lights glowed on the board, the young Watcher forgot discipline, -even forgot the inter-office video. Stumbling into the captain's -office, he shouted,</p> - -<p>"It's Commander Ool. He's requesting permission to land—" he gulped, -came to attention, "sir."</p> - -<p>The captain was equally startled. But years of training helped him to -keep control.</p> - -<p>"Wonder where he's been all this time. No report from him in weeks. -Permission granted. And tell him to report up here at once. The Old Men -will want to hear about this. I wouldn't want to be in his boots."</p> - -<p>"If I'd been gone this long I wouldn't have bothered to come back," the -Watcher said.</p> - -<p>"They'd have found him sooner or later. He couldn't stay up forever," -the captain said. "Better get those signals out." And the young -Watcher went back to his post, shaking his head over anyone foolish -enough to anger the Old Men, while the captain put through a call to -Committee headquarters.</p> - -<p>Between the frequent tests and long periods of questioning, Ool was -also wondering where he had been. Two weeks gone out of his life -without the slightest glimmer of a memory about them. Two weeks of -floating in space. Had Loris been dead all the time? Or had she died -while he lay unconscious? Had he—could he have killed her without -knowing it?</p> - -<p>Furiously Ool tried to assemble his thoughts, to force his tired brain -back over all that had happened, trying to find some explanation.</p> - -<p>He could remember perfectly except for the last two weeks. The -Invasion—which had threatened to wipe out Civilization. When, in the -last desperate moments, the untested Gilkite rays had been used, and -like an invisible screen, had held off the foe. How he alone had stood -for hours at the machines, after Gilk, the froglike Martian inventor -had run from the scene, howling with terror.</p> - -<p>The crowds claiming him as the hero of the hour, screaming for the -sight of him. Then the meeting with Loris—Loris of the silver hair, -the long slim body which gleamed like pearl, the husky voice.</p> - -<p>It had been a struggle to get the Old Men to grant them permission to -mate, for Loris was a Venusian and not at all the proper sort of mate -for a Warrior. But with the success of Gilkite, there might be no more -need for Warriors—so permission was granted. And now Loris was dead.</p> - -<p>Once more Ool was summoned before the committee.</p> - -<p>"The committee agrees," said the Oldest Man, "that you could not have -been responsible for the death of your mate."</p> - -<p>"The Gilkite—" Ool began.</p> - -<p>"Only Gilk knows positively what to expect from it, and he cannot be -found. However, our scientists have given you every known test. And -believe me, Captain, if there were the slightest suspicion in the minds -of any one of them, the order would have been given for your immediate -destruction. We would take no chances on your being a carrier of death -rays."</p> - -<p>"And Loris?"</p> - -<p>"You will remember that the committee opposed this mating. Although -Loris' ancestors—like those of all of us—were Terrans, the -generations had adapted themselves to life on Venus. We do not know -what changes have taken place; how they will be affected by situations -which are normal to us."</p> - -<p>Ool stood silent. In his own mind, that did not answer the question of -what had happened to Loris, or what had gone on during the two weeks.</p> - -<p>"Unfortunately," the Oldest Man went on smoothly, as if answering his -thoughts, "we have no way of telling what did happen. There was a flaw -in the communications system of your ship. Shortly after you took off -the Security Screen went blank."</p> - -<p>The prisoner felt the blood slowly rising in his face. The screen had -gone blank, but it had been no accident.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>He remembered Loris coming up behind him as he worked on the screen.</p> - -<p>"What are you doing?" she asked curiously.</p> - -<p>"Sh," he warned. He worked a moment more, then the screen went blank.</p> - -<p>"This is one ship that isn't going to have any Security Check for a -while," he announced with satisfaction.</p> - -<p>"Won't you get into trouble?"</p> - -<p>"Probably, but it will be worth it." He grinned at her appreciatively. -Loris was wearing a robe of misty green, through which her body gleamed -as though she stood in the midst of a soft cloud. Ool shook his head.</p> - -<p>"Good thing I turned it off when I did. If some old Security Watcher -could see you now, his hardened arteries would probably break into a -million pieces."</p> - -<p>Loris laughed huskily and stretched her arms above her head. The green -mist settled slowly around her ankles. He could remember his vague -surprise that the pearly-hued flesh was not cold as she came into his -arms, but warm, quite warm—</p> - -<p>Was he imagining it, or was there a twinkle in the eye of the Oldest -Man?