NormalizeHEADmain

9 files changed, 17 insertions, 2425 deletions

diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d7b82bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitattributes
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+*.txt text eol=lf
+*.htm text eol=lf
+*.html text eol=lf
+*.md text eol=lf
diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6312041
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements,
+metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be
+in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.
+
+Procedures for determining public domain status are described in
+the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org.
+
+No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in
+jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize
+this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright
+status under the laws that apply to them.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..43278af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+eBook #64874 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/64874)
diff --git a/old/64874-0.txt b/old/64874-0.txt
deleted file mode 100644
index 453e106..0000000
--- a/old/64874-0.txt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,1119 +0,0 @@
-The Project Gutenberg eBook of Space Blackout, by Sam Carson
-
-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: Space Blackout
-
-Author: Sam Carson
-
-Release Date: March 20, 2021 [eBook #64874]
-
-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 SPACE BLACKOUT ***
-
-
-
-
-                            SPACE BLACKOUT
-
-                             by SAM CARSON
-
-           [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
-                             Comet May 41.
-         Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
-         the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
-
-
-I've seen a world die, and with it men who chose to remain and face the
-end because of love.
-
-Love of their homes and the soil beneath them and the life they had
-achieved. It's a story I believe Earthmen could ponder, and benefit
-from. For we are the youngest of terrestrial civilizations within the
-space orbit the Martians have shown us.
-
-I'm Jerry Kos, master navigator, twenty-seven and entitled to three
-stripes on my jacket to prove I've completed that many six months
-voyages with the Cosmic Survey. I'm a specialist, holder of the solo
-record from Moon to Earth made in 2437, and enjoy spending all my leave
-in the government preserves, camping in the raw, hiking, fishing,
-anything I can do by hand, so to speak. Otherwise I'm one of some
-fifty thousand young officers of the Commonwealth whose job is cut out
-for him. And I like it.
-
-It was Jim Drake, skipper of the Pelios, Cosmic Survey ship, who
-persuaded me to take my leave on Mars, as a guest of Shadrak. Shadrak
-is one of our advisers, guardian of the Great Waterway, and a big
-shot among the hundred thousand odd Martians who rule their planet by
-robot control. The Martians watched us develop thousands of years, and
-let us go because they're peaceful, and like our energy, till Gregor,
-the Tartar dictator came along and messed up the world. Then Shadrak,
-and a half dozen others roused themselves, crossed the void to Earth
-and liquidated a wad of would be exponents of force. That put the
-United States on top with its ideals of democracy, and the Martians
-reorganized our form of living, gave us advanced tools, knowledge and
-created a technocracy. The Martians sit back, live well and give us
-ideas. We do the same for them and everybody's happy. They know how to
-contact all forms of life in the solar system, from Mercury to Neptune,
-and now, as you know, Earth is a beehive of industry.
-
-Jim Drake's a thoughtful chap, quiet but a whip. Since he was a kid
-Shadrak has liked him. After a few days of fishing, boating, and
-general recreation, Shadrak called us in to his domed estate.
-
-First he showed us his planetarium, and a dark nebula in beyond Orion,
-he calls the Noir, speaking with the throat disk because Martians can't
-manage our tongue otherwise. That dark, he had just explained, was a
-thousand light years beyond the nearer Orion cluster.
-
-"Behind it," he added, "is a solar system, a sun with six planets.
-The third planet is Spor, of the same albedo as Earth, and identical
-atmosphere. I know, for my grandfather visited it, and he chose it as a
-suitable refuge for ten thousand of your Earthmen."
-
-I had to break in on that. Jim nudged me, but Shadrak smiled. "Small
-wonder you're surprised," he commented. "On Earth you have a legend,
-of the lost Atlantis. There was a general submerging of continents.
-Millions perished. And we were so moved on Mars that we sent our space
-ships. It was one of our few real invasions. Till we visited Gregor, we
-hadn't returned. But that time we removed ten thousand, products of an
-advanced civilization.
-
-"We moved those ten thousand to Spor." Jim whistled. "Even that long
-ago you traveled ahead of light. I mean, with greater speed."
-
-Shadrak nodded. "You two are Earthmen we trust. We keep many secrets
-because it is best. But in this case--" he paused, "I want you, Jerry
-Kos and Jim Drake, to journey to Spor."
-
-"But it would take years," I put in. "Maybe longer."
-
-"Twenty two days and six hours, with the new ship just delivered,"
-Shadrak corrected. "It has a capacity of one thousand. If you return
-with a full load, we shall send more ships to Spor."
-
-Jim looked bewildered. "Maybe it's too much," he said, "but such a
-speed is incredible."
-
-"There is no limit to speed," Shadrak told us. "The problem is of
-acceleration, and deceleration. You have that problem in handling the
-Pelios, which rides energy beams at the speed of light. Frequencies,
-whether of sound or light, as instances, are constant. Therefore we
-employ this fact in accelerating. We superimpose frequencies against
-frequencies, repelling power, one from the other. The result is a
-constant, increasing ratio. In effect, Jim--and you, Jerry--will grasp
-it much easier in this manner. If you had a machine throwing a jet
-of water, and it touched an opposing jet of water, your propulsion
-would build up till the limits of the energy from the opposing jets
-were reached. Suppose those jets continued to reach out. As light
-frequencies, till you built up your maximum. In a vacuum your speed
-would continue at that maximum velocity till you chose to decelerate.
-Now deceleration is effected by the same principle. We do it by
-hitching to our sun and reaching the maximum in building up speed. In
-like manner, another sun can be used to decelerate, by reversing the
-process.
-
-"But enough of that," Shadrak resumed. "Your ship will be robot
-controlled. Our own master navigator will get telescreened charts of
-your course. Your job will begin when you land, I fear. The planet of
-Spor enters the Noir within eighteen months, and a sudden reaction in
-that hundred thousand light year wide mass could reduce the engulfing
-to eighteen weeks."
-
-"What does this Noir mean, swallowing up Spor?" I fired that shot. And
-it was Jim who answered.
-
-"Noir's the light absorbing element nobody has lived to analyze. We
-know it absorbs all organic life as it does light, electricity, even
-sound. It's the black scourge of space."
-
-"And we're going to play around it, eh? To bring back the descendants
-of the lost Atlantis. And where do they go, providing we take 'em off?"
-
-Shadrak waved a hand vaguely over the horizon. "Here, till we find a
-planet suitable. You see, we're responsible. We moved them to Spor. Now
-it's our duty to remove them again."
-
-Jim spoke. "We're ready, whenever you are sir."
-
-       *       *       *       *       *
-
-Now a lot happened before we curved around the sinister prong of the
-Noir, the Milky Way lost behind, even Orion and his companions. We had
-ceased marveling at the repellor motors, operated within compact cases
-by the efficient robot machines. And I must put in a word for the way
-they lifted our big ship from Mars. You don't use rockets any more.
-They catapult you, shooting you ten thousand miles outward with rocket
-tubes sunk into the ground. You use inverted, concave affairs to catch
-the power. And too, we had our first acquaintance with the auxiliary
-repellors used inside the ship to offset inertia. This gave us the same
-gravity as Earth. And Shadrak called at regular periods on the relief
-screen, the new device that gives solidity to an image. He told us a
-lot about the transplanted sons and daughters of ancient Atlantis, and
-we had the mentameters to make immediate contact with their language
-and knowledge. Shadrak had thought of everything.
-
-The solar system which Shadrak called Maj, crawled around the crescent
-of Noir, and we sighted the third planet, giving a ruddy glow. That
-gave us a kick, but I felt a shiver as I watched that ebon horn
-blotting out the sky, reaching hungrily toward Maj. Jim said the
-movement of Noir had been constant at 110 kilometers a second, but
-that the speed was building up. He called for a robot check on the tip
-of Noir and Spor. After careful study, Jim flashed the telescreen for
-Shadrak. "Noir tip at 60 plus 382," he reported.
-
-Shadrak looked grave. "That gives you no more than four months," he
-said. "If the movement accelerates, it will be quite earlier. After you
-land, arrange for periodical checks."
-
-It was time now to begin deceleration. We fixed on the sun of Maj. At
-first we couldn't feel a change. It was ten hours before the planets
-slowed down, and we curved to meet the pull of Maj. Two days elapsed by
-our chronometers before we entered the gravity pull of Spor and began
-our spiral descent, much as we would had it been the smaller Pelios.
-Our electroscopes found a city, towers and walls gilded by a rising
-sun. I worked out the course for Jim and we picked a plain nearby. We
-settled on a regular nest of repellor beams, to find an army gathered
-without, an army of men and women and children, not at all frightened
-and apparently not hostile.
-
-"Look," Jim cried. "They look like the museum pictures of 2000. The
-same kind of cars, and streets."
-
-It was true. We checked on the atmosphere readings, found the
-temperature 76 fahrenheit, a mild spring day. We opened the locks and
-stepped out on the soil of Spor, Jim lugging the portable mentameter.
-I heard a buzzing sound. An airplane, of ancient vintage, judging by
-the museum films, circled overhead. Men in field gray, wearing leather
-leggings and caps, rode up on noisy, two wheeled machines.
-
-"The Twentieth Century comes to life," Jim muttered. "It's like a
-dream."
-
-A man with slightly gray hair stepped from one of the cars, approached
-us, flanked by the guards. He spoke, but the words were unintelligible.
-Jim smiled, pointed skyward and to the ship. The greeter nodded as
-if he understood. Then Jim put down the mentameter pack, adjusted
-earphones and the clamp about his temples. He gestured for the other to
-do likewise.
-
-       *       *       *       *       *
-
-Someone protested, and there was an argument, while we waited. Then the
-gray haired man spoke with curtness, and the guards fell back. Smiling,
-the Spor dweller put on the mentameter receiver. Jim began speaking
-slowly. "I am Jim Drake, of Earth, from which your ancestors were
-removed from Atlantis by Martians. We were sent here by other Martians."
-
-The Spor governor, for that was what we learned he was, shouted to the
-throng. He spoke excitedly and people began to cheer, to gather more
-closely. Then he spoke to Jim. By then I had on the spare receiver.
-
-"You are fulfilling a legend," the governor said. "From our early days
-the writings of our forefathers foretold the day when Earthmen would
-come from beyond the dark spaces. I, Tarquin of Spor and governor of
-the city of Osmand, welcome you. And if you will pardon my curiosity,
-what manner of machine is this, to interpret our thoughts?"
-
-"Brother," I cut in, "it's as mysterious to me as it must be to you.
-The Martians perfected it and hold the secret."
-
-"You think and talk like one of us," the governor chuckled. "Our
-astronomers sighted you yesterday and they predicted a landing at
-Osmand. So we are not exactly surprised."
-
-We wound up with posting a guard about the ship and riding into the
-city with Tarquin. A radio in the car reported our progress, the
-announcer manifestly excited. We found thousands on streets and
-sidewalks and crowding office windows. Above all, we had the feeling
-we were among Earthmen, and yet it wasn't our technocratic manner of
-life either. There was nothing orderly. And I felt that I liked this
-way of living. I was in the same state of mind a week later, when Jim
-and I had already learned enough about the language of Spor to talk,
-and we'd been cramming on their history from the time the Martians left
-off so many centuries before. At Shadrak's suggestion, we'd kept quiet
-on our real mission. We found ourselves popular in Osmand as the days
-grew on, and we were guests of Governor Tarquin, on a swell estate
-bordering a small river. And then, as thousands lined the river for
-a water carnival, Tarquin told us all was not well on Spor. We were
-on a terrace and it reminded me somehow of Shadrak's place, without
-the dome, or eternal robots. "Take this city," he exclaimed. "We are
-a democracy, at peace with the world. But across the sea, in Plevia,
-there is a colony gathering strength, headed by Garok, a troublemaker
-we exiled ten years ago from Osmand."
