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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4bf0e0c --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #64818 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64818) diff --git a/old/64818-0.txt b/old/64818-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 9550d1b..0000000 --- a/old/64818-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1815 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Way Back, by Sam Moskowitz - -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 -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Way Back - -Author: Sam Moskowitz - -Release Date: March 14, 2021 [eBook #64818] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WAY BACK *** - - - - - THE WAY BACK - - By SAM MOSKOWITZ - - _The Story of a Vagabond of Space Who - Found Himself in the Far Galaxies._ - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Comet January 41. - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - -Michel Drawers crumpled the enormous star-map in his big hairy arms and -let it drop from listless fingers. It floated slowly to the ground, -scarcely claimed by the infinitesimal gravity of the tiny sky-rock. - -Hopelessly he gazed aloft, searching, with an air of finality the -immense sweep of the cosmos for some familiar sign--a well known -constellation, perhaps, that might be utilized as a sign post of space. - -Unrewarded, he eased himself off a hard, metallic projection he -had been seated upon and turned back toward his petite little -star-ship--appropriately and affectionately known as "Star-Struck." - -He had to face cold, inevitable reality. He was lost--lost amid the -stark immensity of unfamiliar worlds. Ahead of him lay a long and -hopeless search. He must sweep across the void from zone to zone. -Exploring the most colossal work of all nature for some clue that might -solve this puzzle and show him the way back--the way back home. - -And he smirked as he thought of applying the term "home" to Tellus. -A home was something only successful people could boast of in this -day and age. Misfit youth could not expect such comfort. Himself, and -thousands like him, unable to fit into the scheme of civilization -currently preponderant upon Earth must take the only course open to -them. Must be vanguards of a new frontier--the greatest frontier. - -Sick with nostalgia and ineffable longing, they must brave the dangers, -the rigors of outer space--blast trillions of miles past the solar -system on a metal steed that laughed at the limited speeds of light. -That roared and romped past universe after island universe. And always -the delicate Roxitometer clicked along--searching with tireless, -machine-like efficiency for traces of Roxite on the many worlds passed. - -Roxite? That was the fuel that made these star-ships possible. The -substance whose elemental atoms could be split with tremendous fury to -release an inconceivable flood of power--controlled power--controlled -by the comparatively tiny Roxite engines which curbed these terrible -energies and directed them into the proper channels of usefulness. - -Centuries ago men had searched for gold. Now gold was merely another -metal. Today, men searched for Roxite--a few ounces of which commanded -fabulous prices from the great interplanetary corporations on Earth. - -And as gold had eluded the best efforts of most men in past years, so -Roxite eluded all but the luckiest prospectors today. There was plenty -of Roxite in the universe. But most of it was buried deep within the -cores of tremendous suns. Suns that had a surface temperature that -made the hottest things on Earth seem like a bitter arctic blast by -comparison. - -The thing that counted on Earth these days was brains. Everyone had -ample opportunity to develop what brain power they had. The finest -schools and universities boasting the most advanced and elaborately -presented programs of education ever known were free to the multitudes. -But of what value was an ultra fine education when everyone else had -one, too? It still settled back to basic ingenuity and natural inborn -intelligence when it came to the man who got ahead and the man who -stayed behind. - -Five hundred years ago, possessing his present knowledge he might have -been one of the world's greatest men. Today he was just one of millions -of others, all of whom could do the same things he could--and some of -them could do better. - -What an incomparable paradox he presented. Physically he was more than -a match for ninety-nine per cent of all Earth men. His great height -and weight, his brutal strength--those thick hairy arms of his could -crush the average man in a few minutes. Gigantic muscles didn't count -any more. Of what use sixteen inch biceps when the frailest child could -operate the buttons necessary to perform most of the menial duties of -life? - -Men like him were pushed by invisible, relentless pressures into the -only thing open for them. To operate one of these tiny star-ships and -comb the universe for more Roxite--to keep the interplanetary liners -blasting. - -Roxite. He had found some. Enough to keep his ship operating as it -plunged past millions of starry universes. But not enough to bring back -to Earth and collect any sizeable sum. - -But he couldn't stand this life any longer. The inexpressible -loneliness of space. Inconceivable light years from the world that bore -him. Six years alone in such vastness was too much for any man. - -Six years of heartrending disappointments as he searched tirelessly for -the precious Roxite--and found only a little. - -But this was the end. He was going to make a last desperate attempt to -find his way back. Back to a cold, hostile, unfriendly civilization -that might, out of charity, provide some lowly position for him--let -him work enough to stay alive. - -Still, that was better than this. At least he could look up into the -blue ceiling of the sky. Tread over green carpeted fields. Eat real, -substantial, solid food and see other people. - -Yes, of a poor choice that alternative was the best. - -But here he was bitter again. Deluging himself with waves of self-pity. -The fault was not entirely with Earth and the way of life on Earth. He -was equally to blame. He was a throw-back. A throw-back to the days -when men pushed back new frontiers, blazed new trails for civilization -to follow. When brawn had been the equal, if not the superior of -brains. But this was a new world. It was built for the many, not -the few. Simply because there was a few thousand of misfits among a -population of millions was no creditable reason for revamping an entire -way of life to the satisfaction of a minor group of disgruntled men. -No, progress was relentless, inevitable. The old must bow before the -new, and the world must fight on toward its distant dream of tomorrow. - -Funny how a man could become so completely lost. But he had plenty of -time to look for the right avenue back to his world. Plenty of time, -patience, fuel and food. And he would find it--though it take him the -rest of his life. - -So Michel Drawers roared away from a tiny, lonely little rock in -a strange distant universe, and, with his seemingly inexhaustible -patience explored the sky ways for the section of the milky way in -which his solar system might be located. - -And as the months passed his homesickness grew and grew and reached -unbearable proportions. A subconscious chant repeated itself and -reiterated in pounding rhythms within his brain. He must find a way -back, a way back, a way back, a way back, a way back. God! he couldn't -stand this any longer. Where was the way back? Merciful heavens, how -much more of this torture could he endure without going mad? And the -distant pin-points of light mocked him with cold ferocity. Gloated with -aloof disdain. Laughed at his fruitless efforts to escape their mighty -trap. - -But the soul of the frontiersman, the conqueror, burnt on. Michel -Drawers did not go mad. He simply went on and on and on. Searching, -seeking the way back. - -Then, when it seemed that interminable eons had fled past he was -awakened from a sleeping period by the piercing, raucous scream of -the Roxitometer, pleading to him to arise and investigate its latest -discoveries before they flashed past and it was too late. - -In a mad lunge he pulled the space bar all the way back. The forward -tubes blasted violently--the ship drew to a theoretical stop. Poised -motionless amidst the splendor of a trillion stars. - -Working frantically Michel Drawers made the proper connections. He -might find a valuable deposit of Roxite yet. Perhaps there would be -something to take back to Earth after all. Perhaps all was not yet -hopeless. He might still be rich when he got back--if he got back. - -The powerful little rockets streamed blazing glory again and the little -silvery projectile was drawn by the magic of the Roxitometer, down the -path of Roxite radiations to some still unknown world from where it -emanated. - -And gradually Drawers began to realize that they were heading for a -beautiful little globe more than sixty million miles from a medium -sized sun. And he prepared to enter the atmosphere of this world--and -let the powers of the Roxitometer lead him to the location of the -Roxite deposit. He muttered a silent prayer that it might not be -located too deeply in the bowels of the planet. - -Now he was holding tight as the "Star-Struck" streamed through the -atmosphere of the planet. The landscape began to lay itself out before -him. He could make out soft blue forests of alien vegetation--golden -streams of unknown liquids. At two thousand feet he halted the ship's -descent. Momentarily he allowed it to float above the terrain of this -strange world. Drinking in its wonders with curious eyes. - -He had been drawn to many worlds before by the insistent clangings of -the Roxitometer--but never had he witnessed a world of such unutterable -beauty and color. Barely a discordant note in the entire scheme of -things. Even the winds blew softly, gently, against the hull of his -ship. Prompted by an unfathomable urge he tested the atmosphere -of the planet. Oxygen and Nitrogen proved present in appreciable -quantities--but there was also another--and unknown gas of undetermined -qualities. - -He wondered if it were breathable. It had been so long, so very long -since he had known anything other than the metallic smell of synthetic -air. With gladness he would trade half of his possessions for a few -great lungfulls of pure, fresh, untainted air. - -Then it was that Michel Drawers performed a suicidical act. He opened -the inner and outer locks of his ship simultaneously and allowed the -atmosphere of this unfamiliar world to pour in and mingle with that -of the ship. He breathed in deeply, heavily. Lungful after lungful. -Nothing happened. The new air had a certain, pleasant perfumed -quality--perhaps a characteristic of the new gas. If it were fatally -poisonous, at least it was not immediately so. - -Forgotten were thoughts of Roxite and riches. Forgotten was his -heartbreaking longing for Earth. Only one instinct possessed him. A -desire to set foot upon real soil again. To tread agilely forward--to -breath in natural air--to view natural, though alien sights. To see -streams of liquids bubble past. - -He settled the "Star-Struck" with unprecedented clumsiness down -upon the surface of the world--saved from a bad shock by the light -gravitational pull of the planet. - -Then, with the demeanor of a school-boy released for summer vacation, -his huge frame trod lightly from the ship, and he ambled grotesquely -amidst an almost fragile world. - -With ecstatic delight he plucked brilliant, sweet smelling blossoms; -plunged his face recklessly into the golden liquid that tumbled in -miniature falls down a short sloping hill; marveled at the coolness, -the exhilaration of it--and in the midst of this madness the idea -struck him that this gleaming liquid was the aqua pura of this world. -It took the place of water, in fact it seemed to have every attribute -of water except for its golden color, and the few drops that had -trickled between his lips left a pure, clean, sweet taste that could be -described only by comparing it to the palate of a man, three days on -the desert without a drink, suddenly being presented with a tall, cool -glass of water. - -It was becoming more and more noticeable that the color motive of this -world was not so much green as it was golden. - -And he wandered on. Far, far from the ship he strayed. As if possessed -by a strange, uncontrollable mania he laughed and cried by turns. -Sometimes he ran, sometimes he walked. Often he leaped incredible -distances into the air--floating softly down--his two hundred and -fifteen pound bulk landing with only the slightest jar. - -And as suddenly as this crazy thing had come upon him it passed. He -stood stock sober; the awful realization of the inconceivable risks he -had run swelling his brain like a painful hangover. - -That he was alive and apparently in good health was a miracle. The -worlds where a native of Earth might cavort with reckless abandon and -utter disregard for existing conditions were few and far between. -Swift doom often descended upon those who made light of other worldly -conditions. - -Now he saw in every brilliant blossom a lurking death of hideous -proportions. He examined their expansive golden-yellow blossoms with -critical care. Many of the plants were predominantly blue. Blue and -gold. Here flowers with tall, slender, graceful stalks moved gracefully -to and fro in the soft breeze. There, gigantic blue plants towered far -above his head, with stalks the thickness of trunks and blossoms the -circumference of a water-wheel but, throughout, the idea of fragility -persisted. And with it a gnawing doubt as to their innocent nature. -It seemed more and more that the strange gas that permeated the air -had its source here in those blossoms which grew in such abundance, -with groves the thickness of forests, and a multiplicity that replaced -trees, on this world at least. - -He stumbled on, his hand wiping again and again at his face as if to -scrape away a golden liquid which was no longer there. - -He even breathed with fearful deliberateness--wracking his brain for -all he knew and had heard of the effects and varieties of fatal gases. - -But the luck of the gods was with him. No untoward symptoms appeared -and as he made his way back to the ship his fears began to dissipate -one by one and a new sense of reasonableness replace them. - -Into the clearing he trod--and then recoiled with amazement. Before him -stood a human figure! A small man, perfectly, beautifully proportioned, -radiating a golden aureole and crowned by curly, yellow locks of hair. -He seemed fragile, incredibly delicate, yet he bore himself with -buoyant ease, a result of the lighter gravitational pull of the planet, -and in his eyes sparkled whirling motes of color that lent to him an -air of unimpeachable intelligence. - -Michel Drawers advanced slowly toward the man. His towering bulk -looming massively with strikingly primitive and brutal aspect in -comparison to the statuesque lines and angelic beauty of this native -son. - -"Who? Who are you?" Michel Drawers questioned, his loud, rough voice -almost artificial in an obvious attempt at impossible gentleness. - -The aura of golden light seemed to thicken about the form of the little -man. - -Softly, Drawers thought he heard: - -"I, strange one, am Persum, dweller in the city of Saeve. In all my -years I have never known a man like you. From whence do you come?" - -Drawers was rigid, surprise-struck. He had heard or thought he heard -words as clear, as plain as words could be--_yet he had seen no lips -move_, knew that no sound, other than his own voice had pierced the air. - -"Telepathy," he uttered in awe. "Mental telepathy." - -"Telepathy? Telepathy?" an unspoken voice returned. "We have no such -word in our language. What is its meaning?" - -"To communicate without sound--by thought." - -A look of comprehension dawned upon the golden man's features. - -"Ah, yes. Here, in my city, all men speak by thought--that is the -purpose of this radiance which surrounds me--to help pick up and to -transmit thoughts. Apparently your race is not so gifted. I wondered -why you writhed your lips peculiarly when you questioned me! Your brain -must be a very powerful one indeed to transmit thoughts without any -natural aid." - -Drawers laughed inwardly at the unexpected compliment. Men had often -told him that he possessed a marvelous physique, but no one had ever -attempted to hint that his brain was other than passably mediocre, -even poor. And here, the most intelligent little man he had ever -met--not over five feet tall--a man with the power to transmit thoughts -telepathically--an achievement that practically no earthman could -boast, had told him that he was unusually gifted in a mental sort of a -way. It was funny, ironic. - -Suddenly Drawers became almost timid in the presence of this superb -little creature. There was almost a god-like quality about him. An -innate goodness, kindness, that could be taken for granted. - -"Would you care to partake of our hospitality?" came an inviting -thought. - -The invitation brought a gasp of amazement to Michel Drawers' lips, and -also a trace of suspicion. - -This little man before him, who, common sense said must be feeling -uneasy, to put it mildly, in the presence of a stranger of hitherto -unknown size and undetermined strength--someone who was as different in -make-up and physique from his as night is from day--still had been able -to suppress his fears sufficiently to extend a cordial invitation. - -"Oh--I can stay on the ship," Drawers replied, his mind sparring for -additional time to clear its confusion. - -"My people would be very interested in meeting you," the golden man -replied. - -Still, Drawers hung back with obvious reluctance. This man was small, -but it wasn't size that counted, as experience had taught him--it was -brains--and this alien had those in super abundance. How was he to -know the creature's motives? Perhaps they might overcome him with some -strange ray, and use him for some diabolical experiment. - -Even as the thoughts surged through his mind, a trace of a smile seemed -to flicker across the golden man's features. - -As if he had read his thoughts the golden man challenged. - -"Certainly you are not afraid to accompany me? I should be the one to -fear, not you. One of those great arms that hang at your side could -overpower me in an instant. You have nothing to fear." - -Mental argument was an achievement Michel Drawers had never been -particularly adept in. He found his fears being chided, and his own -subconscious mind seemed to tell him there was no danger, still-- - -Michel stepped slowly forward to accompany the golden man, his hands -tapping his hips for the butts of his low-voltage guns and finding only -the empty holsters. _He had left them in the ship!