diff options
Diffstat (limited to '78751-h/78751-h.htm')
| -rw-r--r-- | 78751-h/78751-h.htm | 200 |
1 files changed, 200 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/78751-h/78751-h.htm b/78751-h/78751-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..37fc722 --- /dev/null +++ b/78751-h/78751-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,200 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> +<head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> + <title> + Silly Asses | Project Gutenberg + </title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + +h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + 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%;} +@media print { hr.chap {display: none; visibility: hidden;} } + + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} +h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} + +.center {text-align: center;} + + +figcaption {font-weight: bold;} +figcaption p {margin-top: 0; margin-bottom: .2em; text-align: inherit;} + +/* Images */ + +img { + max-width: 100%; + height: auto; +} +.figcenter { + margin: auto; + text-align: center; + page-break-inside: avoid; + max-width: 100%; +} + + +/* Transcriber's notes */ +.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; + color: black; + font-size:small; + padding:0.5em; + margin-bottom:5em; + font-family:sans-serif, serif; +} + +.f15 {font-size: 1.5em;} +img.w20 {width: 20em;} +.mb2 { margin-bottom: 2em; } + +/* Illustration classes */ +.illowe113_8750 {width: 113.8750em;} + </style> +</head> + +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78751 ***</div> + + +<figure class="figcenter illowe113_8750" id="cover"> + <img class="w20" src="images/cover.jpg" alt=""> + <figcaption> + Transcribed from Future Science Fiction #35, February 1958 + </figcaption> +</figure> +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> + +<h1> +Silly Asses +</h1> + + +<p class="center f15">by <strong>Isaac Asimov</strong></p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div> + +<p class="center f15 mb2">A Vignette</p> + + +<p>Naron of the long-lived Rigellian race was the fourth of his line to +keep the Galactic records.</p> + +<p>He had the large book which contained the +list of the numerous races throughout the Galaxies that had developed +intelligence, and the much smaller book listing those races that +had reached maturity and had qualified for the Galactic Federation. +In the first book, a number of those listed were crossed out; those +that, for one reason or another, had failed. Misfortune; biochemical +or biophysical shortcomings; social maladjustment, etc., took their +toll. In the smaller book, however, no member listed had yet blanked +out.</p> + +<p>And now Naron, large and incredibly ancient, looked up as a +messenger approached.</p> + +<p>“Naron,” said the messenger. “Great One!”</p> + +<p>“Well, +well, what is it? Less ceremony.”</p> + +<p>“Another group of organisms has +attained maturity.”</p> + +<p>“Excellent. Excellent. They are coming up quickly +now. Scarcely a year passes without a new one. And who are these?”</p> + +<p>The messenger gave the code number of the Galaxy and the coordinates +of the world within it.</p> + +<p>“Ah, yes,” said Naron. “I know the world.” +And in flowing script, he noted it in the first book and transferred +its name into the second—using, as was customary, the name by +which the planet was known to the largest fraction of its populace. +He wrote: Earth.</p> + +<p>He said, “These new creatures have set a record. No +other group has passed from intelligence to maturity so quickly. No +mistake, I hope.”</p> + +<p>“None, sir,” said the messenger.</p> + +<p>“They have attained to thermonuclear power, have they?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>“Well, that’s the criterion.” Naron chuckled. “And soon their ships +will probe out and contact the Federation.”</p> + +<p>“Actually, Great One,” said the messenger, +reluctantly, “the Observers tell us they have not yet penetrated +space.”</p> + +<p>Naron was astonished. “Not at all? Not even a space station?”</p> + +<p>“Not yet, sir.”</p> + +<p>“But if they have thermonuclear power, where then do +they conduct their tests and detonations?”</p> + +<p>“On their own planet, sir.”</p> + +<p>Naron rose to his full twenty feet of hight and thundered, “On their +<i>own</i> planet?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, sir.”</p> + +<p>Slowly, Naron drew out his stylus and passed +a line through the latest addition in the smaller book. It was an +unprecedented act, but, then, Naron was very wise and could see the +inevitable as well as anyone in the Galaxy.</p> + +<p>“Silly asses,” he muttered.</p> + + +<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop"> +<div class="chapter"></div><div class="transnote"> + <h2 class="nobreak" id="Transcribers_Note"> + Transcriber’s Note: + </h2> + + + +<p>This etext was produced from Future Science Fiction, February 1958 +(#35). Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. +copyright on this publication was renewed.</p> + +<p>Obvious errors have been silently corrected in this version.</p> +</div> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 78751 ***</div> +</body> +</html> |