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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..f9a669e --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #65945 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/65945) diff --git a/old/65945-0.txt b/old/65945-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 19117bc..0000000 --- a/old/65945-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1451 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Toy, by Kris Neville - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Toy - -Author: Kris Neville - -Release Date: July 28, 2021 [eBook #65945] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed - Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TOY *** - - - - - THE TOY - - By Kris Neville - - Neju did not hate the God-men, but he did - hate the metal demons they used to destroy his - people. So he prayed to the Old Gods for aid.... - - [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from - Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy - December 1952 - Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that - the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.] - - - -"_I hate to leave._" - -"... _But the time has come._" - -"_I suppose so ... but momma?_" - -"_Yes?_" - -"_May we leave them a present?_" - -"_What, my child, what could they want for?_" - -"... _I don't know: surely there's something. One of my toys or -something. I'd like to leave them something._" - -"_That's very thoughtful, but...._" - -"_Please, momma._" - -"_Perhaps we could._" - -"_They might find use for a toy, someday._" - -"_Might they, child? Well.... Who knows? Perhaps they might._" - - * * * * * - -The night, starry, cold, clear, was around them, unfriendly. The -natives huddled at the edge of the clearing and stared out at the -stockade. There was movement there--two sentries, abreast, threading -their way in and out of shadows. The moonlight was pale and uncertain, -blending away harshness, distorting, enlarging. The night was still. -One of the natives let himself down until he lay flat upon the ground. -A twig crackled sharply, and the other four held their breath, but the -sound did not carry to the sentries. Another and another and another -lay down near the first, and then all of them began to inch their way -slowly through the tall swift growing grasses toward the stockade. - -Their progress was slow; every few minutes they paused until their -breathing returned to normal. The light, sunset shower had not softened -the ground, for it was in the middle of the dry season when the rain -fell sparingly. After tedious, hard gained feet, sweat stood glistening -on their nearly naked bodies and grass shoots, saw edged, itched and -stung their skins. Rough top roots and sharp, brutal rocks reddened -them in welts and bruises. - -Still they went forward, slowly, doggedly. The moon fell away toward -the horizon, and the shadows unhuddled from trees and the stockade wall -and stretched out on the grasses. - -With clock-like precision the sentries passed along the narrow walk -atop the wall. The wall was made of _conje_ trunks, sheered of limbs, -driven upright into the ground, pressed so closely together that -between logs there was scarcely a chink. For the people inside the -stockade, aided by a howling demon of steel that uprooted and stripped -trees effortlessly, it had been scarcely the work of a day; for the -natives outside, depending for power upon their own muscles it would -represent the year's work of a village. - -Each time the sentries passed the spot nearest the natives, they -pressed hard to the ground and held their breath for fear some tiny, -artificial movement would reveal them. - -The moon hovered on the far tree tops and then vanished from sight, -leaving a curtain of night, faintly star-dotted. - -The five natives were at the edge of the grasses. Beyond them, to the -stockade wall, there was no protection. As one they straightened and -ran fleetly to the _conje_ trunks. Under their feet, a few pebbles -crunched and rattled. They pressed in against the wall, merging with -the darker shadow of it, waiting for the sentries to pass. The heavy -booted footfalls became louder and louder, until they came from -directly overhead. The natives hugged the wall, praying silently to -their alien Gods, and the footfalls slowly emptied into silence. - - * * * * * - -One of the five sent exploring hands over the wooden surface. It was -rough enough for his purpose, and awkwardly, hesitantly, he began to -work his way upward. Once bark peeled from under his foot and fell -away, but it was caught and silenced by one of those below. He drew -himself over the top of the wall with a swift, sure movement, and -dropped the two feet to the walk on the other side. He crouched there, -fumbling with the coil of rope at his waist. - -It was a slender, moist rope, and, as he cast the end over the wall, -it slithered through his hand like a line of liquid. He could hear -the muffled approach of feet, and his heart beat faster. Hurriedly he -expanded the slip loop in the end of the rope. He placed the loop over -one of the trunks and forced it down between those on each side. It was -a tight fit, and he had to jerk it savagely once. That done, he pulled -it tight and slipped over the wall, looping the rope in his hand to -support himself. Almost immediately the sentries were overhead. - -The rope began to slip down the pole; it slipped an inch and jerked; -two inches. His muscles stood out, bulging the skin. He closed his eyes. - -There were voices above. The rope slipped again, and then the knot -began to peel. In another moment, the rope would give way and the -native would crash loudly to the ground. The footsteps began again, but -only one pair now. Somewhere above in the silence a sentry was waiting. -The sentry, unconcerned, lit his pipe and the match flare made those -below catch their breaths. The rope slipped again. - -In desperation, the native threw one arm over the wall. He glanced down -fearfully. Then cautiously he drew himself up. In the pale star shine -he could see that the sentry was not facing him. He dropped to the -inside walk. The sentry half-turned. - -Reluctantly, the native leaped the few intervening feet and hit him. -There was a brittle snap and the native lowered the sentry gently to -the walk. Then he turned, relooped the rope, pulled it more securely -around the trunk. Up came the four who had been waiting below. - -In a whispery hiss, he explained what had happened. The leader of the -group shook his head in the darkness. "If we go inside, now," he said, -"the other will discover this one and then warn the demon before we can -destroy it. We must silence the other one too." - -They nodded. - -One of the group bent and removed the fallen sentry's weapon. He turned -it over and over in his hands, curiously. - -"Hey! Hey!" the other sentry called, suddenly, from out of the -darkness along the wall. "Hey, Ed!" Receiving no answer, he fumbled his -weapon into his hand. "Hey! Ed! Answer me!" - -"Too late," the leader of the natives hissed. "He will wake the demon. -Run!" - -They vaulted the wall, striking the ground and scattered toward the -tall grasses and the forest beyond. One dragged a broken leg painfully. - - * * * * * - -The body of Ed, the limp sentry, teetered for a moment on the walk and -then slipped awkwardly over the side. It struck a wall buttress and -bent over it like a horseshoe. - -The other sentry rushed to the corner. One glance was enough to tell -him what had happened. He grabbed the huge spotlamp at the juncture of -the two walls and tripped the button. Inside the stockade a generator -whined and the arc of the lamp flared its sunbright blue. - -The beam was temporarily blinding, and the sentry cursed. Then his -field of vision came clear, and all the details of the grassy stretch -were etched sharply. He saw two running figures, each at the outer edge -of the beam. He swiveled the light until it focused upon the nearest -one. - -It was the leader--the one with the broken leg--and he froze in the -light. He did not even attempt to fall to the ground. - -The sentry stared for a fraction of a second before he could bring his -gun to eye level and fire it. - -The leader of the natives waited, blinking his faceted orange eyes in -the cruel blinding glare. The eyes glistened brightly. The four arms -hung motionless, relaxed at his side. - -The sentry shuddered involuntarily as the leader came within his -sights. He squeezed the trigger and a burst of hissing flame came from -the muzzle. The flame died in the air and the gun jumped in recoil. - -The projectile struck and the leader screamed in pain. He twitched but -he did not fall. One hand shot out to support himself, but still his -eyes blinked into the light and still he remained upright, a perfect -target. - -The sentry fired twice more, one projectile kicking up a tiny shower of -rocks and moaning away, almost spent; the other, scoring in the target. - -The native in the field whined. But still he did not fall. - -Shuddering, the sentry fired time after time at him, and finally, very -slowly, the native crumpled to the ground. Once or twice the tip of the -tail twitched and then the body was absolutely motionless. - -The sentry swung the light again. The other natives were gone. He -shuddered again and spat out toward the body. - -Lights in the stockade began to come on, sucking at the tiny generator. -They were dim lights. - -Looking down, the sentry saw his companion lying across the buttress. - -The sentry began to curse nervously. Then, with fumbling fingers, he -shut off the arc lamp and the lights inside the stockade brightened. - -The sentry glanced out at the vast alien darkness beyond the wall. He -whimpered in sudden, childish fear. - - * * * * * - -Within the forest, beyond the terrifying brilliance of the stockade -light, the natives stopped running. After the light went off, they -called to each other with piping, night bird whistles. Slowly they came -together, forming a silent lonely group. - -"We must leave him there," one said, in the shrill, chattering native -language. - -Reluctantly they turned their backs on the stockade. Leaves crackled -under their feet. Branches whipped at their faces, bringing sharp -tears. They hurried, and dry things rustled and startled animals fled. -From time to time they grunted at each other, more for encouragement, -more as protest against the tangle of vines than for communication. -Neju carried the stolen stockade weapon pressed tightly to his chest. - -On they went, and finally the sun came up, penetrating the forest here -and there, sending sharp rays of new light mottling the ground. Once -they stopped to rest, but only for a short time. - -After two hours of sun they came to the natural clearing and the tribal -village. - -The village was a crude thing by stockade standards. It was a cluster -of mud and stick houses around the central more pretentious Chieftain's -lodge. Before the lodge there was the large fireplace where the -community roasted the hunters' kills on three huge spits. The ground -around the fireplace was smooth and covered with white sand taken -from the bottom of the fast running creek that at the far left of the -clearing threaded its way off into the tangle of trees. Bones and other -refuse were carried in reed baskets to a pit well back in the forest -away from the clearing. The whole of the village was clean and orderly, -and, in back of the lodge, there was a patch of flower-like plants most -of which were dead with autumn and frost. - -Several meat animals were staked out near the stream and two tiny -domesticated arboreal animals called _corlieu_ sat before their owners' -huts, in the sunshine. - -When the four natives stepped into the clearing, all other activity -ceased. Children broke off their cries, and adults turned from their -labors. A great silence fell upon the village. Natives appeared at -doors. - -Slowly the four walked toward the lodge; one limped slightly from a -thorn in his naked foot. All eyes turned to mark their progress. - -The Chieftain sat at the door of his lodge. Upon their funeral-like -approach, he rose. He stared at each one in turn as if trying to -believe one of them were someone else. Then he shifted his eyes over -their heads to the spot in the forest where they had emerged. - -Neju shook his head slowly and the Chieftain seemed to retreat as if -from an invisible blow; then he stood erect, gestured that they should -enter, and followed them in. - - * * * * * - -Slowly, outside, movement began again. There was a floating whisper of -soft words and the children moved gravely about. Even the _corlieus_ -seemed to sense the change and did not try to attract attention. -Overhead, a great bird flapped by. - -Inside the lodge the four arranged themselves differentially at their -Chieftain's feet. - -The Chieftain was old. His arms were loose shells of skin over bone -and his face was pinched with wrinkles; even the eyes were misty and -bluish with age. And his voice, when he broke the silence, was thin and -querulous. - -"You have returned," he said. - -The four remained quiet, sitting with their legs coiled under them as -pillows. After a while, Neju answered, "Yes, we have returned." - -The ritual question and answer gave the old Chieftain time to get his -emotions under control; his eyes were clouded with grief, and his head -bobbed loosely on his skinny neck. And then: he was unsure as to why -there were tears in his eyes. - -"He will not join us," Neju said quietly. - -The old one sighed and rubbed a wrinkled hand over his face. - -Outside, the mourners began their chant, slow, terrifying. A distant -drum picked up the beat and throbbed out the heart-rhythm. - -"We took one of the weapons," Neju said. "But we were prevented from -entering their village." - -The old one nodded. He closed his eyes and turned his face toward the -ceiling of the lodge. He was tired; it was odd, how suddenly tired. -Yesterday there had been ... no, that was not yesterday. His son coming -up from the stream with his first catch. The air had been bright (it -was no longer bright any more) and he had laughed, saying.... But now -there was something about a demon somewhere, wasn't there? A fearsome -thing. It was hard to believe in demons; yes, and in Gods, too. That -summer when _his_ father pointed to the moon being eaten by shadow, he -had believed in Gods, then. He must tell his grandson about that. It -was very strange. And there was an old ritual one should make when the -drought came.... - -"Here, their weapon...." - -The old one opened his eyes once more. His young friend, Neju, was -handing him a strange thing. He marveled at it, thinking that perhaps -the Gods had left it when they went away. - -"It is dangerous." - -The old one was trying to think. There was something about the new Gods -who had come down from the sky; but they brought demons with them, so -perhaps they were not Gods at all and it was quite confusing, being -old. He must remember to ask his grandson to tell him all about it. -They placed the weapon before him and rose, making their bows, and left -him in peace. - -He stared at the weapon for many minutes. His grandson, Zoon--no, Zoon -had been his son--his grandson's name was--was--ah--Zoee, yes. A little -child. - -An odd thing, what weapon, and perhaps.... No, it was not for spring -planting. And winters used to be longer: we plant earlier--a moon -earlier, now, at least. And Zoee was a grown man, and Zoon was dead. Or -was it the other way around? - -He blinked his eyes, and strangely, it seemed that they were _both_ -dead. They were playing the funeral dirge out there in the sunshine. - -The old one stirred uneasily. - - * * * * * - -Neju sat on the white sand before the fire place. Two of his hands -plucked nervously at the sliver of wood. A group of hunters formed a -semicircle around him. - -"The old Father is ill with sorrow," he said, after a while. "And with -time." - -The others nodded, and again the hunters' council fell silent. The rest -of the village was muted, and the women went about gathering funeral -offerings for their Chieftain. - -Neju studied the splinter, trying to focus his thoughts on it. Finally -he said, "We did not destroy the demon." - -"We must try again," one of the hunters said, and like a tired sigh, -agreement ran from mouth to mouth. - -Neju flipped the splinter into the ashes and sat with eyes downcast. - -"The demon must be destroyed," the hunter repeated. "Or it will kill -again and again." - -Neju stared across the fireplace at the forest beyond. His eyes clouded. - -On his right, a young hunter who had been with him the previous night -at the wall cleared his throat nervously. "They come from the sky, but -they are not Gods." He wrinkled his brow as if this were difficult to -understand. "It is strange," he said. "They come like Gods, but they -are not. Gods are kind." He looked appealing at Neju. - -Neju smiled wearily and touched the young hunter on the shoulder. "They -are not Gods." - -"They are servants of the demon," another hunter insisted. "I was -there," he said monotonously. "After they came." - -The others stirred uneasily. - -"We watched the demon," the hunter said, his voice still flat, as if -(although he knew them to be true) he could not quite believe the words -himself. "I was with Mela. We watched the demon go to the forest and -rip out a standing tree by the roots. Then trembling, Mela stepped out -to greet it with a friendship offering. And the demon turned on her -and roared down on her and mashed her body lifeless under it, and the -god-man who was astride the demon became so terrified that he seemed to -laugh. I fled." - -There was silence for a moment. - -"The Old Gods," one hunter began, but he did not finish the sentence. - -The hunters shuffled. - -"I saw the demon kill Mela," the hunter said with finality. "We must -kill the demon." - -The young hunter cleared his throat again. "They are not Gods, but -still I should not have harmed the god-man, last night, at the wall. We -do not mean them any harm." He paused. "Only the demon." - -The hunters nodded. - -"They will thank us for destroying the demon." - -"The god-men, themselves, have killed four of us," Neju said suddenly. - -"They cannot help themselves," the young hunter insisted. "They must do -the demon's will." He paused again. "They cannot be gods, to obey the -demon, but we should not harm them." - -Suddenly the funeral drum ceased in mid-note. - - * * * * * - -The village began to stir uncertainly, and a native burst, running, -upon the clearing. He was crying something in an excited voice. A wail -went up from those nearest him, and each ran off toward his house. A -young lad sped toward the seated hunters. - -When he arrived, he was panting. "A demon comes! _It is in the air like -a bird!_" - -The hunters glanced at Neju for leadership. Then, from a great -distance, they heard a whirring like the beat of giant wings. - -"Run!" Neju cried, and they scrambled to their feet. - -"Separate and run!" Neju cried. - -The other villagers were scattering toward the forest in all -directions. Neju glanced around him. He saw a female stop, rush back, -scoop up a child who had been playing with a polished bone. Then, -almost as if by magic, the village was empty. The staked animals began -to whine, and one of the _corlieu_ at the far edge of the clearing gave -a gigantic leap and disappeared into the tightly woven branches. - -Then Neju turned to run and the sound of the air demon was nearer. But -he had taken only two or three steps before he stopped, frozen, for a -single instant. Then he turned and sped toward the Chieftain's lodge. - -No one had warned the old Father. - -At the moment he reached the door of the lodge, the helicopter burst -upon the clearing. Neju darted it one frightened glance and then ducked -through the doorway. - -The old one still sat as Neju had left him, motionless, staring at the -strange weapon before him. He did not even look up when Neju entered. - -"Come, Father," Neju said very gently. - -"Eh?" - -Neju glanced over his shoulder. The sky demon was heading straight for -the lodge. - -Very tenderly, Neju drew the old one to his feet. He wrapped two arms -around his body, protectively. "We must hurry, Father." - -The old one blinked, but he moved as Neju urged, and the two of them -stepped from the back entrance of the lodge. The helicopter was flying -low, and it seemed almost on top of them. - -It was then that the Chieftain saw it. There was fear and wonder in his -eyes. - -"We must run!" Neju said. - -Together they trampled across the dying garden, their feet moving -rapidly, and the old one's breath came in sharp rasps. - -Then the very edge of the helicopter's shadow touched them. - -And there was a blinding light and a great wave of air that threw them -to the ground like a giant hand, and there was a roar greater than the -northern cataracts. And the sound and light was gone, but still their -ears rang with the thunder of it and their eyes pained. - -Ahead of them there was another roar. And a group of huts seemed to -come apart from quick flashes inside of them. Bits of the lodge plopped -down on their backs, and one huge piece of timber embedded in the earth -only a foot from Neju's body. - -Neju threw himself over the old Chieftain to protect him; he felt dirt -and sticks and dust shower over him and the air smelled sharp and -bitter and stifling. - -_Wham! Wham! Wham!