_ - -Without further thought the golden man turned and strode gracefully -from the clearing. Michel Drawers lumbered self-consciously along -behind, tripping occasionally over vine-like foliage--and with the -light of curiosity growing ever brighter within him. - -Through thick growths of blue plants they trailed. Across chuckling -stream's of bubbling, brilliant liquids; through fields thick with -yellow blossoms, and overhead a golden sun hung resplendent in the sky -as if to match the make-up of the planet. - -Drawers' attention was suddenly distracted by one of the most unusual -plants he had yet seen. This one was golden as were the others but had -long, regular veins of blue running like a well formed design up the -outside of the blossom. Instinctively he sniffed at it. As he did so he -felt his new found companion plucking at his sleeve. He paid no notice, -preferring to again smell the beautiful blossom. The fragrance affected -him like a heady, aromatic perfume. Entirely different from any scent -he had ever known before. - -Persum finally distracted his attention by mental urging. - -"Come away, that plant is deadly. I cannot understand why you have not -been already overcome." - -Drawers turned back to Persum in curiosity. "This plant deadly? Why it -has a delightful fragrance. The most pleasing I've ever smelled." - -It was obvious that Persum was disconcerted. - -"I do not understand it. A small whiff of the odor exuded by that plant -is enough to render any of my race unconscious. A few minutes under its -influence often brings death. You are the first man I have ever known -who has been able to inhale its gases without succumbing. This is most -curious. I must inform others of my race." - -They walked on, Persum shaking his head in bewilderment. - -Drawers began to realize that this plant, although affecting him only -to the extent that a pleasant perfume affects an individual, could be -deadly to the golden people. From Persum's description of its effects -it acted almost like an anesthetic--a few breaths induced temporary -unconsciousness, but if released to its influence for more then a few -minutes it resulted in death. - -Abruptly a lovely city of golden towers and soaring minarets -appeared resplendently before them--a city of incarnate beauty and -craftsmanship--a city that might have been designed by a master -draftsman--with an eye to blending harmoniously to the surrounding -color scheme. - -Drawers stopped for a moment to take in the wonder of it. - -"You like it?" Persum queried. - -"It's great!" Drawers rumbled enthusiastically. - -"We take delight in the development of our cities," Persum continued. -"There are seven cities, all constructed along the lines of this one. -These seven cities contain the total populations of our people; about -one hundred thousand people to a city. They are built with great care. -The smaller buildings form the general limits of the city, and then -we construct the buildings taller toward the center of the city. They -are all unlike in structure for we try to give each and every one -a distinct artistic touch. We do not believe in building row after -monotonous row of dwellings that are of value for efficiency alone. -The human pride and joy in beauty amply compensates us for any loss in -efficiency." - -Drawers did not reply. He was gazing in astonishment at the long curved -walks that stretched between the taller buildings. Some of them must -have been two hundred feet from the ground, with no noticeable railing -for safety, and they were hardly more than three feet in width. Dozens -of the golden people at this very moment could be seen moving leisurely -across these shaky bridges, seeming to take no notice of the great -chasm that yawned beneath. Even as Drawers watched, one of the golden -people lost his balance, weaved erratically about for a moment, then -started to fall. - -Drawers closed his eyes to shut out the horror of the scene. Then he -slowly opened them and gaped with astonishment to see a little golden -man floating casually down to the ground, and alighting with scarcely a -jar. Then he understood! The gravitational pull of this world was not -very exacting. Few falls could be fatal here. The golden people had -little to fear on that score. - -Then a gigantic wall of auspicious strength and thickness bordering the -city caught Drawers' eye. It seemed to inject a discordant note. - -Questioningly Drawers turned to the golden man and asked. "What is the -reason for that enormous wall?" - -A sad, haunted look entered the expressive eyes of the little man. For -a moment he did not answer, then replied. - -"Perhaps, in your land you have no Griffs." - -"Griffs? What are Griffs?" - -As they walked the little man explained. - -"Long ago, there were no violent forms of life on this planet. There -were no cities with thick walls about them, and the people of our -race lived luxuriously, cradled in the gentle arms of nature. Our -home was wherever we happened to be at the time. Art and knowledge -flourished and our people were content. Then, one day, an earthquake -of violent proportions rocked the land. Great rifts were torn in the -ground. And from subterranean caverns, of which we had no knowledge, -emerged terrible monsters who lived on flesh and preyed upon my people -unceasingly. - -"We have never had strife of any kind on this world. Weapons have -always been unknown. There was no way we knew to fight back. In -desperation we built great walls around the cities to keep these great -monsters away. Only when the sun is at its height do we dare emerge and -gather food or wander through the forests we love so much. Sun hurts -the Griffs' eyes and they prefer to do their hunting at night or on -cloudy days. - -"Gradually the Griffs have been dying out for lack of food. They are -carnivorous and have systematically eliminated most of the lower animal -life from our world. My race, except for occasional mishaps have been -virtually beyond their reach. There are only a few of them left now, -but they prowl perpetually about the walls of the city searching for an -opportunity to enter and wreak havoc, or to catch some one of my race -as they pass a particularly gloomy spot in the forest." - -Michel Drawers thought over what the little man had said. He thought -too of the sub-atomic blast used for blasting aside obstacles in -search of Roxite. It would not be the first time it had been used as a -weapon--a most terrible weapon of destruction. - -However, for the moment he deemed it best not to mention this to -Persum, as the little man so quaintly named himself. Perhaps these -Griffs were not so easily destroyed. And then again to destroy them -might be a fatal error. He remembered how in ages past men had wantonly -destroyed the once-numerous mountain lions in reckless numbers, and -then had the wild deer, which had been the mountain lion's natural -prey, multiply so that they left no grass for the cattle who should -have benefited through the death of the mountain lions. - -Then, too there was the problem of Australia, where an apparently -innocuous rodent, the rabbit, had multiplied into a national menace, -once there was no natural enemy to check them. He must learn more. - -They stopped before a great golden gate. Persum lifted a small reed -to his lips and blew. From it there issued a long, sweet, piercing -whistle. Slowly the gates rolled smoothly open, fitting right into the -thick walls beside them. - -Without hesitation Persum walked through the opening. Michel Drawers -held back for a moment, blinded by a chance ray of sun-light that -bounced off the gleaming sides of one of the buildings. - -Then, he too entered, and the gates, as if by their own volition, -closed behind him. - -He was in another world now. Gone was all harshness and crudity. -Here there was only beauty and color and gold. Buildings in peerless -symmetry dug their way through the low hanging clouds to unknown -heights. Spell-binding displays of coruscating lights played in rhythms -through curious designs of crystals. Later Drawers learned that this -corresponded to music--by sight instead of ear. - -Self-consciously he ambled along the spotless streets behind -Persum--streets which seemed to be paved with pure gold. He tried not -to notice the open stares given him by the city's inhabitants. He -realized that they did not mean to be impolite. It was simply that a -man of his bulk was unique in this civilization. - -More and more as they proceeded he began to take cognizance of the -complete absence of transportation of any sort. Everyone here walked. -Of course, the slighter gravitational pull made walking considerably -less strenuous, but still, that didn't account for the various groups -of golden men he had passed, laboriously pulling great blocks of stone -by man-power alone--when a small wheeled vehicle, or even one beast of -burden would have lightened the load immeasurably. - -He stopped in utter perplexity though, when he saw a group of golden -men attempting to lift an enormous stone block into place by the sheer -strength of their bodies. They seemed totally ignorant of the enormous -saving in strength and labor that might have been enacted by the -building of a simple pulley arrangement. - -It was becoming increasingly evident that this race's knowledge of even -the most fundamental laws of mechanics was practically nil. - -But as if in compensation, he noted too, that these people seemed to -get along with each other without the slightest friction. Nothing -seemed sufficient to arouse anger. He wondered if they were incapable -of the emotion. - -The people moved about the streets tending entirely to their own -business. There were no doors to any of the dwellings--simply arched -openings. Numerous valuable objects such as painstakingly carved -chairs, and richly sculptured busts, were present in front of many of -the homes. Yet they remained untouched. - -Nowhere, so far, had he seen even one person who might have passed as -a peace officer. The golden people seemed to need no enforcement to -maintain the effective carrying out of whatever laws they were governed -by. Each and every one of them seemed to take it for granted that -he must do what was required as a duty to himself as well as to the -community and that's all there was to it. - -Persum had stopped in front of a grand edifice of such beauty and -brilliance that it faded into insignificance the surrounding buildings, -fine as they were. - -He followed Persum into the building. Through upward sloping halls that -wound around and around up into the vitals of the building and served -in lieu of stairways, and into a glistening hall of gold and crystal. -The hall was partially filled with others of the golden people. - -Drawers watched in bewilderment as Persum approached the group of -little people--apparently officials of the city--and without opening -his lips informed them of all that had transpired. - -And now others of Persum's strange race came forward to greet him. -Drawers marveled at the perfection of these golden people. At the -unsurpassed, delicate beauty and construction of their forms; the -charm and adorableness of their women. Here indeed was a tiny race of -perfection, soul-satisfying to the extreme. - -One of the welcoming party bowed low before him. - -"We are pleased to have this opportunity to show you our hospitality," -the man said. "My name is Garanjor, humble Raciv of my people." - -Drawers gulped impulsively. The highest official of the land was -out to greet him. Him, a nobody from Earth who had landed here by -accident, in search of Roxite. Perhaps this was some form of a joke? He -scrutinized the faces about him. All were serious to the extreme. An -air of serenity seemed to pervade. Drawers drew from his brain all he -remembered of the proper etiquette for such occasions. Six years in a -space-ship--it was easy to forget. - -"I am honored," was all he could think of. - -Nervously he juggled a small meter, for the determining of the purity -of Roxite, in his hands. - -One of the golden people took note of the instrument, and turned to -the others with an unmistakable air of excitement. In an instant the -entire assembly was crowded about him examining the meter with feverish -interest. - -One asked: "This metal--have you any more of it?" - -"Why that's nothing very much," Drawers replied. "That's only common -iron. The ground is filthy with this back on Earth. Why do you ask?" - -Persum mentally replied to the question. - -"Here, in this city, Ronir, which is what you call Iron is the rarest -of all metals. We use it only in the construction of vital instruments -and tools. All other uses, because of its extreme scarcity, are -forbidden." - -"Well, you can have all I have on the ship, if you want it," Drawers -offered generously. "It's nothing more than trimmings on the inside of -the ship. Iron and steel haven't been of much value since the invention -of much superior alloys which have an infinitely greater resistance to -heat and cold." - -"We would be glad to give you anything you request for this metal," the -Raciv offered. "There have been numerous occasions when the possession -of a little larger supply of Ronir might have relieved much suffering." - -"In that case, why don't you just consider it my contribution to the -advancement of science and let it go at that?" - -"I'm afraid you do not understand," Persum clarified. "Our race will -not accept anything of this sort without first arranging a fair -exchange." - -Michel Drawers realized that he must be careful not to offend these -people due to his ignorance of their laws. He made an admirable stab at -diplomacy. - -"Suppose you give me something that you believe would be a fair -exchange." - -The golden people drew away a moment and conversed telepathically among -themselves. - -Then the Raciv walked toward Drawers. There was a resigned expression -upon his features. He threw back his shoulders and looked Drawers -straight in the eye. - -"_I am prepared to turn my leadership over to you in exchange!_" came -his startling thoughts. The other golden people looked solemn. - -Drawers drew back aghast. _Just how precious were these small amounts -of iron that he had offered these people, if they were willing to -entrust him with their entire government in return._ - -Persum must have read his thoughts for he again explained. - -"At the base of the skull of every new born babe of our race there -lies a dormant gland. What use this gland once had we do not know. -Through thousands of years of disuse it has atrophied, and the -slightest mental exertion causes its inflammation. In almost every case -the pressure exerted upon the brain by this swollen gland has resulted -in death. - -"At one time hundreds died daily from this dread malady. We tried to -operate, but our metals were all too soft to be sharpened to a keen -edge, and used for operation. Eventually we discovered Ronir. Minute -deposits of this invaluable metal came to light at various times. -We melted the crude ore and fashioned it into the vital instruments -we needed. Now we operate upon a baby immediately after birth and -remove this gland so that it cannot do any harm. The operation is a -comparatively simple one. We have mastered various balms that will -heal the incision within a few hours. However, we have been unable -to discover new deposits of this valuable metal for many centuries -now--due, largely to the menace of the Griffs. - -"The instruments we fashioned many centuries ago are almost all worn -out. It is estimated that if a new supply of Ronir is not obtained -soon, within the next generation or so, our tools will be useless, and -then--" - -The inference was obvious. Michel Drawers realized that he was in a -mighty uncomfortable position. For once his brain found a suitable -solution. - -He faced the Raciv. "I accept your Racivship with thanks." - -The Raciv handed Michel Drawers an elongated prism of crystal, through -which played curious designs of ever-changing color. - -"Please accept this as a sign of your position," Garanjor asked. - -Drawers received the colorful prism, then quickly stated, "As Raciv, I -do not feel capable of performing the duties required of me in this new -capacity. For that reason I hereby return the great honor entrusted to -me to its original possessor." - -Quickly he handed the prism back to Garanjor. - -There was a murmur of thought. Apparently the golden people were deeply -moved by this noble gesture. - -Michel Drawers gave them no time to reconsider. He emptied his pockets -of all the iron and steel objects he carried. There was the meter, a -steel measuring rule, and several handy implements he happened to have -with him. - -While divesting himself of these objects he took opportunity to examine -the golden people more carefully. - -The men were attired only in what seemed to be a glorified pair of -trunks--although a few of them wore a crepe-like cloak. Their entire -bodies were of a deep golden hue as was their hair. The pronounced aura -about each of them, he decided, must be due to the peculiar, unknown -gas in the atmosphere. In some way it must affect the radiations thrown -off by the body and make them visible to the naked eye. - -The women were beautiful, that's all there was to it. They had all -the same characteristics of the men. Their dress was a satiny, -tight-fitting garment that reminded one, more