</p> - -<p>"The Old Men," he was saying drily, "are not too old to have memories. -The destruction of a Security Check could be considered a major crime -but, since there is no war, the committee is willing to take into -consideration your excellent record as Commander of the Patrol—and the -circumstances. It is regrettable that we cannot tell what did happen to -your mate, but the committee agrees that you are not to blame. You are -free to go, Captain."</p> - -<p>Ool walked out into the sunlight. He was free but Loris was dead.</p> - -<p>He soon found that he was not alone in his grief. Messages poured in. -With the familiarity they always feel toward their heroes, the people -had made his loss their own. And when he met Tanya, the exotic Martian -dancer, they shared his happiness.</p> - -<p>There was no attempt this time to disconnect the Security Screen, so -the Watchers were able to tell exactly what happened. The two merely -fell asleep. Ool—as he must have done before—slept for several days, -as if he had been drugged, then awoke to find himself a widower for the -second time. Nothing had happened, but Tanya was dead.</p> - -<p>The examination to which Ool was submitted now was even more thorough -than the one he had undergone earlier. The results were the same. Once -more he was found innocent.</p> - -<p>But if the committee absolved him, many of the people did not. Black -looks were thrown at him, people began to edge away from him in the -streets.</p> - -<p>Ool did not blame them. To him, it was as simple as it was to them. Two -women had mated with him; two women were dead. The fault was his.</p> - -<p>There were plenty of places where they didn't care who you were -or what you had done as long as you had the price of a drink. Ool -found them all. In them gathered the outcasts of half a dozen -planets—thieves, murderers, saboteurs—and in the midst of them, -Captain Ool, the pride of the Interplanetary Patrol, tried to drink -himself into oblivion.</p> - -<p>He was well on his way one night sitting alone at his table when a girl -came to the door and looked in, as if searching for someone. Not the -sort of girl you'd expect to find in a place like this; she was clean -and healthy. Her short golden curls gleamed through the blue haze, and -her firm-muscled young body in its short tunic was the focus of many -bleary eyes as she threaded her way between the tables.</p> - -<p>"Ool, I've been looking for you," she cried. He looked at her hazily.</p> - -<p>"You don't want me," he spoke carefully, managing not to slur his -words. "I'm Ool, the lady killer. I'll get you if you don't watch out." -He giggled and tipped up the bottle. It was empty so he waved the -waiter over.</p> - -<p>"My capac—capacity's increasing," he told the girl. "At first I -couldn't finish one bottle. Now I can almost finish two."</p> - -<p>"Ool, listen—" she caught at his arm.</p> - -<p>He brushed her aside and reached for the bottle in the waiter's hand.</p> - -<p>The girl beckoned the waiter aside, whispered to him. He shook his -head, then nodded as she slipped something into his hand. They came to -the table.</p> - -<p>"You'd better go with the lady," the waiter advised, but Ool ignored -him and took another drink. The waiter lifted him to his feet. Through -the thickening fog Ool saw the man's fist go back.</p> - -<p>Then came the oblivion he wanted.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>He awoke in what seemed to be a laboratory. It seemed familiar. So did -the voices he heard, both talking at once. They broke off as he moved.</p> - -<p>"Ryyn, he's coming to," the girl's voice cried.</p> - -<p>Ool looked up. Standing over him were two figures in white tunics. Both -had the same blue eyes and short golden hair. He closed his eyes and -shook his head to clear it, then wished he hadn't.</p> - -<p>The girl laughed happily.</p> - -<p>"You're not seeing double," she assured him. "Don't you remember us?"</p> - -<p>Ool opened his eyes once more. The words, the girl's tone, set his -fuzzy brain to working. Of course—the man was Ryyn, who had been one -of his best friends at the Academy. Ryyn, whose brilliant mind had -already won him a recommendation for a place on the committee; the -youngest man ever to be considered.</p> - -<p>Then the girl—the girl who had come after him—must be Ryaa, his twin -sister. Ool remembered her as a slim, boyish kid. There was certainly -nothing boyish about her appearance now.</p> - -<p>Ool tried to sit up and instantly Ryaa was by his side, helping him.</p> - -<p>"Just take it easy," she advised. "Ryyn is going to give you something -to make you feel better."</p> - -<p>"Ryaa, I am not in the business of making hangover remedies," Ryyn -growled. But at the same time he thrust something into Ool's hand. -"Drink," he commanded.</p> - -<p>Ool obeyed, shuddering.</p> - -<p>"Anything that tastes that bad should either kill or cure," he said. -"Probably be better for me if it killed."