The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Hoofer, by Walter M. Miller

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Title: The Hoofer

Author: Walter M. Miller

Release Date: June 19, 2009 [EBook #29170]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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_A wayfarer's return from a far country to his wife and family may
be a shining experience, a kind of second honeymoon. Or it may be so
shadowed by Time's relentless tyranny that the changes which have
occurred in his absence can lead only to tragedy and despair. This
rarely discerning, warmly human story by a brilliant newcomer to the
science fantasy field is told with no pulling of punches, and its
adroit unfolding will astound you._

the
hoofer

_by ... Walter M. Miller, Jr._

A space rover has no business with a family. But what can a man
in the full vigor of youth do--if his heart cries out for a home?

They all knew he was a spacer because of the white goggle marks on his
sun-scorched face, and so they tolerated him and helped him. They even
made allowances for him when he staggered and fell in the aisle of the
bus while pursuing the harassed little housewife from seat to seat and
cajoling her to sit and talk with him.

Having fallen, he decided to sleep in the aisle. Two men helped him to
the back of the bus, dumped him on the rear seat, and tucked his gin
bottle safely out of sight. After all, he had not seen Earth for nine
months, and judging by the crusted matter about his eyelids, he couldn't
have seen it too well now, even if he had been sober. Glare-blindness,
gravity-legs, and agoraphobia were excuses for a lot of things, when a
man was just back from Big Bottomless. And who could blame a man for
acting strangely?

Minutes later, he was back up the aisle and swaying giddily over the
little housewife. "How!" he said. "Me Chief Broken Wing. You wanta
Indian wrestle?"

The girl, who sat nervously staring at him, smiled wanly, and shook her
head.

"Quiet li'l pigeon, aren'tcha?" he burbled affectionately, crashing