than anything else, of -a bathing suit done over for evening wear. Their hair was arranged in -such a manner as to give the impression of additional height. - -Both men and women were approximately the same height--about five -feet--but built entirely in proportion. - -Further observations were interrupted. The people about him suddenly -assumed masks of great concern. One little man left the party. Through -one of the windows he could be seen dashing off in the direction of the -great wall. Drawers stood puzzled. - -Persum turned to him. - -"Some of our people have just sent a message of distress. They have -been accosted by several Griffs and are in serious danger. We don't -know what we can do, though," he ended hopelessly. - -"Where is all this taking place?" Drawers inquired with an unsuccessful -attempt to appear calm. - -Persum gestured for him to follow. - -Back to the gate they swiftly retraced their steps. The gates were -slightly ajar. A hundred yards over to the right Drawers could see two -of the golden people--one a woman, perched precariously in the branches -of a gigantic fern. - -At the base of the fern were two tremendous beasts. Each must have been -at least eight feet long. They stood on four bony legs--their bodies -big and broad and shaggy as a grizzly bear, which animal they resembled -more than anything else, excepting for their incongruously thin legs -and grotesquely large mouths. Mouths almost two thirds the size of an -alligator and fiercely reinforced by large, yellow fangs. - -The beasts were tearing away at the foot of the fern. It began to shake -and shiver and lean heavily to one side. It was obvious that inevitably -they would weaken the trunk so that it would give way and drop the two -little people to a hideous death below. - -Drawers thought fast. Who was he anyway? Virtually an outcast from -Earth. Unwanted and unnecessary. Here, for the first time in his life, -someone had treated him as though he were a leader. They pretended, at -least, that he was an honored guest. His bulkiness, his crudeness had -been discreetly overlooked. Possibly, if he tried, he could distract -the attention of those man-eating beasts long enough for the golden -people to run to safety behind the walls of the city. He would try. It -would be his token of thanks for all their kindness. - -Without a word of his intentions he swiftly pushed himself through the -opening in the gate. His earthly muscles covered prodigious distances -at each stride across the terrain of this lighter planet. He shouted -once, a sort of half-hearted battle cry. The beasts wheeled about at -the sound and snarled viciously. - -Drawers slowed up. He was within ten yards of them now. For an instant -he sparred for position. Then he flung himself forward at the nearest -of the two creatures with all of his earthly speed and bulk. He crashed -head on, and surprisingly enough, the animal fell back on its haunches -with a sort of dazed expression. - -Drawers' powerful arms arched about the creature's neck. His tremendous -biceps bulged. Slowly, terribly, he tightened his grip. Applied more -and more pressure. - -The second Griff had been running around and around in circles. It -seemed undecided, whether to attack or await the outcome of this -struggle. - -The Griff beneath him panted in agony. Madly it thrashed about, -flinging him from side to side, but he held on like grim death. Bending -its neck back, back. And suddenly, when it seemed that his strength was -ebbing and that this creature would never give in, he was rewarded by a -loud snap, and the beast's head hung grotesquely from his hands. - -[Illustration: _The beast reared violently, but Michel clung to its -back. Only one idea obsessed him--to bend, break--_] - -He let go and the entire body slumped limply to the ground. - -Again he sparred with the other animal, but this one beat him to the -attack, catapulting itself straight through the air at him. Drawers -side-stepped the charge, and then his right fist descended with -crushing force alongside of the Griff's ribs. There was a cracking -noise as its ribs stove in like papier-mache. - -It was squealing terrifiedly, and now Drawers knew his own power and -illimitable strength. These Griffs, big and brutal, were hardly a match -for him. Born to resist a gravity of more than twice that of his planet -his bones were heavier, more compact. His muscles harder, his speed -dazzling. - -Again and again he came to grips with the Griff. Once its bestial fangs -closed upon his shoulders and he just about tore away, his skin ripped -and bleeding. His own breath was coming in great choking gasps, and -his legs seemed to sag from the effort, but around and around the Griff -he danced, his fists smashing a crescendo pitch of hate and power and -destruction. And at every blow he could feel something give. Could -hear the wind go whistling out of the weakening Griff. Could sense its -great, untamed strength dissipating ounce by ounce. - -Then he closed in for the kill. In a fever of fury he crashed his two -big fists in bludgeoning hate to the Griff's head. It tottered to -the ground--dazed. He leaped upon its back and grabbed for its head. -Instinctively it eluded him and almost threw him from his perch. -He grabbed a fistful of fur and retained his position. In a fit of -inspiration, he began pounding sledge-hammer blows on the thing's back. -His arms worked in a sort of savage rhythm, descending and rising in -a blur of speed and power. And as he pounded away it seemed that this -thing would never die; things were growing hazy ... he was tired, oh, -so tired ... he was barely conscious of striking and from far, far in -the distance his blows echoed back a tirade of destruction. - -"What are you beating at, friend?" came a distant voice. - -Drawers stopped suddenly. - -"There is nothing but a mass of bleeding pulp beneath you." - -Drawers started to get off the Griff's back. He staggered erratically. -The world began to turn around and round, around and round. - -Someone was leading him. He followed blindly. The next he knew he -was lying back amid a mass of billowy perfumed cushions. Someone was -forcing a sweet, golden liquid between his lips. He drank greedily, -some of the liquid spilling down his shirt. He wiped his lips with his -hand and settled back, relaxed. - -Through half-closed eyelids he peered out at the small golden people. -Then, in a tired, happy sort of a voice, rumbled, "I guess those two -weren't hurt." - -Persum, good old Persum, was standing there. Two radiant beings stood -beside him. - -"They are very grateful," stated Persum by proxy. "They wish to thank -you personally." - -"Aw, 'twas nothing." - -"Nothing!" came an excited thought wave. "Nothing to kill single-handed -and weaponless two of the most terrifying beasts this planet has ever -known? Nothing to risk your life to save two alien people whom you did -not even know? You are a hero! A great hero! And we are deeply grateful -to you." - -Now the woman came timidly toward him. Drawers breathed heavily with -appreciation. A thing of exquisite, unutterable delight. A living poem -of brilliance and charm. The most adorable, fascinating, of all the -golden people he had met so far. - -She barely topped the five foot mark. She was dressed in a little -bathing-suit-like affair that had two bright stripes running up the -front, and two small points extending down from the hips. Her eyes were -flaked with tiny gold motes of color and seemed filled to overflowing -with tender compassion. - -Michel Drawers couldn't help noticing the feminine, unassumed grace -of her movements, the smooth, round contours of her face, her soft, -perfectly proportioned curves. The glory-sheen of her hair that was -arched up a few inches at the brow, and then allowed to fall in -glistening strands down and around her shoulders. - -Here were beauty and goodness incarnate. - -Without further consideration Drawers knew he was falling hopelessly in -love. Knew it in the maddening fashion that only a man who yearns for -the admittedly impossible can know. - -"Thank you," she was thinking. And then, "Oh, how _can_ I ever thank -you enough? You were so brave, so fine, so strong, so daring." - -"Ah--it was nothing. I mean--" Drawers knew he was speaking tripe. -Common everyday, ordinary tripe, but he couldn't think in the presence -of this dazzling little creature. All his senses, except his pounding -heartbeat, seemed locked in a state of suspended animation. - -Then he was tired--more tired than he thought anyone could ever be. He -tried to sustain himself, but his words lisped off, and nature demanded -that he rest. He fell back upon the radiant pillows, asleep before his -head had indented its form upon their softness. - -So he couldn't have seen, as Persum did, the soft, lingering caress -that the golden girl bestowed upon his brow before she hastily retired -from the room. - -The ensuing days were happy ones for Michel Drawers. He was entertained -royally by the elite of the golden people. The dazzling little woman -he had rescued, along with Persum, were always at his side, acting as -a sort of self-appointed escort service. They showed him their great -city, strangely devoid of any mechanical devices or any utilization of -natural laws. - -He was introduced to the nation's leading thinkers who expounded -learnedly upon almost incomprehensible theories. He was shown the -ideal, simple, quiet life led by most of the populace and noted without -being told the general tone of happiness, good will, and the utter lack -of crime of any sort. - -The complete and utter lack of sensible equipment convinced him more -than ever that he should and could repay in some ways the unusual -kindness bestowed upon him. - -It was heart warming to watch the jubilation upon the faces of the -workers as he arranged a simple pulley for them, and showed them how -their lifting could be done with comparative ease. He shuddered to -think of the work that must have gone into building some of those -high, glistening towers, with the utilization of only crude man-power. - -He watched the eyes of the scientific men pop with incredulity as he -showed them the principle of the wheel. They were chagrined that they -could have overlooked so simple a principle, but Drawers knew that the -discovery of the wheel on Earth had been nothing but a lucky accident. -If man had not discovered it by accident, it might never have been -known at all. Then, too, he began to understand the utter lack of -mechanical equipment. The wheel was one of the fundamental and most -vital of parts in all moving machinery. Without the wheel, it would be -difficult to construct a usable pulley, or a feasible vehicle. - -There was another thing he accomplished. He constructed the first wagon -these people had ever seen. They viewed it with insatiable curiosity. - -But the sight of the golden men happily pulling their loads through -the streets on wagons irked him. These people were not made for hard -physical tabor. It took a heavy toll. He questioned Persum as to the -absence of beasts of burden. - -Persum thought a moment and then said, "There has never been anything -but very small animals on our planet as far as we know. Nothing we -might use for beasts of burden. Anyway," he concluded, "why should the -animals perform our tasks for us? Why place any poor beast in bondage?" - -"And why not?" asked Drawers. "It would be poetic justice to place the -Griffs in bondage and force them to pull your wagons for you." - -"The Griffs!" thought Persum with a note of astonishment. "Surely you -are joking. Who could subdue those savage beasts so that they would -labor peaceably? And even then, who would care to drive them and tend -to them? It would be sheer suicide." - -Drawers ignored the last statement. "Have you some strong rope that -I might use?" he asked. "Some tough vegetable fiber--perhaps the -material you use for pulling those blocks through the street." - -"Why certainly," Persum replied. "You are welcome to all you need." - -"Thank you," said Drawers. "I have a crazy sort of an idea." - -That evening Michel paced back and forth in the small, luxuriously -furnished apartment the little people had provided for him. It had -three square sides and one open. There were apertures for light, but no -glass or any other material in them. Neither was there anything other -than a drape to serve as a door. - -The temperature on this world was ideal. It stayed perpetually between -seventy and eighty-five, hardly ever varying above or below these -figures as rated on the Fahrenheit scale. Therefore there was no -necessity of window panes to keep out the cold. Even without a door -there was infinitely more privacy in these apartments than any man -had ever known on Earth. The golden men never entered without first -telepathizing their intentions in advance. Nor did anyone ever gaze -into another's apartment or home. These people strictly maintained the -ideal that a man's home is his castle. - -His mind was surging with many thoughts. These Griffs, if he remembered -correctly, though fiercely armed, had showed definite evidences of -cowardice. He remembered the way they squealed when hurt. Their furious -attempts to escape when soundly beaten. There was a possibility they -could be trained. By force, if need be, but surely it would not hurt to -try. - -Then, too, those strange blossoms that acted as an anesthetic upon the -golden people--perhaps they might act similarly upon the Griffs? It was -a theory worth investigating. - -The next morning he left the city, a long coil of hemplike rope around -his arm. He found a group of the flowers he was looking for after a -brief search, and quickly snapped a number of the largest blossoms -at the stems. Their odor lent charm to the beauty of the scenery he -passed. It struck him that these flowers were the very personification -of the adage "one man's meat is another man's poison." - -As though they knew he was searching for them, the Griffs seemed to -elude him. The day wore on and the sun began to set and still he had -found no Griffs. He began to wonder if the people of the golden city -would be worried as to his whereabouts. - -But as the long fingers of evening began to stretch gray paths across -the sky, he was startled out of his thoughts by a fierce squealing. He -turned rapidly, and there, emerging from an almost unnoticed cavelike -formation was a red-eyed Griff, its teeth gnashing angrily. - -Quickly Drawers formed the rope into a lasso. He gave it a few quick -turns around his head and let fly at the Griff. The noose settled -around the charging animal's neck. With a flick of his wrist Drawers -tightened the noose, then, utilizing all of his strength, pulled -the rope with a jerk to the right. The Griff choked and stumbled -momentarily. In a twinkling of an eye Drawers was drowning the beast -with the blossoms from the flowers he was carrying. The animal began -to cough. It made an attempt to rise, and then settled back. It was -panting now. Now its eyelids were closing and its breathing becoming -harder and harder. - -Drawers kicked the creature in the ribs. It did not respond. - -Drawers removed the blossoms from the animal's nostrils. Then he took -his rope and securely tied up its great jaws. With the happy whistle of -a boy released from school, he made his way back to the city of Saeve, -dragging the great beast behind him. - -He almost laughed aloud as he saw the perplexity of the guards at the -gate of the wall. They seemed uncertain whether to run as fast as they -could or maintain their posts in shivering fright. At all costs they -refused to allow Drawers to drag the beast into the city. - -After some persuasion Drawers got them to contact Persum and arrange to -have a wagon delivered outside the city. - -During the interim the Griff began to revive. Finally it staggered -weakly to its feet, a sick look in its eyes. At the sight of Drawers it -bristled menacingly. - -Drawers nonchalantly gave the animal a powerful kick in the ribs that -sent it crashing to the ground. - -It gained its feet again, and fumed with rage at its inability to use -its well-tied jaws. - -But Drawers did not let this bit of temperament deter him. He whacked -the creature across the back with his fist. It sank to the ground -again. A look of fear began to enter its eyes. - -Within the next fifteen minutes Michel Drawers gave the animal the -beating of his life. When he was through he untied the fastenings from -around the creature's jaws, and waited, his fist held menacingly. The -golden guards watching from the gate were stricken by the tenseness -of the situation. For a moment the Griff looked at Drawers--_then it -cringed before him!