-
-"Why not take your planes, fly over and clean him out before he's
-strong enough to fight you?" I asked.
-
-Tarquin gazed at me, and he looked bewildered. "Osmand makes no war.
-We have our civil officers, but our army is small. We of Osmand, and
-of the other city states on this continent have lived in accord two
-thousand years without fighting. Garok will not invade us. But he does
-harbor criminals, and thereby makes trouble."
-
-       *       *       *       *       *
-
-And that was that. War was simply out of mind. And why not. If ever
-there was a placid countryside, which we toured in the next two weeks,
-it was the continent upon which Osmand was built. There were farms,
-small factories, everywhere homes with large grounds, and men, women
-and children employed. Everybody greeted you with a smile, it seemed,
-and there was much singing. It got Jim like it did me, and I remember
-what a jerk Shadrak pulled us up with, when checking with him from
-the ship after a tour of the continent to the other cities--Nostran,
-Tula and Polis. Shadrak told us the invading horn of Noir had indeed
-accelerated its spread toward the system of Maj and would engulf it
-within no less than eight weeks.
-
-Tarquin accepted our report from Shadrak, for in the legend that
-Earthmen would come, was a prophecy of destruction to Spor. "Yes," he
-said slowly, pacing his terrace, his family engaged in sports below,
-"we have been watching the dark cloud you call Noir. Our astronomers
-are uncertain of the result."
-
-"We're not," Jim said. "Noir will blast every vestige of life from
-Spor. The Martians know. They offer refuge on their planet, till you
-find another Spor. We can remove the first thousand. The Martians will
-send other ships, if you agree."
-
-"If we agree." Tarquin stood beside the terrace parapet, with the
-skyline of Osmand gilded in a low sun. A shaft of light struck
-a passenger plane bound for a landing field. Cries of children,
-picnicking across the river in a park, drifted to us. Tarquin twisted
-a bit of paper into a wad, tossed it to the lawn. Then he turned to
-Jim. "I'll radio the other governors," he said. "We must place this
-information before them all, and let the people vote."
-
-"Elections," Jim cried. "That will take weeks. We've got to act now.
-Shadrak says the dark nebula has tripled its speed toward Maj in the
-last seven days."
-
-"Yes," Tarquin agreed simply. "That has been noted too, from our
-observatory. Last night two stars were blotted out. I'm sorry, my
-friends, if we delay. But that is the way to act. Now, if you'll pardon
-me, I'll invite the governors for a conference."
-
-To our surprise Tarquin summoned Garok with the others. He was unlike
-the others, a spare, square jawed man no older than Jim Drake, eyes
-tending to the shifty side and with the gift of an orator. He could
-hardly wait till Tarquin delivered his talk of our mission. I could see
-the other governors refused to be stirred as Tarquin. One, Dalin, a
-fat, amiable chap, laughed. "Nonsense," he exclaimed. "I'll grant you
-these young men may have come from Earth as they come, but they could
-be putting over a giant hoax," he added shrewdly.
-
-"But the astronomers sighted them five thousand miles away," Tarquin
-interrupted impatiently. "These men have instruments beyond our
-knowledge."
-
-"Probably stolen," Garok spoke for the first time. His manner was
-swaggering, contemptuous. "For all we know they're adventurers from
-another planet. And if not, why must we meet to be told fairy tales.
-What of a dark cloud? Going to destroy Spor! Bah. A story to frighten
-children with. Is this what you brought us here to discuss?" This to
-Tarquin.
-
-The governor of Osmand flushed. I saw Jim's fists clench, but he
-remained silent. "We're not here to give opinions, when we don't know
-what we're talking about," he snapped. "All our astronomers agree the
-dark nebula is sweeping in like a tidal wave. These men journeyed
-into our solar system to warn us. I believe them. The question is, do
-the people of Spor want to believe, and act. That is the question. I
-propose a referendum, the subject explained over our radio nets, to be
-held one week from today."
-
-"That date may be too late," Jim warned. "I suggest--"
-
-"Bah," Garok cut in. "You want a panic, so that you can loot us."
-
-That was when Jim sprang to his feet and struck Garok. The leader of
-Plevia went down. But he was up and charging like a mad bull a moment
-later.
-
-Tarquin cried out and guards rushed in, separating the men. And now the
-governor of Osmand frowned at Jim. "You struck first," he said gravely.
-"You struck a guest of mine."
-
-"I'm sorry," Jim told him. "But it was in desperation, because I
-realize the danger to you. Governor, we must act more quickly. We must."
-
-Tarquin nodded. "So be it. As senior governor of the continental
-cities, I set aside the third day from now, and each governor shall
-join our radio net, so that the people may hear, and vote as they
-choose."
-
-"You fools," Garok snarled. His right eye was discolored and he glared
-at Jim. "I demand this man, to be punished for striking Garok."
-
-"He is in my custody," Tarquin replied calmly. "For striking a guest of
-mine, he must be punished."
-
-Garok swept the room. I noticed the fat governor, Dalin, cringed. "I
-choose to do my own punishing," he snapped and walked from the room.
-Dalin glanced about at the silent group. "Your guest will cause us
-untold trouble," he said. "I saw it in Garok's eyes. He is seeking a
-cause to do damage to us, and you've permitted that cause tonight."
-
-"If I did, I take the responsibility, Dalin. Do you other gentlemen
-agree to put the question before your people and permit the
-referendum?"
-
-       *       *       *       *       *
-
-In the end they agreed, although it was plain they were more concerned
-over Garok than the threat of Noir's black flood. And I had a hunch
-Garok had placed doubt in their minds about us. We persuaded Tarquin to
-attend our conference with Shadrak. And to our surprise, Shadrak, from
-the relief screen, spoke to Tarquin in the latter's tongue. Tarquin
-left our ship a man who looked years older. "I must act, at once,"
-he told us with a sigh. "Why didn't I have our meeting aboard your
-ship where they too could have heard, and seen the Martian? It was my
-mistake."
-
-"You're starting at once?" Jim asked.
-
-Tarquin nodded. "But I'm afraid--afraid there are few who would leave
-Osmand, or any of the other continental states.
-
-"Look about you," he continued. "Here is contentment, peace, a form of
-collective security for all. Outside of Garok there is no discontent.
-We love Osmand, as the others do their cities."
-
-"Shadrak called this a Utopia," Jim observed thoughtfully. "I
-understand. But we must get the message over, Governor. And quickly."
-
-I remember how we stood by while Tarquin started at daylight, over
-the radio net, explaining it all, and the news agencies were waking
-up. Crowds gathered on streets. People stared at us, some without
-enthusiasm, and we weren't surprised when Tarquin assigned us guards.
-We were getting blamed for the scare, it appeared. By night we were
-directed to return to Tarquin's home. Garok, it seemed, was taking
-to the radio, making charges, promising to capture and punish us for
-trying to create a panic on Spor. Overnight crowds formed outside the
-grounds of the governor's home. A large detachment had to guard our
-ship, and we made arrangements to return to it. And during these three
-days the grim, dark threat of Noir came on, invincible, inevitable,
-overspreading one third of the firmament, blotting out star after
-star. Shadrak offered no advice, strangely enough. But he kept us
-apprised of reports from Martian astronomers. And then, as citizens
-of the city states poured out to vote on the question Tarquin had put
-before them, Garok struck.
-
-He came with wave after wave of planes, and he dropped bomb after bomb
-of outlawed explosives, not for destruction, but to send the city into
-a panic. Too late Jim and I realized we had been a blessing to Garok.
-In upsetting the placid lives of the city states, we had furnished
-motive and opportunity to strike. It wasn't an invasion such as they
-used to have on Earth. But it was onesided, Tarquin's police force
-pitifully inadequate. And so as the planes landed, disgorging squads
-of men, armed with peculiar flame throwers, Osmand was taken and the
-referendum forgotten.
-
-       *       *       *       *       *
-
-In our refuge, with no arms save our ray guns, Jim and I looked
-helplessly on. So far we had been unmolested. I thought of the
-little single seater planes used as Earth patrols, and the blasting
-charge in the nose, reserved for emergencies. Jim was pacing the
-control room like a caged tiger. Shadrak was away from his post and
-we had transcribed our report of Garok's coming, for his screen. Now
-he signaled us, somewhat excitedly. Evidently he hadn't seen the
-transcription, for he spoke rapidly. "You have ten hours left," he
-cried, "before the Noir invades Maj. Ten more hours and you cannot
-leave Spor. Act at once." Jim reported in crisp accents of events.
-Shadrak swore in fluent Martian. Then he told us to open an emergency
-locker. At once robot trucks wheeled out a dandy two seater patrol car,
-with 20 millimeter ray guns for armament. "Destroy Garok's force where
-necessary," Shadrak ordered. "That completed, proceed at once with
-loading. Remove Tarquin's family first. He must be saved at all cost."
-
-We broke out the rear exit as a two motored plane dived at our space
-ship. Jim nosed our patrol car upward. I was at the ray gun controls.
-We blew the plane out of the sky. Then we went upstairs. Garok had a
-fleet of planes he surely must have taken over from transport lines.
-There were different markings on them. Anyway, we knocked down planes,
-plenty of them. But scores had landed, with soldiers scattering, to
-take over objectives. We went down, blasted groups right and left. On
-the landing field we could see police rallying. I worked the ray guns
-on ground and sky alike during the next twenty minutes, and Garok's
-invaders surviving turned tail, abandoning their comrades already
-landed.
-
-[Illustration: _We went down blasting ... right and left...._]
-
-Tarquin was in command as his guards rounded up sullen, but defeated
-groups of Garok's men. Sirens were wailing, and we counted a dozen big
-fires raging. "Thanks," he acknowledged, nodding at our patrol car.
-"Garok is attacking the other cities. They've all asked for help."
-
-"We'll take his planes," Jim promised. "But you've got to hurry,
-Governor. Shadrak says it's a matter of hours."
-
-Tarquin seemed not to hear Jim. He stared toward the great fires.
-"Destruction," he muttered. "The hell of war turned loose after all
-these centuries."
-
-Mobs had poured onto the field. Guards battled with them. The foremost
-tried to reach the captured invaders, yelling curses at them. Others
-continued toward us. I saw Tarquin stiffen. He ordered a ring of guards
-about us. "But why?" Jim demanded.
-
-"They blame you," Tarquin said bitterly. "For stirring up trouble. In
-fact, they're demanding your lives as forfeit."
-
-"But can't they understand?" Jim cried. "Hasn't it been made plain
-enough? You talked with them, explained our coming--"
-
-       *       *       *       *       *
-
-Tarquin waved a hand toward the angry men and women. Some had
-stones, bricks and these they were hurling our way. "You can see
-for yourselves," he told us. "Dalin went on the air and blamed you,
-opposing our referendum. Said it was idiotic, that departure from Spor
-was unthinkable. He argued that his scientists promised the dark gas
-would not enter our atmosphere and would be dissipated, permitting
-sunlight to enter. My own people of Osmand were in doubt, even before
-Garok came. Now--well, they think only of this destruction, and the
-factors they blame, including you two."