_ - -The earth jarred with explosions, one after another, measured, -methodical. Neju gritted his teeth and closed his eyes tightly. - -And the world was light and noise and flying debris. - -Then it was over. Neju was holding his breath. For several minutes, he -did not dare lift his head; his ears rang and his head was weighted. He -brushed at it, and his hand came away wet with blood. - -He looked up, and the air demon was gone. - -The lodge was no more--only a smoking crater, and, except for two huts, -miraculously intact, all of the village was mashed flat as though a -giant hammer had worked it over carefully. - -Neju bent to the Chieftain. The old one moaned. - - * * * * * - -They constructed a crude shelter for the Chieftain back of the -clearing, fast in the forest, where the old one could not see the -scene of destruction. All that night, almost fearfully, the villagers -crouched near him. When the moon first dropped its rays across his face -they all tensed, hushed, waiting, and when his breathing continued they -sighed in relief (for he would live another day: a Chieftain's spirit -always goes up the first moon path to the stars, or else it will not -leave until the moon path comes again). - -The night was long and cold, and toward dawn, they drew in upon each -other and the fire for warmth. - -When the sun was an hour high and the hasty meal was over, the young -hunters surrounded Neju, looking to him for leadership since the last -of the royal line lay in a coma. - -"You will be our leader until our Chieftain Father is well again," they -told Neju, one after another. - -Neju sat for a long time in thought and silence. At last he said, -almost sadly, "I will serve until the old Father is well again." - -There was a relieved sigh from the listeners. - -Again there was a long silence. - -Neju toyed with a new grass shoot, rubbing it between his fingers. He -rumbled deep in his chest to break the silence. "We must move further -into the forest. Wait for the god-men and the demons to go away. We -cannot fight." - -"Perhaps they will not go away." - -Neju thought about this. "The Old Gods came from the sky," he said. -"The Old Gods went away." He looked around him at the circle of taut, -angry faces. "I do not like to give up our home ground," he said -slowly. He shrugged helplessly. "With two demons, one to watch while -the other sleeps, how can we steal near enough to destroy them?" He -looked at the mashed grass shoot. "The earth is kind. We can live and -be happy in some new place." - -A hunter slipped out of the brush near Neju, scarcely rustling it. Neju -turned his head and the hunter bent and whispered in his ear. Neju -looked suddenly concerned and frightened. He stood up, motioning for -the others to keep their seats. He turned and followed the hunter into -the forest. - - * * * * * - -They threaded their way toward what was left of their village. Near the -edge of the natural clearing, the hunter hissed and began to advance -cautiously. - -When they both stood looking out from behind a clump of _clato_, Neju -saw a group of the god-men in the middle of the wrecked village; the -god-men were poking around idly, kicking rubble, fingering this and -that. They talked. Their voices were, to Neju, slow, low pitched, lazy. -Neju held his breath, watching. - -Finally one of the god-men, seemingly the leader, started toward the -very spot where they were standing. - -Neju and his companions drew back hastily, and their movements rustled -a dew heavy bush, causing it to shower a spray of water on the dead -leaves of the ground. - -Almost immediately, there was the deadly hiss of the leader's weapon, -and a projectile thudded into a tree, just to the left of Neju. - -"I saw two of them! Over here!" the leader called, running heavily -toward the forest. The other god-men galvanized into action. - -"Let's hide," Neju's companion whimpered, terrified. - -"No! They'd find us. Follow me." Neju started off, skirting the -clearing, going away from the direction of the villagers' temporary -camp. - -The god-men fired four times in the direction of their flight. The -shots came at short, measured intervals, and they struck in a fan-like -arc. The nearest one snapped by Neju's ear with a loud popping noise. - -"This way!" the god-man cried excitedly crashing after his prey. He was -joined by the others, all running heavily, and the air was filled with -their coarse explosive curses. - -Neju and the hunter ran for what seemed a long time, the noise of -pursuit still loud behind them. Then the noise ceased. - -Neju stopped, puzzled, breathing heavily. On the other side of a small -clump of viny _scarbj_, there was the sound of god-men's voices. - -"They might be leading us into a trap," the one said. - -There was assent. - -"They must be near. I don't hear 'em runnin' any more. Over that way. -Let's spray that whole damn section!" - -Their weapons began to hiss. - -Neju instinctively dropped flat to the ground. In following his lead, -the hunter coughed once, a projectile catching him in the chest even as -he was dropping. Blood gurgled in his throat. - -"That's one, by God!" one of the god-men cried in elation, and after -another barrage of increased violence, they began to withdraw, -nervously, darting glances at the quiet trees around them. - -Neju remained motionless. Then, leaving his dead comrade, he set off at -a lope in the direction of the makeshift camp. - -When he arrived the villagers were still huddled fearfully together. - -Neju walked to the circle of young hunters. "They killed Whenj just -now," he said without preamble. - -He sat down. - -"Come here!" he said. "I want you all to come here!" - -Slowly the natives gathered around him. - -"Sit down." - -They sat down, and Neju waited until they quieted. There was fear and -uncertainty in the air; mothers darted anxious glances in the direction -of their sons. - - * * * * * - -Neju began to speak. He spoke slowly. "I have just seen the god-men -chase and kill. They are controlled by demons that cannot be appeased. -One has only to hear them--the hate in their voices--to know." He -swallowed and looked around at the green brilliant foliage and listened -to the life movements in the trees. "I said that we should move away -into the forest.... But now.... I cannot think like a demon, but I -somehow see that ... unlike the Old Gods ... the demons will not leave -us to the world in peace. They are creatures of hate, who will hunt us -out, little by little, and destroy us all...." He looked around at the -frightened faces. "They will build more and bigger villages for their -servants, the god-men. They will strip away our forests and burn our -grasses. They will kill our food and destroy our homes wherever they -find them. They will trample our gardens. They will force us back and -ever further back until we have no place left to go.... And only after -they have killed us all, only then, will the demons be satisfied and -leave our world.... That is what I see." - -The rest, terrified, waited. - -"I am your Chieftain while the Father is ill. Yet, I cannot command you -in this. What shall we do? Shall we flee to live in fear, or...?" - -There was a sad little moan from the women. - -"One demon," Neju said, "we might have killed. But I do not know how -many demons there are." - -The men moved nervously. - -Finally one said, very softly, "If there are a hundred, we must not -flee." - -Assent muttered among them. - -"Very well," Neju said. He stood up. "I will go see the Father. He must -guide me in my actions now. Perhaps he can recall a weapon to fight -demons with. Perhaps the destruction of the village will help him to -think." - -From the distance there was the great beat of demon wings on the air. - -Neju went to the old one. He frowned at the woman who had been assigned -to care for him. She stood, bowed, and withdrew. - -Neju sat down beside the Father. - -"Father," he said softly. "Father, can you hear me?" - -The Chieftain moved his head wearily; his lips opened slowly. "Yes," he -whispered. - -"We must destroy great demons. We must have the help of the Old Gods. -What must we do, Father? You could not remember when Zoee asked you. -Can you remember now?" - -The Chieftain lay silent for a long time. A tiny insect crawled -unnoticed over one wrinkled arm. He had heard the question but somehow -the sense had gone out of the words. The Old Gods--did he believe in -Old Gods? Was that the question? - - * * * * * - -He tried to remember: Old Gods had come from the sky--but that had -been long ago. His father had seen them--no, no--grandfather, wasn't -it? Or even further back than that? The Chieftain imagined the stars, -which were bright souls in the sky, and had the Old Gods really come -down from the sky at all? Maybe no one had ever seen them: maybe it was -a dream, there were so many dreams. Here he was dreaming that he was -old, and only yesterday his mother had whipped him for going too near -the _yeama_ Zaptl had staked out over at the base of the hill. Or was -it yesterday? - -"We must have the Old Gods' help," Neju repeated quietly. - -The Old Gods' help? He tried to remember. There had been something--a -dance--a ritual--a chant, hadn't there? - -"For the killing of demons." - -The Chieftain was tired. It seemed that there was something important -to remember. Hadn't.... What was it? - -"Please, Father." - -The old one wished the voice would go away because he was sleepy. -_Wasn't that the moonlight on his face?_ - -"Pray," he said, dying. - -After a time, Neju stood up. The Chieftain was very quiet. - -He left the side of the dead and turned to the female waiting a short -distance away. "After the moon has taken his soul tonight, prepare him -for the funeral. His soul is very quiet as it waits. And there is no -need to disturb him." - - * * * * * - -Pray, the old one had said. The moon came down full, splintering beams -on a tangle of branches overhead. The old Chieftain was covered with -the ceremonial cloak of fur and by his side the formal mourner buried -her head in her hands, rocked back and forth intoning musically, "Ah, -ahhhhha, ah, ah." - -"Old Gods," Neju said, standing in the middle of the villagers, "... -Old Gods, I do not know how to talk to you the way I should." His voice -was small and embarrassed. "I hope you do not mind too much. I'm trying -to get it right. Old Gods, legends tell how you controlled mighty -demons when you came to our world. Now there have come to our world -some demons who control god-men." He wrinkled his brow, trying to state -the case as dearly as possible. - -"These demons are very bad. They kill our people." He paused a moment. -"We want you to help us kill these demons so the god-men will be free -and we can live without fear." - -Neju waited. The ground did not tremble. The moon did not darken. The -Old Gods did not answer. - -"Maybe we haven't any right to ask, for ourselves," Neju said. "But -for the god-men, who are your brothers from the sky. Help us to free -_them_, Old Gods. They want to be free, like all things want to be -free." - -Still the Old Gods did not answer. - -Slowly, from mouth to mouth, a moan passed among the villagers. - -"Answer us, Old Gods," Neju pleaded. - -The moan grew louder and louder. - -"Answer us, Old Gods," Neju repeated. "Please answer us." - -And still no answer; only a vagrant breeze in the leaves; no sound, no -voice, no sign that the Old Gods had heard. - -And the moan died helplessly. - -Neju stood, head