_ - -During the next week, thousands crammed the streets to watch a -fierce-looking Griff, generation-old enemy of their race, proceeding -docilely along the streets of the city, pulling enormous quantities of -stone and other supplies with no sign of rebellion. Its once terrible -teeth had been blunted and replaced by flat-headed golden caps. A -little golden man sat unafraid upon its back directing it with deft -prods of his feet. Man had again displayed his superiority over other -forms of life. - -Everywhere Michel Drawers went he was hailed with enthusiasm by the -golden people. They gave elaborate balls in his honor--and watched with -fascination as he disposed of helping after helping of the multiple -types of tasty vegetables and exotic-flavored fruits which formed the -bulk of their diet. - -But in all truth Michel Drawers paid much more attention to the -fascinating little golden woman who seemed perpetually at his side. -"Trajores," she said was her name. And he escorted her proudly to the -numerous balls and dinners; performed her every whim with celerity. - -He remembered the look of joy on her face when he presented her with a -simple bracelet, inset with colorful crystals that he had shaped for -her with his own hands out of the malleable gold that could be found in -such abundance. - -He remembered, too, how all the other women crowded about her, -examining the new creation, the first of its type in the city of Saeve, -and how the next day, hammers rang merrily as self-appointed goldsmiths -catered to the whims of the eternal feminine and its desire to emulate -any new style or fashion. - -Thus, unwittingly, Drawers had made Trajores the first stylist in the -world of the golden people. And it pleased him to watch her thrill with -pride as she watched the other women, and even some of the men, imitate -the first necklace he had made for her, out of a few colored crystals -and a wirelike string of gold. - -He took advantage of every opportunity to be near her, accompanying -her on long walks through the forest when the sun was high in the sky; -satisfying her curiosity as to the manners and ways of life on Earth. - -He enjoyed those hours in her presence and was thankful for the -opportunity--but his long unfamiliarity with women often caused him to -ask Persum to accompany him, and the three would stride merrily through -the forest, exchanging views on various subjects. - -To his astonishment, Michel Drawers awoke one day to find that a -faint but undeniable glow came from his body. The strange gas in the -atmosphere was beginning to affect the radiations of his body, too! -Other unusual incidents lately had been the sudden regrowth of teeth -long since pulled, the disappearance of several warts from his fingers. -The gas, whatever it was, had beneficial effects. - -But he did not comprehend the full effect of his change until one day -while walking with Persum and Trajores he sensed Trajores thinking. -"Were there any other girls that you left on Earth before you came -here?" - -"No," he replied. "I'm afraid that I never was very popular with the -ladies." - -A look of amazement crossed Trajores' features. - -"_You read my thoughts!_" she accused. "I had not directed the question -mentally toward you!" - -Then she turned and ran back toward the city. - -Michel Drawers gazed after her in perplexity, then turned with a -puzzled frown to Persum. - -Persum shook his head in the manner of a man who thinks, "Well, here's -something else that's got to be attended to." - -"It is against our custom to attempt to read the thoughts of another -person," he explained. "If we did, no one would have any privacy. But -I will explain to Trajores your ignorance of our laws and extend an -apology by proxy. I'm sure she will forgive you. She was momentarily -embarrassed. Her thoughts were of a somewhat personal nature." - -But Michel Drawers hardly listened. It was incredible but true that -in some manner the golden emanations that now radiated from his body -enabled his mind to read thoughts! - -As the days progressed, Michel Drawers became more and more impressed -by the utopian way in which this society of golden people was -maintained. No man was assigned any work. It was up to the individual -to make himself as useful as he possibly could whenever his services -were required. His leisure time was left to himself. - -Drawers had seen how these golden people had volunteered for heavy -physical labor even before his introduction of the labor-saving pulley -wheel, wagon and beast of burden, and the manner in which they had -performed, without complaining, this toilsome labor. He had seen how -other men were willing to spend hours over hot forges shaping trinkets -for the gratification of any women who happened to ask for them. - -These people seemed to sense when their services were required and were -always willing to do what was desired. - -The women seemed willing to perform almost any of the regular household -duties of cooking, sweeping, remodeling and washing at any time. It -seemed to make little difference if they had to assume the extra burden -of cooking and washing and cleaning for any of the golden men who -were still unmarried or were so unfortunate as to have suffered the -loss of their mates. They performed these tasks cheerfully, as their -contribution to the welfare of the community. - -All essentials were provided free, as were available luxuries. All -worked under an eminently successful cooperative plan that did away -with all of the ills of complicated economic systems. - -The Raciv was really nothing more than a coordinator of the various -scientists and constructors, helping to lay out the plans for the -proper performance of their experiments and buildings, coping with any -problem that might arise. - -This race had many bewildering aspects. Drawers had listened, only -half comprehending, to their learned men outline a gigantic theory of -the universe and its reason for being, a theory that seemed flawlessly -logical to his untrained mind. He had watched the golden men take -over the manufacture of wheels, wagons, pulleys and trinkets he had -introduced and improve upon them at a great rate. He had seen daring -members of this delicate golden race emulate his action in capturing -a Griff with astounding preciseness. Their adaptability, their gift -of learning and improving upon new ideas seemed infinite. But their -inability to grasp and utilize the simplest ideas on their own -initiative was confounding. There was some quality lacking in their -make-up that seemed to prohibit this. Why this was so he did not know. -Perhaps it was the result of thousands of centuries of living easily -in the forests, working and creating in the mind alone, that, through -the ages had made the creative urge in them dormant. It was the only -logical explanation to be found. - -But once set upon the proper path that long dead ability might, by -degrees, begin to restore itself, and then there would be no limit to -the greatness this simple civilization might attain. - -He had gotten probably his greatest kick in introducing amusements for -the children. For two weeks he had labored, with several of the golden -men assigned to him, in one of the larger working rooms in the city. By -the end of that time he had constructed the very first Merry-Go-Round -this world had ever known! - -It was crude compared to what the amusement parks now had on Earth, but -to these people it was an object of fabulous wonder. - -He had simply constructed a large wheel, attached a few hand supports -to it and mounted it on one of the wagons. The Merry-Go-Round was -turned by a crude but effective crank, and this unique, whirling, -breathless motion proved a source of infinite delight to the children -of the city. The Merry-Go-Round was constantly on the go, and dozens of -golden men crowded about, examining its manufacture, and returning home -and plotting their own. - -The most unusual aspect of this innovation was that the older people -took to it as well as did the youngsters. The Merry-Go-Round and later -the swing became a regular household addition. - -These simple pleasure devices became the national amusements. It was -becoming a common thing to have an open square one day, and the next -find it clogged with a vast array of swings and Merry-Go-Rounds, with -the golden people, young and old, partaking wholeheartedly in this new -pleasure. - -If it had been left to the children to judge, these new amusements were -the finest things he had introduced so far; and Michel Drawers could -not help realizing how limited these people's pleasures had been in the -past. - -It was a great day, too, when he escorted the Raciv and several of the -more important men of state back to the "Star-Struck." They entered the -ship and the lock closed behind them. Then with a blast of rockets the -ship had rifled its way through the clouds. - -The Raciv and his officials had gazed in wonder through the ports as -the ship rose thousands of feet into the air. Strangely enough they -displayed no visible signs of fear (possibly the fact that there -was little danger in falling on this world obviated that fear) but -nevertheless the novelty of the experience did not escape them. - -One of the little men directed his course. They were riding a wave of -telepathic radiations, as spaceships follow a radio beam into port. -And the occasion was destined to be a memorable one--one of great -consequence. _For the first time in centuries the peoples of two cities -were to meet one another!_ - -Contact between the cities had always been maintained thanks to the -development of long range telepathy. Thus they were similar in culture, -development and habits, but inter-city relations had been impossible -due to the long distance between cities and the dread danger of being -devoured by Griffs en route. - -It was soul-inspiring to witness the embraces, the thoughts of tearful -thankfulness, as the golden people saw their first opportunity in -hundreds of years to be reunited in fact as well as spirit. - -The second city's greatest sculptor, the finest the city of Malopa -had ever known, fashioned a golden image of Michel Drawers, which was -placed in one of the largest squares. The ensuing weeks were ones of -great celebration. - -Drawers would never forget the looks on the faces of the returning -party as they rocketed back to Saeve. He knew they would never forget -what he had done for them; that they envisaged a greater world of -tomorrow, where the seven cities were united in a common bond of -understanding and continued progress. - -Even the original object of his voyage, the obtaining of Roxite, was -consummated. One morning, accompanied by many of the nation's leading -scientists, he strode to his star-ship, patted it affectionately and -then withdrew the great atom blaster. A few minutes of calculating with -the Roxitometer and he located the exact position of the deposit of -Roxite. - -The little people watched in awe as he held the powerful blast firmly -in his two capable hands and guided its probings down into the bowels -of the planet. After many hours of prodigious labor he had drawn enough -Roxite from the cavity to sustain him comfortably for the rest of his -natural life back on Earth. - -He thought often of Earth now. For though this planet was very -beautiful, a peculiar sort of a homesickness plagued him, and he longed -more and more to return and view again the world of his birth. - -He was strolling through one of the gorgeous forest paths with Trajores -one day when the urge to confide in her finally beat down his barrier -of timidity. He stopped her with a touch of his hand and told her. - -"I have been very happy here with your people." - -"I am so glad," she replied mentally. - -That made what he wanted to say extremely difficult. His throat -suddenly congested, though he knew that it was only a nervous muscular -reaction. - -"Trajores," he said, gruffly, sadly, "I've been thinking of returning -to my own planet, Earth. I have enough Roxite to insure a reasonable -status of existence. I wish I might stay longer...." - -Trajores stood immobile. She seemed to be thinking. Strangely enough -a queer battle of emotions mirrored itself in her delicate features. -Drawers felt vaguely uncomfortable alone with her. He wondered where -Persum had wandered to. He had started out, as usual, with them, but -somehow had drifted away, leaving him alone with Trajores. - -"Michel Drawers," came an urgent thought. - -Drawers riveted his attention upon the radiant woman. - -"I wish you would stay here with me always. I know you would be very -happy. I, I," two great golden tears rolled down her well-molded -cheeks, and impulsively she flung herself into his big arms, and for -the first time since his arrival he heard one of these little people -give vent to a sound. It was a sob--and it came from Trajores. - -Drawers stood puzzled. Instinctively he scratched his rough skull. - -"Why. Why?" seemed all he could say. - -"Why, you fool," came a probing voice, "don't you realize she loves -you!" - -Persum was standing a few feet away, his features rigid in stern -sincerity. - -"Love, me? Me, Michel Drawers? Why, I am not handsome. I am ugly. I am -not beautiful like your race. I am big and rough and hairy. How can she -love a man like me? I could not even communicate by mental telepathy -before I came here. I am just a man from another civilization, away -because there was no place for me. How can she love me?" - -There was mute appeal in Drawers' voice. He didn't know that he was -crying like a child. He didn't know that he had unconsciously fallen -to his knees. He didn't know anything except that Persum had said that -this beautiful, adorable, heavenly little creature loved him. Him, -Michel Drawers, a big, clumsy oaf, without even a proper knowledge of -manners or psychology. - -And as from the distance--clear as a bell--lovely as the strummings of -a harpsichord it came to him. - -"Michel Drawers, I love you for what you are. For your innate goodness -of soul. For your humble deserving modesty. For your mighty strength. -I love you for your bigness, for your naturalness and for something -else--some indefinable spark that has made our lives as one, that has -caused you to search me out across the inconceivable immensity of a -thousand universes. That is all I know, and one other thing. I can -never leave you. If you go, I go with you." - -If you can imagine the emotions of a man unjustly sentenced and finally -released from prison after six years of hell; if you can imagine what -it would mean to have each of your faults become instead an additional -virtue. If you can imagine the joy of having all of your fondest dreams -come true--then, and only then, may you comprehend for one fleeting -instant, the pounding chaos, the indescribable joy, the interminable -relief that permeated Michel Drawers' being at that moment. - -Those two hairy arms that had pounded the most savage and horrible -beasts this world had ever known into bleeding pulp slipped tenderly, -reverently about the exquisite form of Trajores. And as Persum slipped -discreetly away, lips closed upon lips in the manner of lovers -immemorial. And the gods of fate laughed at the importance two nothings -in the mighty scheme of things attached to an equally undefinable -nothing called love. - -Now Michel Drawers lived in perpetual delirium. A delirium of -unreasoning delight. He readied his "Star-Struck" for a voyage into -space and a renewal of his search to find the way back--the way back -with everything worthwhile to take with him. - -And he barely acknowledged the farewells of a fine people, so intense -was his desire to leave. - -There was a sort of solemn rigidity in their farewell attitude. A -brooding, soft, strange sorrow, and they seemed to wonder, too, to wish -as well, thoughts they dared not express. To see their great dream for -the reuniting of the cities come crashing down; to view their momentary -gains as a hollow mockery in the years to come. - -All this Michel Drawers did not notice. He waved one big arm and with -the other pulled back the starting lever. His great frame pressed back -in agony at the terrible acceleration of the takeoff. And then he was -free--free again of binding gravitation; free to search the space-ways -with the woman he loved beside him; free to return to a world that had -discarded him, to be again a respected citizen. - -And then he saw Trajores, her lovely form inert, a trickle of golden -blood issuing from her mouth, and he was overcome with remorse at his -own thoughtlessness. With fear and trepidation he raised her head and -pressed a vial of revivifying liquid to her lips. She sighed softly and -mustered a feeble smile. - -"It is all right," she appeared to murmur. "Go on." - -Michel Drawers stepped back to the controls. There was an air of -resolute determination about him. His enormous fingers manipulated the -proper switches with unbelievable skill and speed. The petite little -"Star-Struck" swerved on her course and turned in a semicircle that -encompassed millions of miles. - -Michel Drawers' mind was comprehending things he had never fully -realized before. Trajores must never be taken to Earth. She must be -returned to her own world with its kinder gravitation and its lovable -golden people. To take her to Earth would be to doom her to a life of -indescribable suffering. - -And, too, what would he be on Earth? They would grant him permission -to marry, to settle down and live his life a useless cog in society, -simply because he had been fortunate enough to return with a large -supply of the precious Roxite, not because of what he, himself, was or -had been. - -But with the golden people he was not simply a useless hulk of a man. -He was Michel Drawers, the man who had introduced the most startling -innovations the golden people had known in thousands of years! A man -who could hold his head high and look another person squarely in the -face. The only man who might rid the planet of the dread Griffs and -restore a beleaguered people to their rightful heritage. - -Back in the golden city of Saeve no thought of his mental inferiority -was entertained. All treated him with respect. It was a world where for -the first time in his life he had found some measure of happiness, and -possibly there might also be contentment. - -The shimmering world began to take form beneath them. - -Trajores moved and thought, "Michel, that is not the way back." - -And Michel Drawers smiled within himself and answered joyously. - -"Yes, Trajores, that _is_ the way back--the only way for you and me." - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WAY BACK *** - -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. 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If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Way Back</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Sam Moskowitz</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: March 14, 2021 [eBook #64818]</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net</div> - -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WAY BACK ***</div> - - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>THE WAY BACK</h1> - -<h2>By SAM MOSKOWITZ</h2> - -<p><i>The Story of a Vagabond of Space Who<br /> -Found Himself in the Far Galaxies.</i></p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Comet January 41.<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>Michel Drawers crumpled the enormous star-map in his big hairy arms and -let it drop from listless fingers. It floated slowly to the ground, -scarcely claimed by the infinitesimal gravity of the tiny sky-rock.