diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 4 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63657-h.zip | bin | 482355 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63657-h/63657-h.htm | 1201 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63657-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 261258 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63657-h/images/illus.jpg | bin | 201149 -> 0 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63657.txt | 1090 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/63657.zip | bin | 19742 -> 0 bytes |
9 files changed, 17 insertions, 2291 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..d8252e1 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #63657 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/63657) diff --git a/old/63657-h.zip b/old/63657-h.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 22c9caa..0000000 --- a/old/63657-h.zip +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/63657-h/63657-h.htm b/old/63657-h/63657-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 59aa3a0..0000000 --- a/old/63657-h/63657-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1201 +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 Venusian Invader, by Larry Sternig. - </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 Venusian Invader, by Larry Sternig - -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: Venusian Invader - -Author: Larry Sternig - -Release Date: November 6, 2020 [EBook #63657] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VENUSIAN INVADER *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - -</pre> - - - - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>VENUSIAN INVADER</h1> - -<h2>By LARRY STERNIG</h2> - -<p>Leah Barrow would die. Tar Norn had sworn she<br /> -would, unless he was set free. But freedom for<br /> -the Venusian Pirate meant death for many, and<br /> -it was Director Barrow's duty to hold him—even<br /> -though it would cost his daughter's life.</p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Planet Stories Winter 1945.<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>Mart Wells shut off the alarm buzzer and jumped out of bed—much to his -regret. He cussed and then grinned sheepishly as he brought up with a -thud against the fortunately unbreakable glass of the window. A year -on Callisto, and he could still forget that he weighed only thirty-six -pounds and couldn't take a normal step without neutronium-weighted -shoes.</p> - -<p>Regaining his balance, he yawned and looked out over the rough Callisto -landscape beyond Comprotown. Then he yawned again and reached for his -uniform.</p> - -<p>A year before, Comprotown—and his job as rocketport dispatcher—had -been Romance with a capital R. Now, he thought gloomily, Romance with -Leah with a capital L, and a fat lot of good that did him when Leah -Barrow's father was Old Fish-face himself, Director of Comprotown.</p> - -<p>True, Comprotown held fewer than a thousand colonists, but it was the -only inhabited spot on bleak Callisto, and its Director was practical -czar of a world. Yes, the Director could well afford to look down his -long nose at any uniform with fewer than six stars on its right sleeve. -But Leah didn't feel that—</p> - -<p>Suddenly, straightening up as he fastened his weighted boot, he looked -more intently out of the window. Something that flashed caught his eye -out in the barren, warped hills. A gleam of metal where metal shouldn't -have been. And it looked like a small spaceship.</p> - -<p>Mart hastily pulled on his other boot and ran down the stairs. A -red-headed mechanic from the rocketport was coming out of the building -across the way.</p> - -<p>Mart called out, "Red! Something about a mile back in the hills looks -like a spaceship. Has one been reported down?"</p> - -<p>"Huh?" The mechanic looked startled. "You sure? No, there hasn't been a -report. Wait, I'll radio Central Communications."</p> - -<p>He darted back into the building, and emerged a moment later. "No -report. They're going to send out the autogiro to look at it. Say, -Mart, there are only two small spaceships on Callisto. Could it be—"</p> - -<p>Mart was already running toward the corner from which he could see the -landing field. He stopped so suddenly that the mechanic almost ran into -him, and said, "Whew! They're both there." Leah Barrow's trim little -spacecruiser was safe in port. So was the Police one-seater scout—but -that wasn't the one Mart had looked for first.</p> - -<p>From near the Administration Building a two-place autogiro was rising, -silhouetted for a moment between the horns of the reddish crescent of -big Jupiter just above the horizon.</p> - -<p>As he walked across the field toward headquarters, Mart surveyed the -familiar scene. Three squat freighters were up on the racks, their ugly -black bottoms over the ash-filled blasting pits; four others were on -dollies ready to be serviced.</p> - -<p>All seven were ready for their regular weekly Callisto-Jupe hop, -ready to pick up more ore. And, as usual, they'd go out today to -clear the field for the sleeker, faster, long-haul ships that would -arrive from Earth tomorrow for the smelted metal. Mart glanced at his -wrist-chronometer. Eight o'clock now; in an hour and a half, <i>Freighter -One</i>, right on schedule, would start testing its rocket tubes for the -ten o'clock hop. And an hour later, <i>Freighter Two</i> would start to warm -up for the eleven o'clock blasting-off. And then the others, every hour -on the hour.</p> - -<p>At his desk in the Administration Building, Mart picked up the familiar -sheaf of clearance papers waiting for his attention, and glanced -through them. Initialing them was mere routine; they'd never cleared a -minute early or a minute late since he'd been there. Director Barrow -saw to that.</p> - -<p>The door opened. Mart put down the papers and glanced up.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>One of the workmen from the smelting plant, a tall black-haired fellow -wearing tinted glasses, stood looking into the office. Mart didn't -remember ever seeing him before—but with several hundred workmen, you -couldn't remember all of them.</p> - -<p>"Director Barrow in?"</p> - -<p>Mart glanced up at the wall clock before he answered. "He'll be here in -twenty-one minutes. Sit down and wait if you're off duty."</p> - -<p>He turned back to the papers and finished initialing them, grinning -inwardly at being able to say that the Director would arrive in -twenty-one minutes exactly. It wasn't everywhere that one could make -so accurate a prediction about anyone's arrival time, but Barrow was -something of a chronometer himself.</p> - -<p>He tossed the papers toward the back of the desk and threw the switch -of the communicator on his desk, leaned forward slightly. "Dispatcher -Wells calling Police Autogiro."</p> - -<p>"Autogiro, Captain Wayne," came the reply. "Go ahead. Mart."</p> - -<p>"I was the one who reported seeing the spaceship, Cap—if it was one. -Found it? If not, I can—"</p> - -<p>"Thanks, Mart, but we've sighted it all right. We're now circling, -looking for a spot to come down. It doesn't take much, but damned if we -can perch on a ridge like a canary. Neither could that space-speedster -down there.</p> - -<p>"Wrecked? What's it look like?"</p> - -<p>"Ummm. Offhand one of the single-place jobs that Venusians bought from -Earth before the war. Full armament, too."</p> - -<p>"What? You sure, Cap? After the Earth-Venus twenty-two eighty treaty, -we reclaimed and destroyed all the armed—"</p> - -<p>"Yeah, I know," cut in the Captain's voice. "All but a few that the -Venusian renegades—the pirates—got off with before then. Well—we're -going down. Corey's found a place not too far from it where he can set -the giro down, or says he can."</p> - -<p>"If that's a pirate ship, Cap, be careful!"</p> - -<p>"Don't worry. We're armed. And the ship's pretty smashed up. Probably -at least kayoed whoever was in it. Well, keep your key open and I'll -call you back. We're down."