-
-"We're going to tackle Garok's other fleets," Jim said briefly.
-"Meanwhile, we're expecting you to report our act, and to plead with
-the people of Osmand to come with us, as many as we can take. We'll be
-back, in a few hours."
-
-We collided with Garok's air fleet above Dalin's city, while it was at
-the height of its raid. It took us exactly eighteen minutes to clean
-the air, leaving destroyed planes blazing on all sides. Then we went
-on. But we were to get a stiff shock. Garok's sky fleet had vanished
-elsewhere.
-
-"Okay," Jim decided, after we had cruised the coast line, "we'd better
-get back to Osmand. If Garok's fled, our mission is completed."
-
-We withheld reporting through to Shadrak. The sky was unusually black
-tonight. Overhead, there were no stars. We raised the flames in Osmand
-some fifty miles out. Jim let out an angry yell. "Garok's attacking
-again," he cried. "Those are new fires."
-
-Rockets wide open we raced down toward Osmand. There were new fires.
-Jim circled toward the plain where our ship was located. We saw a cone
-of flame leap out of the thick night. Garok was bombing the space ship.
-
-We tore at the invaders like mad swordfish. We knocked them apart, then
-went in for a landing. One bomb had landed within twenty feet of the
-ship. We got out of the patrol car, sprinted for the big ship. Jim used
-a torch, assured himself the craft was undamaged. And when we went
-inside, Garok himself was the bird who climbed into our patrol car.
-
-Pistol bullets cut by our ears as both of us tried to rectify that
-damage. Garok didn't know beans about a rocket car. But a dumb,
-conceited punk like him could wreck it, so we ignored the soldiers
-who'd climbed out of Garok's plane after that noiseless glide of his
-and raced for the patrol car.
-
-Garok yelled something at us and accidentally touched off the ray guns.
-His own plane literally went into gas, and his men went down, or turned
-into more gas. Then the patrol car streaked skyward, bowling us over.
-Twin tongues of angry flame marked his course, higher--higher, blast
-wide open. "The fool," Jim cried. "He'll burn the car up, if he gains
-any more altitude. The thin atmosphere will fix him--"
-
-"Maybe he didn't start it on purpose, and can't do anything about it,"
-I suggested. Jim's face was visible in the glow of the fires. "Maybe
-you're right," he agreed. And as if in confirmation, there was a dull
-red blob high above. The blob widened, sent out a shower of sparks and
-vanished. "And that," Jim commented, "is the last of Garok."
-
-Evidently Garok's wild scheme to take patrol car and then perhaps our
-space ship, was with his last survivors, for we heard no more planes.
-A police car arrived. Tarquin had sent them. "The governor advises you
-to leave Osmand at once," was the officer's message. "Anger is growing
-against you two."
-
-"Okay by me," I said. "We clean up a mess for you and get the rap. You
-don't believe us, so what? We'd better save our own skins."
-
-"I'm going to make one last appeal to Tarquin," Jim announced. "It's
-our duty. You stay here with the ship."
-
-"Listen you," I sounded off, "if you go back into Osmand, I go with
-you. But how?"
-
-"In the police car." To the surprised officer Jim said: "If Governor
-Tarquin guarantees no hope to remove anyone, we'll leave. But first, I
-bear him a final message. Will you take us?"
-
-"I'll take you," the officer said. "But it is foolish. We've got to
-take the chance, here on Spor. It's our world, the one we love. Because
-you destroyed Garok's men, we'll give you safe conduct."
-
-       *       *       *       *       *
-
-They bore us through darkened side streets. By radio we heard the
-damage, and of thousands massed in downtown parks, listening to
-speakers who demanded our punishment along with the captured invaders.
-Tarquin was in his office and had just completed orders to give our
-ship full protection. His eyes were sunken. Jim went to the point at
-once. "Governor Tarquin, the Martian Shadrak asked us to remove you and
-your family, by all means. We must clear Spor by day-break. Or before
-noon. Couldn't you persuade others--people of Osmand you want to save,
-to go to the ship. If it's a mistake and Noir doesn't wipe everything
-out, we can return. You know that. It's not taking a chance. Please,
-we're offering life--to all Spor--through you and a thousand others of
-Osmand."
-
-Tarquin led us to a wide window. There was light below, and we saw a
-triangular space packed with thousands. Loud speakers were blasting and
-we could see a tiny figure on a platform.
-
-"I tell you the forces of evil envy our world of Spor and seek to
-destroy us," the speaker shouted. "What influenced Garok to erupt from
-Plevia and attempt to enslave us? I'll answer that question. The men
-who came out of the sky with the wild story the end of our universe
-is at hand. Bah. Nature sends a dark cloud of gas nearer, and we're
-expected to fly into a panic. Our own governor lost his sanity for
-that unlikely yarn.
-
-"I tell you, citizens of Osmand, we have made a civilization of such
-prosperity and contentment that word has reached other planets of this
-solar system. They sent messengers in disguise, to throw us into panic.
-In the future let us arm, and repel any such future invasion as Garok
-gave us. Let us punish by death any who come among us and seek to
-undermine us by fantastic stories. Men and women of Osmand, we shall
-never be frightened out of Osmand, and most certainly not to desert
-Spor...."
-
-"You see," Tarquin spoke presently, with sadness in his voice. "My
-family is down there. They consider me mad, to entertain any belief in
-what you say."
-
-"But it is true," Jim cried. "It is true. They must be convinced. Spor
-is doomed, in hours. I tell you I am speaking the truth. And surely you
-will go with us. You believe us, don't you?"
-
-"I believe you, Jim Drake. I know Shadrak, and his fellow Martians feel
-their responsibility. They saved us once, when they believed Earth was
-doomed entirely. It wasn't. And the Martians could be wrong again," he
-added hopefully.
-
-An hour later we were taken by police back to our guarded ship. So
-many were on duty that the crowds had drifted back to Osmand. Fires
-were out now, and only the street lights were visible. Osmand, to all
-outward appearances, was peacefully going to bed. Shadrak, summoned at
-our call, came to the telescreen. "I was afraid," he said after Jim
-reported. "You have done your best. You have my permission to depart
-Spor immediately. The Noir is within twelve hours of Maj."
-
-"Let's go," I cried. Maybe Tarquin and the others had some hope, but I
-was ready to go. Jim's next words sent cold chills down my spine. "May
-we stay, till sunrise sir. We should have at least four hours after the
-sun of Maj is blotted out, before Spor is reached. Maybe, after they
-see the sun eclipsed, some will come to us."
-
-"There is a chance," Shadrak conceded. "But do not delay. If none come,
-be prepared to take the course already transcribed on the robot screen."
-
-It was midnight. I noted the absence of all stars ahead of Jim. "It's
-spreading," I told him. All at once I felt chilled. It was like a
-thick, cloudy night on Earth, only more eerie. Like being in a cave.
-The darkness seemed to bear down on the lights of Osmand and make them
-dimmer. Neither of us slept. We couldn't. We worked on our course
-plot, inspected the entire hull and paced every deck till the hour for
-daylight.
-
-       *       *       *       *       *
-
-Only, there was no daylight. The chronometers aboard the ship checked
-Martian time, which we still kept. And yet Osmand's lights glowed,
-and the rest of Spor was in the darkness of a grotto. Then the city's
-lights went out.
-
-We went outside, staring, conscious of abrupt coldness. Suddenly there
-were sirens screaming, then bells. All at once the lights flashed back
-on again. "The sun--the sun of Maj," Jim exclaimed, "it's blotted out.
-Forever, maybe."
-
-Panic gripped me. "Let's scram," I told him. Jim shook his head. He
-ran into the ship, switched on all lights. The landing lights put the
-entire plain in a warm glow. Jim said the people could see us. So we
-waited.
-
-Lights of a fast moving car sped along the highway from Osmand. It
-came on, to a quick stop. We saw Tarquin, and a group of men his age.
-"They're coming," I told Jim. "They've changed their minds."
-
-"Tell the others to hurry," Jim shouted, as he ran forward to meet
-them. "We haven't more than an hour. The Noir is racing toward Spor
-from the sun."
-
-Tarquin looked like a man already at the door of the beyond. He walked
-to us, slowly, head lifted. Then he stopped, and we saw he wore the
-robes of his office. So did the others. Slowly Tarquin spoke. "We are
-not going with you, Jim Drake."
-
-"Not going! But man, you know the end. It's death, in less than two
-hours. We're risking our own lives and we thought--"
-
-"None of my family wishes to leave Osmand," the governor said quietly.
-"Therefore, I have no desire to survive, without them."
-
-"But all of you can live, if you come with us."
-
-"You forget our neighbors, and our kinsmen." Tarquin pointed out
-gravely. "I think you do not understand.
-
-"Life, anywhere else has no attraction for the citizens of Spor. I know
-that now, plainly. The referendum would not have registered a thousand
-votes of those choosing to abandon the planet, had I sufficient time
-to explain, and Garok had not run amuck." Tarquin sighed. "There still
-is hope, that this black fog will be dissipated, as our scientists
-contend. If not--then it is farewell, men of our parent Earth."
-
-"What about going to Earth," Jim cried, suddenly inspired. "That would
-be different. We'll take you there."
-
-Tarquin turned and walked to the long, official car. The others
-followed, silent, like men sentenced and yet hopeful of reprieve. As he
-stood beside the door, Tarquin lifted a hand. But he spoke no more. The
-motor roared. Twin lights flashed on the turf....
-
-We stood there for minutes. I heard a dry sob. Maybe it was from Jim
-Drake's throat. Or again, maybe it was from my own. I don't know. We
-stood there, till the car's rear light merged with the glow of Osmand's
-illumination.
-
-Jim said, "we've got to start." As he spoke I saw a pup, a dirty, black
-and white pooch, tail working, trotting up. I scooped it up. Something
-from Spor was going to survive. Then I went to the ship.
-
-Shadrak's voice was imperative as he called us. "Leaving," Jim shouted
-into the transmitter.
-
-"Waste no time, not even seconds," Shadrak cried. "Hurry."
-
-The pup whimpered, snuggling against my shins as we lifted the empty
-ship.
-
-Because the robots had the course, I ran to the visual screen and
-looked down on Osmand. There were lights everywhere. A searchlight
-leaped after us.
-
-Somebody tapped my shoulder. Jim Drake had joined me. "Living now," he
-muttered. "See the pinpoints of light out there--the other cities. In a
-few minutes--"
-
-The words choked off. You see, we had no sun of Maj to fix our beams
-upon. We had a distance to go before we could let up on the reserve
-engines Shadrak had installed. We had to flee from Noir's engulfing
-crescent, and find another star to build up our incredible speed. Till
-then, we could only approximate the speed of light. "Look. Building
-after building is lighting up. They're going to their shops and their
-factories and offices. Just as if the sun were shining."
-
-       *       *       *       *       *
-
-We were gazing intently now. There was a clicking sound that told of
-Shadrak on the relief screen. He was taking our relay and the scene
-was visible to the Martian as well. Only he didn't speak. I think,
-in those last moments, we almost held our breaths, Jim and I a few
-thousand miles away already--or maybe a few hundred thousand--time had
-no bearing. It seemed an awfully long time. Then a dark finger rubbed
-out Osmand.