</p> - -<p>Hopelessly he gazed aloft, searching, with an air of finality the -immense sweep of the cosmos for some familiar sign—a well known -constellation, perhaps, that might be utilized as a sign post of space.</p> - -<p>Unrewarded, he eased himself off a hard, metallic projection he -had been seated upon and turned back toward his petite little -star-ship—appropriately and affectionately known as "Star-Struck."</p> - -<p>He had to face cold, inevitable reality. He was lost—lost amid the -stark immensity of unfamiliar worlds. Ahead of him lay a long and -hopeless search. He must sweep across the void from zone to zone. -Exploring the most colossal work of all nature for some clue that might -solve this puzzle and show him the way back—the way back home.</p> - -<p>And he smirked as he thought of applying the term "home" to Tellus. -A home was something only successful people could boast of in this -day and age. Misfit youth could not expect such comfort. Himself, and -thousands like him, unable to fit into the scheme of civilization -currently preponderant upon Earth must take the only course open to -them. Must be vanguards of a new frontier—the greatest frontier.</p> - -<p>Sick with nostalgia and ineffable longing, they must brave the dangers, -the rigors of outer space—blast trillions of miles past the solar -system on a metal steed that laughed at the limited speeds of light. -That roared and romped past universe after island universe. And always -the delicate Roxitometer clicked along—searching with tireless, -machine-like efficiency for traces of Roxite on the many worlds passed.</p> - -<p>Roxite? That was the fuel that made these star-ships possible. The -substance whose elemental atoms could be split with tremendous fury to -release an inconceivable flood of power—controlled power—controlled -by the comparatively tiny Roxite engines which curbed these terrible -energies and directed them into the proper channels of usefulness.</p> - -<p>Centuries ago men had searched for gold. Now gold was merely another -metal. Today, men searched for Roxite—a few ounces of which commanded -fabulous prices from the great interplanetary corporations on Earth.</p> - -<p>And as gold had eluded the best efforts of most men in past years, so -Roxite eluded all but the luckiest prospectors today. There was plenty -of Roxite in the universe. But most of it was buried deep within the -cores of tremendous suns. Suns that had a surface temperature that -made the hottest things on Earth seem like a bitter arctic blast by -comparison.</p> - -<p>The thing that counted on Earth these days was brains. Everyone had -ample opportunity to develop what brain power they had. The finest -schools and universities boasting the most advanced and elaborately -presented programs of education ever known were free to the multitudes. -But of what value was an ultra fine education when everyone else had -one, too? It still settled back to basic ingenuity and natural inborn -intelligence when it came to the man who got ahead and the man who -stayed behind.</p> - -<p>Five hundred years ago, possessing his present knowledge he might have -been one of the world's greatest men. Today he was just one of millions -of others, all of whom could do the same things he could—and some of -them could do better.</p> - -<p>What an incomparable paradox he presented. Physically he was more than -a match for ninety-nine per cent of all Earth men. His great height -and weight, his brutal strength—those thick hairy arms of his could -crush the average man in a few minutes. Gigantic muscles didn't count -any more. Of what use sixteen inch biceps when the frailest child could -operate the buttons necessary to perform most of the menial duties of -life?</p> - -<p>Men like him were pushed by invisible, relentless pressures into the -only thing open for them. To operate one of these tiny star-ships and -comb the universe for more Roxite—to keep the interplanetary liners -blasting.</p> - -<p>Roxite. He had found some. Enough to keep his ship operating as it -plunged past millions of starry universes. But not enough to bring back -to Earth and collect any sizeable sum.</p> - -<p>But he couldn't stand this life any longer. The inexpressible -loneliness of space. Inconceivable light years from the world that bore -him. Six years alone in such vastness was too much for any man.</p> - -<p>Six years of heartrending disappointments as he searched tirelessly for -the precious Roxite—and found only a little.</p> - -<p>But this was the end. He was going to make a last desperate attempt to -find his way back. Back to a cold, hostile, unfriendly civilization -that might, out of charity, provide some lowly position for him—let -him work enough to stay alive.</p> - -<p>Still, that was better than this. At least he could look up into the -blue ceiling of the sky. Tread over green carpeted fields. Eat real, -substantial, solid food and see other people.</p> - -<p>Yes, of a poor choice that alternative was the best.</p> - -<p>But here he was bitter again. Deluging himself with waves of self-pity. -The fault was not entirely with Earth and the way of life on Earth. He -was equally to blame. He was a throw-back. A throw-back to the days -when men pushed back new frontiers, blazed new trails for civilization -to follow. When brawn had been the equal, if not the superior of -brains. But this was a new world. It was built for the many, not -the few. Simply because there was a few thousand of misfits among a -population of millions was no creditable reason for revamping an entire -way of life to the satisfaction of a minor group of disgruntled men. -No, progress was relentless, inevitable. The old must bow before the -new, and the world must fight on toward its distant dream of tomorrow.</p> - -<p>Funny how a man could become so completely lost. But he had plenty of -time to look for the right avenue back to his world. Plenty of time, -patience, fuel and food. And he would find it—though it take him the -rest of his life.</p> - -<p>So Michel Drawers roared away from a tiny, lonely little rock in -a strange distant universe, and, with his seemingly inexhaustible -patience explored the sky ways for the section of the milky way in -which his solar system might be located.</p> - -<p>And as the months passed his homesickness grew and grew and reached -unbearable proportions. A subconscious chant repeated itself and -reiterated in pounding rhythms within his brain. He must find a way -back, a way back, a way back, a way back, a way back. God! he couldn't -stand this any longer. Where was the way back? Merciful heavens, how -much more of this torture could he endure without going mad? And the -distant pin-points of light mocked him with cold ferocity. Gloated with -aloof disdain. Laughed at his fruitless efforts to escape their mighty -trap.</p> - -<p>But the soul of the frontiersman, the conqueror, burnt on. Michel -Drawers did not go mad. He simply went on and on and on. Searching, -seeking the way back.</p> - -<p>Then, when it seemed that interminable eons had fled past he was -awakened from a sleeping period by the piercing, raucous scream of -the Roxitometer, pleading to him to arise and investigate its latest -discoveries before they flashed past and it was too late.</p> - -<p>In a mad lunge he pulled the space bar all the way back. The forward -tubes blasted violently—the ship drew to a theoretical stop. Poised -motionless amidst the splendor of a trillion stars.</p> - -<p>Working frantically Michel Drawers made the proper connections. He -might find a valuable deposit of Roxite yet. Perhaps there would be -something to take back to Earth after all. Perhaps all was not yet -hopeless. He might still be rich when he got back—if he got back.</p> - -<p>The powerful little rockets streamed blazing glory again and the little -silvery projectile was drawn by the magic of the Roxitometer, down the -path of Roxite radiations to some still unknown world from where it -emanated.</p> - -<p>And gradually Drawers began to realize that they were heading for a -beautiful little globe more than sixty million miles from a medium -sized sun. And he prepared to enter the atmosphere of this world—and -let the powers of the Roxitometer lead him to the location of the -Roxite deposit. He muttered a silent prayer that it might not be -located too deeply in the bowels of the planet.</p> - -<p>Now he was holding tight as the "Star-Struck" streamed through the -atmosphere of the planet. The landscape began to lay itself out before -him. He could make out soft blue forests of alien vegetation—golden -streams of unknown liquids. At two thousand feet he halted the ship's -descent. Momentarily he allowed it to float above the terrain of this -strange world. Drinking in its wonders with curious eyes.</p> - -<p>He had been drawn to many worlds before by the insistent clangings of -the Roxitometer—but never had he witnessed a world of such unutterable -beauty and color. Barely a discordant note in the entire scheme of -things. Even the winds blew softly, gently, against the hull of his -ship. Prompted by an unfathomable urge he tested the atmosphere -of the planet. Oxygen and Nitrogen proved present in appreciable -quantities—but there was also another—and unknown gas of undetermined -qualities.</p> - -<p>He wondered if it were breathable. It had been so long, so very long -since he had known anything other than the metallic smell of synthetic -air. With gladness he would trade half of his possessions for a few -great lungfulls of pure, fresh, untainted air.</p> - -<p>Then it was that Michel Drawers performed a suicidical act. He opened -the inner and outer locks of his ship simultaneously and allowed the -atmosphere of this unfamiliar world to pour in and mingle with that -of the ship. He breathed in deeply, heavily. Lungful after lungful. -Nothing happened. The new air had a certain, pleasant perfumed -quality—perhaps a characteristic of the new gas. If it were fatally -poisonous, at least it was not immediately so.</p> - -<p>Forgotten were thoughts of Roxite and riches. Forgotten was his -heartbreaking longing for Earth. Only one instinct possessed him. A -desire to set foot upon real soil again. To tread agilely forward—to -breath in natural air—to view natural, though alien sights. To see -streams of liquids bubble past.</p> - -<p>He settled the "Star-Struck" with unprecedented clumsiness down -upon the surface of the world—saved from a bad shock by the light -gravitational pull of the planet.</p> - -<p>Then, with the demeanor of a school-boy released for summer vacation, -his huge frame trod lightly from the ship, and he ambled grotesquely -amidst an almost fragile world.</p> - -<p>With ecstatic delight he plucked brilliant, sweet smelling blossoms; -plunged his face recklessly into the golden liquid that tumbled in -miniature falls down a short sloping hill; marveled at the coolness, -the exhilaration of it—and in the midst of this madness the idea -struck him that this gleaming liquid was the aqua pura of this world. -It took the place of water, in fact it seemed to have every attribute -of water except for its golden color, and the few drops that had -trickled between his lips left a pure, clean, sweet taste that could be -described only by comparing it to the palate of a man, three days on -the desert without a drink, suddenly being presented with a tall, cool -glass of water.</p> - -<p>It was becoming more and more noticeable that the color motive of this -world was not so much green as it was golden.</p> - -<p>And he wandered on. Far, far from the ship he strayed. As if possessed -by a strange, uncontrollable mania he laughed and cried by turns. -Sometimes he ran, sometimes he walked. Often he leaped incredible -distances into the air—floating softly down—his two hundred and -fifteen pound bulk landing with only the slightest jar.</p> - -<p>And as suddenly as this crazy thing had come upon him it passed. He -stood stock sober; the awful realization of the inconceivable risks he -had run swelling his brain like a painful hangover.</p> - -<p>That he was alive and apparently in good health was a miracle. The -worlds where a native of Earth might cavort with reckless abandon and -utter disregard for existing conditions were few and far between. -Swift doom often descended upon those who made light of other worldly -conditions.</p> - -<p>Now he saw in every brilliant blossom a lurking death of hideous -proportions. He examined their expansive golden-yellow blossoms with -critical care. Many of the plants were predominantly blue. Blue and -gold. Here flowers with tall, slender, graceful stalks moved gracefully -to and fro in the soft breeze. There, gigantic blue plants towered far -above his head, with stalks the thickness of trunks and blossoms the -circumference of a water-wheel but, throughout, the idea of fragility -persisted. And with it a gnawing doubt as to their innocent nature. -It seemed more and more that the strange gas that permeated the air -had its source here in those blossoms which grew in such abundance, -with groves the thickness of forests, and a multiplicity that replaced -trees, on this world at least.</p> - -<p>He stumbled on, his hand wiping again and again at his face as if to -scrape away a golden liquid which was no longer there.</p> - -<p>He even breathed with fearful deliberateness—wracking his brain for -all he knew and had heard of the effects and varieties of fatal gases.</p> - -<p>But the luck of the gods was with him. No untoward symptoms appeared -and as he made his way back to the ship his fears began to dissipate -one by one and a new sense of reasonableness replace them.</p> - -<p>Into the clearing he trod—and then recoiled with amazement. Before him -stood a human figure! A small man, perfectly, beautifully proportioned, -radiating a golden aureole and crowned by curly, yellow locks of hair. -He seemed fragile, incredibly delicate, yet he bore himself with -buoyant ease, a result of the lighter gravitational pull of the planet, -and in his eyes sparkled whirling motes of color that lent to him an -air of unimpeachable intelligence.</p> - -<p>Michel Drawers advanced slowly toward the man. His towering bulk -looming massively with strikingly primitive and brutal aspect in -comparison to the statuesque lines and angelic beauty of this native -son.</p> - -<p>"Who? Who are you?" Michel Drawers questioned, his loud, rough voice -almost artificial in an obvious attempt at impossible gentleness.</p> - -<p>The aura of golden light seemed to thicken about the form of the little -man.</p> - -<p>Softly, Drawers thought he heard:</p> - -<p>"I, strange one, am Persum, dweller in the city of Saeve. In all my -years I have never known a man like you. From whence do you come?"</p> - -<p>Drawers was rigid, surprise-struck. He had heard or thought he heard -words as clear, as plain as words could be—<i>yet he had seen no lips -move</i>, knew that no sound, other than his own voice had pierced the air.</p> - -<p>"Telepathy," he uttered in awe. "Mental telepathy."</p> - -<p>"Telepathy? Telepathy?" an unspoken voice returned. "We have no such -word in our language. What is its meaning?"</p> - -<p>"To communicate without sound—by thought."</p> - -<p>A look of comprehension dawned upon the golden man's features.</p> - -<p>"Ah, yes. Here, in my city, all men speak by thought—that is the -purpose of this radiance which surrounds me—to help pick up and to -transmit thoughts. Apparently your race is not so gifted. I wondered -why you writhed your lips peculiarly when you questioned me! Your brain -must be a very powerful one indeed to transmit thoughts without any -natural aid."</p> - -<p>Drawers laughed inwardly at the unexpected compliment. Men had often -told him that he possessed a marvelous physique, but no one had ever -attempted to hint that his brain was other than passably mediocre, -even poor. And here, the most intelligent little man he had ever -met—not over five feet tall—a man with the power to transmit thoughts -telepathically—an achievement that practically no earthman could -boast, had told him that he was unusually gifted in a mental sort of a -way. It was funny, ironic.</p> - -<p>Suddenly Drawers became almost timid in the presence of this superb -little creature. There was almost a god-like quality about him. An -innate goodness, kindness, that could be taken for granted.</p> - -<p>"Would you care to partake of our hospitality?" came an inviting -thought.</p> - -<p>The invitation brought a gasp of amazement to Michel Drawers' lips, and -also a trace of suspicion.</p> - -<p>This little man before him, who, common sense said must be feeling -uneasy, to put it mildly, in the presence of a stranger of hitherto -unknown size and undetermined strength—someone who was as different in -make-up and physique from his as night is from day—still had been able -to suppress his fears sufficiently to extend a cordial invitation.</p> - -<p>"Oh—I can stay on the ship," Drawers replied, his mind sparring for -additional time to clear its confusion.</p> - -<p>"My people would be very interested in meeting you," the golden man -replied.</p> - -<p>Still, Drawers hung back with obvious reluctance. This man was small, -but it wasn't size that counted, as experience had taught him—it was -brains—and this alien had those in super abundance. How was he to -know the creature's motives? Perhaps they might overcome him with some -strange ray, and use him for some diabolical experiment.</p> - -<p>Even as the thoughts surged through his mind, a trace of a smile seemed -to flicker across the golden man's features.</p> - -<p>As if he had read his thoughts the golden man challenged.</p> - -<p>"Certainly you are not afraid to accompany me? I should be the one to -fear, not you. One of those great arms that hang at your side could -overpower me in an instant. You have nothing to fear."</p> - -<p>Mental argument was an achievement Michel Drawers had never been -particularly adept in. He found his fears being chided, and his own -subconscious mind seemed to tell him there was no danger, still—</p> - -<p>Michel stepped slowly forward to accompany the golden man, his hands -tapping his hips for the butts of his low-voltage guns and finding only -the empty holsters. <i>He had left them in the ship!