</p> - -<p>Mart found the shipment chart and began to check off tonnage. That much -he wanted to get out of the way before—but something was gnawing at -the back of his mind. It took him a moment to trace what it was. Of -course. The workman who was waiting for the Director was wearing tinted -glasses.</p> - -<p>Tinted glasses on Callisto! It didn't make sense. The sun, half a -billion miles away, gives only a twenty-fifth of the light that falls -on Earth. Even when that light is augmented by Big Jupe, it isn't—Yes, -it was the first time he'd seen tinted glasses in Comprotown.</p> - -<p>Curiously, he turned to glance at the seated workman. But the carrier -wave of the desk communicator hummed and he forgot his visitor as -Captain Wayne's voice boomed in.</p> - -<p>"Dispatcher Wells. Captain Wayne calling Dispatcher—"</p> - -<p>"Okay, Cap. Go ahead."</p> - -<p>"We've examined the spaceship. No one's in it, hurt or otherwise. It's -a single seater. A pirate ship all right."</p> - -<p>"You sure? How can you be certain?"</p> - -<p>"Aside from the fact that it would have no business around here if it -wasn't, the papers are a give-away. There's a whole sheaf of them. -Reports on the Ganymede jewel shipments mostly. And a full set of data -on our own little world, Mart. If there's a Venusian around, he sure -knows his way."</p> - -<p>"Dope on Callisto? What kind?"</p> - -<p>"A detailed map of Comprotown, showing every building. A full schedule -of freighter hops both ways to Jupe and Earth. Details of shipments. -That sort of thing."</p> - -<p>"Holy stars! But why should a pirate be interested in ore?"</p> - -<p>"Don't imagine he is. Or in Comprotown, either. I'd say from the -papers, it was precautionary information. We don't keep our operations -a secret here. He could have picked it up from any magazine article -describing Comprotown in detail.</p> - -<p>"But I still don't see—"</p> - -<p>"The Ganymede jewel shipments, Mart. I'd say he was bound for Gany and -his ship went blooie while he was scudding past Callisto. He got pulled -down here and just barely made a landing he could walk away from. I'm -afraid there'll be trouble."</p> - -<p>Mart whistled. "Well, the Director's due now. He'll want a search -organized and—Wait, here he is. Tell it over again, Cap, and you'll be -reporting direct.... Listen to this, Director."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The tall slender figure of Director Barrow stood impassively beside -Mart's desk and listened to a repetition of Wayne's report. Not a -flicker of expression passed over his gaunt face.</p> - -<p>As Wayne finished, the Director asked, "Is he armed? Anything taken -from the ship's equipment, Captain?"</p> - -<p>"Looks intact, but he probably has sidearms. All the pirates carry -them. One funny thing, Director. The timer robot has been removed from -the control panel. What on Callisto would he want with a loose timer?"</p> - -<p>"Report back to headquarters immediately, Captain Wayne," Director -Barrow ordered.</p> - -<p>The hum of the carrier wave died and Mart clicked off the set. -Then, belatedly, he stood up and saluted. "Anything I can do, sir? -Everything's set for the freighters to clear as usual, so I'm more or -less free—"</p> - -<p>Barrow nodded. "Very good, Wells. You may go to the field and direct a -search of the freighters. The Venusian's first thought will be to get -away, and he may already be stowed in one of—"</p> - -<p>A dry voice interrupted from behind the Director's back. "But the -Venusian would not do anything so obvious, Director Barrow."</p> - -<p>Mart whirled around. Barrow turned slowly and with dignity.</p> - -<p>It was the tall man dressed in the uniform of a smelting plant worker -who had spoken. But he wasn't dark-haired any more. Still seated, he -was smiling at them sardonically as he fanned himself with a black wig -he had just removed. The top of his head was as smooth as a billiard -ball, and dead white. There was a line of demarcation where the dye he -had applied to his face came to an end.</p> - -<p>He had removed the tinted glasses too, and the blank-surfaced -gray eyeballs showed why they had been worn. Now that the simple -disguise of wig and glasses was removed, Mart noted some of the other -distinguishing features that marked the Venusian. The general flatness -of the face and flat unconvoluted ears. The six-fingered hands that had -probably been thrust into the pockets of the stolen uniform.</p> - -<p>The Venusian glanced down at the wig and glasses. "Standard equipment," -he explained. "I always carry them in my ship and they've come in handy -before."</p> - -<p>He rose and bowed mockingly. "My name is Tar Norn, and your supposition -that I am a pirate is correct. But I assure you that my visit here is -accidental and I have no designs on Comprotown."</p> - -<p>Tar Norn! The most vicious and notorious of the pirates, and the most -ruthless killer of them all. Mart hastily jerked open the drawer of -his desk and pulled out a hand-blaster. He started the formula: "Under -authority of the Interplanetary Council, I arrest you, to be held for -trial—"</p> - -<p>The sardonic smile did not fade from the pirate's thin lips. He rose -and extended his arms upward. "I am unarmed," he cut in. "It will help -our discussion if you will verify that."</p> - -<p>"—before the Supreme Council on Earth," Mart finished. Then, glancing -side-wise at Director Barrow and seeing him nod, he stepped forward -warily. Venusians, he knew, were both fast and tricky. Watching every -move, he completed the search. Tar Norn carried no weapons.</p> - -<p>Why, Mart wondered, had the pirate walked openly into headquarters and -given himself up? Obviously, Tar Norn had something up his sleeve. -But—</p> - -<p>Director Barrow spoke coldly, as Mart stepped back, still covering the -Venusian with the blaster. "Tar Norn, you speak of 'our discussion.' -There is nothing to discuss. You will be sent to Earth."</p> - -<p>The pirate's face became vicious. "I do not think so," he snapped. -"I have taken a hostage. It was quite dark—your tiny Callisto in -eclipse of its huge primary—when I was forced down. But darkness means -nothing to a Venusian. You Earthmen play a strange game with cardboard -rectangles. To use its language, Director Barrow, I have an ace in the -hole."</p> - -<p>Tar Norn sat down again and folded his six-fingered hands quite calmly. -Light from the ceiling overhead seemed to cast a malignant glow on his -dead-white scalp.</p> - -<p>"Your daughter, Director," he continued. "If you wish to see her again, -you will give me a ship, your <i>fastest</i> ship."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>There was a moment of dead, utter silence. Then Director Barrow leaned -over the desk and flicked the key of the communicator. "Control? Get -my—get Leah Barrow at once. Ring her room. If no answer there, get my -housekeeper. This is Director Barrow."</p> - -<p>"Your fastest ship," repeated the Venusian. "Well stocked with -supplies. Enough to take me to—to a place in the Asteroid belt. I -shall be too late now to carry out my original plans on Ganymede."</p> - -<p>The office door opened and Captain Wayne came in, followed by Roger -Corey. Their eyes widened as they saw the Venusian. Wayne's hand darted -toward his holster, then relaxed as he saw Mart's blaster trained on -the pirate.</p> - -<p>He faced Director Barrow and saluted.</p> - -<p>"Captain," Barrow ordered, "you will form a search party at once—every -available man and means. We must search all of Callisto within—" he -made a rapid mental calculation "—about fifty miles. You will be -searching for my daughter."</p> - -<p>The captain stiffened. Before he could reply the carrier wave hummed -and a feminine voice, that of an elderly woman, came over the -communicator. "Director Barrow? Leah isn't here. I looked in her room -and her bed is disarranged as though she left suddenly. She always -makes it herself as soon as she gets up."</p> - -<p>"Anything to point to when she left, Mrs. Andrews?"</p> - -<p>"Not exactly, sir. The alarm was set for six and it was still buzzing. -Her bed isn't very mussed; it looks like she got up again almost right -after she retired. I don't understand."</p> - -<p>Director Barrow's face was bleak. His voice sounded like the drip of -water from melting ice. "Clothing?" he asked.