-
-One moment and we could see the moving lines of traffic, the glowing
-windows even. Then there just wasn't anything at all on the screen. Jim
-scanned for the other cities. But there was just darkness, impenetrable
-darkness. We did see a searchlight break through, a moving finger,
-raking through for a split second. Then it, too, vanished.
-
-From the relief Shadrak spoke. His voice was strangely gentle. "Look
-no more, Jim Drake and Jerry Kos. Turn back to your charts. Spor is
-gone. You did your best. We know that. It was not your fault. Look
-forward. Within thirty minutes you will find the first star to give you
-speed."
-
-It wasn't real, that flight from Maj, with Noir flowing beyond the
-sixth planet, its crescent outrider seeking new stars to black out, and
-leave dry, lifeless masses in a black universe. On schedule we picked
-up our star, and at sight of it we felt the first return of sanity. We
-sped back by Orion's family, and into a familiar bit of space, with
-Shadrak coming to the screen at intervals, and at other times sending
-us transcribed news events from Earth. And thus we crossed the sky,
-thrilled by the sight of Neptune, Saturn and his rings, and at last
-the disks of Mars and Earth, beneath our own sun, so free of the black
-menace. We made a routine landing, settling a short distance from
-Shadrak's place. He was there to welcome us, with other Martians. And
-Jim walked up to him slowly, holding the tiny, wriggling pup we had
-brought along. "The last survivor of Spor," he said. Martians dislike
-dogs, although they admire any member of the cat family. But Shadrak
-reached out, studied the tiny specimen from Spor. The pup licked his
-hand and Shadrak smiled. "Take him back to Earth," he said. "They will
-appreciate the animal, better than we." Shadrak tapped each of us in
-the Martian way of showing deep affection. "Never reproach yourselves,
-because you took a ship to Spor large enough to return a thousand
-persons, and returned with this poor animal.
-
-"I think," he added with a sigh, "we forget too often we are
-instruments of a divine power none of us, Earthmen or Martians, or any
-other world, can ever understand. It was granted us the privilege of
-rescuing men and women of Atlantis and removing them to Spor. It was
-denied us, the chance to save them a second time."
-
-*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SPACE BLACKOUT ***
-
-Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will
-be renamed.
-
-Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright
-law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works,
-so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the
-United States without permission and without paying copyright
-royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part
-of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project
-Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm
-concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark,
-and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following
-the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use
-of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for
-copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very
-easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation
-of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project
-Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may
-do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected
-by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark
-license, especially commercial redistribution.
-
-START: FULL LICENSE
-
-THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
-PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
-
-To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
-distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
-(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
-Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full
-Project Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at
-www.gutenberg.org/license.
-
-Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project
-Gutenberg-tm electronic works
-
-1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
-electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
-and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
-(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all
-the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or
-destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your
-possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a
-Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound
-by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the
-person or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph
-1.E.8.
-
-1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be
-used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
-agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few
-things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
-even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See
-paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project
-Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this
-agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm
-electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.
-
-1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the
-Foundation" or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection
-of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual
-works in the collection are in the public domain in the United
-States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the
-United States and you are located in the United States, we do not
-claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing,
-displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as
-all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope
-that you will support the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting
-free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm
-works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the
-Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with the work. You can easily
-comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the
-same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg-tm License when
-you share it without charge with others.
-
-1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
-what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are
-in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States,
-check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this
-agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing,
-distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any
-other Project Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no
-representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any
-country other than the United States.
-
-1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
-
-1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other
-immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear
-prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work
-on which the phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the
-phrase "Project Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed,
-performed, viewed, copied or distributed:
-
-  This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and
-  most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no
-  restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it
-  under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this
-  eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the
-  United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where
-  you are located before using this eBook.
-
-1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is
-derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not
-contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the
-copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in
-the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are
-redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase "Project
-Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply
-either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or
-obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg-tm
-trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
-
-1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
-with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
-must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any
-additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms
-will be linked to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works
-posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the
-beginning of this work.
-
-1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
-License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
-work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
-
-1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
-electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
-prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
-active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
-Gutenberg-tm License.
-
-1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
-compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including
-any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access
-to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format
-other than "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official
-version posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm website
-(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense
-to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means
-of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original "Plain
-Vanilla ASCII" or other form. Any alternate format must include the
-full Project Gutenberg-tm License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
-
-1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
-performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
-unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
-
-1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
-access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
-provided that:
-
-* You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
-  the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
-  you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed
-  to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he has
-  agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project
-  Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid
-  within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are
-  legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty
-  payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project
-  Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in
-  Section 4, "Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg
-  Literary Archive Foundation."
-
-* You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
-  you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
-  does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
-  License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all
-  copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue
-  all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg-tm
-  works.
-
-* You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of
-  any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
-  electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of
-  receipt of the work.
-
-* You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
-  distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
-
-1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project
-Gutenberg-tm electronic work or group of works on different terms than
-are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing
-from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of
-the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the Foundation as set
-forth in Section 3 below.
-
-1.F.
-
-1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
-effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
-works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project
-Gutenberg-tm collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm
-electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may
-contain "Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate
-or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other
-intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or
-other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or
-cannot be read by your equipment.
-
-1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
-of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
-Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
-Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
-Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
-liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
-fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
-LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
-PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
-TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
-LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
-INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
-DAMAGE.
-
-1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
-defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
-receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
-written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you
-received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium
-with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you
-with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in
-lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person
-or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second
-opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If
-the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing
-without further opportunities to fix the problem.
-
-1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
-in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO
-OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT
-LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
-
-1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
-warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of
-damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement
-violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the
-agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or
-limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or
-unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the
-remaining provisions.
-
-1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
-trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
-providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in
-accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the
-production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm
-electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses,
-including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of
-the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this
-or any Project Gutenberg-tm work, (b) alteration, modification, or
-additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any
-Defect you cause.
-
-Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
-
-Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
-electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of
-computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It
-exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations
-from people in all walks of life.
-
-Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
-assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
-goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
-remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project
-Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
-and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future
-generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary
-Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see
-Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at
-www.gutenberg.org
-
-Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary
-Archive Foundation
-
-The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit
-501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
-state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
-Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
-number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary
-Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by
-U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
-
-The Foundation's business office is located at 809 North 1500 West,
-Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up
-to date contact information can be found at the Foundation's website
-and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact
-
-Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
-Literary Archive Foundation
-
-Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without
-widespread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
-increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
-freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest
-array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations
-($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
-status with the IRS.
-
-The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
-charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
-States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
-considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
-with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations
-where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND
-DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular
-state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate
-
-While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
-have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
-against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
-approach us with offers to donate.
-
-International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
-any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
-outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
-
-Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation
-methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other
-ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To
-donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate
-
-Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
-
-Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project
-Gutenberg-tm concept of a library of electronic works that could be
-freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and
-distributed Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of
-volunteer support.
-
-Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
-editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in
-the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not
-necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper
-edition.
-
-Most people start at our website which has the main PG search
-facility: www.gutenberg.org
-
-This website includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
-including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
-Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
-subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
diff --git a/old/64874-0.zip b/old/64874-0.zip
deleted file mode 100644
index 0851ff2..0000000
--- a/old/64874-0.zip
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/64874-h.zip b/old/64874-h.zip
deleted file mode 100644
index e12311c..0000000
--- a/old/64874-h.zip
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/64874-h/64874-h.htm b/old/64874-h/64874-h.htm
deleted file mode 100644
index 55ef39b..0000000
--- a/old/64874-h/64874-h.htm
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,1306 +0,0 @@
-<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
-    "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
-<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">
-  <head>
-    <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=us-ascii" />
-    <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" />
-    <title>
-      The Project Gutenberg eBook of Space Blackout, by Sam Carson.
-    </title>
-    <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" />
-
-    <style type="text/css">
-
-body {
-    margin-left: 10%;
-    margin-right: 10%;
-}
-
-    h1,h2 {
-    text-align: center; /* all headings centered */
-    clear: both;
-}
-
-p {
-    margin-top: .51em;
-    text-align: justify;
-    margin-bottom: .49em;
-}
-
-hr {
-    width: 33%;
-    margin-top: 2em;
-    margin-bottom: 2em;
-    margin-left: 33.5%;
-    margin-right: 33.5%;
-    clear: both;
-}
-
-hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;}
-hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;}
-
-.center   {text-align: center;}
-
-.right   {text-align: right;}
-
-/* Images */
-.figcenter   {
-    margin: auto;
-    text-align: center;
-}
-
-.caption p
-{
-  text-align: center;
-  text-indent: 0;
-  margin: 0.25em 0;
-}
-
-div.titlepage {
-  text-align: center;
-  page-break-before: always;
-  page-break-after: always;
-}
-
-div.titlepage p {
-  text-align: center;
-  text-indent: 0em;
-  font-weight: bold;
-  line-height: 1.5;
-  margin-top: 3em;
-}
-
-    </style>
-  </head>
-<body>
-
-<div style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Space Blackout, by Sam Carson</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. 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: Space Blackout</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Sam Carson</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: March 20, 2021 [eBook #64874]</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 SPACE BLACKOUT ***</div>
-
-<div class="titlepage">
-
-<h1>SPACE BLACKOUT</h1>
-
-<h2>by SAM CARSON</h2>
-
-<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br />
-Comet May 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>I've seen a world die, and with it men who chose to remain and face the
-end because of love.</p>
-
-<p>Love of their homes and the soil beneath them and the life they had
-achieved. It's a story I believe Earthmen could ponder, and benefit
-from. For we are the youngest of terrestrial civilizations within the
-space orbit the Martians have shown us.</p>
-
-<p>I'm Jerry Kos, master navigator, twenty-seven and entitled to three
-stripes on my jacket to prove I've completed that many six months
-voyages with the Cosmic Survey. I'm a specialist, holder of the solo
-record from Moon to Earth made in 2437, and enjoy spending all my leave
-in the government preserves, camping in the raw, hiking, fishing,
-anything I can do by hand, so to speak. Otherwise I'm one of some
-fifty thousand young officers of the Commonwealth whose job is cut out
-for him. And I like it.</p>
-
-<p>It was Jim Drake, skipper of the Pelios, Cosmic Survey ship, who
-persuaded me to take my leave on Mars, as a guest of Shadrak. Shadrak
-is one of our advisers, guardian of the Great Waterway, and a big
-shot among the hundred thousand odd Martians who rule their planet by
-robot control. The Martians watched us develop thousands of years, and
-let us go because they're peaceful, and like our energy, till Gregor,
-the Tartar dictator came along and messed up the world. Then Shadrak,
-and a half dozen others roused themselves, crossed the void to Earth
-and liquidated a wad of would be exponents of force. That put the
-United States on top with its ideals of democracy, and the Martians
-reorganized our form of living, gave us advanced tools, knowledge and
-created a technocracy. The Martians sit back, live well and give us
-ideas. We do the same for them and everybody's happy. They know how to
-contact all forms of life in the solar system, from Mercury to Neptune,
-and now, as you know, Earth is a beehive of industry.</p>
-
-<p>Jim Drake's a thoughtful chap, quiet but a whip. Since he was a kid
-Shadrak has liked him. After a few days of fishing, boating, and
-general recreation, Shadrak called us in to his domed estate.</p>
-
-<p>First he showed us his planetarium, and a dark nebula in beyond Orion,
-he calls the Noir, speaking with the throat disk because Martians can't
-manage our tongue otherwise. That dark, he had just explained, was a
-thousand light years beyond the nearer Orion cluster.</p>
-
-<p>"Behind it," he added, "is a solar system, a sun with six planets.