</i></p> - -<p>Without further thought the golden man turned and strode gracefully -from the clearing. Michel Drawers lumbered self-consciously along -behind, tripping occasionally over vine-like foliage—and with the -light of curiosity growing ever brighter within him.</p> - -<p>Through thick growths of blue plants they trailed. Across chuckling -stream's of bubbling, brilliant liquids; through fields thick with -yellow blossoms, and overhead a golden sun hung resplendent in the sky -as if to match the make-up of the planet.</p> - -<p>Drawers' attention was suddenly distracted by one of the most unusual -plants he had yet seen. This one was golden as were the others but had -long, regular veins of blue running like a well formed design up the -outside of the blossom. Instinctively he sniffed at it. As he did so he -felt his new found companion plucking at his sleeve. He paid no notice, -preferring to again smell the beautiful blossom. The fragrance affected -him like a heady, aromatic perfume. Entirely different from any scent -he had ever known before.</p> - -<p>Persum finally distracted his attention by mental urging.</p> - -<p>"Come away, that plant is deadly. I cannot understand why you have not -been already overcome."</p> - -<p>Drawers turned back to Persum in curiosity. "This plant deadly? Why it -has a delightful fragrance. The most pleasing I've ever smelled."</p> - -<p>It was obvious that Persum was disconcerted.</p> - -<p>"I do not understand it. A small whiff of the odor exuded by that plant -is enough to render any of my race unconscious. A few minutes under its -influence often brings death. You are the first man I have ever known -who has been able to inhale its gases without succumbing. This is most -curious. I must inform others of my race."</p> - -<p>They walked on, Persum shaking his head in bewilderment.</p> - -<p>Drawers began to realize that this plant, although affecting him only -to the extent that a pleasant perfume affects an individual, could be -deadly to the golden people. From Persum's description of its effects -it acted almost like an anesthetic—a few breaths induced temporary -unconsciousness, but if released to its influence for more then a few -minutes it resulted in death.</p> - -<p>Abruptly a lovely city of golden towers and soaring minarets -appeared resplendently before them—a city of incarnate beauty and -craftsmanship—a city that might have been designed by a master -draftsman—with an eye to blending harmoniously to the surrounding -color scheme.</p> - -<p>Drawers stopped for a moment to take in the wonder of it.</p> - -<p>"You like it?" Persum queried.</p> - -<p>"It's great!" Drawers rumbled enthusiastically.</p> - -<p>"We take delight in the development of our cities," Persum continued. -"There are seven cities, all constructed along the lines of this one. -These seven cities contain the total populations of our people; about -one hundred thousand people to a city. They are built with great care. -The smaller buildings form the general limits of the city, and then -we construct the buildings taller toward the center of the city. They -are all unlike in structure for we try to give each and every one -a distinct artistic touch. We do not believe in building row after -monotonous row of dwellings that are of value for efficiency alone. -The human pride and joy in beauty amply compensates us for any loss in -efficiency."</p> - -<p>Drawers did not reply. He was gazing in astonishment at the long curved -walks that stretched between the taller buildings. Some of them must -have been two hundred feet from the ground, with no noticeable railing -for safety, and they were hardly more than three feet in width. Dozens -of the golden people at this very moment could be seen moving leisurely -across these shaky bridges, seeming to take no notice of the great -chasm that yawned beneath. Even as Drawers watched, one of the golden -people lost his balance, weaved erratically about for a moment, then -started to fall.</p> - -<p>Drawers closed his eyes to shut out the horror of the scene. Then he -slowly opened them and gaped with astonishment to see a little golden -man floating casually down to the ground, and alighting with scarcely a -jar. Then he understood! The gravitational pull of this world was not -very exacting. Few falls could be fatal here. The golden people had -little to fear on that score.</p> - -<p>Then a gigantic wall of auspicious strength and thickness bordering the -city caught Drawers' eye. It seemed to inject a discordant note.</p> - -<p>Questioningly Drawers turned to the golden man and asked. "What is the -reason for that enormous wall?"</p> - -<p>A sad, haunted look entered the expressive eyes of the little man. For -a moment he did not answer, then replied.</p> - -<p>"Perhaps, in your land you have no Griffs."</p> - -<p>"Griffs? What are Griffs?"</p> - -<p>As they walked the little man explained.</p> - -<p>"Long ago, there were no violent forms of life on this planet. There -were no cities with thick walls about them, and the people of our -race lived luxuriously, cradled in the gentle arms of nature. Our -home was wherever we happened to be at the time. Art and knowledge -flourished and our people were content. Then, one day, an earthquake -of violent proportions rocked the land. Great rifts were torn in the -ground. And from subterranean caverns, of which we had no knowledge, -emerged terrible monsters who lived on flesh and preyed upon my people -unceasingly.</p> - -<p>"We have never had strife of any kind on this world. Weapons have -always been unknown. There was no way we knew to fight back. In -desperation we built great walls around the cities to keep these great -monsters away. Only when the sun is at its height do we dare emerge and -gather food or wander through the forests we love so much. Sun hurts -the Griffs' eyes and they prefer to do their hunting at night or on -cloudy days.</p> - -<p>"Gradually the Griffs have been dying out for lack of food. They are -carnivorous and have systematically eliminated most of the lower animal -life from our world. My race, except for occasional mishaps have been -virtually beyond their reach. There are only a few of them left now, -but they prowl perpetually about the walls of the city searching for an -opportunity to enter and wreak havoc, or to catch some one of my race -as they pass a particularly gloomy spot in the forest."</p> - -<p>Michel Drawers thought over what the little man had said. He thought -too of the sub-atomic blast used for blasting aside obstacles in -search of Roxite. It would not be the first time it had been used as a -weapon—a most terrible weapon of destruction.</p> - -<p>However, for the moment he deemed it best not to mention this to -Persum, as the little man so quaintly named himself. Perhaps these -Griffs were not so easily destroyed. And then again to destroy them -might be a fatal error. He remembered how in ages past men had wantonly -destroyed the once-numerous mountain lions in reckless numbers, and -then had the wild deer, which had been the mountain lion's natural -prey, multiply so that they left no grass for the cattle who should -have benefited through the death of the mountain lions.</p> - -<p>Then, too there was the problem of Australia, where an apparently -innocuous rodent, the rabbit, had multiplied into a national menace, -once there was no natural enemy to check them. He must learn more.</p> - -<p>They stopped before a great golden gate. Persum lifted a small reed -to his lips and blew. From it there issued a long, sweet, piercing -whistle. Slowly the gates rolled smoothly open, fitting right into the -thick walls beside them.</p> - -<p>Without hesitation Persum walked through the opening. Michel Drawers -held back for a moment, blinded by a chance ray of sun-light that -bounced off the gleaming sides of one of the buildings.</p> - -<p>Then, he too entered, and the gates, as if by their own volition, -closed behind him.</p> - -<p>He was in another world now. Gone was all harshness and crudity. -Here there was only beauty and color and gold. Buildings in peerless -symmetry dug their way through the low hanging clouds to unknown -heights. Spell-binding displays of coruscating lights played in rhythms -through curious designs of crystals. Later Drawers learned that this -corresponded to music—by sight instead of ear.</p> - -<p>Self-consciously he ambled along the spotless streets behind -Persum—streets which seemed to be paved with pure gold. He tried not -to notice the open stares given him by the city's inhabitants. He -realized that they did not mean to be impolite. It was simply that a -man of his bulk was unique in this civilization.</p> - -<p>More and more as they proceeded he began to take cognizance of the -complete absence of transportation of any sort. Everyone here walked. -Of course, the slighter gravitational pull made walking considerably -less strenuous, but still, that didn't account for the various groups -of golden men he had passed, laboriously pulling great blocks of stone -by man-power alone—when a small wheeled vehicle, or even one beast of -burden would have lightened the load immeasurably.</p> - -<p>He stopped in utter perplexity though, when he saw a group of golden -men attempting to lift an enormous stone block into place by the sheer -strength of their bodies. They seemed totally ignorant of the enormous -saving in strength and labor that might have been enacted by the -building of a simple pulley arrangement.</p> - -<p>It was becoming increasingly evident that this race's knowledge of even -the most fundamental laws of mechanics was practically nil.</p> - -<p>But as if in compensation, he noted too, that these people seemed to -get along with each other without the slightest friction. Nothing -seemed sufficient to arouse anger. He wondered if they were incapable -of the emotion.</p> - -<p>The people moved about the streets tending entirely to their own -business. There were no doors to any of the dwellings—simply arched -openings. Numerous valuable objects such as painstakingly carved -chairs, and richly sculptured busts, were present in front of many of -the homes. Yet they remained untouched.</p> - -<p>Nowhere, so far, had he seen even one person who might have passed as -a peace officer. The golden people seemed to need no enforcement to -maintain the effective carrying out of whatever laws they were governed -by. Each and every one of them seemed to take it for granted that -he must do what was required as a duty to himself as well as to the -community and that's all there was to it.</p> - -<p>Persum had stopped in front of a grand edifice of such beauty and -brilliance that it faded into insignificance the surrounding buildings, -fine as they were.</p> - -<p>He followed Persum into the building. Through upward sloping halls that -wound around and around up into the vitals of the building and served -in lieu of stairways, and into a glistening hall of gold and crystal. -The hall was partially filled with others of the golden people.</p> - -<p>Drawers watched in bewilderment as Persum approached the group of -little people—apparently officials of the city—and without opening -his lips informed them of all that had transpired.</p> - -<p>And now others of Persum's strange race came forward to greet him. -Drawers marveled at the perfection of these golden people. At the -unsurpassed, delicate beauty and construction of their forms; the -charm and adorableness of their women. Here indeed was a tiny race of -perfection, soul-satisfying to the extreme.</p> - -<p>One of the welcoming party bowed low before him.</p> - -<p>"We are pleased to have this opportunity to show you our hospitality," -the man said. "My name is Garanjor, humble Raciv of my people."</p> - -<p>Drawers gulped impulsively. The highest official of the land was -out to greet him. Him, a nobody from Earth who had landed here by -accident, in search of Roxite. Perhaps this was some form of a joke? He -scrutinized the faces about him. All were serious to the extreme. An -air of serenity seemed to pervade. Drawers drew from his brain all he -remembered of the proper etiquette for such occasions. Six years in a -space-ship—it was easy to forget.</p> - -<p>"I am honored," was all he could think of.</p> - -<p>Nervously he juggled a small meter, for the determining of the purity -of Roxite, in his hands.</p> - -<p>One of the golden people took note of the instrument, and turned to -the others with an unmistakable air of excitement. In an instant the -entire assembly was crowded about him examining the meter with feverish -interest.</p> - -<p>One asked: "This metal—have you any more of it?"</p> - -<p>"Why that's nothing very much," Drawers replied. "That's only common -iron. The ground is filthy with this back on Earth. Why do you ask?"</p> - -<p>Persum mentally replied to the question.</p> - -<p>"Here, in this city, Ronir, which is what you call Iron is the rarest -of all metals. We use it only in the construction of vital instruments -and tools. All other uses, because of its extreme scarcity, are -forbidden."</p> - -<p>"Well, you can have all I have on the ship, if you want it," Drawers -offered generously. "It's nothing more than trimmings on the inside of -the ship. Iron and steel haven't been of much value since the invention -of much superior alloys which have an infinitely greater resistance to -heat and cold."</p> - -<p>"We would be glad to give you anything you request for this metal," the -Raciv offered. "There have been numerous occasions when the possession -of a little larger supply of Ronir might have relieved much suffering."</p> - -<p>"In that case, why don't you just consider it my contribution to the -advancement of science and let it go at that?"</p> - -<p>"I'm afraid you do not understand," Persum clarified. "Our race will -not accept anything of this sort without first arranging a fair -exchange."</p> - -<p>Michel Drawers realized that he must be careful not to offend these -people due to his ignorance of their laws. He made an admirable stab at -diplomacy.</p> - -<p>"Suppose you give me something that you believe would be a fair -exchange."</p> - -<p>The golden people drew away a moment and conversed telepathically among -themselves.</p> - -<p>Then the Raciv walked toward Drawers. There was a resigned expression -upon his features. He threw back his shoulders and looked Drawers -straight in the eye.</p> - -<p>"<i>I am prepared to turn my leadership over to you in exchange!</i>" came -his startling thoughts. The other golden people looked solemn.</p> - -<p>Drawers drew back aghast. <i>Just how precious were these small amounts -of iron that he had offered these people, if they were willing to -entrust him with their entire government in return.</i></p> - -<p>Persum must have read his thoughts for he again explained.</p> - -<p>"At the base of the skull of every new born babe of our race there -lies a dormant gland. What use this gland once had we do not know. -Through thousands of years of disuse it has atrophied, and the -slightest mental exertion causes its inflammation. In almost every case -the pressure exerted upon the brain by this swollen gland has resulted -in death.</p> - -<p>"At one time hundreds died daily from this dread malady. We tried to -operate, but our metals were all too soft to be sharpened to a keen -edge, and used for operation. Eventually we discovered Ronir. Minute -deposits of this invaluable metal came to light at various times. -We melted the crude ore and fashioned it into the vital instruments -we needed. Now we operate upon a baby immediately after birth and -remove this gland so that it cannot do any harm. The operation is a -comparatively simple one. We have mastered various balms that will -heal the incision within a few hours. However, we have been unable -to discover new deposits of this valuable metal for many centuries -now—due, largely to the menace of the Griffs.</p> - -<p>"The instruments we fashioned many centuries ago are almost all worn -out. It is estimated that if a new supply of Ronir is not obtained -soon, within the next generation or so, our tools will be useless, and -then—"</p> - -<p>The inference was obvious. Michel Drawers realized that he was in a -mighty uncomfortable position. For once his brain found a suitable -solution.</p> - -<p>He faced the Raciv. "I accept your Racivship with thanks."</p> - -<p>The Raciv handed Michel Drawers an elongated prism of crystal, through -which played curious designs of ever-changing color.</p> - -<p>"Please accept this as a sign of your position," Garanjor asked.</p> - -<p>Drawers received the colorful prism, then quickly stated, "As Raciv, I -do not feel capable of performing the duties required of me in this new -capacity. For that reason I hereby return the great honor entrusted to -me to its original possessor."</p> - -<p>Quickly he handed the prism back to Garanjor.</p> - -<p>There was a murmur of thought. Apparently the golden people were deeply -moved by this noble gesture.</p> - -<p>Michel Drawers gave them no time to reconsider. He emptied his pockets -of all the iron and steel objects he carried. There was the meter, a -steel measuring rule, and several handy implements he happened to have -with him.</p> - -<p>While divesting himself of these objects he took opportunity to examine -the golden people more carefully.</p> - -<p>The men were attired only in what seemed to be a glorified pair of -trunks—although a few of them wore a crepe-like cloak. Their entire -bodies were of a deep golden hue as was their hair. The pronounced aura -about each of them, he decided, must be due to the peculiar, unknown -gas in the atmosphere. In some way it must affect the radiations thrown -off by the body and make them visible to the naked eye.</p> - -<p>The women were beautiful, that's all there was to it. They had all -the same characteristics of the men. Their dress was a satiny, -tight-fitting garment that reminded one, more than anything else, of -a bathing suit done over for evening wear. Their hair was arranged in -such a manner as to give the impression of additional height.</p> - -<p>Both men and women were approximately the same height—about five -feet—but built entirely in proportion.