</p> - -<p>"Her lightweight spacesuit is gone. Apparently she put it on over her -sleeping pajamas, for they aren't here. Is there anything I can do, -sir? I'm worried; she hasn't ever—"</p> - -<p>"That will be all, Mrs. Andrews," Barrow replied. "I'll let you know if -there is anything."</p> - -<p>He turned to Captain Wayne. "Use this set, Captain. Get Communications -to send out a general alarm and assembly. You can make all necessary -arrangements right here."</p> - -<p>Wayne crossed to the communicator, and began to issue rapid -instructions.</p> - -<p>"Tell them to hurry," the Venusian cut in mockingly. "They have until -nine-thirty o'clock."</p> - -<p>Mart Wells glanced fearfully at the dial of the chronometer. It was -eight-forty now. He turned and caught the Director's glance. "<i>The -timer!</i>" he said grimly. "Captain Wayne said it was missing from the -wrecked ship. He must have—"</p> - -<p>The Venusian was grinning. "Exactly. The timer. And a pound of uranite. -That gives you fifty minutes to search Callisto. It would be wiser to -spend the time getting a ship ready for me instead."</p> - -<p>The silence of the office was broken only by the low voice of Captain -Wayne giving orders into the communicator. Abruptly he turned to his -superior. His face was white.</p> - -<p>"Search is on, sir. But if he isn't lying, there's a chance in a -million. Less than an hour, and the area to be covered is—"</p> - -<p>Barrow was looking straight ahead, and not a muscle of his face moved -until he spoke. "I'm afraid he isn't bluffing. No reason why he should -be. Leah is gone and the timer is gone. And a pirate ship would have -uranite."</p> - -<p>"The ship?" asked Tar Norn. "It will take some time to fuel it and—"</p> - -<p>Director Barrow's voice was positive. "There will be no ship for you, -Tar Norn."</p> - -<p>Roger Corey's voice cut in, jerkily. "Let me work on him, sir. Me and -Wayne. Maybe we can make him talk."</p> - -<p>Barrow shook his head. "No use, Corey. Venusians don't mind pain as -much as Earthmen. They almost like it. You could take him apart, and he -wouldn't talk."</p> - -<p>The pirate's smile faded. "It will take half an hour to prepare the -ship, Director Barrow. Better not stall too long."</p> - -<p>Mart said, his voice urgent. "But, sir, <i>Leah</i>! What's one pirate -compared to—"</p> - -<p>Barrow's face was granite-like. "He's killed hundreds of people. If we -release him, he'll kill hundreds more. One life cannot weigh against -that. Corey, take him away. Lock him up until the next ship leaves for -Earth."</p> - -<p>Mart's fists were clenched, his fingernails biting into the palms. But -he knew Barrow was right; that he couldn't possibly take any other -course and be worthy of his post. One life couldn't weigh against the -many lives that meeting the pirate's terms would mean. That was where -Tar Norn had miscalculated. A Venusian didn't understand responsibility -to society, nor any higher ideal than self-interest.</p> - -<p>Tar Norn tossed the wig and glasses to the floor as Corey took his arm. -His pupil-less eyes seemed to glow with anger.</p> - -<p>"You won't murder your own daughter, Director. This is a bluff. But -mine isn't. She dies at nine-thirty unless you find her. I swear that -by the <i>Eternal Varga</i>."</p> - -<p>Mart cursed. Fists balled, he lunged toward the Venusian. Barrow put -a hand on his arm. "Don't, Wells. That's up to the Interplanetary -Council."</p> - -<p>"But he's <i>not</i> bluffing," Mart raved. "Leah will surely die at -nine-thirty. That damned oath. <i>Varga.</i> It's the only thing a Venusian -is afraid of. He isn't—" His voice broke.</p> - -<p>Corey started off with the Venusian.</p> - -<p>Barrow said, "Yes, he's telling the truth. But we have some time yet. -Maybe the search—"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Mart strode to the window and looked out so the others wouldn't see his -face. Less than three-quarters of an hour to search all of Callisto -within a radius of fifty miles!</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Through the pane he saw figures in groups of three searching the -streets and buildings of Comprotown. That part of the search wouldn't -be difficult. But the hills and the caves, and with only two autogiros. -If she was there, out of sight in one of the caves, where the cruising -ships couldn't see her....</p> - -<p>Her father was right, but—The picture of Leah Barrow, smiling as he -had last seen her, seemed to blur out the view from the window. Her -impertinent little tilted nose, the soft tempting contours of her lips, -the deep blueness of her eyes.</p> - -<p>He whirled from the window and began pacing the floor, trying to -think of something they could do that wasn't being done. Again at the -communicator, Captain Wayne was barking questions.</p> - -<p>"All available men and women are combing the town, sir," he reported, -"with orders to break down any doors that are locked, to stop at -nothing."</p> - -<p>"And outside, Captain?"</p> - -<p>"The two giros are our only real hope. But the men from the smelting -plant are working afoot out of town. By nine-thirty they'll have -covered a radius of about five miles."</p> - -<p>Corey returned, slamming the door viciously behind him. "Maybe we -could trick him, sir," he suggested. "Pretend we'll give him a ship if -he'll—"</p> - -<p>"A Venusian wouldn't trust his own mother," Barrow snapped. "He'd -insist on taking off first and then radioing back where she is. And -don't think he wouldn't check the fuel tanks."</p> - -<p>"I wish you'd let me and Wayne work on him, anyway."</p> - -<p>Director Barrow didn't answer.</p> - -<p>Mart growled, "If Leah dies, I'm going to take that filthy pirate and—"</p> - -<p>Wayne's voice was bitter. "Venusians can't help what they are. Blame -the Earth council that sold them those ships. If they had used more -sense, there wouldn't be a Venusian off Venus."</p> - -<p>Mart nodded. If the council hadn't pulled that boner twenty years -before, there would be no trouble with the Venusians.</p> - -<p>Venusians were, compared to Earth standards, a strange combination of -genius and idiocy. Brilliant mathematicians, they had no mechanical -ingenuity whatever. Linguists who could speak any language fluently -after hearing it a few hours, not one of them could create a child's -wind-up toy. Knowing the laws of leverage, they constructed their -buildings by manual labor alone. Able to operate any machine as long as -it was in good working order, they couldn't as much as figure out how -to repair a clogged fuel-line.</p> - -<p>Even the pirates based on some of the bigger Asteroids had to depend -upon a few renegade Earthmen to keep their ships in running order. And -if one went blah away from base, it was a gone ship as far as they -were concerned. Probably the trouble that had forced Tar Norn down on -Callisto had been a minor matter that any Earthman could have taken in -his stride. But to Tar Norn it meant a new ship or nothing.</p> - -<p>The thought of ships reminded him of the freighters. "Cap," he asked -Wayne, "the freighters been searched thoroughly?"</p> - -<p>Wayne nodded. "Rocket tubes and all. Even broke open the ore drums. I -presume you'll want them to clear on schedule?"</p> - -<p>Director Barrow nodded. "The crews?" he asked. "In the search or -standing by?"</p> - -<p>"Standing by for departure as usual, Director. A few men one way or the -other—"</p> - -<p>Barrow nodded, glancing at the chronometer. Mart knew what he was -thinking. Less than half an hour now. And, unless the searchers by some -miracle found Leah Barrow, it would all be over before the ten o'clock -clearance of the first freighter. And the freighters hadn't missed a -clearance in ten years.</p> - -<p>The carrier wave hummed again. "Central Communications reporting. Most -searchers in the town have reported in. No results. Those outside -reaching points three miles out."