</p> - -<p>"Don't say that," Ryaa cried. "Ryyn is going to help you, aren't you?"</p> - -<p>"Nobody can help me." He buried his face in his hands. "For all I know -I really may have killed them."</p> - -<p>Ryyn nodded.</p> - -<p>"There's always that chance but I don't think so. Anything that -deadly would show up in a test. But I'll have to know more about what -happened—"</p> - -<p>Step by step he led Ool back over every detail, from his meeting with -each girl to her death.</p> - -<p>Ryaa sat beside Ool, her hand in his, trying not to wince when he -tightened his grip at some painful memory.</p> - -<p>"Thanks," Ryyn said at last. "I think that's all I need right now. -Sorry if I had to hurt you but I'm not in a position to keep up with -the news. If we can do anything you'll have Ryaa to thank for it. She -dragged me away from my experiments and made me promise to do what I -could—or else," he grinned at his sister, "she threatened to foul -things up and leave me hanging somewhere in space indefinitely."</p> - -<p>Ool stared at the girl beside him. This didn't sound like the quiet -little Ryaa he had known. But her scarlet face showed that at least a -part of Ryyn's statement was true.</p> - -<p>"Now," Ryyn continued, "I have things to do. Ryaa, why don't you take -this big fellow in tow, and the two of you go out and have a good time?"</p> - -<p>"Do you think it's wise?" Ool asked.</p> - -<p>"Oh, yes," Ryaa breathed. Ryyn grinned.</p> - -<p>"I think so. I want you to forget as completely as possible that this -conversation ever took place. For a few days try not to think about it -or me. It will help me if you don't."</p> - -<p>When Ool began to be seen in public with another girl, excited whispers -spread the news rapidly. Sympathetic glances came Ryaa's way but she -seemed not to notice them. Before long some of her gaiety transferred -itself to Ool, and for a time he forgot the tragedy hanging over him.</p> - -<p>He was reminded abruptly by a summons from Ryyn.</p> - -<p>"I know the answer," he told Ool, "but we will have to have proof. The -committee has given permission for an experiment. If Ryaa is willing to -take a chance—"</p> - -<p>"I'll do anything to help Ool," Ryaa said fervently.</p> - -<p>"I thought so," her brother answered. "So I asked the committee to -grant you two permission to mate."</p> - -<p>"No," Ool cried hoarsely. "Not Ryaa. I don't want her to die too."</p> - -<p>"Nothing will happen to Ryaa if you both do exactly as I say. It's our -only chance to prove your innocence. Besides, I've already made the -announcement. There's nothing you can do about it now."</p> - -<p>Ool glared at him helplessly, then sank into a chair. Ryaa came to him -and put her arms around him.</p> - -<p>"You said you were willing to do what Ryyn wanted. So am I. If he says -I'll be all right, I will."</p> - -<p>"Well," Ool was only half convinced. "If it's all right with Ryaa. What -do you want us to do."</p> - -<p>"Just one thing right now—just stay here till I give the word."</p> - -<p>Ryyn's announcement spread quickly, and the reception was what might -have been expected. The people were shocked.</p> - -<p>"I don't think the committee should allow it," was the usual comment.</p> - -<p>"There may be more women than men in the Universe, but if Ool keeps on -mating with them, we'll soon be even," remarked someone with misplaced -humor.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When Ryyn had decided that the news had spread enough, he gave them the -word. Ryaa had voted for the space ship to show that she really wasn't -afraid of the jinx, but Ryyn forbade that. He had personally chosen a -resort, and had used his influence to overcome the owner's reluctance. -It was Ryyn, too, who had the would-be interviewers and most of the -curious crowd cleared away.</p> - -<p>Several of the remarks made by the crowd had started Ool to worrying -again. And in spite of her brave remarks, he knew that Ryaa was afraid -too.</p> - -<p>"You don't have to go through with this," he told her. "No one would -blame you for walking out."</p> - -<p>Ryaa shook her head.</p> - -<p>"It will be all right," she insisted. Standing on tiptoe, she caught -his face between her hands and pressed her lips to his.</p> - -<p>"That's how much I think of your old curse," she murmured and fled into -the other room.</p> - -<p>When she returned she had changed into a sheer blue gown that just -matched her eyes, and did nothing to hide her perfectly formed body. -Ool stared. He knew that she had grown up but he hadn't realized how -beautiful she had become.</p> - -<p>He took a step toward her. But there, standing beside her, were the -ghostly figures of Loris and Tanya. He stopped abruptly and his arms -fell to his sides.</p> - -<p>"I must say you don't act much like an ardent bridegroom," Ryaa -complained. "After all, we're supposed to behave normally." She caught -his arms and drew them around her. Slipping her arms around his neck -she raised her face to his.