bowed until silence came. - -"I cannot talk to the Gods," he said. "I am no Chieftain. I am not -worthy to talk to Gods." - -"We prayed too," a female said. "We all prayed with you. And still they -did not answer." - -Neju smiled twistedly. "We do not know how to pray. Or the Gods do not -know how to listen." - -The female said, "They came long ago. Perhaps they have forgotten us." - -Silence fell. - -Neju looked toward the dead Chieftain. "How can I lead you, unless They -make a sign?" - - * * * * * - -Morning. A _corlieu_ dropped into the clearing to beg for food. A fire -sputtered wetly. The mourners came back from the Chieftain's grave -(only they knew its location, and the autumn leaves hid the spot). - -The hunters slowly came to Neju. They stood awkwardly in a circle -around him. Finally one spoke. - -"We talked among ourselves, last night, after you went away." - -"Yes?" Neju said. - -The native shifted on his feet. "You say we must destroy the demons. As -you say, we cannot run, only to run again and again." - -"The Old Gods did not make a sign to me," Neju said wearily. - -"The Father said only to pray. He did not say that They would answer." - -Neju considered this gravely. - -"We must give the god-men heart," the native continued. "They must take -courage from us. Together with the god-men, we can defeat the demons. -If the Old Gods do not help us, the god-men must." - -Neju still listened; only his arms moved, restlessly. - -"First we must show the god-men that _we_ are not afraid of demons." - -Neju waited. - -"All of us, children, females, the old, all, must go toward their -village, beating drums, crying encouragement. We must show no fear. The -god-men will take heart." - -Neju stirred. - -"They will see that we are not afraid, and they will lose _their_ fear. -Together we will turn on the evil demons and destroy them. And you must -lead us." - -"Leave me," Neju said. "I must think about it." - - * * * * * - -Neju stood for the hour preceding the heat. The sun moved to a position -directly overhead. Then he arose stiffly. - -"People!" he called. - -The villagers stopped their work. They turned to face him. - -"Come to me!" he called. - -They came. - -"You have heard the plan of the hunters?" he asked when they were -quiet. - -One by one they nodded their heads. - -"And you are not afraid?" - -They were silent. Finally, one said, "We are afraid. But we will do -what must be done." - -"... Very well," Neju said. "If it is what you wish, I will lead you." - -"We only do what we must," one said. - -Neju looked them over carefully. "We will eat, and then we will leave. -We will travel to the village of the god-men. Each of you will bring an -instrument upon which to make noise to frighten the demons and hearten -the god-men." - -They nodded, silently, and began to drift away. - -Neju named three hunters to remain with him. - -"Before we do this," he told them when the others had gone, "we must -try once more to slip beyond the wall and slay the demons." - -"They will guard each other," a hunter protested. "We cannot overcome -them without the help of the god-men." - -"We must try," Neju said. - -The three hunters looked at each other. - -"We will leave the party at the edge of the clearing when the moon is -high and try as we did before. And if we fail then they must follow us -crying encouragement to the god-men. But we must try first." - -The hunters, one by one, said, "We will obey you." - - * * * * * - -They gathered, all of them. And they began to move: a slow, twisting -line, hesitating now and again to help the older members. A baby cried -and its mother shushed it. The forest was alive with movement and -chattering. There was fear and resolve on the natives' faces. - -Neju and the three hunters led them. They scouted the territory ahead. - -The column rested frequently and the aged clucked to themselves, -confused, uncertain. And the others tried to reassure them and make -them comfortable. The children ranged, but not far. The tame _corlieu_ -followed them in the tree tops, chattering down, from time to time, -bewildered. - -On they moved and the sun fell and the first forest shadows came out to -welcome the night. The sunset shower came, unusually heavy, silencing -the forest sounds by its patter on the leaves. The air smelled new and -crisp. - -A group of birds huddled together, chirping sleepily, in a century old -_conje_ tree. - -"We must hurry," Neju said. - -And the column moved faster, its sounds of movement being hushed by the -damp foliage. Vines and branches parted before it and folded into place -after it, swishing softly. The children huddled in, and the column -hurried. - -When twilight was full upon the forest, and the first bright hero souls -were in the sky, Neju slipped back from the advance of the column to -whisper, "We are almost there. Be very still." - -Neju gestured that they should spread out, and when their positions -suited him, he motioned for them to advance. - -And finally they came to the edge of the forest. - -There lay the stockade, asparkle with electric lights. The females drew -in sharp breaths at the sight of such a magnificent structure--Ah, -what the demons build for their servants! they seemed to say. And the -helicopter, coming in from a long flight of exploration settled inside -the stockade, its blades sparkling in the new moon. - -The natives shuddered in superstitious awe; they clutched their noise -makers closer to their bodies as if for protection. - - * * * * * - -Neju and the three hunters were at the edge of the grasses; the -stockade was silent except for the pound of sentry boots. - -Neju motioned for the three to remain. He hunched his body and ran -to the base of the wall, breaking the almost invisible wire without -noticing. - -On the wall a red light blinked three times. But Neju did not notice -it. Frantically his hands sought holds in the trunks of the wall. - -"Here's one of them!" someone cried above. "Over here!" - -"They didn't catch us asleep this time!" another voice said. - -"I toldja they'd be back!" - -There was swearing, and Neju froze, terrified. - -Above him, the pounding of many boots. - -"What's wrong with this light?... Ah, there!" - -And the light came on. - -It cut a path across the grasses. - -A weapon hissed in the direction of a shadow. - -"They're out there somewhere!" - -"I don't see 'em!" - -A weapon hissed again. - -"See something?" - -"Nah. Thought I did's all." - -Neju pressed in against the wall. The light put him in full view but -still they did not look down. Neju glanced toward his comrades. As yet -those on the wall had not seen them. - -"Hey! Look!" a god-man screamed. "There's one!" - -Neju looked up. - -"Right there!" - -And Neju tensed, waiting. - -"Well, I'll be damned!" - -Neju was looking into two of their faces; the faces were demon -controlled, contorted with fear and hate. He saw one of the god-men -bring up a weapon. He stared unbelieving into it. - -It spurted flame. - -In his left side he felt a hot searing arrow of fire. His hands -relaxed and he was falling. He fell a long time, through sickness and -unreality. Then he was not falling. - -In the distance he heard the drum beats and cries from his people. He -wanted to tell them something. He twitched in pain trying to cry out. - -"Look!" the god-men cried. - - * * * * * - -The natives burst from the forest crying encouragement to the god-men. -"Take heart! Turn on the demons! We will free you! Join us!" - -"Like sitting ducks!" someone on the wall screamed in elation. "Look at -'em come! Crazy! Chatterin' like monkeys!" - -The natives were nearer, shaking their noise makers, screaming. - -Someone on the wall smiled and fired and one of the natives stumbled -and fell. - -"Like sitting ducks!" he screamed. - -The other god-men began swiveling their most powerful weapons, focusing -the natives in their sights. - -And still the natives came, crying that the god-men take heart. - -_And then the ground trembled!_ - -The forest behind the natives began to crackle; trees came apart in all -directions flying like matchwood. - -A giant being trampled aside all obstructions with invincible power. - -Then the metal monster was clear of the forest. It hovered carefully -over, around, between the natives. - -The stockade light swung, halted. - -And a concerted gasp went up from the wall; then curses of terror. - -There it stood. A shining colossus. Huge. And serene beyond imagining. -It was facing the stockade. - -It had traveled far: from the deep, sheltered cave in the far -north--where it had rested in silence until, upon its vastly complex -and sensitive electronic brain it had received the commands of its -owners. After many, many years, as the little child master had thought, -they had need of it. - -It moved again. - -Stockade weapons swiveled; all the hellish energy that they were -capable of spewed in its direction. - -In its way, it smiled. - -Then, very methodically, it began to take the stockade apart, cracking -the _conje_ trunks like toothpicks. - -It noticed one of its masters, Neju, lying wounded by the base of the -stockade. It bent and carefully scooped him up. It placed him tenderly -in the shoulder pocket, out of harm's way, observing the seriousness of -his wound and automatically remembering the proper treatment. - -The helicopter took off and headed east. - -Absently the toy of a child of the Old Gods swatted the helicopter out -of the air, knocking it nearly a quarter of a mile before it crashed -into the _conje_ trunks of the forest.... - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TOY *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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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> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Toy</p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Kris Neville</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: July 28, 2021 [eBook #65945]</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Produced by: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net</div> - -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TOY ***</div> - -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>THE TOY</h1> - -<h2>By Kris Neville</h2> - -<p>Neju did not hate the God-men, but he did<br /> -hate the metal demons they used to destroy his<br /> -people. So he prayed to the Old Gods for aid....</p> - -<p>[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from<br /> -Imagination Stories of Science and Fantasy<br /> -December 1952<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>I hate to leave.</i>"</p> - -<p>"... <i>But the time has come.</i>"</p> - -<p>"<i>I suppose so ... but momma?</i>"</p> - -<p>"<i>Yes?</i>"</p> - -<p>"<i>May we leave them a present?</i>"</p> - -<p>"<i>What, my child, what could they want for?</i>"</p> - -<p>"... <i>I don't know: surely there's something. One of my toys or -something. I'd like to leave them something.</i>"</p> - -<p>"<i>That's very thoughtful, but....