Tedric by E. E. Smith (great books of all time TXT) ๐
Read free book ยซTedric by E. E. Smith (great books of all time TXT) ๐ยป - read online or download for free at americanlibrarybooks.com
- Author: E. E. Smith
Read book online ยซTedric by E. E. Smith (great books of all time TXT) ๐ยป. Author - E. E. Smith
"Not that, sire, ever. If there's anything in this world or the next I don't want to be, it's Lady Rhoann's brother."
"Make him Lord of the Marches, father," the girl said, sharply. "Knowst what the sages said."
"'Twould be better," the monarch agreed. "Tedric of old Lomarr, I appoint you Lord of the Upper, the Middle, and the Lower Marches, the Highest of the High."
Tedric went to his knees. "I thank you, sire. Have I your backing in wiping out what is left of Sarpedion's power?"
"If you will support the Throne with the strength I so clearly see is to be yours, I will back you, with the full power of the Throne, in anything you wish to do."
"Of course I will support you, sire, as long as I live and with all that in me lies. Since time first was my blood has been vassal to yours, and ever will be. My brain, my liver, and my heart are yours."
"I thank you, Lord Tedric. Proceed."
Tedric snapped to his feet. His sword flashed high in air. His heavy voice rang out.
"People of Lomarr, listen to a herald of the Throne! Sarpedion is dead; Llosir lives. Human sacrificeโyes, all sacrifice except the one I am about to perform, of Sarpedion himself to Llosirโis done. That is and will be the law. To that end there will be no more priests, but a priestess only. I speak as herald for the Throne of Lomarr!"
He turned to the girl, still clinging to his side. "I had it first in mind, Lady Rhoann, to make you priestess, but...."
"Not I!" she interrupted, vigorously. "No priestess I, Lord Tedric!"
"By Llosir's brain, girl, you're rightโyou've been wasted long enough!"
In another time-track another Skandos and another Furmin, almost but not quite identical with those first so named, pored over a chronoviagram.
"The key point in time is there," the Prime Physicist said, thoughtfully, placing the point of his pencil near one jagged peak of the trace. "The key figure is Lord Tedric of Lomarr, the discoverer of the carburization of steel. He could be manipulated very easily ... but, after all, the real catastrophe is about three hundred eighteen years away; there is nothing alarming about the shape of the curve; and any interference with the actual physical events of the past would almost certainly prove calamitous. Over the years I have found your judgment good. What is your thought on this matter, Furmin?"
"I would say to wait, at least for a few weeks or months. Even though eight hundred twelve fails, number eight hundred fifty or number nine hundred may succeed. At very worst, we will be in the same position then as now to take the action which has for a hundred years been specifically forbidden by both Council and School."
"So be it."
THE END
The People Who Make OTHER WORLDS
No. 11
EDWARD E. SMITH
Born May 2, 1890; Sheboygan, Wisconsin. In December of the same year the family moved to Spokane, Washington, where we lived for about twelve years. I went to school through the sixth grade, sold newspapers, and so onโthe routine life of a husky kid living on the wrong side of the tracks.
In 1902 we moved to a homestead on the Pend d'Oreille River, in northern Idaho. There, besides picking up (in rather sketchy fashion) three more years of schooling, I worked at clearing land, harvesting, hay-baling, ranching, and umpteen different jobs in lumbering: from swamping out logs in the woods clear through to planing finished lumber in the mills.
Deciding that I didn't like the woods, I let my older brother and sisters back me into a stiff collar and ship me to the prep school of the University of Idaho. From 1907 until 1914 I was either in school or earning money to go back. Mining, surveying, dozens of jobs in many linesโfar too many to list here.
In 1914 I graduated in chemical engineering. First job offered was in food work in the Bureau of Chemistry, Washington, D. C. Took it, and started studying organic and food chemistry at George Washington University. Married Jeannie MacDougall, of Boise, Idaho (formerly of Glasgow, Scotland) on Oct. 5, 1915. Three childrenโand, as of 1952, eight grandchildren. Became a specialist in cereal technology.
Came the war. Wanted to fly a Jenny, but chemists were too scarce. (Or were Jennies too valuable?) So they gave me a commission in the reserve and loaned me to Herbert Hooverโfor the duration, as it turned out.
In pursuit of my M.S. and Ph.D. degrees I worked under Charles E. Munroe, probably the greatest high-explosives man yet to live. Got 'emโthe M.S. in 1917, the Ph.D. in 1918; both from George Washington University.
Chief Chemist F. W. Stock & Sons, Hillsdale, Mich., from 1919 to 1936; where I developed a line of fully-prepared cereal mixes; the most important of which turned out to be donut mixes. From 1936 to 1941 I was production manager for the Dawn Donut Co., of Jackson, Mich.
Shortly after Pearl Harbor I went to Kingsbury Ordnance Plant, LaPorte, Ind., as chemical engineer on high explosives. (I was one year over age for reinstatement of my World War One commission). Senior chemical engineer, assistant chief, chief. Late in 1943 I was made head of the Inspection Division, and early in 1944 I was fired. Most of 1944 and most of 1945 I worked in various capacities on light farm machinery and heavy tanks for Allis-Chalmers.
On Oct. 1, 1945, I came to Chicago as manager of the Cereal Mix Division of J. W. Allen & Co., which position I still hold. It's the biggest and best job I ever had. It has only one drawbackโon it, unfortunately, I not only can't write stories on company time, but (since I have to concentrate my one-cylinder brain on SF in order to write SF) I can't write on my own time because the job gets in the way.
Thus, I haven't done much writing since 1945. However, I hope to do more of it from now on. For, although I am only an amateurโor at best, a semi-proโauthor, I certainly do not want to become an ex-author!
End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tedric, by Edward Elmer Smith
Comments (0)