</p> - -<p>Further observations were interrupted. The people about him suddenly -assumed masks of great concern. One little man left the party. Through -one of the windows he could be seen dashing off in the direction of the -great wall. Drawers stood puzzled.</p> - -<p>Persum turned to him.</p> - -<p>"Some of our people have just sent a message of distress. They have -been accosted by several Griffs and are in serious danger. We don't -know what we can do, though," he ended hopelessly.</p> - -<p>"Where is all this taking place?" Drawers inquired with an unsuccessful -attempt to appear calm.</p> - -<p>Persum gestured for him to follow.</p> - -<p>Back to the gate they swiftly retraced their steps. The gates were -slightly ajar. A hundred yards over to the right Drawers could see two -of the golden people—one a woman, perched precariously in the branches -of a gigantic fern.</p> - -<p>At the base of the fern were two tremendous beasts. Each must have been -at least eight feet long. They stood on four bony legs—their bodies -big and broad and shaggy as a grizzly bear, which animal they resembled -more than anything else, excepting for their incongruously thin legs -and grotesquely large mouths. Mouths almost two thirds the size of an -alligator and fiercely reinforced by large, yellow fangs.</p> - -<p>The beasts were tearing away at the foot of the fern. It began to shake -and shiver and lean heavily to one side. It was obvious that inevitably -they would weaken the trunk so that it would give way and drop the two -little people to a hideous death below.</p> - -<p>Drawers thought fast. Who was he anyway? Virtually an outcast from -Earth. Unwanted and unnecessary. Here, for the first time in his life, -someone had treated him as though he were a leader. They pretended, at -least, that he was an honored guest. His bulkiness, his crudeness had -been discreetly overlooked. Possibly, if he tried, he could distract -the attention of those man-eating beasts long enough for the golden -people to run to safety behind the walls of the city. He would try. It -would be his token of thanks for all their kindness.</p> - -<p>Without a word of his intentions he swiftly pushed himself through the -opening in the gate. His earthly muscles covered prodigious distances -at each stride across the terrain of this lighter planet. He shouted -once, a sort of half-hearted battle cry. The beasts wheeled about at -the sound and snarled viciously.</p> - -<p>Drawers slowed up. He was within ten yards of them now. For an instant -he sparred for position. Then he flung himself forward at the nearest -of the two creatures with all of his earthly speed and bulk. He crashed -head on, and surprisingly enough, the animal fell back on its haunches -with a sort of dazed expression.</p> - -<p>Drawers' powerful arms arched about the creature's neck. His tremendous -biceps bulged. Slowly, terribly, he tightened his grip. Applied more -and more pressure.</p> - -<p>The second Griff had been running around and around in circles. It -seemed undecided, whether to attack or await the outcome of this -struggle.</p> - -<p>The Griff beneath him panted in agony. Madly it thrashed about, -flinging him from side to side, but he held on like grim death. Bending -its neck back, back. And suddenly, when it seemed that his strength was -ebbing and that this creature would never give in, he was rewarded by a -loud snap, and the beast's head hung grotesquely from his hands.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> - <div class="caption"> - <p><i>The beast reared violently, but Michel clung to its back. Only one idea obsessed him—to bend, break—</i></p> - </div> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>He let go and the entire body slumped limply to the ground.</p> - -<p>Again he sparred with the other animal, but this one beat him to the -attack, catapulting itself straight through the air at him. Drawers -side-stepped the charge, and then his right fist descended with -crushing force alongside of the Griff's ribs. There was a cracking -noise as its ribs stove in like papier-mache.</p> - -<p>It was squealing terrifiedly, and now Drawers knew his own power and -illimitable strength. These Griffs, big and brutal, were hardly a match -for him. Born to resist a gravity of more than twice that of his planet -his bones were heavier, more compact. His muscles harder, his speed -dazzling.</p> - -<p>Again and again he came to grips with the Griff. Once its bestial fangs -closed upon his shoulders and he just about tore away, his skin ripped -and bleeding. His own breath was coming in great choking gasps, and -his legs seemed to sag from the effort, but around and around the Griff -he danced, his fists smashing a crescendo pitch of hate and power and -destruction. And at every blow he could feel something give. Could -hear the wind go whistling out of the weakening Griff. Could sense its -great, untamed strength dissipating ounce by ounce.</p> - -<p>Then he closed in for the kill. In a fever of fury he crashed his two -big fists in bludgeoning hate to the Griff's head. It tottered to -the ground—dazed. He leaped upon its back and grabbed for its head. -Instinctively it eluded him and almost threw him from his perch. -He grabbed a fistful of fur and retained his position. In a fit of -inspiration, he began pounding sledge-hammer blows on the thing's back. -His arms worked in a sort of savage rhythm, descending and rising in -a blur of speed and power. And as he pounded away it seemed that this -thing would never die; things were growing hazy ... he was tired, oh, -so tired ... he was barely conscious of striking and from far, far in -the distance his blows echoed back a tirade of destruction.</p> - -<p>"What are you beating at, friend?" came a distant voice.</p> - -<p>Drawers stopped suddenly.</p> - -<p>"There is nothing but a mass of bleeding pulp beneath you."</p> - -<p>Drawers started to get off the Griff's back. He staggered erratically. -The world began to turn around and round, around and round.</p> - -<p>Someone was leading him. He followed blindly. The next he knew he -was lying back amid a mass of billowy perfumed cushions. Someone was -forcing a sweet, golden liquid between his lips. He drank greedily, -some of the liquid spilling down his shirt. He wiped his lips with his -hand and settled back, relaxed.</p> - -<p>Through half-closed eyelids he peered out at the small golden people. -Then, in a tired, happy sort of a voice, rumbled, "I guess those two -weren't hurt."</p> - -<p>Persum, good old Persum, was standing there. Two radiant beings stood -beside him.</p> - -<p>"They are very grateful," stated Persum by proxy. "They wish to thank -you personally."</p> - -<p>"Aw, 'twas nothing."</p> - -<p>"Nothing!" came an excited thought wave. "Nothing to kill single-handed -and weaponless two of the most terrifying beasts this planet has ever -known? Nothing to risk your life to save two alien people whom you did -not even know? You are a hero! A great hero! And we are deeply grateful -to you."</p> - -<p>Now the woman came timidly toward him. Drawers breathed heavily with -appreciation. A thing of exquisite, unutterable delight. A living poem -of brilliance and charm. The most adorable, fascinating, of all the -golden people he had met so far.</p> - -<p>She barely topped the five foot mark. She was dressed in a little -bathing-suit-like affair that had two bright stripes running up the -front, and two small points extending down from the hips. Her eyes were -flaked with tiny gold motes of color and seemed filled to overflowing -with tender compassion.</p> - -<p>Michel Drawers couldn't help noticing the feminine, unassumed grace -of her movements, the smooth, round contours of her face, her soft, -perfectly proportioned curves. The glory-sheen of her hair that was -arched up a few inches at the brow, and then allowed to fall in -glistening strands down and around her shoulders.</p> - -<p>Here were beauty and goodness incarnate.</p> - -<p>Without further consideration Drawers knew he was falling hopelessly in -love. Knew it in the maddening fashion that only a man who yearns for -the admittedly impossible can know.</p> - -<p>"Thank you," she was thinking. And then, "Oh, how <i>can</i> I ever thank -you enough? You were so brave, so fine, so strong, so daring."</p> - -<p>"Ah—it was nothing. I mean—" Drawers knew he was speaking tripe. -Common everyday, ordinary tripe, but he couldn't think in the presence -of this dazzling little creature. All his senses, except his pounding -heartbeat, seemed locked in a state of suspended animation.</p> - -<p>Then he was tired—more tired than he thought anyone could ever be. He -tried to sustain himself, but his words lisped off, and nature demanded -that he rest. He fell back upon the radiant pillows, asleep before his -head had indented its form upon their softness.</p> - -<p>So he couldn't have seen, as Persum did, the soft, lingering caress -that the golden girl bestowed upon his brow before she hastily retired -from the room.</p> - -<p>The ensuing days were happy ones for Michel Drawers. He was entertained -royally by the elite of the golden people. The dazzling little woman -he had rescued, along with Persum, were always at his side, acting as -a sort of self-appointed escort service. They showed him their great -city, strangely devoid of any mechanical devices or any utilization of -natural laws.</p> - -<p>He was introduced to the nation's leading thinkers who expounded -learnedly upon almost incomprehensible theories. He was shown the -ideal, simple, quiet life led by most of the populace and noted without -being told the general tone of happiness, good will, and the utter lack -of crime of any sort.</p> - -<p>The complete and utter lack of sensible equipment convinced him more -than ever that he should and could repay in some ways the unusual -kindness bestowed upon him.</p> - -<p>It was heart warming to watch the jubilation upon the faces of the -workers as he arranged a simple pulley for them, and showed them how -their lifting could be done with comparative ease. He shuddered to -think of the work that must have gone into building some of those -high, glistening towers, with the utilization of only crude man-power.</p> - -<p>He watched the eyes of the scientific men pop with incredulity as he -showed them the principle of the wheel. They were chagrined that they -could have overlooked so simple a principle, but Drawers knew that the -discovery of the wheel on Earth had been nothing but a lucky accident. -If man had not discovered it by accident, it might never have been -known at all. Then, too, he began to understand the utter lack of -mechanical equipment. The wheel was one of the fundamental and most -vital of parts in all moving machinery. Without the wheel, it would be -difficult to construct a usable pulley, or a feasible vehicle.</p> - -<p>There was another thing he accomplished. He constructed the first wagon -these people had ever seen. They viewed it with insatiable curiosity.</p> - -<p>But the sight of the golden men happily pulling their loads through -the streets on wagons irked him. These people were not made for hard -physical tabor. It took a heavy toll. He questioned Persum as to the -absence of beasts of burden.</p> - -<p>Persum thought a moment and then said, "There has never been anything -but very small animals on our planet as far as we know. Nothing we -might use for beasts of burden. Anyway," he concluded, "why should the -animals perform our tasks for us? Why place any poor beast in bondage?"</p> - -<p>"And why not?" asked Drawers. "It would be poetic justice to place the -Griffs in bondage and force them to pull your wagons for you."</p> - -<p>"The Griffs!" thought Persum with a note of astonishment. "Surely you -are joking. Who could subdue those savage beasts so that they would -labor peaceably? And even then, who would care to drive them and tend -to them? It would be sheer suicide."</p> - -<p>Drawers ignored the last statement. "Have you some strong rope that -I might use?" he asked. "Some tough vegetable fiber—perhaps the -material you use for pulling those blocks through the street."</p> - -<p>"Why certainly," Persum replied. "You are welcome to all you need."</p> - -<p>"Thank you," said Drawers. "I have a crazy sort of an idea."</p> - -<p>That evening Michel paced back and forth in the small, luxuriously -furnished apartment the little people had provided for him. It had -three square sides and one open. There were apertures for light, but no -glass or any other material in them. Neither was there anything other -than a drape to serve as a door.</p> - -<p>The temperature on this world was ideal. It stayed perpetually between -seventy and eighty-five, hardly ever varying above or below these -figures as rated on the Fahrenheit scale. Therefore there was no -necessity of window panes to keep out the cold. Even without a door -there was infinitely more privacy in these apartments than any man -had ever known on Earth. The golden men never entered without first -telepathizing their intentions in advance. Nor did anyone ever gaze -into another's apartment or home. These people strictly maintained the -ideal that a man's home is his castle.</p> - -<p>His mind was surging with many thoughts. These Griffs, if he remembered -correctly, though fiercely armed, had showed definite evidences of -cowardice. He remembered the way they squealed when hurt. Their furious -attempts to escape when soundly beaten. There was a possibility they -could be trained. By force, if need be, but surely it would not hurt to -try.</p> - -<p>Then, too, those strange blossoms that acted as an anesthetic upon the -golden people—perhaps they might act similarly upon the Griffs? It was -a theory worth investigating.</p> - -<p>The next morning he left the city, a long coil of hemplike rope around -his arm. He found a group of the flowers he was looking for after a -brief search, and quickly snapped a number of the largest blossoms -at the stems. Their odor lent charm to the beauty of the scenery he -passed. It struck him that these flowers were the very personification -of the adage "one man's meat is another man's poison."</p> - -<p>As though they knew he was searching for them, the Griffs seemed to -elude him. The day wore on and the sun began to set and still he had -found no Griffs. He began to wonder if the people of the golden city -would be worried as to his whereabouts.</p> - -<p>But as the long fingers of evening began to stretch gray paths across -the sky, he was startled out of his thoughts by a fierce squealing. He -turned rapidly, and there, emerging from an almost unnoticed cavelike -formation was a red-eyed Griff, its teeth gnashing angrily.</p> - -<p>Quickly Drawers formed the rope into a lasso. He gave it a few quick -turns around his head and let fly at the Griff. The noose settled -around the charging animal's neck. With a flick of his wrist Drawers -tightened the noose, then, utilizing all of his strength, pulled -the rope with a jerk to the right. The Griff choked and stumbled -momentarily. In a twinkling of an eye Drawers was drowning the beast -with the blossoms from the flowers he was carrying. The animal began -to cough. It made an attempt to rise, and then settled back. It was -panting now. Now its eyelids were closing and its breathing becoming -harder and harder.</p> - -<p>Drawers kicked the creature in the ribs. It did not respond.</p> - -<p>Drawers removed the blossoms from the animal's nostrils. Then he took -his rope and securely tied up its great jaws. With the happy whistle of -a boy released from school, he made his way back to the city of Saeve, -dragging the great beast behind him.</p> - -<p>He almost laughed aloud as he saw the perplexity of the guards at the -gate of the wall. They seemed uncertain whether to run as fast as they -could or maintain their posts in shivering fright. At all costs they -refused to allow Drawers to drag the beast into the city.</p> - -<p>After some persuasion Drawers got them to contact Persum and arrange to -have a wagon delivered outside the city.</p> - -<p>During the interim the Griff began to revive. Finally it staggered -weakly to its feet, a sick look in its eyes. At the sight of Drawers it -bristled menacingly.</p> - -<p>Drawers nonchalantly gave the animal a powerful kick in the ribs that -sent it crashing to the ground.</p> - -<p>It gained its feet again, and fumed with rage at its inability to use -its well-tied jaws.</p> - -<p>But Drawers did not let this bit of temperament deter him. He whacked -the creature across the back with his fist. It sank to the ground -again. A look of fear began to enter its eyes.</p> - -<p>Within the next fifteen minutes Michel Drawers gave the animal the -beating of his life. When he was through he untied the fastenings from -around the creature's jaws, and waited, his fist held menacingly. The -golden guards watching from the gate were stricken by the tenseness -of the situation. For a moment the Griff looked at Drawers—<i>then it -cringed before him!</i></p> - -<p>During the next week, thousands crammed the streets to watch a -fierce-looking Griff, generation-old enemy of their race, proceeding -docilely along the streets of the city, pulling enormous quantities of -stone and other supplies with no sign of rebellion. Its once terrible -teeth had been blunted and replaced by flat-headed golden caps. A -little golden man sat unafraid upon its back directing it with deft -prods of his feet. Man had again displayed his superiority over other -forms of life.</p> - -<p>Everywhere Michel Drawers went he was hailed with enthusiasm by the -golden people. They gave elaborate balls in his honor—and watched with -fascination as he disposed of helping after helping of the multiple -types of tasty vegetables and exotic-flavored fruits which formed the -bulk of their diet.</p> - -<p>But in all truth Michel Drawers paid much more attention to the -fascinating little golden woman who seemed perpetually at his side. -"Trajores," she said was her name. And he escorted her proudly to the -numerous balls and dinners; performed her every whim with celerity.