</i>"</p> - -<p>"<i>Please, momma.</i>"</p> - -<p>"<i>Perhaps we could.</i>"</p> - -<p>"<i>They might find use for a toy, someday.</i>"</p> - -<p>"<i>Might they, child? Well.... Who knows? Perhaps they might.</i>"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The night, starry, cold, clear, was around them, unfriendly. The -natives huddled at the edge of the clearing and stared out at the -stockade. There was movement there—two sentries, abreast, threading -their way in and out of shadows. The moonlight was pale and uncertain, -blending away harshness, distorting, enlarging. The night was still. -One of the natives let himself down until he lay flat upon the ground. -A twig crackled sharply, and the other four held their breath, but the -sound did not carry to the sentries. Another and another and another -lay down near the first, and then all of them began to inch their way -slowly through the tall swift growing grasses toward the stockade.</p> - -<p>Their progress was slow; every few minutes they paused until their -breathing returned to normal. The light, sunset shower had not softened -the ground, for it was in the middle of the dry season when the rain -fell sparingly. After tedious, hard gained feet, sweat stood glistening -on their nearly naked bodies and grass shoots, saw edged, itched and -stung their skins. Rough top roots and sharp, brutal rocks reddened -them in welts and bruises.</p> - -<p>Still they went forward, slowly, doggedly. The moon fell away toward -the horizon, and the shadows unhuddled from trees and the stockade wall -and stretched out on the grasses.</p> - -<p>With clock-like precision the sentries passed along the narrow walk -atop the wall. The wall was made of <i>conje</i> trunks, sheered of limbs, -driven upright into the ground, pressed so closely together that -between logs there was scarcely a chink. For the people inside the -stockade, aided by a howling demon of steel that uprooted and stripped -trees effortlessly, it had been scarcely the work of a day; for the -natives outside, depending for power upon their own muscles it would -represent the year's work of a village.</p> - -<p>Each time the sentries passed the spot nearest the natives, they -pressed hard to the ground and held their breath for fear some tiny, -artificial movement would reveal them.</p> - -<p>The moon hovered on the far tree tops and then vanished from sight, -leaving a curtain of night, faintly star-dotted.</p> - -<p>The five natives were at the edge of the grasses. Beyond them, to the -stockade wall, there was no protection. As one they straightened and -ran fleetly to the <i>conje</i> trunks. Under their feet, a few pebbles -crunched and rattled. They pressed in against the wall, merging with -the darker shadow of it, waiting for the sentries to pass. The heavy -booted footfalls became louder and louder, until they came from -directly overhead. The natives hugged the wall, praying silently to -their alien Gods, and the footfalls slowly emptied into silence.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>One of the five sent exploring hands over the wooden surface. It was -rough enough for his purpose, and awkwardly, hesitantly, he began to -work his way upward. Once bark peeled from under his foot and fell -away, but it was caught and silenced by one of those below. He drew -himself over the top of the wall with a swift, sure movement, and -dropped the two feet to the walk on the other side. He crouched there, -fumbling with the coil of rope at his waist.</p> - -<p>It was a slender, moist rope, and, as he cast the end over the wall, -it slithered through his hand like a line of liquid. He could hear -the muffled approach of feet, and his heart beat faster. Hurriedly he -expanded the slip loop in the end of the rope. He placed the loop over -one of the trunks and forced it down between those on each side. It was -a tight fit, and he had to jerk it savagely once. That done, he pulled -it tight and slipped over the wall, looping the rope in his hand to -support himself. Almost immediately the sentries were overhead.</p> - -<p>The rope began to slip down the pole; it slipped an inch and jerked; -two inches. His muscles stood out, bulging the skin. He closed his eyes.</p> - -<p>There were voices above. The rope slipped again, and then the knot -began to peel. In another moment, the rope would give way and the -native would crash loudly to the ground. The footsteps began again, but -only one pair now. Somewhere above in the silence a sentry was waiting. -The sentry, unconcerned, lit his pipe and the match flare made those -below catch their breaths. The rope slipped again.</p> - -<p>In desperation, the native threw one arm over the wall. He glanced down -fearfully. Then cautiously he drew himself up. In the pale star shine -he could see that the sentry was not facing him. He dropped to the -inside walk. The sentry half-turned.</p> - -<p>Reluctantly, the native leaped the few intervening feet and hit him. -There was a brittle snap and the native lowered the sentry gently to -the walk. Then he turned, relooped the rope, pulled it more securely -around the trunk. Up came the four who had been waiting below.</p> - -<p>In a whispery hiss, he explained what had happened. The leader of the -group shook his head in the darkness. "If we go inside, now," he said, -"the other will discover this one and then warn the demon before we can -destroy it. We must silence the other one too."</p> - -<p>They nodded.</p> - -<p>One of the group bent and removed the fallen sentry's weapon. He turned -it over and over in his hands, curiously.</p> - -<p>"Hey! Hey!" the other sentry called, suddenly, from out of the -darkness along the wall. "Hey, Ed!" Receiving no answer, he fumbled his -weapon into his hand. "Hey! Ed! Answer me!"</p> - -<p>"Too late," the leader of the natives hissed. "He will wake the demon. -Run!"</p> - -<p>They vaulted the wall, striking the ground and scattered toward the -tall grasses and the forest beyond. One dragged a broken leg painfully.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The body of Ed, the limp sentry, teetered for a moment on the walk and -then slipped awkwardly over the side. It struck a wall buttress and -bent over it like a horseshoe.</p> - -<p>The other sentry rushed to the corner. One glance was enough to tell -him what had happened. He grabbed the huge spotlamp at the juncture of -the two walls and tripped the button. Inside the stockade a generator -whined and the arc of the lamp flared its sunbright blue.</p> - -<p>The beam was temporarily blinding, and the sentry cursed. Then his -field of vision came clear, and all the details of the grassy stretch -were etched sharply. He saw two running figures, each at the outer edge -of the beam. He swiveled the light until it focused upon the nearest -one.</p> - -<p>It was the leader—the one with the broken leg—and he froze in the -light. He did not even attempt to fall to the ground.</p> - -<p>The sentry stared for a fraction of a second before he could bring his -gun to eye level and fire it.</p> - -<p>The leader of the natives waited, blinking his faceted orange eyes in -the cruel blinding glare. The eyes glistened brightly. The four arms -hung motionless, relaxed at his side.</p> - -<p>The sentry shuddered involuntarily as the leader came within his -sights. He squeezed the trigger and a burst of hissing flame came from -the muzzle. The flame died in the air and the gun jumped in recoil.</p> - -<p>The projectile struck and the leader screamed in pain. He twitched but -he did not fall. One hand shot out to support himself, but still his -eyes blinked into the light and still he remained upright, a perfect -target.</p> - -<p>The sentry fired twice more, one projectile kicking up a tiny shower of -rocks and moaning away, almost spent; the other, scoring in the target.</p> - -<p>The native in the field whined. But still he did not fall.</p> - -<p>Shuddering, the sentry fired time after time at him, and finally, very -slowly, the native crumpled to the ground. Once or twice the tip of the -tail twitched and then the body was absolutely motionless.</p> - -<p>The sentry swung the light again. The other natives were gone. He -shuddered again and spat out toward the body.</p> - -<p>Lights in the stockade began to come on, sucking at the tiny generator. -They were dim lights.</p> - -<p>Looking down, the sentry saw his companion lying across the buttress.</p> - -<p>The sentry began to curse nervously. Then, with fumbling fingers, he -shut off the arc lamp and the lights inside the stockade brightened.</p> - -<p>The sentry glanced out at the vast alien darkness beyond the wall. He -whimpered in sudden, childish fear.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Within the forest, beyond the terrifying brilliance of the stockade -light, the natives stopped running. After the light went off, they -called to each other with piping, night bird whistles. Slowly they came -together, forming a silent lonely group.</p> - -<p>"We must leave him there," one said, in the shrill, chattering native -language.</p> - -<p>Reluctantly they turned their backs on the stockade. Leaves crackled -under their feet. Branches whipped at their faces, bringing sharp -tears. They hurried, and dry things rustled and startled animals fled. -From time to time they grunted at each other, more for encouragement, -more as protest against the tangle of vines than for communication. -Neju carried the stolen stockade weapon pressed tightly to his chest.</p> - -<p>On they went, and finally the sun came up, penetrating the forest here -and there, sending sharp rays of new light mottling the ground. Once -they stopped to rest, but only for a short time.</p> - -<p>After two hours of sun they came to the natural clearing and the tribal -village.</p> - -<p>The village was a crude thing by stockade standards. It was a cluster -of mud and stick houses around the central more pretentious Chieftain's -lodge. Before the lodge there was the large fireplace where the -community roasted the hunters' kills on three huge spits. The ground -around the fireplace was smooth and covered with white sand taken -from the bottom of the fast running creek that at the far left of the -clearing threaded its way off into the tangle of trees. Bones and other -refuse were carried in reed baskets to a pit well back in the forest -away from the clearing. The whole of the village was clean and orderly, -and, in back of the lodge, there was a patch of flower-like plants most -of which were dead with autumn and frost.</p> - -<p>Several meat animals were staked out near the stream and two tiny -domesticated arboreal animals called <i>corlieu</i> sat before their owners' -huts, in the sunshine.</p> - -<p>When the four natives stepped into the clearing, all other activity -ceased. Children broke off their cries, and adults turned from their -labors. A great silence fell upon the village. Natives appeared at -doors.