-The third planet is Spor, of the same albedo as Earth, and identical
-atmosphere. I know, for my grandfather visited it, and he chose it as a
-suitable refuge for ten thousand of your Earthmen."</p>
-
-<p>I had to break in on that. Jim nudged me, but Shadrak smiled. "Small
-wonder you're surprised," he commented. "On Earth you have a legend,
-of the lost Atlantis. There was a general submerging of continents.
-Millions perished. And we were so moved on Mars that we sent our space
-ships. It was one of our few real invasions. Till we visited Gregor, we
-hadn't returned. But that time we removed ten thousand, products of an
-advanced civilization.</p>
-
-<p>"We moved those ten thousand to Spor." Jim whistled. "Even that long
-ago you traveled ahead of light. I mean, with greater speed."</p>
-
-<p>Shadrak nodded. "You two are Earthmen we trust. We keep many secrets
-because it is best. But in this case&mdash;" he paused, "I want you, Jerry
-Kos and Jim Drake, to journey to Spor."</p>
-
-<p>"But it would take years," I put in. "Maybe longer."</p>
-
-<p>"Twenty two days and six hours, with the new ship just delivered,"
-Shadrak corrected. "It has a capacity of one thousand. If you return
-with a full load, we shall send more ships to Spor."</p>
-
-<p>Jim looked bewildered. "Maybe it's too much," he said, "but such a
-speed is incredible."</p>
-
-<p>"There is no limit to speed," Shadrak told us. "The problem is of
-acceleration, and deceleration. You have that problem in handling the
-Pelios, which rides energy beams at the speed of light. Frequencies,
-whether of sound or light, as instances, are constant. Therefore we
-employ this fact in accelerating. We superimpose frequencies against
-frequencies, repelling power, one from the other. The result is a
-constant, increasing ratio. In effect, Jim&mdash;and you, Jerry&mdash;will grasp
-it much easier in this manner. If you had a machine throwing a jet
-of water, and it touched an opposing jet of water, your propulsion
-would build up till the limits of the energy from the opposing jets
-were reached. Suppose those jets continued to reach out. As light
-frequencies, till you built up your maximum. In a vacuum your speed
-would continue at that maximum velocity till you chose to decelerate.
-Now deceleration is effected by the same principle. We do it by
-hitching to our sun and reaching the maximum in building up speed. In
-like manner, another sun can be used to decelerate, by reversing the
-process.</p>
-
-<p>"But enough of that," Shadrak resumed. "Your ship will be robot
-controlled. Our own master navigator will get telescreened charts of
-your course. Your job will begin when you land, I fear. The planet of
-Spor enters the Noir within eighteen months, and a sudden reaction in
-that hundred thousand light year wide mass could reduce the engulfing
-to eighteen weeks."</p>
-
-<p>"What does this Noir mean, swallowing up Spor?" I fired that shot. And
-it was Jim who answered.</p>
-
-<p>"Noir's the light absorbing element nobody has lived to analyze. We
-know it absorbs all organic life as it does light, electricity, even
-sound. It's the black scourge of space."</p>
-
-<p>"And we're going to play around it, eh? To bring back the descendants
-of the lost Atlantis. And where do they go, providing we take 'em off?"</p>
-
-<p>Shadrak waved a hand vaguely over the horizon. "Here, till we find a
-planet suitable. You see, we're responsible. We moved them to Spor. Now
-it's our duty to remove them again."</p>
-
-<p>Jim spoke. "We're ready, whenever you are sir."</p>
-
-<hr class="tb" />
-
-<p>Now a lot happened before we curved around the sinister prong of the
-Noir, the Milky Way lost behind, even Orion and his companions. We had
-ceased marveling at the repellor motors, operated within compact cases
-by the efficient robot machines. And I must put in a word for the way
-they lifted our big ship from Mars. You don't use rockets any more.
-They catapult you, shooting you ten thousand miles outward with rocket
-tubes sunk into the ground. You use inverted, concave affairs to catch
-the power. And too, we had our first acquaintance with the auxiliary
-repellors used inside the ship to offset inertia. This gave us the same
-gravity as Earth. And Shadrak called at regular periods on the relief
-screen, the new device that gives solidity to an image. He told us a
-lot about the transplanted sons and daughters of ancient Atlantis, and
-we had the mentameters to make immediate contact with their language
-and knowledge. Shadrak had thought of everything.</p>
-
-<p>The solar system which Shadrak called Maj, crawled around the crescent
-of Noir, and we sighted the third planet, giving a ruddy glow. That
-gave us a kick, but I felt a shiver as I watched that ebon horn
-blotting out the sky, reaching hungrily toward Maj. Jim said the
-movement of Noir had been constant at 110 kilometers a second, but
-that the speed was building up. He called for a robot check on the tip
-of Noir and Spor. After careful study, Jim flashed the telescreen for
-Shadrak. "Noir tip at 60 plus 382," he reported.</p>
-
-<p>Shadrak looked grave. "That gives you no more than four months," he
-said. "If the movement accelerates, it will be quite earlier. After you
-land, arrange for periodical checks."</p>
-
-<p>It was time now to begin deceleration. We fixed on the sun of Maj. At
-first we couldn't feel a change. It was ten hours before the planets
-slowed down, and we curved to meet the pull of Maj. Two days elapsed by
-our chronometers before we entered the gravity pull of Spor and began
-our spiral descent, much as we would had it been the smaller Pelios.
-Our electroscopes found a city, towers and walls gilded by a rising
-sun. I worked out the course for Jim and we picked a plain nearby. We
-settled on a regular nest of repellor beams, to find an army gathered
-without, an army of men and women and children, not at all frightened
-and apparently not hostile.</p>
-
-<p>"Look," Jim cried. "They look like the museum pictures of 2000. The
-same kind of cars, and streets."</p>
-
-<p>It was true. We checked on the atmosphere readings, found the
-temperature 76 fahrenheit, a mild spring day. We opened the locks and
-stepped out on the soil of Spor, Jim lugging the portable mentameter.
-I heard a buzzing sound. An airplane, of ancient vintage, judging by
-the museum films, circled overhead. Men in field gray, wearing leather
-leggings and caps, rode up on noisy, two wheeled machines.</p>
-
-<p>"The Twentieth Century comes to life," Jim muttered. "It's like a
-dream."</p>
-
-<p>A man with slightly gray hair stepped from one of the cars, approached
-us, flanked by the guards. He spoke, but the words were unintelligible.
-Jim smiled, pointed skyward and to the ship. The greeter nodded as
-if he understood. Then Jim put down the mentameter pack, adjusted
-earphones and the clamp about his temples. He gestured for the other to
-do likewise.</p>
-
-<hr class="tb" />
-
-<p>Someone protested, and there was an argument, while we waited. Then the
-gray haired man spoke with curtness, and the guards fell back. Smiling,
-the Spor dweller put on the mentameter receiver. Jim began speaking
-slowly. "I am Jim Drake, of Earth, from which your ancestors were
-removed from Atlantis by Martians. We were sent here by other Martians."</p>
-
-<p>The Spor governor, for that was what we learned he was, shouted to the
-throng. He spoke excitedly and people began to cheer, to gather more
-closely. Then he spoke to Jim. By then I had on the spare receiver.</p>
-
-<p>"You are fulfilling a legend," the governor said. "From our early days
-the writings of our forefathers foretold the day when Earthmen would
-come from beyond the dark spaces. I, Tarquin of Spor and governor of
-the city of Osmand, welcome you. And if you will pardon my curiosity,
-what manner of machine is this, to interpret our thoughts?"</p>
-
-<p>"Brother," I cut in, "it's as mysterious to me as it must be to you.
-The Martians perfected it and hold the secret."</p>
-
-<p>"You think and talk like one of us," the governor chuckled. "Our
-astronomers sighted you yesterday and they predicted a landing at
-Osmand. So we are not exactly surprised."</p>
-
-<p>We wound up with posting a guard about the ship and riding into the
-city with Tarquin. A radio in the car reported our progress, the
-announcer manifestly excited. We found thousands on streets and
-sidewalks and crowding office windows. Above all, we had the feeling
-we were among Earthmen, and yet it wasn't our technocratic manner of
-life either. There was nothing orderly. And I felt that I liked this
-way of living. I was in the same state of mind a week later, when Jim
-and I had already learned enough about the language of Spor to talk,
-and we'd been cramming on their history from the time the Martians left
-off so many centuries before. At Shadrak's suggestion, we'd kept quiet
-on our real mission. We found ourselves popular in Osmand as the days
-grew on, and we were guests of Governor Tarquin, on a swell estate
-bordering a small river. And then, as thousands lined the river for
-a water carnival, Tarquin told us all was not well on Spor. We were
-on a terrace and it reminded me somehow of Shadrak's place, without
-the dome, or eternal robots. "Take this city," he exclaimed. "We are
-a democracy, at peace with the world. But across the sea, in Plevia,
-there is a colony gathering strength, headed by Garok, a troublemaker
-we exiled ten years ago from Osmand."</p>
-
-<p>"Why not take your planes, fly over and clean him out before he's
-strong enough to fight you?" I asked.</p>
-
-<p>Tarquin gazed at me, and he looked bewildered. "Osmand makes no war.
-We have our civil officers, but our army is small. We of Osmand, and
-of the other city states on this continent have lived in accord two
-thousand years without fighting. Garok will not invade us. But he does
-harbor criminals, and thereby makes trouble."</p>
-
-<hr class="tb" />
-
-<p>And that was that. War was simply out of mind. And why not. If ever
-there was a placid countryside, which we toured in the next two weeks,
-it was the continent upon which Osmand was built. There were farms,
-small factories, everywhere homes with large grounds, and men, women
-and children employed. Everybody greeted you with a smile, it seemed,
-and there was much singing. It got Jim like it did me, and I remember
-what a jerk Shadrak pulled us up with, when checking with him from
-the ship after a tour of the continent to the other cities&mdash;Nostran,
-Tula and Polis. Shadrak told us the invading horn of Noir had indeed
-accelerated its spread toward the system of Maj and would engulf it
-within no less than eight weeks.</p>
-
-<p>Tarquin accepted our report from Shadrak, for in the legend that
-Earthmen would come, was a prophecy of destruction to Spor. "Yes," he
-said slowly, pacing his terrace, his family engaged in sports below,
-"we have been watching the dark cloud you call Noir. Our astronomers
-are uncertain of the result."</p>
-
-<p>"We're not," Jim said. "Noir will blast every vestige of life from
-Spor. The Martians know. They offer refuge on their planet, till you
-find another Spor. We can remove the first thousand. The Martians will
-send other ships, if you agree."</p>
-
-<p>"If we agree." Tarquin stood beside the terrace parapet, with the
-skyline of Osmand gilded in a low sun. A shaft of light struck
-a passenger plane bound for a landing field. Cries of children,
-picnicking across the river in a park, drifted to us. Tarquin twisted
-a bit of paper into a wad, tossed it to the lawn. Then he turned to
-Jim. "I'll radio the other governors," he said. "We must place this
-information before them all, and let the people vote."</p>
-
-<p>"Elections," Jim cried. "That will take weeks. We've got to act now.
