FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   >>  
nned his complete space suit, in order to impress them the more, then stalked into the middle of them, and said, "Pick up all your possessions and follow me." They stared at him, and he showed them what he meant by picking up the belongings of one household in his gloved hands, and handing them to a waiting woman. Then, when they had grasped the idea and were gathering all they owned, he led them toward the safety of the trees. Five minutes after they had set off, the lava began to flow from the new-born volcano, scorching the ground for a hundred yards around, sparks smoking and smoldering in the treetops. The head start he had given them was enough to help them escape the resultant forest fire. All that day they traveled, until finally they came to a forest which couldn't burn, and here they rested. And here they settled down to build their lives anew. It must have been a comfort to know that a god had led them to safety and was helping them make the new start. Bradley helped them with his gun, which blasted dangerous beasts, and even more with his slightly superior knowledge. He showed them how to fashion tools from stone and how to use these to build better huts. He taught them how to make swords and other weapons, so that henceforth they wouldn't be forced to rely for defense on poison alone. He was the most industrious god since Vulcan. And in helping them he found that he had no time for Aoooya. Came the day when the new village settled down to its changed routine of life. The morning ceremony before his new shrine had just been completed, but Bradley was not satisfied. Something was wrong. Yanyoo's demeanor, Aoooya's-- With a shock, Bradley realized what it was. From old Yanyoo down the line, none of the natives seemed to have their original fear of him. There was respect, there was affection, certainly, but the respect and affection were those due an older brother rather than a god. And he was not displeased. Being a god had been a wearying business. Being a friend might be a great deal more pleasant. Yes, the change was something to be happy about. * * * * * But he had little time to be happy. For that same morning, there came what he had so long dreaded. Out of a clear, shipless sky, Malevski appeared, strolling toward him as casually as if he had been there all along, and said, "Nice little ceremony you have here." "Hello, Malevski. Don't give me the credit.
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   >>  



Top keywords:

Bradley

 

ceremony

 

safety

 
morning
 
helping
 

Yanyoo

 
showed
 

Malevski

 

settled

 

Aoooya


respect
 

affection

 

forest

 

demeanor

 

realized

 
shrine
 

industrious

 

Vulcan

 

defense

 
poison

completed

 
satisfied
 

village

 

changed

 

routine

 

Something

 

dreaded

 
shipless
 

appeared

 

credit


strolling

 

casually

 

change

 

forced

 

natives

 

original

 

brother

 

pleasant

 

friend

 

business


displeased

 

wearying

 

volcano

 

scorching

 

ground

 

hundred

 
treetops
 

sparks

 

smoking

 

smoldering