</p> - -<p>Slowly the four walked toward the lodge; one limped slightly from a -thorn in his naked foot. All eyes turned to mark their progress.</p> - -<p>The Chieftain sat at the door of his lodge. Upon their funeral-like -approach, he rose. He stared at each one in turn as if trying to -believe one of them were someone else. Then he shifted his eyes over -their heads to the spot in the forest where they had emerged.</p> - -<p>Neju shook his head slowly and the Chieftain seemed to retreat as if -from an invisible blow; then he stood erect, gestured that they should -enter, and followed them in.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Slowly, outside, movement began again. There was a floating whisper of -soft words and the children moved gravely about. Even the <i>corlieus</i> -seemed to sense the change and did not try to attract attention. -Overhead, a great bird flapped by.</p> - -<p>Inside the lodge the four arranged themselves differentially at their -Chieftain's feet.</p> - -<p>The Chieftain was old. His arms were loose shells of skin over bone -and his face was pinched with wrinkles; even the eyes were misty and -bluish with age. And his voice, when he broke the silence, was thin and -querulous.</p> - -<p>"You have returned," he said.</p> - -<p>The four remained quiet, sitting with their legs coiled under them as -pillows. After a while, Neju answered, "Yes, we have returned."</p> - -<p>The ritual question and answer gave the old Chieftain time to get his -emotions under control; his eyes were clouded with grief, and his head -bobbed loosely on his skinny neck. And then: he was unsure as to why -there were tears in his eyes.</p> - -<p>"He will not join us," Neju said quietly.</p> - -<p>The old one sighed and rubbed a wrinkled hand over his face.</p> - -<p>Outside, the mourners began their chant, slow, terrifying. A distant -drum picked up the beat and throbbed out the heart-rhythm.</p> - -<p>"We took one of the weapons," Neju said. "But we were prevented from -entering their village."</p> - -<p>The old one nodded. He closed his eyes and turned his face toward the -ceiling of the lodge. He was tired; it was odd, how suddenly tired. -Yesterday there had been ... no, that was not yesterday. His son coming -up from the stream with his first catch. The air had been bright (it -was no longer bright any more) and he had laughed, saying.... But now -there was something about a demon somewhere, wasn't there? A fearsome -thing. It was hard to believe in demons; yes, and in Gods, too. That -summer when <i>his</i> father pointed to the moon being eaten by shadow, he -had believed in Gods, then. He must tell his grandson about that. It -was very strange. And there was an old ritual one should make when the -drought came....</p> - -<p>"Here, their weapon...."</p> - -<p>The old one opened his eyes once more. His young friend, Neju, was -handing him a strange thing. He marveled at it, thinking that perhaps -the Gods had left it when they went away.</p> - -<p>"It is dangerous."</p> - -<p>The old one was trying to think. There was something about the new Gods -who had come down from the sky; but they brought demons with them, so -perhaps they were not Gods at all and it was quite confusing, being -old. He must remember to ask his grandson to tell him all about it. -They placed the weapon before him and rose, making their bows, and left -him in peace.</p> - -<p>He stared at the weapon for many minutes. His grandson, Zoon—no, Zoon -had been his son—his grandson's name was—was—ah—Zoee, yes. A little -child.</p> - -<p>An odd thing, what weapon, and perhaps.... No, it was not for spring -planting. And winters used to be longer: we plant earlier—a moon -earlier, now, at least. And Zoee was a grown man, and Zoon was dead. Or -was it the other way around?</p> - -<p>He blinked his eyes, and strangely, it seemed that they were <i>both</i> -dead. They were playing the funeral dirge out there in the sunshine.</p> - -<p>The old one stirred uneasily.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Neju sat on the white sand before the fire place. Two of his hands -plucked nervously at the sliver of wood. A group of hunters formed a -semicircle around him.</p> - -<p>"The old Father is ill with sorrow," he said, after a while. "And with -time."</p> - -<p>The others nodded, and again the hunters' council fell silent. The rest -of the village was muted, and the women went about gathering funeral -offerings for their Chieftain.</p> - -<p>Neju studied the splinter, trying to focus his thoughts on it. Finally -he said, "We did not destroy the demon."</p> - -<p>"We must try again," one of the hunters said, and like a tired sigh, -agreement ran from mouth to mouth.</p> - -<p>Neju flipped the splinter into the ashes and sat with eyes downcast.</p> - -<p>"The demon must be destroyed," the hunter repeated. "Or it will kill -again and again."</p> - -<p>Neju stared across the fireplace at the forest beyond. His eyes clouded.</p> - -<p>On his right, a young hunter who had been with him the previous night -at the wall cleared his throat nervously. "They come from the sky, but -they are not Gods." He wrinkled his brow as if this were difficult to -understand. "It is strange," he said. "They come like Gods, but they -are not. Gods are kind." He looked appealing at Neju.</p> - -<p>Neju smiled wearily and touched the young hunter on the shoulder. "They -are not Gods."</p> - -<p>"They are servants of the demon," another hunter insisted. "I was -there," he said monotonously. "After they came."</p> - -<p>The others stirred uneasily.</p> - -<p>"We watched the demon," the hunter said, his voice still flat, as if -(although he knew them to be true) he could not quite believe the words -himself. "I was with Mela. We watched the demon go to the forest and -rip out a standing tree by the roots. Then trembling, Mela stepped out -to greet it with a friendship offering. And the demon turned on her -and roared down on her and mashed her body lifeless under it, and the -god-man who was astride the demon became so terrified that he seemed to -laugh. I fled."</p> - -<p>There was silence for a moment.</p> - -<p>"The Old Gods," one hunter began, but he did not finish the sentence.</p> - -<p>The hunters shuffled.</p> - -<p>"I saw the demon kill Mela," the hunter said with finality. "We must -kill the demon."</p> - -<p>The young hunter cleared his throat again. "They are not Gods, but -still I should not have harmed the god-man, last night, at the wall. We -do not mean them any harm." He paused. "Only the demon."</p> - -<p>The hunters nodded.</p> - -<p>"They will thank us for destroying the demon."</p> - -<p>"The god-men, themselves, have killed four of us," Neju said suddenly.</p> - -<p>"They cannot help themselves," the young hunter insisted. "They must do -the demon's will." He paused again. "They cannot be gods, to obey the -demon, but we should not harm them."</p> - -<p>Suddenly the funeral drum ceased in mid-note.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The village began to stir uncertainly, and a native burst, running, -upon the clearing. He was crying something in an excited voice. A wail -went up from those nearest him, and each ran off toward his house. A -young lad sped toward the seated hunters.</p> - -<p>When he arrived, he was panting. "A demon comes! <i>It is in the air like -a bird!</i>"</p> - -<p>The hunters glanced at Neju for leadership. Then, from a great -distance, they heard a whirring like the beat of giant wings.</p> - -<p>"Run!" Neju cried, and they scrambled to their feet.</p> - -<p>"Separate and run!" Neju cried.</p> - -<p>The other villagers were scattering toward the forest in all -directions. Neju glanced around him. He saw a female stop, rush back, -scoop up a child who had been playing with a polished bone. Then, -almost as if by magic, the village was empty. The staked animals began -to whine, and one of the <i>corlieu</i> at the far edge of the clearing gave -a gigantic leap and disappeared into the tightly woven branches.</p> - -<p>Then Neju turned to run and the sound of the air demon was nearer. But -he had taken only two or three steps before he stopped, frozen, for a -single instant. Then he turned and sped toward the Chieftain's lodge.</p> - -<p>No one had warned the old Father.</p> - -<p>At the moment he reached the door of the lodge, the helicopter burst -upon the clearing. Neju darted it one frightened glance and then ducked -through the doorway.</p> - -<p>The old one still sat as Neju had left him, motionless, staring at the -strange weapon before him. He did not even look up when Neju entered.</p> - -<p>"Come, Father," Neju said very gently.</p> - -<p>"Eh?"</p> - -<p>Neju glanced over his shoulder. The sky demon was heading straight for -the lodge.</p> - -<p>Very tenderly, Neju drew the old one to his feet. He wrapped two arms -around his body, protectively. "We must hurry, Father."</p> - -<p>The old one blinked, but he moved as Neju urged, and the two of them -stepped from the back entrance of the lodge. The helicopter was flying -low, and it seemed almost on top of them.</p> - -<p>It was then that the Chieftain saw it. There was fear and wonder in his -eyes.</p> - -<p>"We must run!" Neju said.</p> - -<p>Together they trampled across the dying garden, their feet moving -rapidly, and the old one's breath came in sharp rasps.</p> - -<p>Then the very edge of the helicopter's shadow touched them.</p> - -<p>And there was a blinding light and a great wave of air that threw them -to the ground like a giant hand, and there was a roar greater than the -northern cataracts. And the sound and light was gone, but still their -ears rang with the thunder of it and their eyes pained.</p> - -<p>Ahead of them there was another roar. And a group of huts seemed to -come apart from quick flashes inside of them. Bits of the lodge plopped -down on their backs, and one huge piece of timber embedded in the earth -only a foot from Neju's body.</p> - -<p>Neju threw himself over the old Chieftain to protect him; he felt dirt -and sticks and dust shower over him and the air smelled sharp and -bitter and stifling.</p> - -<p><i>Wham! Wham! Wham!</i></p> - -<p>The earth jarred with explosions, one after another, measured, -methodical. Neju gritted his teeth and closed his eyes tightly.</p> - -<p>And the world was light and noise and flying debris.</p> - -<p>Then it was over. Neju was holding his breath. For several minutes, he -did not dare lift his head; his ears rang and his head was weighted. He -brushed at it, and his hand came away wet with blood.</p> - -<p>He looked up, and the air demon was gone.</p> - -<p>The lodge was no more—only a smoking crater, and, except for two huts, -miraculously intact, all of the village was mashed flat as though a -giant hammer had worked it over carefully.</p> - -<p>Neju bent to the Chieftain. The old one moaned.