</p> - -<p>Ool's arms tightened around her and his lips met hers.</p> - -<p>Behind Ryaa a chair disintegrated with a whispered sigh, unheard by -the lovers. But they did hear the crash of splintering glass as two -struggling figures hurtled into the room. Ryaa clung to Ool as the -fighters threshed around them, unrecognizable at first. Then a slim, -golden-haired figure seemed to be forcing his opponent down.</p> - -<p>"Ryyn," Ryaa exclaimed. "But who—"</p> - -<p>The two figures were struggling over some sort of a weapon. A sudden -twist of Ryyn's wrist sent it hurtling across the room. Ool scooped it -up—a strange sort of gun—and stood ready to aid Ryyn. But it was no -longer necessary for Ryyn had pinned the other's arms behind him and -now forced him to his feet. He was a dark, squat Martian, who looked -like a malevolent frog.</p> - -<p>"Gilk!" The name broke from Ool's incredulous lips.</p> - -<p>"Gilk," Ryyn agreed. "The only person who had reason to hate you and -was clever enough to think up such a fiendish plot. Too clever, really, -to be caught in such a simple trap, with you two doing your best to -give it away. We were lucky that he was mad with hate, so he didn't -notice." He called out and two guards came into the room, one from the -door and the other through the broken window. Behind them came the -members of the committee.</p> - -<p>"Here's our murderer," Ryyn told them. "It shouldn't be hard to prove -that he killed the others now that we saw him try to kill Ryaa and Ool."</p> - -<p>"Not Ool," Gilk snarled. "I didn't want him to die. Only her. Ool would -have stayed alive to suffer again."</p> - -<p>"But why?" Ool asked. "We were friends."</p> - -<p>"Friends!" Gilk spat the word at him. "After all that you did to me. I -invented Gilkite—I alone—the only thing powerful enough to halt an -entire invasion force. But you received all the glory."</p> - -<p>"Because you were a coward," Ryaa cried, stepping in front of Ool. "You -ran away and left him to face the entire fleet alone."</p> - -<p>"I wasn't a coward," Gilk told her in a hurt tone. "There was always -a chance that something might go wrong; that it might not stop them. -Patrol Commanders are plentiful enough; Ool could have been replaced. -But there is only one Gilk. No one could have replaced me." His voice -rose to a shriek. "Then Ool took all the credit, and they laughed at -me. But their great hero isn't a hero any longer."</p> - -<p>"You arranged all that, didn't you?" Ryyn asked.</p> - -<p>"Of course I arranged it. No one else would be clever enough. But -for me it was simple. A little preparation of mine, slipped into the -bride's clothing or perfume. Just a matter of timing. But this time I -couldn't get to her things ahead of time. I suppose that was your idea. -I had to come and do it myself. And I will!"</p> - -<p>With a swift motion he slipped from Ryyn's grasp. A needle glittered in -his hand as he threw himself toward Ryaa.</p> - -<p>The guards stood helpless. Neither of them could fire without hitting -Ryaa. Ryyn started forward but Ool was ahead of him. With one hand he -sent Ryaa sprawling out of danger. With the other, which still held the -gun, he struck Gilk a smashing blow across the face.</p> - -<p>The Martian staggered backward, tripped and fell. He screamed once and -was still. Ryyn bent over him.</p> - -<p>"He fell on the needle," he announced. "At least it was quick."</p> - -<p>"Now I don't suppose that anyone will ever know how to make Gilkite," -one of the guards said as they picked up the body.</p> - -<p>"Perhaps it's just as well," said the Oldest Man. "It's too dangerous a -secret for anyone to possess. But tell us, Ryyn. What made you think of -him?"</p> - -<p>Ryyn smiled.</p> - -<p>"The tools of our trades have changed quite a bit through the ages," he -said. "But basically people haven't. The First Murderer that we know of -killed his brother out of jealousy. It's still an important motive."</p> - -<p>"And with the motive established it wasn't hard to find your killer?" -said the Oldest Man. "But you also mentioned that when the experiment -was over, you thought that Ool might petition the committee to set -aside this latest mating."</p> - -<p>Ryyn glanced at Ool, kneeling beside Ryaa, gathering her into his arms.</p> - -<p>"I think we'd better forget that part, sir," he suggested.</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Brides Of Ool, by M. A. Cummings - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BRIDES OF OOL *** - -***** This file should be named 63475-h.htm or 63475-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/4/7/63475/ - -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. 