</p> - -<p>The communicator faded. Mart clenched his fists against the futility -of that search. Three miles! The strong Venusian, in the light gravity -of Callisto, probably had eight or ten hours of darkness to carry his -burden. He could easily have covered twenty to forty miles, in any -direction. Possibly even more. And the chance of an autogiro—</p> - -<p>Obviously, Wayne had been thinking the same thing. "He timed his -arrival," he said bitterly. "He gave us less than an hour. He'd -certainly have put her outside walking range within that length of -time. And with all the caves around, thousands of them, would he have -put her where a giro could spot anything?"</p> - -<p>Mart glanced at Barrow. The Director was sitting as immobile as a -statue. His eyes were closed and every muscle of his thin face was -tense. Probably he was trying not to look at the chronometer on the -wall. It was nine-fifteen.</p> - -<p>The office door opened and three uniformed mechanics from the field -stood in the doorway. The foremost of them saluted. "This entire -building has been searched twice except this office. I presume—"</p> - -<p>Director Barrow opened his eyes and stood up. "Don't presume anything. -Search here, too."</p> - -<p>The men came in and began a detailed but fruitless search. Nobody spoke -until they left.</p> - -<p>The chronometer said twenty minutes after nine now. Ten minutes to go, -if the timer had been accurately set. But could it have been set wrong? -Venusians were lousy mechanics. Maybe—</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Mart became aware that he was holding his breath for the sound of a -distant explosion. Yes, from whatever point Tar Norn could have hidden -his hostage, the sound of a pound of uranite exploding would carry back -to Comprotown.</p> - -<p>He sat down at his desk again. In front of him were the signed -clearance papers for the freighters. In half an hour he'd take out the -papers for the first freighter. But before that half hour was up—</p> - -<p>He twisted a pencil between his fingers, held himself rigid to keep -from turning and looking at the chronometer again. It hadn't been over -a minute since he sat down—why torture himself by looking again? But -each minute now seemed both a flash and an eternity.</p> - -<p>He turned over the sheaf of papers and drew a little square on the -blank reverse side of the bottom one. That was Comprotown. He made a -dot an inch or two away. That was the point where Tar Norn's ship had -wrecked itself in landing.</p> - -<p>He drew a line from the point to the square. That was Tar Norn coming -in to the town. That would have been about ten hours ago.</p> - -<p>Then, from the information about Callisto and Comprotown that had -been in the papers in Tar Norn's ship, the pirate had found the home -of the director. He would have had no trouble finding Leah's room. -Venusians could see in the dark and walk as silently as cats. He would -undoubtedly have drugged Leah into unconsciousness, probably without -awakening her, since there had been no sign of a struggle. He'd put her -into the lightweight spacesuit.</p> - -<p>Why? Undoubtedly it indicated that she would be outdoors. During the -Callisto day, it would have been unnecessary. But an unconscious -Earthwoman would freeze to death in the cold dark period of Callisto's -eclipse behind Big Jupe.</p> - -<p>What then? The Venusian left, carrying her—</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> - <div class="caption"> - <p><i>The Venusian had carried the drugged girl into the night.</i></p> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>He threw down the pencil and began to pace the room again. His muscles -were tense from listening. How many minutes? He didn't want to know; -dared not look.</p> - -<p>But Tar Norn must have planned it all before he left the wrecked ship. -Otherwise he wouldn't have taken the timer and—</p> - -<p>Would he have rigged the time-bomb first, or after he had kidnapped -Leah? And how? The timer itself would not have provided the concussion -to set off the uranite. He'd have needed a battery, a spark-coil, and—</p> - -<p><i>But Venusians weren't mechanics.</i></p> - -<p>They didn't understand machines, or electricity, or even simple -clockworks, brilliant as their strange minds were in other ways.</p> - -<p>Tar Norn could have set the timer all right. For that matter, he could -calculate an orbit and make settings for space flight. But he couldn't -have made a time-bomb, even with the timer. He couldn't have rigged -a circuit that would set off a cap! And, Mart realized suddenly, the -timer itself would be an electrical—not a clockwork—gadget. Once -disconnected from the now broken dynamo of the ship, Tar Norn couldn't -have made it run at all!</p> - -<p>A momentary surge of elation swept Mart. Tar Norn must have been -bluffing! Then he remembered: a Venusian might murder his own family, -but he would never swear to an untruth by the Eternal Varga. That one -superstition, or religion, as they looked upon it, was binding beyond -all else. And Tar Norn had sworn by that oath that Leah Barrows would -die at nine-thirty unless—</p> - -<p>Mart looked at the chronometer. It was twenty-six minutes past nine. He -caught a glimpse of Director Barrow's face. It looked like the face of -a dead man. Barrow had obviously given up all hope and waited only for -the four minutes to pass.</p> - -<p>The carrier wave hummed. All of them started, but the voice from the -communicator merely reported, "All Comprotown reports in. All negative. -Giros report nothing. Foot parties five miles out. Reports negative."</p> - -<p>Three minutes to go. Mart could see by the attitude of the others that -they were bracing themselves for the sound of an explosion. All of them -had liked, or loved, Leah Barrows. Mart had a momentary vision of her -again, and remembered the electric thrill that had run through him when -she had placed her hand on his arm, just a few days ago, and told him -that she did care for him, well, a little anyway—</p> - -<p>But, if Tar Norn couldn't have rigged a time-bomb, how could he have -arranged for Leah to die at nine-thirty?</p> - -<p>He saw again the corpse-like face of the Director. Yes, they had all -been wrong in thinking that nothing mattered to Barrow more than the -schedules—<i>Schedules</i>! There had been departure schedules among the -papers in Tar Norn's ship. Could he have—</p> - -<p>With a sudden intake of breath that was almost a gasp, Mart whirled and -ran to the communicator. The others looked at him, startled. Mart was -yelling at the mike even before he got near enough to it to talk in a -normal voice. "Control! Emergency! Get <i>Jupe Freighter One</i>! <i>Tell him -not to test his tubes.</i> Not to touch a lever!"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Then he was racing out of the door and across the field to where the -big ugly freighter was up on the racks over the blasting pits. He -wasn't counting on that message through the communicator.</p> - -<p>Out of breath, he hammered on the steel door and yanked at the handle -until the pilot opened it from within.</p> - -<p>"Hold everything," Mart yelled at him. "Don't try the test blasts!"</p> - -<p>Whether Mart was right or wrong, there needn't be any hurry now, but -he was already lowering himself into the ash-filled blasting pit under -the rocket tubes of the freighter. Carefully, he groped among the ashes -from previous blast-offs, ignored the light soft ash that flew up into -his face.</p> - -<p>A hand touched heavy cloth, and the other found smooth transpariplast, -the helmet of a spacesuit. Gently, he lifted the unconscious body of -Leah Barrow and handed her up to the men looking down from the rim of -the pit.</p> - -<p>Ten minutes later, back in the office, Leah was reacting to the -antidote Doc Rogers had just administered. A glance at her face had -told the medico that the drug had been Venusian tragweed.</p> - -<p>Mart was still answering questions. "... Sure, Tar Norn knew that. -Every ship in the system makes its trial blasts just half an hour -before take-off. It's a fixed convention. Rocket captains do everything -according to a rigid schedule. And we were looking for a time-bomb -so we'd never think of the blasting pits. But Tar Norn couldn't have -rigged a time-bomb. We didn't think of that when we found the timer was -gone. He'd just thrown it away—"</p> - -<p>Someone was wringing his hand, and he saw it was Director Barrow. -"Mart!" Barrow's voice wasn't cold and distant now; all the ice had -melted. "I can't begin to tell you how much—If there is any reward I -can possibly offer you—"</p> - -<p>Mart Wells grinned. "—unto your daughter and half of your kingdom, as -they used to say in stories? Well, sir, I don't know what I'd do with -half of Callisto, but as for the other part of it—"</p> - -<p>He turned back to the awakening girl. Director Barrow's answer was -cinched, of course, but Leah—? Well, he'd have to ask her again.