-Shadrak says the dark nebula has tripled its speed toward Maj in the
-last seven days."</p>
-
-<p>"Yes," Tarquin agreed simply. "That has been noted too, from our
-observatory. Last night two stars were blotted out. I'm sorry, my
-friends, if we delay. But that is the way to act. Now, if you'll pardon
-me, I'll invite the governors for a conference."</p>
-
-<p>To our surprise Tarquin summoned Garok with the others. He was unlike
-the others, a spare, square jawed man no older than Jim Drake, eyes
-tending to the shifty side and with the gift of an orator. He could
-hardly wait till Tarquin delivered his talk of our mission. I could see
-the other governors refused to be stirred as Tarquin. One, Dalin, a
-fat, amiable chap, laughed. "Nonsense," he exclaimed. "I'll grant you
-these young men may have come from Earth as they come, but they could
-be putting over a giant hoax," he added shrewdly.</p>
-
-<p>"But the astronomers sighted them five thousand miles away," Tarquin
-interrupted impatiently. "These men have instruments beyond our
-knowledge."</p>
-
-<p>"Probably stolen," Garok spoke for the first time. His manner was
-swaggering, contemptuous. "For all we know they're adventurers from
-another planet. And if not, why must we meet to be told fairy tales.
-What of a dark cloud? Going to destroy Spor! Bah. A story to frighten
-children with. Is this what you brought us here to discuss?" This to
-Tarquin.</p>
-
-<p>The governor of Osmand flushed. I saw Jim's fists clench, but he
-remained silent. "We're not here to give opinions, when we don't know
-what we're talking about," he snapped. "All our astronomers agree the
-dark nebula is sweeping in like a tidal wave. These men journeyed
-into our solar system to warn us. I believe them. The question is, do
-the people of Spor want to believe, and act. That is the question. I
-propose a referendum, the subject explained over our radio nets, to be
-held one week from today."</p>
-
-<p>"That date may be too late," Jim warned. "I suggest&mdash;"</p>
-
-<p>"Bah," Garok cut in. "You want a panic, so that you can loot us."</p>
-
-<p>That was when Jim sprang to his feet and struck Garok. The leader of
-Plevia went down. But he was up and charging like a mad bull a moment
-later.</p>
-
-<p>Tarquin cried out and guards rushed in, separating the men. And now the
-governor of Osmand frowned at Jim. "You struck first," he said gravely.
-"You struck a guest of mine."</p>
-
-<p>"I'm sorry," Jim told him. "But it was in desperation, because I
-realize the danger to you. Governor, we must act more quickly. We must."</p>
-
-<p>Tarquin nodded. "So be it. As senior governor of the continental
-cities, I set aside the third day from now, and each governor shall
-join our radio net, so that the people may hear, and vote as they
-choose."</p>
-
-<p>"You fools," Garok snarled. His right eye was discolored and he glared
-at Jim. "I demand this man, to be punished for striking Garok."</p>
-
-<p>"He is in my custody," Tarquin replied calmly. "For striking a guest of
-mine, he must be punished."</p>
-
-<p>Garok swept the room. I noticed the fat governor, Dalin, cringed. "I
-choose to do my own punishing," he snapped and walked from the room.
-Dalin glanced about at the silent group. "Your guest will cause us
-untold trouble," he said. "I saw it in Garok's eyes. He is seeking a
-cause to do damage to us, and you've permitted that cause tonight."</p>
-
-<p>"If I did, I take the responsibility, Dalin. Do you other gentlemen
-agree to put the question before your people and permit the
-referendum?"</p>
-
-<hr class="tb" />
-
-<p>In the end they agreed, although it was plain they were more concerned
-over Garok than the threat of Noir's black flood. And I had a hunch
-Garok had placed doubt in their minds about us. We persuaded Tarquin to
-attend our conference with Shadrak. And to our surprise, Shadrak, from
-the relief screen, spoke to Tarquin in the latter's tongue. Tarquin
-left our ship a man who looked years older. "I must act, at once,"
-he told us with a sigh. "Why didn't I have our meeting aboard your
-ship where they too could have heard, and seen the Martian? It was my
-mistake."</p>
-
-<p>"You're starting at once?" Jim asked.</p>
-
-<p>Tarquin nodded. "But I'm afraid&mdash;afraid there are few who would leave
-Osmand, or any of the other continental states.</p>
-
-<p>"Look about you," he continued. "Here is contentment, peace, a form of
-collective security for all. Outside of Garok there is no discontent.
-We love Osmand, as the others do their cities."</p>
-
-<p>"Shadrak called this a Utopia," Jim observed thoughtfully. "I
-understand. But we must get the message over, Governor. And quickly."</p>
-
-<p>I remember how we stood by while Tarquin started at daylight, over
-the radio net, explaining it all, and the news agencies were waking
-up. Crowds gathered on streets. People stared at us, some without
-enthusiasm, and we weren't surprised when Tarquin assigned us guards.
-We were getting blamed for the scare, it appeared. By night we were
-directed to return to Tarquin's home. Garok, it seemed, was taking
-to the radio, making charges, promising to capture and punish us for
-trying to create a panic on Spor. Overnight crowds formed outside the
-grounds of the governor's home. A large detachment had to guard our
-ship, and we made arrangements to return to it. And during these three
-days the grim, dark threat of Noir came on, invincible, inevitable,
-overspreading one third of the firmament, blotting out star after
-star. Shadrak offered no advice, strangely enough. But he kept us
-apprised of reports from Martian astronomers. And then, as citizens
-of the city states poured out to vote on the question Tarquin had put
-before them, Garok struck.</p>
-
-<p>He came with wave after wave of planes, and he dropped bomb after bomb
-of outlawed explosives, not for destruction, but to send the city into
-a panic. Too late Jim and I realized we had been a blessing to Garok.
-In upsetting the placid lives of the city states, we had furnished
-motive and opportunity to strike. It wasn't an invasion such as they
-used to have on Earth. But it was onesided, Tarquin's police force
-pitifully inadequate. And so as the planes landed, disgorging squads
-of men, armed with peculiar flame throwers, Osmand was taken and the
-referendum forgotten.</p>
-
-<hr class="tb" />
-
-<p>In our refuge, with no arms save our ray guns, Jim and I looked
-helplessly on. So far we had been unmolested. I thought of the
-little single seater planes used as Earth patrols, and the blasting
-charge in the nose, reserved for emergencies. Jim was pacing the
-control room like a caged tiger. Shadrak was away from his post and
-we had transcribed our report of Garok's coming, for his screen. Now
-he signaled us, somewhat excitedly. Evidently he hadn't seen the
-transcription, for he spoke rapidly. "You have ten hours left," he
-cried, "before the Noir invades Maj. Ten more hours and you cannot
-leave Spor. Act at once." Jim reported in crisp accents of events.
-Shadrak swore in fluent Martian. Then he told us to open an emergency
-locker. At once robot trucks wheeled out a dandy two seater patrol car,
-with 20 millimeter ray guns for armament. "Destroy Garok's force where
-necessary," Shadrak ordered. "That completed, proceed at once with
-loading. Remove Tarquin's family first. He must be saved at all cost."</p>
-
-<p>We broke out the rear exit as a two motored plane dived at our space
-ship. Jim nosed our patrol car upward. I was at the ray gun controls.
-We blew the plane out of the sky. Then we went upstairs. Garok had a
-fleet of planes he surely must have taken over from transport lines.
-There were different markings on them. Anyway, we knocked down planes,
-plenty of them. But scores had landed, with soldiers scattering, to
-take over objectives. We went down, blasted groups right and left. On
-the landing field we could see police rallying. I worked the ray guns
-on ground and sky alike during the next twenty minutes, and Garok's
-invaders surviving turned tail, abandoning their comrades already
-landed.</p>
-
-<hr class="chap" />
-
-<div class="figcenter">
-  <img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/>
-  <div class="caption">
-    <p><i>We went down blasting ... right and left....</i></p>
-  </div>
-</div>
-
-<hr class="chap" />
-
-<p>Tarquin was in command as his guards rounded up sullen, but defeated
-groups of Garok's men. Sirens were wailing, and we counted a dozen big
-fires raging. "Thanks," he acknowledged, nodding at our patrol car.
-"Garok is attacking the other cities. They've all asked for help."</p>
-
-<p>"We'll take his planes," Jim promised. "But you've got to hurry,
-Governor. Shadrak says it's a matter of hours."</p>
-
-<p>Tarquin seemed not to hear Jim. He stared toward the great fires.
-"Destruction," he muttered. "The hell of war turned loose after all
-these centuries."</p>
-
-<p>Mobs had poured onto the field. Guards battled with them. The foremost
-tried to reach the captured invaders, yelling curses at them. Others
-continued toward us. I saw Tarquin stiffen. He ordered a ring of guards
-about us. "But why?" Jim demanded.</p>
-
-<p>"They blame you," Tarquin said bitterly. "For stirring up trouble. In
-fact, they're demanding your lives as forfeit."</p>
-
-<p>"But can't they understand?" Jim cried. "Hasn't it been made plain
-enough? You talked with them, explained our coming&mdash;"</p>
-
-<hr class="tb" />
-
-<p>Tarquin waved a hand toward the angry men and women. Some had
-stones, bricks and these they were hurling our way. "You can see
-for yourselves," he told us. "Dalin went on the air and blamed you,
-opposing our referendum. Said it was idiotic, that departure from Spor
-was unthinkable. He argued that his scientists promised the dark gas
-would not enter our atmosphere and would be dissipated, permitting
-sunlight to enter. My own people of Osmand were in doubt, even before
-Garok came. Now&mdash;well, they think only of this destruction, and the
-factors they blame, including you two."</p>
-
-<p>"We're going to tackle Garok's other fleets," Jim said briefly.
-"Meanwhile, we're expecting you to report our act, and to plead with
-the people of Osmand to come with us, as many as we can take. We'll be
-back, in a few hours."</p>
-
-<p>We collided with Garok's air fleet above Dalin's city, while it was at
-the height of its raid. It took us exactly eighteen minutes to clean
-the air, leaving destroyed planes blazing on all sides. Then we went
-on. But we were to get a stiff shock. Garok's sky fleet had vanished
-elsewhere.</p>
-
-<p>"Okay," Jim decided, after we had cruised the coast line, "we'd better
-get back to Osmand. If Garok's fled, our mission is completed."</p>
-
-<p>We withheld reporting through to Shadrak. The sky was unusually black
-tonight. Overhead, there were no stars. We raised the flames in Osmand
-some fifty miles out. Jim let out an angry yell. "Garok's attacking
-again," he cried. "Those are new fires."</p>
-
-<p>Rockets wide open we raced down toward Osmand. There were new fires.