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A. Cummings - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: The Brides Of Ool - -Author: M. A. Cummings - -Release Date: October 16, 2020 [EBook #63475] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BRIDES OF OOL *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - THE BRIDES OF OOL - - By M. A. CUMMINGS - - _The Goddess of Love had never showered Ool with - her favors. He was the saddest lover this side - of Io ... either that, or the most skillful lady - killer since the invention of Gilk's death-ray._ - - [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.] - - -As the soft tones of the morning gong sounded through the cabin Ool -yawned and stretched. Then he grinned, remembering. This was the -first morning of his honeymoon. Of course, honeymoons were even more -out-of-date than marriage services. But Loris had wanted both and Ool -was willing to let her have her way. - -Funny to think that after all this time Loris was really his. His hand -caressed the form lying beside him, the flesh smooth and cold as marble. - -Cold! He sat up suddenly, staring at the girl. The pearly lustre -of her skin had faded to a chalky white, and he could see no sign -of breathing. Frantically he felt for a heartbeat. There was none. -Loris--his beautiful Loris, was dead. - - * * * * * - -As the lights glowed on the board, the young Watcher forgot discipline, -even forgot the inter-office video. Stumbling into the captain's -office, he shouted, - -"It's Commander Ool. He's requesting permission to land--" he gulped, -came to attention, "sir." - -The captain was equally startled. But years of training helped him to -keep control. - -"Wonder where he's been all this time. No report from him in weeks. -Permission granted. And tell him to report up here at once. The Old Men -will want to hear about this. I wouldn't want to be in his boots." - -"If I'd been gone this long I wouldn't have bothered to come back," the -Watcher said. - -"They'd have found him sooner or later. He couldn't stay up forever," -the captain said. "Better get those signals out." And the young -Watcher went back to his post, shaking his head over anyone foolish -enough to anger the Old Men, while the captain put through a call to -Committee headquarters. - -Between the frequent tests and long periods of questioning, Ool was -also wondering where he had been. Two weeks gone out of his life -without the slightest glimmer of a memory about them. Two weeks of -floating in space. Had Loris been dead all the time? Or had she died -while he lay unconscious? Had he--could he have killed her without -knowing it? - -Furiously Ool tried to assemble his thoughts, to force his tired brain -back over all that had happened, trying to find some explanation. - -He could remember perfectly except for the last two weeks. The -Invasion--which had threatened to wipe out Civilization. When, in the -last desperate moments, the untested Gilkite rays had been used, and -like an invisible screen, had held off the foe. How he alone had stood -for hours at the machines, after Gilk, the froglike Martian inventor -had run from the scene, howling with terror. - -The crowds claiming him as the hero of the hour, screaming for the -sight of him. Then the meeting with Loris--Loris of the silver hair, -the long slim body which gleamed like pearl, the husky voice. - -It had been a struggle to get the Old Men to grant them permission to -mate, for Loris was a Venusian and not at all the proper sort of mate -for a Warrior. But with the success of Gilkite, there might be no more -need for Warriors--so permission was granted. And now Loris was dead. - -Once more Ool was summoned before the committee. - -"The committee agrees," said the Oldest Man, "that you could not have -been responsible for the death of your mate." - -"The Gilkite--" Ool began. - -"Only Gilk knows positively what to expect from it, and he cannot be -found. However, our scientists have given you every known test. And -believe me, Captain, if there were the slightest suspicion in the minds -of any one of them, the order would have been given for your immediate -destruction. We would take no chances on your being a carrier of death -rays." - -"And Loris?" - -"You will remember that the committee opposed this mating. Although -Loris' ancestors--like those of all of us--were Terrans, the -generations had adapted themselves to life on Venus. We do not know -what changes have taken place; how they will be affected by situations -which are normal to us." - -Ool stood silent. In his own mind, that did not answer the question of -what had happened to Loris, or what had gone on during the two weeks. - -"Unfortunately," the Oldest Man went on smoothly, as if answering his -thoughts, "we have no way of telling what did happen. There was a flaw -in the communications system of your ship. Shortly after you took off -the Security Screen went blank." - -The prisoner felt the blood slowly rising in his face. The screen had -gone blank, but it had been no accident. - - * * * * * - -He