The Project Gutenberg EBook of Step IV, by Rosel George Brown

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Title: Step IV

Author: Rosel George Brown

Illustrator: Varga

Release Date: January 7, 2010 [EBook #30884]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK STEP IV ***

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Transcriber's Note:

This etext was produced from Amazing Stories June 1960. Extensive
research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S.
copyright on this publication was renewed.

[Illustration]

_Steps 1, 2 and 3 went according
to plan. Then she moved on to...._

STEP IV

By ROSEL GEORGE BROWN

ILLUSTRATOR VARGA

* * * * *

The first time Juba saw him, she couldn't help recalling the
description of Ariovistus in _Julius Caesar_: _Hominem esse barbarum,
iracundum, temerarium._

She unpinned the delicate laesa from her hair, for Terran spacemen are
educated, and if they have a choice, or seem to have, prefer seduction
to rape.

Step. I. A soft answer turneth away wrath, leaving time for making
plans.

He caught the flower, pleased with himself, Juba saw, for not
fumbling, pleased with his manhood, pleased with his morality in
deciding not to rape her.

Rule a--A man pleased with himself is off guard.

* * * * *

He was big, even for a Man, and all hair, and in his heavy arms the
veins were knotted and very blue. He had taken off his shirt, letting
the air blow shamelessly over him.

It was true he was wonderful to see. And Juba knew that such is the
nature of our violences, if she had been born into such a body, she
too, would be a thing of wars and cruelty, a burner of cities, a
carrier of death and desolation.

His face softened, as though the hand of Juno had passed over it.
Softly he gazed at the flower, softly at Juba.

Rule b--This is the only time they are tractable.