</p> - -<p>But probably she wasn't up to that just yet, even though her eyes were -open now and she was smiling at him. He'd have to give her time, of -course, before he asked her. Lots of time. Say, five minutes, or maybe -three.</p> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Venusian Invader, by Larry Sternig - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VENUSIAN INVADER *** - -***** This file should be named 63657-h.htm or 63657-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/6/5/63657/ - -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/63657-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/63657-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 963c9a2..0000000 --- a/old/63657-h/images/cover.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/63657-h/images/illus.jpg b/old/63657-h/images/illus.jpg Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index edd781a..0000000 --- a/old/63657-h/images/illus.jpg +++ /dev/null diff --git a/old/63657.txt b/old/63657.txt deleted file mode 100644 index cc9c35a..0000000 --- a/old/63657.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1090 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Venusian Invader, by Larry Sternig - -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: Venusian Invader - -Author: Larry Sternig - -Release Date: November 6, 2020 [EBook #63657] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ASCII - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VENUSIAN INVADER *** - - - - -Produced by Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - - - - - - - - - - VENUSIAN INVADER - - By LARRY STERNIG - - Leah Barrow would die. Tar Norn had sworn she - would, unless he was set free. But freedom for - the Venusian Pirate meant death for many, and - it was Director Barrow's duty to hold him--even - though it would cost his daughter's life. - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Planet Stories Winter 1945. - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - -Mart Wells shut off the alarm buzzer and jumped out of bed--much to his -regret. He cussed and then grinned sheepishly as he brought up with a -thud against the fortunately unbreakable glass of the window. A year -on Callisto, and he could still forget that he weighed only thirty-six -pounds and couldn't take a normal step without neutronium-weighted -shoes. - -Regaining his balance, he yawned and looked out over the rough Callisto -landscape beyond Comprotown. Then he yawned again and reached for his -uniform. - -A year before, Comprotown--and his job as rocketport dispatcher--had -been Romance with a capital R. Now, he thought gloomily, Romance with -Leah with a capital L, and a fat lot of good that did him when Leah -Barrow's father was Old Fish-face himself, Director of Comprotown. - -True, Comprotown held fewer than a thousand colonists, but it was the -only inhabited spot on bleak Callisto, and its Director was practical -czar of a world. Yes, the Director could well afford to look down his -long nose at any uniform with fewer than six stars on its right sleeve. -But Leah didn't feel that-- - -Suddenly, straightening up as he fastened his weighted boot, he looked -more intently out of the window. Something that flashed caught his eye -out in the barren, warped hills. A gleam of metal where metal shouldn't -have been. And it looked like a small spaceship. - -Mart hastily pulled on his other boot and ran down the stairs. A -red-headed mechanic from the rocketport was coming out of the building -across the way. - -Mart called out, "Red! Something about a mile back in the hills looks -like a spaceship. Has one been reported down?" - -"Huh?" The mechanic looked startled. "You sure? No, there hasn't been a -report. Wait, I'll radio Central Communications." - -He darted back into the building, and emerged a moment later. "No -report. They're going to send out the autogiro to look at it. Say, -Mart, there are only two small spaceships on Callisto. Could it be--" - -Mart was already running toward the corner from which he could see the -landing field. He stopped so suddenly that the mechanic almost ran into -him, and said, "Whew! They're both there." Leah Barrow's trim little -spacecruiser was safe in port. So was the Police one-seater scout--but -that wasn't the one Mart had looked for first. - -From near the Administration Building a two-place autogiro was rising, -silhouetted for a moment between the horns of the reddish crescent of -big Jupiter just above the horizon. - -As he walked across the field toward headquarters, Mart surveyed the -familiar scene. Three squat freighters were up on the racks, their ugly -black bottoms over the ash-filled blasting pits; four others were on -dollies ready to be serviced. - -All seven were ready for their regular weekly Callisto-Jupe hop, -ready to pick up more ore. And, as usual, they'd go out today to -clear the field for the sleeker, faster, long-haul ships that would -arrive from Earth tomorrow for the smelted metal. Mart glanced at his -wrist-chronometer. Eight o'clock now; in an hour and a half, _Freighter -One_, right on schedule, would start testing its rocket tubes for the -ten o'clock hop. And an hour later, _Freighter Two_ would start to warm -up for the eleven o'clock blasting-off. And then the others, every hour -on the hour. - -At his desk in the Administration Building, Mart picked up the familiar -sheaf of clearance papers waiting for his attention, and glanced -through them. Initialing them was mere routine; they'd never cleared a -minute early or a minute late since he'd been there. Director Barrow -saw to that. - -The door opened. Mart put down the papers and glanced up. - - * * * * * - -One of the workmen from the smelting plant, a tall black-haired fellow -wearing tinted glasses, stood looking into the office. Mart didn't -remember ever seeing him before--but with several hundred workmen, you -couldn't remember all of them. - -"Director Barrow in?" - -Mart glanced up at the wall clock before he answered. "He'll be here in -twenty-one minutes. Sit down and wait if you're off duty." - -He turned back to the papers and finished initialing them, grinning -inwardly at being able to say that the Director would arrive in -twenty-one minutes exactly. It wasn't everywhere that one could make -so accurate a prediction about anyone's arrival time, but Barrow was -something of a chronometer himself. - -He tossed the papers toward the back of the desk and threw the switch -of the communicator on his desk, leaned forward slightly. "Dispatcher -Wells calling Police Autogiro." - -"Autogiro, Captain Wayne," came the reply. "Go ahead. Mart." - -"I was the one who reported seeing the spaceship, Cap--if it was one. -Found it? If not, I can--" - -"Thanks, Mart, but we've sighted it all right. We're now circling, -looking for a spot to come down. It doesn't take much, but damned if we -can perch on a ridge like a canary. Neither could that space-speedster -down there. - -"Wrecked? What's it look like?" - -"Ummm. Offhand one of the single-place jobs that Venusians bought from -Earth before the war. Full armament, too." - -"What? You sure, Cap? After the Earth-Venus twenty-two eighty treaty, -we reclaimed and destroyed all the armed--" - -"Yeah, I know," cut in the Captain's voice. "All but a few that the -Venusian renegades--the pirates--got off with before then. Well--we're -going down. Corey's found a place not too far from it where he can set -the giro down, or says he can." - -"If that's a pirate ship, Cap, be careful!" - -"Don't worry. We're armed. And the ship's pretty smashed up. Probably -at least kayoed whoever was in it. Well, keep your key open and I'll -call you back. We're down." - -Mart found the shipment chart and began to check off tonnage. That much -he wanted to get