The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Natives, by Katherine MacLean

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Title: The Natives

Author: Katherine MacLean

Release Date: October 6, 2010 [EBook #33843]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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Transcriber's Note:

This etext was produced Science Fiction Stories 1953. Extensive
research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on
this publication was renewed.

_Sometimes worlds can meet without the inhabitants of either
realizing...._

_The Natives_

by KATHERINE MACLEAN

* * * * *

The old one said, "Stick close by me, child."

"What'll it be like, Grandpa?" The youngster was frightened.

"Dark, very dark, and big. It moves fast, but we'll keep up with it."
The tone was consciously reassuring.

"Dark, Grandpa?"

"Yes, it sucks heat and absorbs light. You'll find out when you're old
and strong enough to swim down to the bottom and see what's there. Now
stay with me when we follow it, and don't get lost in the crowd; and
don't get ahead of me or get too close to it--you might take in too
much, and get overcharged."

"What's 'overcharged,' Grandpa? Can you really get too much?" The
youngster jigged up and down a little with excitement and
anticipation.

For a moment, the oldster turned his attention from watching for the
thing that was coming, and considered him fondly. "Poor youngling. I
forget. You've had no chance to learn what it means to get enough.
You're too young to ride the storms and tap the lightnings.... Listen
now. When a grownup has to let out a flash of blue light, that means
that he's overcharged and spinning off balance inside, and so he has
to save himself by letting out his energy to let down the pressure. So
be careful; take enough, but don't be greedy and take in too much too
suddenly. Now let's just float here with the others and be ready."

It was a beautiful bright day