The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Link, by Alan Edward Nourse

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Title: The Link

Author: Alan Edward Nourse

Release Date: October 3, 2007 [EBook #22876]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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Transcriber's Note:

This etext was produced from _The Counterfeit Man More Science
Fiction Stories by Alan E. Nourse_ published in 1963. Extensive
research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S. copyright on
this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and typographical
errors have been corrected without note.

The
Link

It was nearly sundown when Ravdin eased the ship down into the last slow
arc toward the Earth's surface. Stretching his arms and legs, he tried
to relax and ease the tension in his tired muscles. Carefully, he
tightened the seat belt for landing; below him he could see the vast,
tangled expanse of Jungle-land spreading out to the horizon. Miles ahead
was the bright circle of the landing field and the sparkling glow of the
city beyond. Ravdin peered to the north of the city, hoping to catch a
glimpse of the concert before his ship was swallowed by the brilliant
landing lights.

A bell chimed softly in his ear. Ravdin forced his attention back to the
landing operation. He was still numb and shaken from the Warp-passage,
his mind still muddled by the abrupt and incredible change. Moments
before, the sky had been a vast, starry blanket of black velvet; then,
abruptly, he had been hovering over the city, sliding down toward warm
friendly lights and music. He checked the proper switches, and felt the
throbbing purr of the anti-grav motors as the ship slid in toward the
landing slot. Tall spires of other ships rose to meet him, circle upon
circle of silver needles pointing skyward. A little later they were
blotted out as the ship was grappled into the berth from which it had
risen days before.

With a sigh, Ravdin eased himself out of the seat, his heart pounding
with excitement. Perhaps, he thought, he was too excited,