remembered Loris coming up behind him as he worked on the screen. - -"What are you doing?" she asked curiously. - -"Sh," he warned. He worked a moment more, then the screen went blank. - -"This is one ship that isn't going to have any Security Check for a -while," he announced with satisfaction. - -"Won't you get into trouble?" - -"Probably, but it will be worth it." He grinned at her appreciatively. -Loris was wearing a robe of misty green, through which her body gleamed -as though she stood in the midst of a soft cloud. Ool shook his head. - -"Good thing I turned it off when I did. If some old Security Watcher -could see you now, his hardened arteries would probably break into a -million pieces." - -Loris laughed huskily and stretched her arms above her head. The green -mist settled slowly around her ankles. He could remember his vague -surprise that the pearly-hued flesh was not cold as she came into his -arms, but warm, quite warm-- - -Was he imagining it, or was there a twinkle in the eye of the Oldest -Man? - -"The Old Men," he was saying drily, "are not too old to have memories. -The destruction of a Security Check could be considered a major crime -but, since there is no war, the committee is willing to take into -consideration your excellent record as Commander of the Patrol--and the -circumstances. It is regrettable that we cannot tell what did happen to -your mate, but the committee agrees that you are not to blame. You are -free to go, Captain." - -Ool walked out into the sunlight. He was free but Loris was dead. - -He soon found that he was not alone in his grief. Messages poured in. -With the familiarity they always feel toward their heroes, the people -had made his loss their own. And when he met Tanya, the exotic Martian -dancer, they shared his happiness. - -There was no attempt this time to disconnect the Security Screen, so -the Watchers were able to tell exactly what happened. The two merely -fell asleep. Ool--as he must have done before--slept for several days, -as if he had been drugged, then awoke to find himself a widower for the -second time. Nothing had happened, but Tanya was dead. - -The examination to which Ool was submitted now was even more thorough -than the one he had undergone earlier. The results were the same. Once -more he was found innocent. - -But if the committee absolved him, many of the people did not. Black -looks were thrown at him, people began to edge away from him in the -streets. - -Ool did not blame them. To him, it was as simple as it was to them. Two -women had mated with him; two women were dead. The fault was his. - -There were plenty of places where they didn't care who you were -or what you had done as long as you had the price of a drink. Ool -found them all. In them gathered the outcasts of half a dozen -planets--thieves, murderers, saboteurs--and in the midst of them, -Captain Ool, the pride of the Interplanetary Patrol, tried to drink -himself into oblivion. - -He was well on his way one night sitting alone at his table when a girl -came to the door and looked in, as if searching for someone. Not the -sort of girl you'd expect to find in a place like this; she was clean -and healthy. Her short golden curls gleamed through the blue haze, and -her firm-muscled young body in its short tunic was the focus of many -bleary eyes as she threaded her way between the tables. - -"Ool, I've been looking for you," she cried. He looked at her hazily. - -"You don't want me," he spoke carefully, managing not to slur his -words. "I'm Ool, the lady killer. I'll get you if you don't watch out." -He giggled and tipped up the bottle. It was empty so he waved the -waiter over. - -"My capac--capacity's increasing," he told the girl. "At first I -couldn't finish one bottle. Now I can almost finish two." - -"Ool, listen--" she caught at his arm. - -He brushed her aside and reached for the bottle in the waiter's hand. - -The girl beckoned the waiter aside, whispered to him. He shook his -head, then nodded as she slipped something into his hand. They came to -the table. - -"You'd better go with the lady," the waiter advised, but Ool ignored -him and took another drink. The waiter lifted him to his feet. Through -the thickening fog Ool saw the man's fist go back. - -Then came the oblivion he wanted. - - * * * * * - -He awoke in what seemed to be a laboratory. It seemed familiar. So did -the voices he heard, both talking at once. They broke off as he moved. - -"Ryyn, he's coming to," the girl's voice cried. - -Ool looked up. Standing over him were two figures in white tunics. Both -had the same blue eyes and short golden hair. He closed his eyes and -shook his head to clear it, then wished he hadn't. - -The girl laughed happily. - -"You're not seeing double," she assured him. "Don't you remember us?" - -Ool opened his eyes once more. The words, the girl's tone, set his -fuzzy brain to working. Of course--the man was Ryyn, who had been