out of the way before--but something was gnawing at -the back of his mind. It took him a moment to trace what it was. Of -course. The workman who was waiting for the Director was wearing tinted -glasses. - -Tinted glasses on Callisto! It didn't make sense. The sun, half a -billion miles away, gives only a twenty-fifth of the light that falls -on Earth. Even when that light is augmented by Big Jupe, it isn't--Yes, -it was the first time he'd seen tinted glasses in Comprotown. - -Curiously, he turned to glance at the seated workman. But the carrier -wave of the desk communicator hummed and he forgot his visitor as -Captain Wayne's voice boomed in. - -"Dispatcher Wells. Captain Wayne calling Dispatcher--" - -"Okay, Cap. Go ahead." - -"We've examined the spaceship. No one's in it, hurt or otherwise. It's -a single seater. A pirate ship all right." - -"You sure? How can you be certain?" - -"Aside from the fact that it would have no business around here if it -wasn't, the papers are a give-away. There's a whole sheaf of them. -Reports on the Ganymede jewel shipments mostly. And a full set of data -on our own little world, Mart. If there's a Venusian around, he sure -knows his way." - -"Dope on Callisto? What kind?" - -"A detailed map of Comprotown, showing every building. A full schedule -of freighter hops both ways to Jupe and Earth. Details of shipments. -That sort of thing." - -"Holy stars! But why should a pirate be interested in ore?" - -"Don't imagine he is. Or in Comprotown, either. I'd say from the -papers, it was precautionary information. We don't keep our operations -a secret here. He could have picked it up from any magazine article -describing Comprotown in detail. - -"But I still don't see--" - -"The Ganymede jewel shipments, Mart. I'd say he was bound for Gany and -his ship went blooie while he was scudding past Callisto. He got pulled -down here and just barely made a landing he could walk away from. I'm -afraid there'll be trouble." - -Mart whistled. "Well, the Director's due now. He'll want a search -organized and--Wait, here he is. Tell it over again, Cap, and you'll be -reporting direct.... Listen to this, Director." - - * * * * * - -The tall slender figure of Director Barrow stood impassively beside -Mart's desk and listened to a repetition of Wayne's report. Not a -flicker of expression passed over his gaunt face. - -As Wayne finished, the Director asked, "Is he armed? Anything taken -from the ship's equipment, Captain?" - -"Looks intact, but he probably has sidearms. All the pirates carry -them. One funny thing, Director. The timer robot has been removed from -the control panel. What on Callisto would he want with a loose timer?" - -"Report back to headquarters immediately, Captain Wayne," Director -Barrow ordered. - -The hum of the carrier wave died and Mart clicked off the set. -Then, belatedly, he stood up and saluted. "Anything I can do, sir? -Everything's set for the freighters to clear as usual, so I'm more or -less free--" - -Barrow nodded. "Very good, Wells. You may go to the field and direct a -search of the freighters. The Venusian's first thought will be to get -away, and he may already be stowed in one of--" - -A dry voice interrupted from behind the Director's back. "But the -Venusian would not do anything so obvious, Director Barrow." - -Mart whirled around. Barrow turned slowly and with dignity. - -It was the tall man dressed in the uniform of a smelting plant worker -who had spoken. But he wasn't dark-haired any more. Still seated, he -was smiling at them sardonically as he fanned himself with a black wig -he had just removed. The top of his head was as smooth as a billiard -ball, and dead white. There was a line of demarcation where the dye he -had applied to his face came to an end. - -He had removed the tinted glasses too, and the blank-surfaced -gray eyeballs showed why they had been worn. Now that the simple -disguise of wig and glasses was removed, Mart noted some of the other -distinguishing features that marked the Venusian. The general flatness -of the face and flat unconvoluted ears. The six-fingered hands that had -probably been thrust into the pockets of the stolen uniform. - -The Venusian glanced down at the wig and glasses. "Standard equipment," -he explained. "I always carry them in my ship and they've come in handy -before." - -He rose and bowed mockingly. "My name is Tar Norn, and your supposition -that I am a pirate is correct. But I assure you that my visit here is -accidental and I have no designs on Comprotown." - -Tar Norn! The most vicious and notorious of the pirates, and the most -ruthless killer of them all. Mart hastily jerked open the drawer of -his desk and pulled out a hand-blaster. He started the formula: "Under -authority of the Interplanetary Council, I arrest you, to be held for -trial--" - -The sardonic smile did not fade from the pirate's thin lips. He rose -and extended his arms upward. "I am unarmed," he cut in. "It will help -our discussion if you will verify that." - -"--before the Supreme Council on Earth," Mart finished. Then, glancing -side-wise at Director Barrow and seeing him nod, he stepped forward -warily. Venusians, he knew, were both fast and tricky. Watching every -move, he completed the search. Tar Norn carried no weapons. - -Why, Mart wondered, had the pirate walked openly into headquarters and -given himself up? Obviously, Tar Norn had something up his sleeve. -But-- - -Director Barrow spoke coldly, as Mart stepped back, still covering the -Venusian with the blaster. "Tar Norn, you speak of 'our discussion.' -There is nothing to discuss. You will be sent to Earth." - -The pirate's face became vicious. "I do not think so," he snapped. -"I have taken a hostage. It was quite dark--your tiny Callisto in -eclipse of its huge primary--when I was forced down. But darkness means -nothing to a Venusian. You Earthmen play a strange game with cardboard -rectangles. To use its language, Director Barrow, I have an ace in the -hole." - -Tar Norn sat down again and folded his six-fingered hands quite calmly. -Light from the ceiling overhead seemed to cast a malignant glow on his -dead-white scalp. - -"Your daughter, Director," he continued. "If you wish to see her again, -you will give me a ship, your _fastest_ ship." - - * * * * * - -There was a moment of dead, utter silence. Then Director Barrow leaned -over the desk and flicked the key of the communicator. "Control? Get -my--get Leah Barrow at once. Ring her room. If no answer there, get my -housekeeper. This is Director Barrow." - -"Your fastest ship," repeated the Venusian. "Well stocked with -supplies. Enough to take me to--to a place in the Asteroid belt. I -shall be too late now to carry out my original plans on Ganymede." - -The office door opened and Captain Wayne came in, followed by Roger -Corey. Their eyes widened as they saw the Venusian. Wayne's hand darted -toward his holster, then relaxed as he saw Mart's blaster trained on -the pirate. - -He faced Director Barrow and saluted. - -"Captain," Barrow ordered, "you will form a search party at once--every -available man and means. We must search all of Callisto within--" he -made a rapid mental calculation "--about fifty miles. You will be -searching for my daughter." - -The captain stiffened. Before he could reply the carrier wave hummed -and a feminine voice, that of an elderly woman, came over the -communicator. "Director Barrow? Leah isn't here. I looked in her room -and her bed is disarranged as though she left suddenly. She always -makes it herself as soon as she gets up." - -"Anything to point to when she left, Mrs. Andrews?" - -"Not exactly, sir. The alarm was set for six and it was still buzzing. -Her bed isn't very mussed; it looks like she got up again almost right -after she retired. I don't understand." - -Director Barrow's face was bleak. His voice sounded like the drip of -water from melting ice. "Clothing?" he asked. - -"Her lightweight spacesuit is gone. Apparently she put it on over her -sleeping pajamas, for they aren't here. Is there anything I can do, -sir? I'm worried; she hasn't ever--" - -"That will be all, Mrs. Andrews," Barrow replied. "I'll let you know if -there is anything." - -He turned to Captain Wayne. "Use this set, Captain. Get Communications -to send out a general alarm and assembly. You can make all necessary -arrangements right here." - -Wayne crossed to the communicator, and began to issue rapid -instructions. - -"Tell them to hurry," the Venusian cut in mockingly. "They have until -nine-thirty o'clock." - -Mart Wells glanced fearfully at the dial of the chronometer. It was -eight-forty now. He turned and caught the Director's glance. "_The -timer!