THE TEMPLE OF EARTH
BY POUL ANDERSON
ILLUSTRATED BY ORBAN
All his life, Rikard had defied the warlords of Coper
City, but even the stoutest outlaw could be outnumbered.
Now Rayth offered him freedom for the death
of the Chief Engineer. It seemed simple enough—until
Rikard began to learn the History of Earth!
[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from
Rocket Stories, July 1953.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
"Here they come!"
Leda's voice vibrated in the ears of the four men with her. They stoodwith their helmets touching so they could talk, eyes looking down therugged sweep of Copernicus to the force which came running upwardagainst them. At their backs, the brutal heights of rock climbed forthe stars, but they stood in a recess between looming crags, as good adefensive position as they could hope for.
"Eight, nine—" Rikard strained his eyes through the queer tricky lightand shadow—the brilliant rushing blue of Earth nearly in full phase,the utter dark of knife-edged umbras, a sprawling savage confusion ofspires and cliffs tumbling down toward the far ghostly shimmer of theplain. "Ten at least, I make it, probably more. It'll be a rough fight."
The tiny metal-glinting specks bounded closer, twenty-foot leaps fromheight to height, and now they could see the sheen of Earthglow onspears and axes. Rikard said slowly: "It will most likely be death ifwe make a stand. Let anyone who wishes go down to them now, and Iwill not think the less of him."
"Down to execution or enslavement? You should know us better thanthat," said Huw. He hefted his own ax, and shadows crept over the foldsof his flexicord suit. "Heh, they'll have to come at us only a few at atime. We'll mince 'em as they do."
A mutter of assent rumbled from Jonak and Chungti. Leda remainedsilent, but one gauntletted hand closed on Rikard's arm.
The outlaw chief's gaunt dark face flashed in a brief grin. "Thankyou," he said. "We'll at least show the damned Copers that Nyrac canstill fight."
He moved away from the group and strung his bow. It was a big one,suitable for the giant who wielded it, and had been in his family fora long time. Plastic bow, wire string, steel arrows that leaped outwith a hundred pounds of force behind them—such a weapon could piercea spacesuit and come out the other side in a rush of air. Wood andcord were of little use on the surface; they dried and cracked in thesucking vacuum, sizzled by day and froze by night. But with this weaponhe had sent more men than he remembered to Earth.
Standing in the abysmal shadow of a crag, he nocked an arrow and tookaim. The bow thrummed in his hand and a bright shaft sprang forth. Oneof the attacking band suddenly leaped up, fell, and rolled down thelong slope with the moisture-laden air gushing out like his fleeingsoul.
"There's one less!" cried Leda savagely, and raised her pike. Noneheard her speak in the looming silence, but they saw her lips laughingbehind the plastic helmet. Rikard turned for a glimpse of her, thestrong fair face, the heavy yellow hair—turned blue and green now bythe pouring Earthlight, but not the less good to look on.
He had stolen her three years before, in a raid on Moonburg, andshe had fought him bitterly for awhile. But later there had beenunderstanding between them, and when the Copers overran Nyrac and heand a few men fled into rebellious exile, she was the only one of hiswives who had come with him. They