one -of his best friends at the Academy. Ryyn, whose brilliant mind had -already won him a recommendation for a place on the committee; the -youngest man ever to be considered. - -Then the girl--the girl who had come after him--must be Ryaa, his twin -sister. Ool remembered her as a slim, boyish kid. There was certainly -nothing boyish about her appearance now. - -Ool tried to sit up and instantly Ryaa was by his side, helping him. - -"Just take it easy," she advised. "Ryyn is going to give you something -to make you feel better." - -"Ryaa, I am not in the business of making hangover remedies," Ryyn -growled. But at the same time he thrust something into Ool's hand. -"Drink," he commanded. - -Ool obeyed, shuddering. - -"Anything that tastes that bad should either kill or cure," he said. -"Probably be better for me if it killed." - -"Don't say that," Ryaa cried. "Ryyn is going to help you, aren't you?" - -"Nobody can help me." He buried his face in his hands. "For all I know -I really may have killed them." - -Ryyn nodded. - -"There's always that chance but I don't think so. Anything that -deadly would show up in a test. But I'll have to know more about what -happened--" - -Step by step he led Ool back over every detail, from his meeting with -each girl to her death. - -Ryaa sat beside Ool, her hand in his, trying not to wince when he -tightened his grip at some painful memory. - -"Thanks," Ryyn said at last. "I think that's all I need right now. -Sorry if I had to hurt you but I'm not in a position to keep up with -the news. If we can do anything you'll have Ryaa to thank for it. She -dragged me away from my experiments and made me promise to do what I -could--or else," he grinned at his sister, "she threatened to foul -things up and leave me hanging somewhere in space indefinitely." - -Ool stared at the girl beside him. This didn't sound like the quiet -little Ryaa he had known. But her scarlet face showed that at least a -part of Ryyn's statement was true. - -"Now," Ryyn continued, "I have things to do. Ryaa, why don't you take -this big fellow in tow, and the two of you go out and have a good time?" - -"Do you think it's wise?" Ool asked. - -"Oh, yes," Ryaa breathed. Ryyn grinned. - -"I think so. I want you to forget as completely as possible that this -conversation ever took place. For a few days try not to think about it -or me. It will help me if you don't." - -When Ool began to be seen in public with another girl, excited whispers -spread the news rapidly. Sympathetic glances came Ryaa's way but she -seemed not to notice them. Before long some of her gaiety transferred -itself to Ool, and for a time he forgot the tragedy hanging over him. - -He was reminded abruptly by a summons from Ryyn. - -"I know the answer," he told Ool, "but we will have to have proof. The -committee has given permission for an experiment. If Ryaa is willing to -take a chance--" - -"I'll do anything to help Ool," Ryaa said fervently. - -"I thought so," her brother answered. "So I asked the committee to -grant you two permission to mate." - -"No," Ool cried hoarsely. "Not Ryaa. I don't want her to die too." - -"Nothing will happen to Ryaa if you both do exactly as I say. It's our -only chance to prove your innocence. Besides, I've already made the -announcement. There's nothing you can do about it now." - -Ool glared at him helplessly, then sank into a chair. Ryaa came to him -and put her arms around him. - -"You said you were willing to do what Ryyn wanted. So am I. If he says -I'll be all right, I will." - -"Well," Ool was only half convinced. "If it's all right with Ryaa. What -do you want us to do." - -"Just one thing right now--just stay here till I give the word." - -Ryyn's announcement spread quickly, and the reception was what might -have been expected. The people were shocked. - -"I don't think the committee should allow it," was the usual comment. - -"There may be more women than men in the Universe, but if Ool keeps on -mating with them, we'll soon be even," remarked someone with misplaced -humor. - - * * * * * - -When Ryyn had decided that the news had spread enough, he gave them the -word. Ryaa had voted for the space ship to show that she really wasn't -afraid of the jinx, but Ryyn forbade that. He had personally chosen a -resort, and had used his influence to overcome the owner's reluctance. -It was Ryyn, too, who had the would-be interviewers and most of the -curious crowd cleared away. - -Several of the remarks made by the crowd had started Ool to worrying -again. And in spite of her brave remarks, he knew that Ryaa was afraid -too. - -"You don't have to go through with this," he told her. "No one would -blame you for walking out." - -Ryaa shook her head. - -"It will be all right," she insisted. Standing on tiptoe, she caught -his face between her hands and pressed her lips to his. - -"That's how much I think of your old curse," she murmured and fled into -the other