_" he said grimly. "Captain Wayne said it was missing from the -wrecked ship. He must have--" - -The Venusian was grinning. "Exactly. The timer. And a pound of uranite. -That gives you fifty minutes to search Callisto. It would be wiser to -spend the time getting a ship ready for me instead." - -The silence of the office was broken only by the low voice of Captain -Wayne giving orders into the communicator. Abruptly he turned to his -superior. His face was white. - -"Search is on, sir. But if he isn't lying, there's a chance in a -million. Less than an hour, and the area to be covered is--" - -Barrow was looking straight ahead, and not a muscle of his face moved -until he spoke. "I'm afraid he isn't bluffing. No reason why he should -be. Leah is gone and the timer is gone. And a pirate ship would have -uranite." - -"The ship?" asked Tar Norn. "It will take some time to fuel it and--" - -Director Barrow's voice was positive. "There will be no ship for you, -Tar Norn." - -Roger Corey's voice cut in, jerkily. "Let me work on him, sir. Me and -Wayne. Maybe we can make him talk." - -Barrow shook his head. "No use, Corey. Venusians don't mind pain as -much as Earthmen. They almost like it. You could take him apart, and he -wouldn't talk." - -The pirate's smile faded. "It will take half an hour to prepare the -ship, Director Barrow. Better not stall too long." - -Mart said, his voice urgent. "But, sir, _Leah_! What's one pirate -compared to--" - -Barrow's face was granite-like. "He's killed hundreds of people. If we -release him, he'll kill hundreds more. One life cannot weigh against -that. Corey, take him away. Lock him up until the next ship leaves for -Earth." - -Mart's fists were clenched, his fingernails biting into the palms. But -he knew Barrow was right; that he couldn't possibly take any other -course and be worthy of his post. One life couldn't weigh against the -many lives that meeting the pirate's terms would mean. That was where -Tar Norn had miscalculated. A Venusian didn't understand responsibility -to society, nor any higher ideal than self-interest. - -Tar Norn tossed the wig and glasses to the floor as Corey took his arm. -His pupil-less eyes seemed to glow with anger. - -"You won't murder your own daughter, Director. This is a bluff. But -mine isn't. She dies at nine-thirty unless you find her. I swear that -by the _Eternal Varga_." - -Mart cursed. Fists balled, he lunged toward the Venusian. Barrow put -a hand on his arm. "Don't, Wells. That's up to the Interplanetary -Council." - -"But he's _not_ bluffing," Mart raved. "Leah will surely die at -nine-thirty. That damned oath. _Varga._ It's the only thing a Venusian -is afraid of. He isn't--" His voice broke. - -Corey started off with the Venusian. - -Barrow said, "Yes, he's telling the truth. But we have some time yet. -Maybe the search--" - - * * * * * - -Mart strode to the window and looked out so the others wouldn't see his -face. Less than three-quarters of an hour to search all of Callisto -within a radius of fifty miles! - - * * * * * - -Through the pane he saw figures in groups of three searching the -streets and buildings of Comprotown. That part of the search wouldn't -be difficult. But the hills and the caves, and with only two autogiros. -If she was there, out of sight in one of the caves, where the cruising -ships couldn't see her.... - -Her father was right, but--The picture of Leah Barrow, smiling as he -had last seen her, seemed to blur out the view from the window. Her -impertinent little tilted nose, the soft tempting contours of her lips, -the deep blueness of her eyes. - -He whirled from the window and began pacing the floor, trying to -think of something they could do that wasn't being done. Again at the -communicator, Captain Wayne was barking questions. - -"All available men and women are combing the town, sir," he reported, -"with orders to break down any doors that are locked, to stop at -nothing." - -"And outside, Captain?" - -"The two giros are our only real hope. But the men from the smelting -plant are working afoot out of town. By nine-thirty they'll have -covered a radius of about five miles." - -Corey returned, slamming the door viciously behind him. "Maybe we -could trick him, sir," he suggested. "Pretend we'll give him a ship if -he'll--" - -"A Venusian wouldn't trust his own mother," Barrow snapped. "He'd -insist on taking off first and then radioing back where she is. And -don't think he wouldn't check the fuel tanks." - -"I wish you'd let me and Wayne work on him, anyway." - -Director Barrow didn't answer. - -Mart growled, "If Leah dies, I'm going to take that filthy pirate and--" - -Wayne's voice was bitter. "Venusians can't help what they are. Blame -the Earth council that sold them those ships. If they had used more -sense, there wouldn't be a Venusian off Venus." - -Mart nodded. If the council hadn't pulled that boner twenty years -before, there would be no trouble with the Venusians. - -Venusians were, compared to Earth standards, a strange combination of -genius and idiocy. Brilliant mathematicians, they had no mechanical -ingenuity whatever. Linguists who could speak any language fluently -after hearing it a few hours, not one of them could create a child's -wind-up toy. Knowing the laws of leverage, they constructed their -buildings by manual labor alone. Able to operate any machine as long as -it was in good working order, they couldn't as much as figure out how -to repair a clogged fuel-line. - -Even the pirates based on some of the bigger Asteroids had to depend -upon a few renegade Earthmen to keep their ships in running order. And -if one went blah away from base, it was a gone ship as far as they -were concerned. Probably the trouble that had forced Tar Norn down on -Callisto had been a minor matter that any Earthman could have taken in -his stride. But to Tar Norn it meant a new ship or nothing. - -The thought of ships reminded him of the freighters. "Cap," he asked -Wayne, "the freighters been searched thoroughly?" - -Wayne nodded. "Rocket tubes and all. Even broke open the ore drums. I -presume you'll want them to clear on schedule?" - -Director Barrow nodded. "The crews?" he asked. "In the search or -standing by?" - -"Standing by for departure as usual, Director. A few men one way or the -other--" - -Barrow nodded, glancing at the chronometer. Mart knew what he was -thinking. Less than half an hour now. And, unless the searchers by some -miracle found Leah Barrow, it would all be over before the ten o'clock -clearance of the first freighter. And the freighters hadn't missed a -clearance in ten years. - -The carrier wave hummed again. "Central Communications reporting. Most -searchers in the town have reported in. No results. Those outside -reaching points three miles out." - -The communicator faded. Mart clenched his fists against the futility -of that search. Three miles! The strong Venusian, in the light gravity -of Callisto, probably had eight or ten hours of darkness to carry his -burden. He could easily have covered twenty to forty miles, in any -direction. Possibly even more. And the chance of an autogiro-- - -Obviously, Wayne had been thinking the same thing. "He timed his -arrival," he said bitterly. "He gave us less than an hour. He'd -certainly have put her outside walking range within that length of -time. And with all the caves around, thousands of them, would he have -put her where a giro could spot anything?" - -Mart glanced at Barrow. The Director was sitting as immobile as a -statue. His eyes were closed and every muscle of his thin face was -tense. Probably he was trying not to look at the chronometer on the -wall. It was nine-fifteen. - -The office door opened and three uniformed mechanics from the field -stood in the doorway. The foremost of them saluted. "This