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>They constructed a crude shelter for the Chieftain back of the -clearing, fast in the forest, where the old one could not see the -scene of destruction. All that night, almost fearfully, the villagers -crouched near him. When the moon first dropped its rays across his face -they all tensed, hushed, waiting, and when his breathing continued they -sighed in relief (for he would live another day: a Chieftain's spirit -always goes up the first moon path to the stars, or else it will not -leave until the moon path comes again).</p> - -<p>The night was long and cold, and toward dawn, they drew in upon each -other and the fire for warmth.</p> - -<p>When the sun was an hour high and the hasty meal was over, the young -hunters surrounded Neju, looking to him for leadership since the last -of the royal line lay in a coma.</p> - -<p>"You will be our leader until our Chieftain Father is well again," they -told Neju, one after another.</p> - -<p>Neju sat for a long time in thought and silence. At last he said, -almost sadly, "I will serve until the old Father is well again."</p> - -<p>There was a relieved sigh from the listeners.</p> - -<p>Again there was a long silence.</p> - -<p>Neju toyed with a new grass shoot, rubbing it between his fingers. He -rumbled deep in his chest to break the silence. "We must move further -into the forest. Wait for the god-men and the demons to go away. We -cannot fight."</p> - -<p>"Perhaps they will not go away."</p> - -<p>Neju thought about this. "The Old Gods came from the sky," he said. -"The Old Gods went away." He looked around him at the circle of taut, -angry faces. "I do not like to give up our home ground," he said -slowly. He shrugged helplessly. "With two demons, one to watch while -the other sleeps, how can we steal near enough to destroy them?" He -looked at the mashed grass shoot. "The earth is kind. We can live and -be happy in some new place."</p> - -<p>A hunter slipped out of the brush near Neju, scarcely rustling it. Neju -turned his head and the hunter bent and whispered in his ear. Neju -looked suddenly concerned and frightened. He stood up, motioning for -the others to keep their seats. He turned and followed the hunter into -the forest.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>They threaded their way toward what was left of their village. Near the -edge of the natural clearing, the hunter hissed and began to advance -cautiously.</p> - -<p>When they both stood looking out from behind a clump of <i>clato</i>, Neju -saw a group of the god-men in the middle of the wrecked village; the -god-men were poking around idly, kicking rubble, fingering this and -that. They talked. Their voices were, to Neju, slow, low pitched, lazy. -Neju held his breath, watching.</p> - -<p>Finally one of the god-men, seemingly the leader, started toward the -very spot where they were standing.</p> - -<p>Neju and his companions drew back hastily, and their movements rustled -a dew heavy bush, causing it to shower a spray of water on the dead -leaves of the ground.</p> - -<p>Almost immediately, there was the deadly hiss of the leader's weapon, -and a projectile thudded into a tree, just to the left of Neju.</p> - -<p>"I saw two of them! Over here!" the leader called, running heavily -toward the forest. The other god-men galvanized into action.</p> - -<p>"Let's hide," Neju's companion whimpered, terrified.</p> - -<p>"No! They'd find us. Follow me." Neju started off, skirting the -clearing, going away from the direction of the villagers' temporary -camp.</p> - -<p>The god-men fired four times in the direction of their flight. The -shots came at short, measured intervals, and they struck in a fan-like -arc. The nearest one snapped by Neju's ear with a loud popping noise.</p> - -<p>"This way!" the god-man cried excitedly crashing after his prey. He was -joined by the others, all running heavily, and the air was filled with -their coarse explosive curses.</p> - -<p>Neju and the hunter ran for what seemed a long time, the noise of -pursuit still loud behind them. Then the noise ceased.</p> - -<p>Neju stopped, puzzled, breathing heavily. On the other side of a small -clump of viny <i>scarbj</i>, there was the sound of god-men's voices.</p> - -<p>"They might be leading us into a trap," the one said.</p> - -<p>There was assent.</p> - -<p>"They must be near. I don't hear 'em runnin' any more. Over that way. -Let's spray that whole damn section!"</p> - -<p>Their weapons began to hiss.</p> - -<p>Neju instinctively dropped flat to the ground. In following his lead, -the hunter coughed once, a projectile catching him in the chest even as -he was dropping. Blood gurgled in his throat.</p> - -<p>"That's one, by God!" one of the god-men cried in elation, and after -another barrage of increased violence, they began to withdraw, -nervously, darting glances at the quiet trees around them.</p> - -<p>Neju remained motionless. Then, leaving his dead comrade, he set off at -a lope in the direction of the makeshift camp.</p> - -<p>When he arrived the villagers were still huddled fearfully together.</p> - -<p>Neju walked to the circle of young hunters. "They killed Whenj just -now," he said without preamble.</p> - -<p>He sat down.</p> - -<p>"Come here!" he said. "I want you all to come here!"</p> - -<p>Slowly the natives gathered around him.</p> - -<p>"Sit down."</p> - -<p>They sat down, and Neju waited until they quieted. There was fear and -uncertainty in the air; mothers darted anxious glances in the direction -of their sons.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Neju began to speak. He spoke slowly. "I have just seen the god-men -chase and kill. They are controlled by demons that cannot be appeased. -One has only to hear them—the hate in their voices—to know." He -swallowed and looked around at the green brilliant foliage and listened -to the life movements in the trees. "I said that we should move away -into the forest.... But now.... I cannot think like a demon, but I -somehow see that ... unlike the Old Gods ... the demons will not leave -us to the world in peace. They are creatures of hate, who will hunt us -out, little by little, and destroy us all...." He looked around at the -frightened faces. "They will build more and bigger villages for their -servants, the god-men. They will strip away our forests and burn our -grasses. They will kill our food and destroy our homes wherever they -find them. They will trample our gardens. They will force us back and -ever further back until we have no place left to go.... And only after -they have killed us all, only then, will the demons be satisfied and -leave our world.... That is what I see."</p> - -<p>The rest, terrified, waited.</p> - -<p>"I am your Chieftain while the Father is ill. Yet, I cannot command you -in this. What shall we do? Shall we flee to live in fear, or...?"</p> - -<p>There was a sad little moan from the women.</p> - -<p>"One demon," Neju said, "we might have killed. But I do not know how -many demons there are."</p> - -<p>The men moved nervously.</p> - -<p>Finally one said, very softly, "If there are a hundred, we must not -flee."</p> - -<p>Assent muttered among them.</p> - -<p>"Very well," Neju said. He stood up. "I will go see the Father. He must -guide me in my actions now. Perhaps he can recall a weapon to fight -demons with. Perhaps the destruction of the village will help him to -think."</p> - -<p>From the distance there was the great beat of demon wings on the air.</p> - -<p>Neju went to the old one. He frowned at the woman who had been assigned -to care for him. She stood, bowed, and withdrew.</p> - -<p>Neju sat down beside the Father.</p> - -<p>"Father," he said softly. "Father, can you hear me?"</p> - -<p>The Chieftain moved his head wearily; his lips opened slowly. "Yes," he -whispered.</p> - -<p>"We must destroy great demons. We must have the help of the Old Gods. -What must we do, Father? You could not remember when Zoee asked you. -Can you remember now?"</p> - -<p>The Chieftain lay silent for a long time. A tiny insect crawled -unnoticed over one wrinkled arm. He had heard the question but somehow -the sense had gone out of the words. The Old Gods—did he believe in -Old Gods? Was that the question?</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>He tried to remember: Old Gods had come from the sky—but that had -been long ago. His father had seen them—no, no—grandfather, wasn't -it? Or even further back than that? The Chieftain imagined the stars, -which were bright souls in the sky, and had the Old Gods really come -down from the sky at all? Maybe no one had ever seen them: maybe it was -a dream, there were so many dreams. Here he was dreaming that he was -old, and only yesterday his mother had whipped him for going too near -the <i>yeama</i> Zaptl had staked out over at the base of the hill. Or was -it yesterday?</p> - -<p>"We must have the Old Gods' help," Neju repeated quietly.</p> - -<p>The Old Gods' help? He tried to remember. There had been something—a -dance—a ritual—a chant, hadn't there?</p> - -<p>"For the killing of demons."</p> - -<p>The Chieftain was tired. It seemed that there was something important -to remember. Hadn't.... What was it?</p> - -<p>"Please, Father."</p> - -<p>The old one wished the voice would go away because he was sleepy. -<i>Wasn't that the moonlight on his face?</i></p> - -<p>"Pray," he said, dying.</p> - -<p>After a time, Neju stood up. The Chieftain was very quiet.</p> - -<p>He left the side of the dead and turned to the female waiting a short -distance away. "After the moon has taken his soul tonight, prepare him -for the funeral. His soul is very quiet as it waits. And there is no -need to disturb him."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Pray, the old one had said. The moon came down full, splintering beams -on a tangle of branches overhead. The old Chieftain was covered with -the ceremonial cloak of fur and by his side the formal mourner buried -her head in her hands, rocked back and forth intoning musically, "Ah, -ahhhhha, ah, ah."</p> - -<p>"Old Gods," Neju said, standing in the middle of the villagers, "... -Old Gods, I do not know how to talk to you the way I should." His voice -was small and embarrassed. "I hope you do not mind too much. I'm trying -to get it right. Old Gods, legends tell how you controlled mighty -demons when you came to our world. Now there have come to our world -some demons who control god-men." He wrinkled his brow, trying to state -the case as dearly as possible.</p> - -<p>"These demons are very bad. They kill our people." He paused a moment. -"We want you to help us kill these demons so the god-men will be free -and we can live without fear."</p> - -<p>Neju waited. The ground did not tremble. The moon did not darken. The -Old Gods did not answer.</p> - -<p>"Maybe we haven't any right to ask, for ourselves," Neju said. "But -for the god-men, who are your brothers from the sky. Help us to free -<i>them</i>, Old Gods. They want to be free, like all things want to be -free."</p> - -<p>Still the Old Gods did not answer.</p> - -<p>Slowly, from mouth to mouth, a moan passed among the villagers.</p> - -<p>"Answer us, Old Gods," Neju pleaded.</p> - -<p>The moan grew louder and louder.