room. - -When she returned she had changed into a sheer blue gown that just -matched her eyes, and did nothing to hide her perfectly formed body. -Ool stared. He knew that she had grown up but he hadn't realized how -beautiful she had become. - -He took a step toward her. But there, standing beside her, were the -ghostly figures of Loris and Tanya. He stopped abruptly and his arms -fell to his sides. - -"I must say you don't act much like an ardent bridegroom," Ryaa -complained. "After all, we're supposed to behave normally." She caught -his arms and drew them around her. Slipping her arms around his neck -she raised her face to his. - -Ool's arms tightened around her and his lips met hers. - -Behind Ryaa a chair disintegrated with a whispered sigh, unheard by -the lovers. But they did hear the crash of splintering glass as two -struggling figures hurtled into the room. Ryaa clung to Ool as the -fighters threshed around them, unrecognizable at first. Then a slim, -golden-haired figure seemed to be forcing his opponent down. - -"Ryyn," Ryaa exclaimed. "But who--" - -The two figures were struggling over some sort of a weapon. A sudden -twist of Ryyn's wrist sent it hurtling across the room. Ool scooped it -up--a strange sort of gun--and stood ready to aid Ryyn. But it was no -longer necessary for Ryyn had pinned the other's arms behind him and -now forced him to his feet. He was a dark, squat Martian, who looked -like a malevolent frog. - -"Gilk!" The name broke from Ool's incredulous lips. - -"Gilk," Ryyn agreed. "The only person who had reason to hate you and -was clever enough to think up such a fiendish plot. Too clever, really, -to be caught in such a simple trap, with you two doing your best to -give it away. We were lucky that he was mad with hate, so he didn't -notice." He called out and two guards came into the room, one from the -door and the other through the broken window. Behind them came the -members of the committee. - -"Here's our murderer," Ryyn told them. "It shouldn't be hard to prove -that he killed the others now that we saw him try to kill Ryaa and Ool." - -"Not Ool," Gilk snarled. "I didn't want him to die. Only her. Ool would -have stayed alive to suffer again." - -"But why?" Ool asked. "We were friends." - -"Friends!" Gilk spat the word at him. "After all that you did to me. I -invented Gilkite--I alone--the only thing powerful enough to halt an -entire invasion force. But you received all the glory." - -"Because you were a coward," Ryaa cried, stepping in front of Ool. "You -ran away and left him to face the entire fleet alone." - -"I wasn't a coward," Gilk told her in a hurt tone. "There was always -a chance that something might go wrong; that it might not stop them. -Patrol Commanders are plentiful enough; Ool could have been replaced. -But there is only one Gilk. No one could have replaced me." His voice -rose to a shriek. "Then Ool took all the credit, and they laughed at -me. But their great hero isn't a hero any longer." - -"You arranged all that, didn't you?" Ryyn asked. - -"Of course I arranged it. No one else would be clever enough. But -for me it was simple. A little preparation of mine, slipped into the -bride's clothing or perfume. Just a matter of timing. But this time I -couldn't get to her things ahead of time. I suppose that was your idea. -I had to come and do it myself. And I will!" - -With a swift motion he slipped from Ryyn's grasp. A needle glittered in -his hand as he threw himself toward Ryaa. - -The guards stood helpless. Neither of them could fire without hitting -Ryaa. Ryyn started forward but Ool was ahead of him. With one hand he -sent Ryaa sprawling out of danger. With the other, which still held the -gun, he struck Gilk a smashing blow across the face. - -The Martian staggered backward, tripped and fell. He screamed once and -was still. Ryyn bent over him. - -"He fell on the needle," he announced. "At least it was quick." - -"Now I don't suppose that anyone will ever know how to make Gilkite," -one of the guards said as they picked up the body. - -"Perhaps it's just as well," said the Oldest Man. "It's too dangerous a -secret for anyone to possess. But tell us, Ryyn. What made you think of -him?" - -Ryyn smiled. - -"The tools of our trades have changed quite a bit through the ages," he -said. "But basically people haven't. The First Murderer that we know of -killed his brother out of jealousy. It's still an important motive." - -"And with the motive established it wasn't hard to find your killer?" -said the Oldest Man. "But you also mentioned that when the experiment -was over, you thought that Ool might petition the committee to set -aside this latest mating." - -Ryyn glanced at Ool, kneeling beside Ryaa, gathering her into his arms. - -"I think we'd better forget that part, sir," he suggested. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Brides Of Ool, by M. A. 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