The Project Gutenberg EBook of Out of the Earth, by George Edrich

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Title: Out of the Earth

Author: George Edrich

Release Date: March 11, 2010 [EBook #31597]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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_This is not a story about the Dero! This _is_ a story about a lost
people--a persuasive and haunting story about a people, in a not too
distant future, who have been forgotten by history. And it is the
story of a little group of courageous people, determined to prove
that Death was a Myth!_

out
of
the
earth

_by GEORGE EDRICH_

Offences against the State meant elimination in the
Black Passage. Death. And these people were to die!

First Awake, 2 Juli, 2207

We have walked much this awake and have stopped now for sleep. Last City
is far behind us. Except for the two lamps we keep lighted to frighten
away the Groles, there is nothing but blackness in the passage. The
others are sleeping, and close beside me, Nina sleeps also. The sound of
her breathing is all I have in the darkness.

Thoughts are not clear when the body is so tired, and the things that
have happened seem unreal, like something dreamed. The arrest--the State
Guards in their black uniforms--coming to our cubicle in the middle of
the sleep hours--frightening Nina.

Ten awakes and sleeps of not knowing why. Then the trial--"Jon Farmer
8267, we show you a copy of _The Mushroom Farmers' Journal_ of 21
January 2204. We call your attention to the article _Experiments With
Red Lake Mushrooms in Rock Soil_. This article discusses with favor some
policies of the Dictatorium of President Charles 27, an Enemy of the
State. Do you admit to writing this treason?"

You are not permitted to answer the Judges in a State trial because they
know the answers to everything they ask you. But while they were talking
together, I thought how different things became with time. I remembered
the fine letter from the Secretary of Agriculture of the Dictatorium,
and the two