-Jim circled toward the plain where our ship was located. We saw a cone
-of flame leap out of the thick night. Garok was bombing the space ship.</p>
-
-<p>We tore at the invaders like mad swordfish. We knocked them apart, then
-went in for a landing. One bomb had landed within twenty feet of the
-ship. We got out of the patrol car, sprinted for the big ship. Jim used
-a torch, assured himself the craft was undamaged. And when we went
-inside, Garok himself was the bird who climbed into our patrol car.</p>
-
-<p>Pistol bullets cut by our ears as both of us tried to rectify that
-damage. Garok didn't know beans about a rocket car. But a dumb,
-conceited punk like him could wreck it, so we ignored the soldiers
-who'd climbed out of Garok's plane after that noiseless glide of his
-and raced for the patrol car.</p>
-
-<p>Garok yelled something at us and accidentally touched off the ray guns.
-His own plane literally went into gas, and his men went down, or turned
-into more gas. Then the patrol car streaked skyward, bowling us over.
-Twin tongues of angry flame marked his course, higher&mdash;higher, blast
-wide open. "The fool," Jim cried. "He'll burn the car up, if he gains
-any more altitude. The thin atmosphere will fix him&mdash;"</p>
-
-<p>"Maybe he didn't start it on purpose, and can't do anything about it,"
-I suggested. Jim's face was visible in the glow of the fires. "Maybe
-you're right," he agreed. And as if in confirmation, there was a dull
-red blob high above. The blob widened, sent out a shower of sparks and
-vanished. "And that," Jim commented, "is the last of Garok."</p>
-
-<p>Evidently Garok's wild scheme to take patrol car and then perhaps our
-space ship, was with his last survivors, for we heard no more planes.
-A police car arrived. Tarquin had sent them. "The governor advises you
-to leave Osmand at once," was the officer's message. "Anger is growing
-against you two."</p>
-
-<p>"Okay by me," I said. "We clean up a mess for you and get the rap. You
-don't believe us, so what? We'd better save our own skins."</p>
-
-<p>"I'm going to make one last appeal to Tarquin," Jim announced. "It's
-our duty. You stay here with the ship."</p>
-
-<p>"Listen you," I sounded off, "if you go back into Osmand, I go with
-you. But how?"</p>
-
-<p>"In the police car." To the surprised officer Jim said: "If Governor
-Tarquin guarantees no hope to remove anyone, we'll leave. But first, I
-bear him a final message. Will you take us?"</p>
-
-<p>"I'll take you," the officer said. "But it is foolish. We've got to
-take the chance, here on Spor. It's our world, the one we love. Because
-you destroyed Garok's men, we'll give you safe conduct."</p>
-
-<hr class="tb" />
-
-<p>They bore us through darkened side streets. By radio we heard the
-damage, and of thousands massed in downtown parks, listening to
-speakers who demanded our punishment along with the captured invaders.
-Tarquin was in his office and had just completed orders to give our
-ship full protection. His eyes were sunken. Jim went to the point at
-once. "Governor Tarquin, the Martian Shadrak asked us to remove you and
-your family, by all means. We must clear Spor by day-break. Or before
-noon. Couldn't you persuade others&mdash;people of Osmand you want to save,
-to go to the ship. If it's a mistake and Noir doesn't wipe everything
-out, we can return. You know that. It's not taking a chance. Please,
-we're offering life&mdash;to all Spor&mdash;through you and a thousand others of
-Osmand."</p>
-
-<p>Tarquin led us to a wide window. There was light below, and we saw a
-triangular space packed with thousands. Loud speakers were blasting and
-we could see a tiny figure on a platform.</p>
-
-<p>"I tell you the forces of evil envy our world of Spor and seek to
-destroy us," the speaker shouted. "What influenced Garok to erupt from
-Plevia and attempt to enslave us? I'll answer that question. The men
-who came out of the sky with the wild story the end of our universe
-is at hand. Bah. Nature sends a dark cloud of gas nearer, and we're
-expected to fly into a panic. Our own governor lost his sanity for
-that unlikely yarn.</p>
-
-<p>"I tell you, citizens of Osmand, we have made a civilization of such
-prosperity and contentment that word has reached other planets of this
-solar system. They sent messengers in disguise, to throw us into panic.
-In the future let us arm, and repel any such future invasion as Garok
-gave us. Let us punish by death any who come among us and seek to
-undermine us by fantastic stories. Men and women of Osmand, we shall
-never be frightened out of Osmand, and most certainly not to desert
-Spor...."</p>
-
-<p>"You see," Tarquin spoke presently, with sadness in his voice. "My
-family is down there. They consider me mad, to entertain any belief in
-what you say."</p>
-
-<p>"But it is true," Jim cried. "It is true. They must be convinced. Spor
-is doomed, in hours. I tell you I am speaking the truth. And surely you
-will go with us. You believe us, don't you?"</p>
-
-<p>"I believe you, Jim Drake. I know Shadrak, and his fellow Martians feel
-their responsibility. They saved us once, when they believed Earth was
-doomed entirely. It wasn't. And the Martians could be wrong again," he
-added hopefully.</p>
-
-<p>An hour later we were taken by police back to our guarded ship. So
-many were on duty that the crowds had drifted back to Osmand. Fires
-were out now, and only the street lights were visible. Osmand, to all
-outward appearances, was peacefully going to bed. Shadrak, summoned at
-our call, came to the telescreen. "I was afraid," he said after Jim
-reported. "You have done your best. You have my permission to depart
-Spor immediately. The Noir is within twelve hours of Maj."</p>
-
-<p>"Let's go," I cried. Maybe Tarquin and the others had some hope, but I
-was ready to go. Jim's next words sent cold chills down my spine. "May
-we stay, till sunrise sir. We should have at least four hours after the
-sun of Maj is blotted out, before Spor is reached. Maybe, after they
-see the sun eclipsed, some will come to us."</p>
-
-<p>"There is a chance," Shadrak conceded. "But do not delay. If none come,
-be prepared to take the course already transcribed on the robot screen."</p>
-
-<p>It was midnight. I noted the absence of all stars ahead of Jim. "It's
-spreading," I told him. All at once I felt chilled. It was like a
-thick, cloudy night on Earth, only more eerie. Like being in a cave.
-The darkness seemed to bear down on the lights of Osmand and make them
-dimmer. Neither of us slept. We couldn't. We worked on our course
-plot, inspected the entire hull and paced every deck till the hour for
-daylight.</p>
-
-<hr class="tb" />
-
-<p>Only, there was no daylight. The chronometers aboard the ship checked
-Martian time, which we still kept. And yet Osmand's lights glowed,
-and the rest of Spor was in the darkness of a grotto. Then the city's
-lights went out.</p>
-
-<p>We went outside, staring, conscious of abrupt coldness. Suddenly there
-were sirens screaming, then bells. All at once the lights flashed back
-on again. "The sun&mdash;the sun of Maj," Jim exclaimed, "it's blotted out.
-Forever, maybe."</p>
-
-<p>Panic gripped me. "Let's scram," I told him. Jim shook his head. He
-ran into the ship, switched on all lights. The landing lights put the
-entire plain in a warm glow. Jim said the people could see us. So we
-waited.</p>
-
-<p>Lights of a fast moving car sped along the highway from Osmand. It
-came on, to a quick stop. We saw Tarquin, and a group of men his age.
-"They're coming," I told Jim. "They've changed their minds."</p>
-
-<p>"Tell the others to hurry," Jim shouted, as he ran forward to meet
-them. "We haven't more than an hour. The Noir is racing toward Spor
-from the sun."</p>
-
-<p>Tarquin looked like a man already at the door of the beyond. He walked
-to us, slowly, head lifted. Then he stopped, and we saw he wore the
-robes of his office. So did the others. Slowly Tarquin spoke. "We are
-not going with you, Jim Drake."</p>
-
-<p>"Not going! But man, you know the end. It's death, in less than two
-hours. We're risking our own lives and we thought&mdash;"</p>
-
-<p>"None of my family wishes to leave Osmand," the governor said quietly.
-"Therefore, I have no desire to survive, without them."</p>
-
-<p>"But all of you can live, if you come with us."</p>
-
-<p>"You forget our neighbors, and our kinsmen." Tarquin pointed out
-gravely. "I think you do not understand.</p>
-
-<p>"Life, anywhere else has no attraction for the citizens of Spor. I know
-that now, plainly. The referendum would not have registered a thousand
-votes of those choosing to abandon the planet, had I sufficient time
-to explain, and Garok had not run amuck." Tarquin sighed. "There still
-is hope, that this black fog will be dissipated, as our scientists
-contend. If not&mdash;then it is farewell, men of our parent Earth."</p>
-
-<p>"What about going to Earth," Jim cried, suddenly inspired. "That would
-be different. We'll take you there."</p>
-
-<p>Tarquin turned and walked to the long, official car. The others
-followed, silent, like men sentenced and yet hopeful of reprieve. As he
-stood beside the door, Tarquin lifted a hand. But he spoke no more. The
-motor roared. Twin lights flashed on the turf....</p>
-
-<p>We stood there for minutes. I heard a dry sob. Maybe it was from Jim
-Drake's throat. Or again, maybe it was from my own. I don't know. We
-stood there, till the car's rear light merged with the glow of Osmand's
-illumination.</p>
-
-<p>Jim said, "we've got to start." As he spoke I saw a pup, a dirty, black
-and white pooch, tail working, trotting up. I scooped it up. Something
-from Spor was going to survive. Then I went to the ship.</p>
-
-<p>Shadrak's voice was imperative as he called us. "Leaving," Jim shouted
-into the transmitter.</p>
-
-<p>"Waste no time, not even seconds," Shadrak cried. "Hurry."</p>
-
-<p>The pup whimpered, snuggling against my shins as we lifted the empty
-ship.</p>
-
-<p>Because the robots had the course, I ran to the visual screen and
-looked down on Osmand. There were lights everywhere. A searchlight
-leaped after us.</p>
-
-<p>Somebody tapped my shoulder. Jim Drake had joined me. "Living now," he
-muttered. "See the pinpoints of light out there&mdash;the other cities. In a
-few minutes&mdash;"</p>
-
-<p>The words choked off. You see, we had no sun of Maj to fix our beams
-upon. We had a distance to go before we could let up on the reserve
-engines Shadrak had installed. We had to flee from Noir's engulfing
-crescent, and find another star to build up our incredible speed. Till
-then, we could only approximate the speed of light. "Look. Building
-after building is lighting up. They're going to their shops and their
-factories and offices. Just as if the sun were shining."</p>
-
-<hr class="tb" />
-
-<p>We were gazing intently now. There was a clicking sound that told of
-Shadrak on the relief screen. He was taking our relay and the scene
-was visible to the Martian as well. Only he didn't speak. I think,
-in those last moments, we almost held our breaths, Jim and I a few
-thousand miles away already&mdash;or maybe a few hundred thousand&mdash;time had
-no bearing. It seemed an awfully long time. Then a dark finger rubbed
-out Osmand.</p>
-
-<p>One moment and we could see the moving lines of traffic, the glowing
-windows even. Then there just wasn't anything at all on the screen. Jim
-scanned for the other cities. But there was just darkness, impenetrable
-darkness. We did see a searchlight break through, a moving finger,
-raking through for a split second. Then it, too, vanished.</p>
-
-<p>From the relief Shadrak spoke. His voice was strangely gentle. "Look
-no more, Jim Drake and Jerry Kos. Turn back to your charts. Spor is
-gone. You did your best. We know that. It was not your fault. Look
-forward. Within thirty minutes you will find the first star to give you
-speed."</p>
-
-<p>It wasn't real, that flight from Maj, with Noir flowing beyond the
-sixth planet, its crescent outrider seeking new stars to black out, and
-leave dry, lifeless masses in a black universe. On schedule we picked
-up our star, and at sight of it we felt the first return of sanity. We
-sped back by Orion's family, and into a familiar bit of space, with
-Shadrak coming to the screen at intervals, and at other times sending
-us transcribed news events from Earth. And thus we crossed the sky,
-thrilled by the sight of Neptune, Saturn and his rings, and at last
-the disks of Mars and Earth, beneath our own sun, so free of the black
-menace. We made a routine landing, settling a short distance from
-Shadrak's place. He was there to welcome us, with other Martians. And
-Jim walked up to him slowly, holding the tiny, wriggling pup we had
-brought along. "The last survivor of Spor," he said. Martians dislike
-dogs, although they admire any member of the cat family. But Shadrak
-reached out, studied the tiny specimen from Spor. The pup licked his
-hand and Shadrak smiled. "Take him back to Earth," he said. "They will
-appreciate the animal, better than we." Shadrak tapped each of us in
-the Martian way of showing deep affection. "Never reproach yourselves,
-because you took a ship to Spor large enough to return a thousand
-persons, and returned with this poor animal.</p>
-
-<p>"I think," he added with a sigh, "we forget too often we are
-instruments of a divine power none of us, Earthmen or Martians, or any
-other world, can ever understand. It was granted us the privilege of
-rescuing men and women of Atlantis and removing them to Spor. It was
-denied us, the chance to save them a second time."</p>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SPACE BLACKOUT ***</div>
-<div style='text-align:left'>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-Updated editions will replace the previous one&#8212;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. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part
-of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project
-Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG&#8482;
-concept and trademark. Project Gutenberg is a registered trademark,
-and may not be used if you charge for an eBook, except by following
-the terms of the trademark license, including paying royalties for use
-of the Project Gutenberg trademark. If you do not charge anything for
-copies of this eBook, complying with the trademark license is very
-easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose such as creation
-of derivative works, reports, performances and research. Project
-Gutenberg eBooks may be modified and printed and given away--you may
-do practically ANYTHING in the United States with eBooks not protected
-by U.S. copyright law. Redistribution is subject to the trademark
-license, especially commercial redistribution.