entire -building has been searched twice except this office. I presume--" - -Director Barrow opened his eyes and stood up. "Don't presume anything. -Search here, too." - -The men came in and began a detailed but fruitless search. Nobody spoke -until they left. - -The chronometer said twenty minutes after nine now. Ten minutes to go, -if the timer had been accurately set. But could it have been set wrong? -Venusians were lousy mechanics. Maybe-- - - * * * * * - -Mart became aware that he was holding his breath for the sound of a -distant explosion. Yes, from whatever point Tar Norn could have hidden -his hostage, the sound of a pound of uranite exploding would carry back -to Comprotown. - -He sat down at his desk again. In front of him were the signed -clearance papers for the freighters. In half an hour he'd take out the -papers for the first freighter. But before that half hour was up-- - -He twisted a pencil between his fingers, held himself rigid to keep -from turning and looking at the chronometer again. It hadn't been over -a minute since he sat down--why torture himself by looking again? But -each minute now seemed both a flash and an eternity. - -He turned over the sheaf of papers and drew a little square on the -blank reverse side of the bottom one. That was Comprotown. He made a -dot an inch or two away. That was the point where Tar Norn's ship had -wrecked itself in landing. - -He drew a line from the point to the square. That was Tar Norn coming -in to the town. That would have been about ten hours ago. - -Then, from the information about Callisto and Comprotown that had -been in the papers in Tar Norn's ship, the pirate had found the home -of the director. He would have had no trouble finding Leah's room. -Venusians could see in the dark and walk as silently as cats. He would -undoubtedly have drugged Leah into unconsciousness, probably without -awakening her, since there had been no sign of a struggle. He'd put her -into the lightweight spacesuit. - -Why? Undoubtedly it indicated that she would be outdoors. During the -Callisto day, it would have been unnecessary. But an unconscious -Earthwoman would freeze to death in the cold dark period of Callisto's -eclipse behind Big Jupe. - -What then? The Venusian left, carrying her-- - -[Illustration: _The Venusian had carried the drugged girl into the -night._] - -He threw down the pencil and began to pace the room again. His muscles -were tense from listening. How many minutes? He didn't want to know; -dared not look. - -But Tar Norn must have planned it all before he left the wrecked ship. -Otherwise he wouldn't have taken the timer and-- - -Would he have rigged the time-bomb first, or after he had kidnapped -Leah? And how? The timer itself would not have provided the concussion -to set off the uranite. He'd have needed a battery, a spark-coil, and-- - -_But Venusians weren't mechanics._ - -They didn't understand machines, or electricity, or even simple -clockworks, brilliant as their strange minds were in other ways. - -Tar Norn could have set the timer all right. For that matter, he could -calculate an orbit and make settings for space flight. But he couldn't -have made a time-bomb, even with the timer. He couldn't have rigged -a circuit that would set off a cap! And, Mart realized suddenly, the -timer itself would be an electrical--not a clockwork--gadget. Once -disconnected from the now broken dynamo of the ship, Tar Norn couldn't -have made it run at all! - -A momentary surge of elation swept Mart. Tar Norn must have been -bluffing! Then he remembered: a Venusian might murder his own family, -but he would never swear to an untruth by the Eternal Varga. That one -superstition, or religion, as they looked upon it, was binding beyond -all else. And Tar Norn had sworn by that oath that Leah Barrows would -die at nine-thirty unless-- - -Mart looked at the chronometer. It was twenty-six minutes past nine. He -caught a glimpse of Director Barrow's face. It looked like the face of -a dead man. Barrow had obviously given up all hope and waited only for -the four minutes to pass. - -The carrier wave hummed. All of them started, but the voice from the -communicator merely reported, "All Comprotown reports in. All negative. -Giros report nothing. Foot parties five miles out. Reports negative." - -Three minutes to go. Mart could see by the attitude of the others that -they were bracing themselves for the sound of an explosion. All of them -had liked, or loved, Leah Barrows. Mart had a momentary vision of her -again, and remembered the electric thrill that had run through him when -she had placed her hand on his arm, just a few days ago, and told him -that she did care for him, well, a little anyway-- - -But, if Tar Norn couldn't have rigged a time-bomb, how could he have -arranged for Leah to die at nine-thirty? - -He saw again the corpse-like face of the Director. Yes, they had all -been wrong in thinking that nothing mattered to Barrow more than the -schedules--_Schedules_! There had been departure schedules among the -papers in Tar Norn's ship. Could he have-- - -With a sudden intake of breath that was almost a gasp, Mart whirled and -ran to the communicator. The others looked at him, startled. Mart was -yelling at the mike even before he got near enough to it to talk in a -normal voice. "Control! Emergency! Get _Jupe Freighter One_! _Tell him -not to test his tubes._ Not to touch a lever!" - - * * * * * - -Then he was racing out of the door and across the field to where the -big ugly freighter was up on the racks over the blasting pits. He -wasn't counting on that message through the communicator. - -Out of breath, he hammered on the steel door and yanked at the handle -until the pilot opened it from within. - -"Hold everything," Mart yelled at him. "Don't try the test blasts!" - -Whether Mart was right or wrong, there needn't be any hurry now, but -he was already lowering himself into the ash-filled blasting pit under -the rocket tubes of the freighter. Carefully, he groped among the ashes -from previous blast-offs, ignored the light soft ash that flew up into -his face. - -A hand touched heavy cloth, and the other found smooth transpariplast, -the helmet of a spacesuit. Gently, he lifted the unconscious body of -Leah Barrow and handed her up to the men looking down from the rim of -the pit. - -Ten minutes later, back in the office, Leah was reacting to the -antidote Doc Rogers had just administered. A glance at her face had -told the medico that the drug had been Venusian tragweed. - -Mart was still answering questions. "... Sure, Tar Norn knew that. -Every ship in the system makes its trial blasts just half an hour -before take-off. It's a fixed convention. Rocket captains do everything -according to a rigid schedule. And we were looking for a time-bomb -so we'd never think of the blasting pits. But Tar Norn couldn't have -rigged a time-bomb. We didn't think of that when we found the timer was -gone. He'd just thrown it away--" - -Someone was wringing his hand, and he saw it was Director Barrow. -"Mart!" Barrow's voice wasn't cold and distant now; all the ice had -melted. "I can't begin to tell you how much--If there is any reward I -can possibly offer you--" - -Mart Wells grinned. "--unto your daughter and half of your kingdom, as -they used to say in stories? Well, sir, I don't know what I'd do with -half of Callisto, but as for the other part of it--" - -He turned back to the awakening girl. Director Barrow's answer was -cinched, of course, but Leah--? Well, he'd have to ask her again. - -But probably she wasn't up to that just yet, even though her eyes were -open now and she was smiling at him. He'd have to give her time, of -course, before he asked her. Lots of time. Say, five minutes, or maybe -three. - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Venusian Invader, by Larry Sternig - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VENUSIAN INVADER *** - -***** This file should be named 63657.txt or 63657.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/6/5/63657/ - -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/63657.zip b/old/63657.zip Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 75ba6fd..0000000 --- a/old/63657.zip +++ /dev/null |