</p> - -<p>He remembered the look of joy on her face when he presented her with a -simple bracelet, inset with colorful crystals that he had shaped for -her with his own hands out of the malleable gold that could be found in -such abundance.</p> - -<p>He remembered, too, how all the other women crowded about her, -examining the new creation, the first of its type in the city of Saeve, -and how the next day, hammers rang merrily as self-appointed goldsmiths -catered to the whims of the eternal feminine and its desire to emulate -any new style or fashion.</p> - -<p>Thus, unwittingly, Drawers had made Trajores the first stylist in the -world of the golden people. And it pleased him to watch her thrill with -pride as she watched the other women, and even some of the men, imitate -the first necklace he had made for her, out of a few colored crystals -and a wirelike string of gold.</p> - -<p>He took advantage of every opportunity to be near her, accompanying -her on long walks through the forest when the sun was high in the sky; -satisfying her curiosity as to the manners and ways of life on Earth.</p> - -<p>He enjoyed those hours in her presence and was thankful for the -opportunity—but his long unfamiliarity with women often caused him to -ask Persum to accompany him, and the three would stride merrily through -the forest, exchanging views on various subjects.</p> - -<p>To his astonishment, Michel Drawers awoke one day to find that a -faint but undeniable glow came from his body. The strange gas in the -atmosphere was beginning to affect the radiations of his body, too! -Other unusual incidents lately had been the sudden regrowth of teeth -long since pulled, the disappearance of several warts from his fingers. -The gas, whatever it was, had beneficial effects.</p> - -<p>But he did not comprehend the full effect of his change until one day -while walking with Persum and Trajores he sensed Trajores thinking. -"Were there any other girls that you left on Earth before you came -here?"</p> - -<p>"No," he replied. "I'm afraid that I never was very popular with the -ladies."</p> - -<p>A look of amazement crossed Trajores' features.</p> - -<p>"<i>You read my thoughts!</i>" she accused. "I had not directed the question -mentally toward you!"</p> - -<p>Then she turned and ran back toward the city.</p> - -<p>Michel Drawers gazed after her in perplexity, then turned with a -puzzled frown to Persum.</p> - -<p>Persum shook his head in the manner of a man who thinks, "Well, here's -something else that's got to be attended to."</p> - -<p>"It is against our custom to attempt to read the thoughts of another -person," he explained. "If we did, no one would have any privacy. But -I will explain to Trajores your ignorance of our laws and extend an -apology by proxy. I'm sure she will forgive you. She was momentarily -embarrassed. Her thoughts were of a somewhat personal nature."</p> - -<p>But Michel Drawers hardly listened. It was incredible but true that -in some manner the golden emanations that now radiated from his body -enabled his mind to read thoughts!</p> - -<p>As the days progressed, Michel Drawers became more and more impressed -by the utopian way in which this society of golden people was -maintained. No man was assigned any work. It was up to the individual -to make himself as useful as he possibly could whenever his services -were required. His leisure time was left to himself.</p> - -<p>Drawers had seen how these golden people had volunteered for heavy -physical labor even before his introduction of the labor-saving pulley -wheel, wagon and beast of burden, and the manner in which they had -performed, without complaining, this toilsome labor. He had seen how -other men were willing to spend hours over hot forges shaping trinkets -for the gratification of any women who happened to ask for them.</p> - -<p>These people seemed to sense when their services were required and were -always willing to do what was desired.</p> - -<p>The women seemed willing to perform almost any of the regular household -duties of cooking, sweeping, remodeling and washing at any time. It -seemed to make little difference if they had to assume the extra burden -of cooking and washing and cleaning for any of the golden men who -were still unmarried or were so unfortunate as to have suffered the -loss of their mates. They performed these tasks cheerfully, as their -contribution to the welfare of the community.</p> - -<p>All essentials were provided free, as were available luxuries. All -worked under an eminently successful cooperative plan that did away -with all of the ills of complicated economic systems.</p> - -<p>The Raciv was really nothing more than a coordinator of the various -scientists and constructors, helping to lay out the plans for the -proper performance of their experiments and buildings, coping with any -problem that might arise.</p> - -<p>This race had many bewildering aspects. Drawers had listened, only -half comprehending, to their learned men outline a gigantic theory of -the universe and its reason for being, a theory that seemed flawlessly -logical to his untrained mind. He had watched the golden men take -over the manufacture of wheels, wagons, pulleys and trinkets he had -introduced and improve upon them at a great rate. He had seen daring -members of this delicate golden race emulate his action in capturing -a Griff with astounding preciseness. Their adaptability, their gift -of learning and improving upon new ideas seemed infinite. But their -inability to grasp and utilize the simplest ideas on their own -initiative was confounding. There was some quality lacking in their -make-up that seemed to prohibit this. Why this was so he did not know. -Perhaps it was the result of thousands of centuries of living easily -in the forests, working and creating in the mind alone, that, through -the ages had made the creative urge in them dormant. It was the only -logical explanation to be found.</p> - -<p>But once set upon the proper path that long dead ability might, by -degrees, begin to restore itself, and then there would be no limit to -the greatness this simple civilization might attain.</p> - -<p>He had gotten probably his greatest kick in introducing amusements for -the children. For two weeks he had labored, with several of the golden -men assigned to him, in one of the larger working rooms in the city. By -the end of that time he had constructed the very first Merry-Go-Round -this world had ever known!</p> - -<p>It was crude compared to what the amusement parks now had on Earth, but -to these people it was an object of fabulous wonder.</p> - -<p>He had simply constructed a large wheel, attached a few hand supports -to it and mounted it on one of the wagons. The Merry-Go-Round was -turned by a crude but effective crank, and this unique, whirling, -breathless motion proved a source of infinite delight to the children -of the city. The Merry-Go-Round was constantly on the go, and dozens of -golden men crowded about, examining its manufacture, and returning home -and plotting their own.</p> - -<p>The most unusual aspect of this innovation was that the older people -took to it as well as did the youngsters. The Merry-Go-Round and later -the swing became a regular household addition.</p> - -<p>These simple pleasure devices became the national amusements. It was -becoming a common thing to have an open square one day, and the next -find it clogged with a vast array of swings and Merry-Go-Rounds, with -the golden people, young and old, partaking wholeheartedly in this new -pleasure.</p> - -<p>If it had been left to the children to judge, these new amusements were -the finest things he had introduced so far; and Michel Drawers could -not help realizing how limited these people's pleasures had been in the -past.</p> - -<p>It was a great day, too, when he escorted the Raciv and several of the -more important men of state back to the "Star-Struck." They entered the -ship and the lock closed behind them. Then with a blast of rockets the -ship had rifled its way through the clouds.</p> - -<p>The Raciv and his officials had gazed in wonder through the ports as -the ship rose thousands of feet into the air. Strangely enough they -displayed no visible signs of fear (possibly the fact that there -was little danger in falling on this world obviated that fear) but -nevertheless the novelty of the experience did not escape them.</p> - -<p>One of the little men directed his course. They were riding a wave of -telepathic radiations, as spaceships follow a radio beam into port. -And the occasion was destined to be a memorable one—one of great -consequence. <i>For the first time in centuries the peoples of two cities -were to meet one another!</i></p> - -<p>Contact between the cities had always been maintained thanks to the -development of long range telepathy. Thus they were similar in culture, -development and habits, but inter-city relations had been impossible -due to the long distance between cities and the dread danger of being -devoured by Griffs en route.</p> - -<p>It was soul-inspiring to witness the embraces, the thoughts of tearful -thankfulness, as the golden people saw their first opportunity in -hundreds of years to be reunited in fact as well as spirit.</p> - -<p>The second city's greatest sculptor, the finest the city of Malopa -had ever known, fashioned a golden image of Michel Drawers, which was -placed in one of the largest squares. The ensuing weeks were ones of -great celebration.</p> - -<p>Drawers would never forget the looks on the faces of the returning -party as they rocketed back to Saeve. He knew they would never forget -what he had done for them; that they envisaged a greater world of -tomorrow, where the seven cities were united in a common bond of -understanding and continued progress.</p> - -<p>Even the original object of his voyage, the obtaining of Roxite, was -consummated. One morning, accompanied by many of the nation's leading -scientists, he strode to his star-ship, patted it affectionately and -then withdrew the great atom blaster. A few minutes of calculating with -the Roxitometer and he located the exact position of the deposit of -Roxite.</p> - -<p>The little people watched in awe as he held the powerful blast firmly -in his two capable hands and guided its probings down into the bowels -of the planet. After many hours of prodigious labor he had drawn enough -Roxite from the cavity to sustain him comfortably for the rest of his -natural life back on Earth.</p> - -<p>He thought often of Earth now. For though this planet was very -beautiful, a peculiar sort of a homesickness plagued him, and he longed -more and more to return and view again the world of his birth.</p> - -<p>He was strolling through one of the gorgeous forest paths with Trajores -one day when the urge to confide in her finally beat down his barrier -of timidity. He stopped her with a touch of his hand and told her.</p> - -<p>"I have been very happy here with your people."</p> - -<p>"I am so glad," she replied mentally.</p> - -<p>That made what he wanted to say extremely difficult. His throat -suddenly congested, though he knew that it was only a nervous muscular -reaction.</p> - -<p>"Trajores," he said, gruffly, sadly, "I've been thinking of returning -to my own planet, Earth. I have enough Roxite to insure a reasonable -status of existence. I wish I might stay longer...."</p> - -<p>Trajores stood immobile. She seemed to be thinking. Strangely enough -a queer battle of emotions mirrored itself in her delicate features. -Drawers felt vaguely uncomfortable alone with her. He wondered where -Persum had wandered to. He had started out, as usual, with them, but -somehow had drifted away, leaving him alone with Trajores.</p> - -<p>"Michel Drawers," came an urgent thought.</p> - -<p>Drawers riveted his attention upon the radiant woman.</p> - -<p>"I wish you would stay here with me always. I know you would be very -happy. I, I," two great golden tears rolled down her well-molded -cheeks, and impulsively she flung herself into his big arms, and for -the first time since his arrival he heard one of these little people -give vent to a sound. It was a sob—and it came from Trajores.</p> - -<p>Drawers stood puzzled. Instinctively he scratched his rough skull.</p> - -<p>"Why. Why?" seemed all he could say.</p> - -<p>"Why, you fool," came a probing voice, "don't you realize she loves -you!"</p> - -<p>Persum was standing a few feet away, his features rigid in stern -sincerity.</p> - -<p>"Love, me? Me, Michel Drawers? Why, I am not handsome. I am ugly. I am -not beautiful like your race. I am big and rough and hairy. How can she -love a man like me? I could not even communicate by mental telepathy -before I came here. I am just a man from another civilization, away -because there was no place for me. How can she love me?"</p> - -<p>There was mute appeal in Drawers' voice. He didn't know that he was -crying like a child. He didn't know that he had unconsciously fallen -to his knees. He didn't know anything except that Persum had said that -this beautiful, adorable, heavenly little creature loved him. Him, -Michel Drawers, a big, clumsy oaf, without even a proper knowledge of -manners or psychology.</p> - -<p>And as from the distance—clear as a bell—lovely as the strummings of -a harpsichord it came to him.</p> - -<p>"Michel Drawers, I love you for what you are. For your innate goodness -of soul. For your humble deserving modesty. For your mighty strength. -I love you for your bigness, for your naturalness and for something -else—some indefinable spark that has made our lives as one, that has -caused you to search me out across the inconceivable immensity of a -thousand universes. That is all I know, and one other thing. I can -never leave you. If you go, I go with you."</p> - -<p>If you can imagine the emotions of a man unjustly sentenced and finally -released from prison after six years of hell; if you can imagine what -it would mean to have each of your faults become instead an additional -virtue. If you can imagine the joy of having all of your fondest dreams -come true—then, and only then, may you comprehend for one fleeting -instant, the pounding chaos, the indescribable joy, the interminable -relief that permeated Michel Drawers' being at that moment.</p> - -<p>Those two hairy arms that had pounded the most savage and horrible -beasts this world had ever known into bleeding pulp slipped tenderly, -reverently about the exquisite form of Trajores. And as Persum slipped -discreetly away, lips closed upon lips in the manner of lovers -immemorial. And the gods of fate laughed at the importance two nothings -in the mighty scheme of things attached to an equally undefinable -nothing called love.</p> - -<p>Now Michel Drawers lived in perpetual delirium. A delirium of -unreasoning delight. He readied his "Star-Struck" for a voyage into -space and a renewal of his search to find the way back—the way back -with everything worthwhile to take with him.</p> - -<p>And he barely acknowledged the farewells of a fine people, so intense -was his desire to leave.</p> - -<p>There was a sort of solemn rigidity in their farewell attitude. A -brooding, soft, strange sorrow, and they seemed to wonder, too, to wish -as well, thoughts they dared not express. To see their great dream for -the reuniting of the cities come crashing down; to view their momentary -gains as a hollow mockery in the years to come.</p> - -<p>All this Michel Drawers did not notice. He waved one big arm and with -the other pulled back the starting lever. His great frame pressed back -in agony at the terrible acceleration of the takeoff. And then he was -free—free again of binding gravitation; free to search the space-ways -with the woman he loved beside him; free to return to a world that had -discarded him, to be again a respected citizen.</p> - -<p>And then he saw Trajores, her lovely form inert, a trickle of golden -blood issuing from her mouth, and he was overcome with remorse at his -own thoughtlessness. With fear and trepidation he raised her head and -pressed a vial of revivifying liquid to her lips. She sighed softly and -mustered a feeble smile.</p> - -<p>"It is all right," she appeared to murmur. "Go on."</p> - -<p>Michel Drawers stepped back to the controls. There was an air of -resolute determination about him. His enormous fingers manipulated the -proper switches with unbelievable skill and speed. The petite little -"Star-Struck" swerved on her course and turned in a semicircle that -encompassed millions of miles.</p> - -<p>Michel Drawers' mind was comprehending things he had never fully -realized before. Trajores must never be taken to Earth. She must be -returned to her own world with its kinder gravitation and its lovable -golden people. To take her to Earth would be to doom her to a life of -indescribable suffering.</p> - -<p>And, too, what would he be on Earth? They would grant him permission -to marry, to settle down and live his life a useless cog in society, -simply because he had been fortunate enough to return with a large -supply of the precious Roxite, not because of what he, himself, was or -had been.</p> - -<p>But with the golden people he was not simply a useless hulk of a man. -He was Michel Drawers, the man who had introduced the most startling -innovations the golden people had known in thousands of years! A man -who could hold his head high and look another person squarely in the -face. The only man who might rid the planet of the dread Griffs and -restore a beleaguered people to their rightful heritage.</p> - -<p>Back in the golden city of Saeve no thought of his mental inferiority -was entertained. All treated him with respect. It was a world where for -the first time in his life he had found some measure of happiness, and -possibly there might also be contentment.</p> - -<p>The shimmering world began to take form beneath them.</p> - -<p>Trajores moved and thought, "Michel, that is not the way back."</p> - -<p>And Michel Drawers smiled within himself and answered joyously.</p> - -<p>"Yes, Trajores, that <i>is</i> the way back—the only way for you and me."</p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WAY BACK ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -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. 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