</p> - -<p>"Answer us, Old Gods," Neju repeated. "Please answer us."</p> - -<p>And still no answer; only a vagrant breeze in the leaves; no sound, no -voice, no sign that the Old Gods had heard.</p> - -<p>And the moan died helplessly.</p> - -<p>Neju stood, head bowed until silence came.</p> - -<p>"I cannot talk to the Gods," he said. "I am no Chieftain. I am not -worthy to talk to Gods."</p> - -<p>"We prayed too," a female said. "We all prayed with you. And still they -did not answer."</p> - -<p>Neju smiled twistedly. "We do not know how to pray. Or the Gods do not -know how to listen."</p> - -<p>The female said, "They came long ago. Perhaps they have forgotten us."</p> - -<p>Silence fell.</p> - -<p>Neju looked toward the dead Chieftain. "How can I lead you, unless They -make a sign?"</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Morning. A <i>corlieu</i> dropped into the clearing to beg for food. A fire -sputtered wetly. The mourners came back from the Chieftain's grave -(only they knew its location, and the autumn leaves hid the spot).</p> - -<p>The hunters slowly came to Neju. They stood awkwardly in a circle -around him. Finally one spoke.</p> - -<p>"We talked among ourselves, last night, after you went away."</p> - -<p>"Yes?" Neju said.</p> - -<p>The native shifted on his feet. "You say we must destroy the demons. As -you say, we cannot run, only to run again and again."</p> - -<p>"The Old Gods did not make a sign to me," Neju said wearily.</p> - -<p>"The Father said only to pray. He did not say that They would answer."</p> - -<p>Neju considered this gravely.</p> - -<p>"We must give the god-men heart," the native continued. "They must take -courage from us. Together with the god-men, we can defeat the demons. -If the Old Gods do not help us, the god-men must."</p> - -<p>Neju still listened; only his arms moved, restlessly.</p> - -<p>"First we must show the god-men that <i>we</i> are not afraid of demons."</p> - -<p>Neju waited.</p> - -<p>"All of us, children, females, the old, all, must go toward their -village, beating drums, crying encouragement. We must show no fear. The -god-men will take heart."</p> - -<p>Neju stirred.</p> - -<p>"They will see that we are not afraid, and they will lose <i>their</i> fear. -Together we will turn on the evil demons and destroy them. And you must -lead us."</p> - -<p>"Leave me," Neju said. "I must think about it."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Neju stood for the hour preceding the heat. The sun moved to a position -directly overhead. Then he arose stiffly.</p> - -<p>"People!" he called.</p> - -<p>The villagers stopped their work. They turned to face him.</p> - -<p>"Come to me!" he called.</p> - -<p>They came.</p> - -<p>"You have heard the plan of the hunters?" he asked when they were -quiet.</p> - -<p>One by one they nodded their heads.</p> - -<p>"And you are not afraid?"</p> - -<p>They were silent. Finally, one said, "We are afraid. But we will do -what must be done."</p> - -<p>"... Very well," Neju said. "If it is what you wish, I will lead you."</p> - -<p>"We only do what we must," one said.</p> - -<p>Neju looked them over carefully. "We will eat, and then we will leave. -We will travel to the village of the god-men. Each of you will bring an -instrument upon which to make noise to frighten the demons and hearten -the god-men."</p> - -<p>They nodded, silently, and began to drift away.</p> - -<p>Neju named three hunters to remain with him.</p> - -<p>"Before we do this," he told them when the others had gone, "we must -try once more to slip beyond the wall and slay the demons."</p> - -<p>"They will guard each other," a hunter protested. "We cannot overcome -them without the help of the god-men."</p> - -<p>"We must try," Neju said.</p> - -<p>The three hunters looked at each other.</p> - -<p>"We will leave the party at the edge of the clearing when the moon is -high and try as we did before. And if we fail then they must follow us -crying encouragement to the god-men. But we must try first."</p> - -<p>The hunters, one by one, said, "We will obey you."</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>They gathered, all of them. And they began to move: a slow, twisting -line, hesitating now and again to help the older members. A baby cried -and its mother shushed it. The forest was alive with movement and -chattering. There was fear and resolve on the natives' faces.</p> - -<p>Neju and the three hunters led them. They scouted the territory ahead.</p> - -<p>The column rested frequently and the aged clucked to themselves, -confused, uncertain. And the others tried to reassure them and make -them comfortable. The children ranged, but not far. The tame <i>corlieu</i> -followed them in the tree tops, chattering down, from time to time, -bewildered.</p> - -<p>On they moved and the sun fell and the first forest shadows came out to -welcome the night. The sunset shower came, unusually heavy, silencing -the forest sounds by its patter on the leaves. The air smelled new and -crisp.</p> - -<p>A group of birds huddled together, chirping sleepily, in a century old -<i>conje</i> tree.</p> - -<p>"We must hurry," Neju said.</p> - -<p>And the column moved faster, its sounds of movement being hushed by the -damp foliage. Vines and branches parted before it and folded into place -after it, swishing softly. The children huddled in, and the column -hurried.</p> - -<p>When twilight was full upon the forest, and the first bright hero souls -were in the sky, Neju slipped back from the advance of the column to -whisper, "We are almost there. Be very still."</p> - -<p>Neju gestured that they should spread out, and when their positions -suited him, he motioned for them to advance.</p> - -<p>And finally they came to the edge of the forest.</p> - -<p>There lay the stockade, asparkle with electric lights. The females drew -in sharp breaths at the sight of such a magnificent structure—Ah, -what the demons build for their servants! they seemed to say. And the -helicopter, coming in from a long flight of exploration settled inside -the stockade, its blades sparkling in the new moon.</p> - -<p>The natives shuddered in superstitious awe; they clutched their noise -makers closer to their bodies as if for protection.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Neju and the three hunters were at the edge of the grasses; the -stockade was silent except for the pound of sentry boots.</p> - -<p>Neju motioned for the three to remain. He hunched his body and ran -to the base of the wall, breaking the almost invisible wire without -noticing.</p> - -<p>On the wall a red light blinked three times. But Neju did not notice -it. Frantically his hands sought holds in the trunks of the wall.</p> - -<p>"Here's one of them!" someone cried above. "Over here!"</p> - -<p>"They didn't catch us asleep this time!" another voice said.</p> - -<p>"I toldja they'd be back!"</p> - -<p>There was swearing, and Neju froze, terrified.</p> - -<p>Above him, the pounding of many boots.</p> - -<p>"What's wrong with this light?... Ah, there!"</p> - -<p>And the light came on.</p> - -<p>It cut a path across the grasses.</p> - -<p>A weapon hissed in the direction of a shadow.</p> - -<p>"They're out there somewhere!"</p> - -<p>"I don't see 'em!"</p> - -<p>A weapon hissed again.</p> - -<p>"See something?"</p> - -<p>"Nah. Thought I did's all."</p> - -<p>Neju pressed in against the wall. The light put him in full view but -still they did not look down. Neju glanced toward his comrades. As yet -those on the wall had not seen them.</p> - -<p>"Hey! Look!" a god-man screamed. "There's one!"</p> - -<p>Neju looked up.</p> - -<p>"Right there!"</p> - -<p>And Neju tensed, waiting.</p> - -<p>"Well, I'll be damned!"</p> - -<p>Neju was looking into two of their faces; the faces were demon -controlled, contorted with fear and hate. He saw one of the god-men -bring up a weapon. He stared unbelieving into it.</p> - -<p>It spurted flame.</p> - -<p>In his left side he felt a hot searing arrow of fire. His hands -relaxed and he was falling. He fell a long time, through sickness and -unreality. Then he was not falling.</p> - -<p>In the distance he heard the drum beats and cries from his people. He -wanted to tell them something. He twitched in pain trying to cry out.</p> - -<p>"Look!" the god-men cried.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The natives burst from the forest crying encouragement to the god-men. -"Take heart! Turn on the demons! We will free you! Join us!"</p> - -<p>"Like sitting ducks!" someone on the wall screamed in elation. "Look at -'em come! Crazy! Chatterin' like monkeys!"</p> - -<p>The natives were nearer, shaking their noise makers, screaming.</p> - -<p>Someone on the wall smiled and fired and one of the natives stumbled -and fell.</p> - -<p>"Like sitting ducks!" he screamed.</p> - -<p>The other god-men began swiveling their most powerful weapons, focusing -the natives in their sights.</p> - -<p>And still the natives came, crying that the god-men take heart.</p> - -<p><i>And then the ground trembled!</i></p> - -<p>The forest behind the natives began to crackle; trees came apart in all -directions flying like matchwood.</p> - -<p>A giant being trampled aside all obstructions with invincible power.</p> - -<p>Then the metal monster was clear of the forest. It hovered carefully -over, around, between the natives.</p> - -<p>The stockade light swung, halted.</p> - -<p>And a concerted gasp went up from the wall; then curses of terror.</p> - -<p>There it stood. A shining colossus. Huge. And serene beyond imagining. -It was facing the stockade.</p> - -<p>It had traveled far: from the deep, sheltered cave in the far -north—where it had rested in silence until, upon its vastly complex -and sensitive electronic brain it had received the commands of its -owners. After many, many years, as the little child master had thought, -they had need of it.</p> - -<p>It moved again.</p> - -<p>Stockade weapons swiveled; all the hellish energy that they were -capable of spewed in its direction.</p> - -<p>In its way, it smiled.</p> - -<p>Then, very methodically, it began to take the stockade apart, cracking -the <i>conje</i> trunks like toothpicks.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"> - <img src="images/illus.jpg" alt=""/> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p>It noticed one of its masters, Neju, lying wounded by the base of the -stockade. It bent and carefully scooped him up. It placed him tenderly -in the shoulder pocket, out of harm's way, observing the seriousness of -his wound and automatically remembering the proper treatment.</p> - -<p>The helicopter took off and headed east.</p> - -<p>Absently the toy of a child of the Old Gods swatted the helicopter out -of the air, knocking it nearly a quarter of a mile before it crashed -into the <i>conje</i> trunks of the forest....</p> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE TOY ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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