The Project Gutenberg EBook of 'Mid Pleasures and Palaces, by James McKimmey

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Title: 'Mid Pleasures and Palaces

Author: James McKimmey

Illustrator: Philip Parsons

Release Date: March 19, 2010 [EBook #31703]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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_It was, Kirk thought, like standing in a gully, watching a boulder
teeter precariously above you. It might fall at any minute, crushing
your life out instantly beneath its weight. Your only possible
defenses are your brain and voice--but how do you argue with a
boulder which neither sees nor hears?_

'mid pleasures and palaces

By James McKimmey, Jr.

Illustrated by Philip Parsons

This planet was remote and set apart, and nothing about it had made
William Kirk think he might find human life. Yet just beyond, through a
thorny bush shaped like an exploding rose, Kirk had seen eyes and nose
and a flash of yellow hair that were definitely human.

Kirk poised motionless. He was three miles from the rocket and Leo, who
was waiting inside of it. He thought for a moment of how Leo had told
him, as they made their landing, that this is the kind of planet where
you could go no further. This is the kind of planet that could be the
end of twelve years, and you'd better be careful, William, old sport.

Kirk noticed a faint breeze; his palms were wet, and they cooled when
the breeze touched them. He placed his palms against his jacket. Damn
you, Leo, he thought. Damn your rotten fortune-telling. Kirk was
superstitious when he was in space, and the memory of Leo Mason's cool,
quiet voice saying "Watch it now, sport. Be careful, be careful ..."
seemed now like some certain kiss of fate.

The bush trembled and Kirk's right hand flicked to his holster. His
pistol was cold against his fingers and he let it fit loosely in his
hand, the barrel half-raised.

The bush shivered again, and then all at once the figure was rising from
behind it, a tall wide figure with a very tan face, lined an