-</div>
-
-<div style='margin:0.83em 0; font-size:1.1em; text-align:center'>START: FULL LICENSE<br />
-<span style='font-size:smaller'>THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE<br />
-PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK</span>
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-To protect the Project Gutenberg&#8482; mission of promoting the free
-distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
-(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase &#8220;Project
-Gutenberg&#8221;), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full
-Project Gutenberg&#8482; License available with this file or online at
-www.gutenberg.org/license.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'>
-Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg&#8482;
-electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
-and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
-(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all
-the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or
-destroy all copies of Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works in your
-possession. If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a
-Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic work and you do not agree to be bound
-by the terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person
-or entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-1.B. &#8220;Project Gutenberg&#8221; is a registered trademark. It may only be
-used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
-agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few
-things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works
-even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See
-paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project
-Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works if you follow the terms of this
-agreement and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg&#8482;
-electronic works. See paragraph 1.E below.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (&#8220;the
-Foundation&#8221; or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection
-of Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works. Nearly all the individual
-works in the collection are in the public domain in the United
-States. If an individual work is unprotected by copyright law in the
-United States and you are located in the United States, we do not
-claim a right to prevent you from copying, distributing, performing,
-displaying or creating derivative works based on the work as long as
-all references to Project Gutenberg are removed. Of course, we hope
-that you will support the Project Gutenberg&#8482; mission of promoting
-free access to electronic works by freely sharing Project Gutenberg&#8482;
-works in compliance with the terms of this agreement for keeping the
-Project Gutenberg&#8482; name associated with the work. You can easily
-comply with the terms of this agreement by keeping this work in the
-same format with its attached full Project Gutenberg&#8482; License when
-you share it without charge with others.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
-what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are
-in a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States,
-check the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this
-agreement before downloading, copying, displaying, performing,
-distributing or creating derivative works based on this work or any
-other Project Gutenberg&#8482; work. The Foundation makes no
-representations concerning the copyright status of any work in any
-country other than the United States.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other
-immediate access to, the full Project Gutenberg&#8482; License must appear
-prominently whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg&#8482; work (any work
-on which the phrase &#8220;Project Gutenberg&#8221; appears, or with which the
-phrase &#8220;Project Gutenberg&#8221; is associated) is accessed, displayed,
-performed, viewed, copied or distributed:
-</div>
-
-<blockquote>
-  <div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-    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 <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. 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>
-</blockquote>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic work is
-derived from texts not protected by U.S. copyright law (does not
-contain a notice indicating that it is posted with permission of the
-copyright holder), the work can be copied and distributed to anyone in
-the United States without paying any fees or charges. If you are
-redistributing or providing access to a work with the phrase &#8220;Project
-Gutenberg&#8221; associated with or appearing on the work, you must comply
-either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 or
-obtain permission for the use of the work and the Project Gutenberg&#8482;
-trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic work is posted
-with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
-must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any
-additional terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms
-will be linked to the Project Gutenberg&#8482; License for all works
-posted with the permission of the copyright holder found at the
-beginning of this work.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg&#8482;
-License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
-work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg&#8482;.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
-electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
-prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
-active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
-Gutenberg&#8482; License.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
-compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including
-any word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access
-to or distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg&#8482; work in a format
-other than &#8220;Plain Vanilla ASCII&#8221; or other format used in the official
-version posted on the official Project Gutenberg&#8482; website
-(www.gutenberg.org), you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense
-to the user, provide a copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means
-of obtaining a copy upon request, of the work in its original &#8220;Plain
-Vanilla ASCII&#8221; or other form. Any alternate format must include the
-full Project Gutenberg&#8482; License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
-performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg&#8482; works
-unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
-access to or distributing Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works
-provided that:
-</div>
-
-<div style='margin-left:0.7em;'>
-    <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'>
-        &bull; You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
-        the use of Project Gutenberg&#8482; works calculated using the method
-        you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is owed
-        to the owner of the Project Gutenberg&#8482; trademark, but he has
-        agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the Project
-        Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments must be paid
-        within 60 days following each date on which you prepare (or are
-        legally required to prepare) your periodic tax returns. Royalty
-        payments should be clearly marked as such and sent to the Project
-        Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the address specified in
-        Section 4, &#8220;Information about donations to the Project Gutenberg
-        Literary Archive Foundation.&#8221;
-    </div>
-
-    <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'>
-        &bull; You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
-        you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
-        does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg&#8482;
-        License. You must require such a user to return or destroy all
-        copies of the works possessed in a physical medium and discontinue
-        all use of and all access to other copies of Project Gutenberg&#8482;
-        works.
-    </div>
-
-    <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'>
-        &bull; You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of
-        any money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
-        electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days of
-        receipt of the work.
-    </div>
-
-    <div style='text-indent:-0.7em'>
-        &bull; You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
-        distribution of Project Gutenberg&#8482; works.
-    </div>
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project
-Gutenberg&#8482; electronic work or group of works on different terms than
-are set forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing
-from the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the manager of
-the Project Gutenberg&#8482; trademark. Contact the Foundation as set
-forth in Section 3 below.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-1.F.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
-effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
-works not protected by U.S. copyright law in creating the Project
-Gutenberg&#8482; collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg&#8482;
-electronic works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may
-contain &#8220;Defects,&#8221; such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate
-or corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other
-intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or
-other medium, a computer virus, or computer codes that damage or
-cannot be read by your equipment.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the &#8220;Right
-of Replacement or Refund&#8221; described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
-Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
-Gutenberg&#8482; trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
-Gutenberg&#8482; electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
-liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
-fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
-LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
-PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
-TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
-LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
-INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
-DAMAGE.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
-defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
-receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
-written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you
-received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium
-with your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you
-with the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in
-lieu of a refund. If you received the work electronically, the person
-or entity providing it to you may choose to give you a second
-opportunity to receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If
-the second copy is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing
-without further opportunities to fix the problem.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
-in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you &#8216;AS-IS&#8217;, WITH NO
-OTHER WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT
-LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
-warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of
-damages. If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement
-violates the law of the state applicable to this agreement, the
-agreement shall be interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or
-limitation permitted by the applicable state law. The invalidity or
-unenforceability of any provision of this agreement shall not void the
-remaining provisions.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
-trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
-providing copies of Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works in
-accordance with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the
-production, promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg&#8482;
-electronic works, harmless from all liability, costs and expenses,
-including legal fees, that arise directly or indirectly from any of
-the following which you do or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this
-or any Project Gutenberg&#8482; work, (b) alteration, modification, or
-additions or deletions to any Project Gutenberg&#8482; work, and (c) any
-Defect you cause.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'>
-Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg&#8482;
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-Project Gutenberg&#8482; is synonymous with the free distribution of
-electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of
-computers including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It
-exists because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations
-from people in all walks of life.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
-assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg&#8482;&#8217;s
-goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg&#8482; collection will
-remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project
-Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
-and permanent future for Project Gutenberg&#8482; and future
-generations. To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary
-Archive Foundation and how your efforts and donations can help, see
-Sections 3 and 4 and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'>
-Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non-profit
-501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
-state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
-Revenue Service. The Foundation&#8217;s EIN or federal tax identification
-number is 64-6221541. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg Literary
-Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent permitted by
-U.S. federal laws and your state&#8217;s laws.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-The Foundation&#8217;s business office is located at 809 North 1500 West,
-Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887. Email contact links and up
-to date contact information can be found at the Foundation&#8217;s website
-and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'>
-Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-Project Gutenberg&#8482; depends upon and cannot survive without widespread
-public support and donations to carry out its mission of
-increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
-freely distributed in machine-readable form accessible by the widest
-array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations
-($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
-status with the IRS.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
-charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
-States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
-considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
-with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations
-where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To SEND
-DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any particular state
-visit <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org/donate/">www.gutenberg.org/donate</a>.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
-have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
-against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
-approach us with offers to donate.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
-any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
-outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-Please check the Project Gutenberg web pages for current donation
-methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other
-ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. To
-donate, please visit: www.gutenberg.org/donate
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; font-size:1.1em; margin:1em 0; font-weight:bold'>
-Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg&#8482; electronic works
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project
-Gutenberg&#8482; concept of a library of electronic works that could be
-freely shared with anyone. For forty years, he produced and
-distributed Project Gutenberg&#8482; eBooks with only a loose network of
-volunteer support.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-Project Gutenberg&#8482; eBooks are often created from several printed
-editions, all of which are confirmed as not protected by copyright in
-the U.S. unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not
-necessarily keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper
-edition.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-Most people start at our website which has the main PG search
-facility: <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>.
-</div>
-
-<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>
-This website includes information about Project Gutenberg&#8482;,
-including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
-Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
-subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
-</div>
-
-</div>
-
-</body>
-</html>
diff --git a/old/64874-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/64874-h/images/cover.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index bb43cb7..0000000
--- a/old/64874-h/images/cover.jpg
+++ /dev/null
diff --git a/old/64874-h/images/illus.jpg b/old/64874-h/images/illus.jpg
deleted file mode 100644
index 37eeb3b..0000000
--- a/old/64874-h/images/illus.jpg
+++ /dev/null