"You're a big help, Galen." "We're trying not to leave tracks." "Go closer to the water, don't be afraid to get your feet wet." "My tracks are not cause for suspicion in this part of the world, and besides, we are not quite so fond of water as you humans." " Yuck." " Oh, boy." "I wonder if this is Pismo Beach or Malibu." "Hey, look!" "Come on." "Aaah!" "Hey, it's an old man, Al." "A survivor." "That's not a survivor, It's a victim," "Come on, Pete." "Hey!" "Watch him, Pete, but keep moving." "Galen, let me have your knife." "At least he's still breathing." "Pete... somebody must have put him on the outgoing tide, deliberately." "Let's get him out of here." "Here we go." "Hey!" "Look." "Yeah, yeah." " Over here." " Yeah." "There we go." "There." "Hey, there now." "What's your name, huh?" "Hey, come on." "You understand?" "In shock or deaf?" "It's hard to say." "He might not understand us." "I... am dead." "Leave me." "He understands, I don't." "Hey, listen to me, old man." "Listen to me." "What's your name?" "Where do you come from?" "I... am dead." "You heard him." "Let's go." "Well, we can't just leave him here." "You listen to him." "Now, you're just talking yourself into trouble." "Hey, there you go, pal." "Come on." "You want to tell me your name now?" "I am dead." "The gods have willed it." "Look, you know that, and we know that." "All we'd like to know is, what was your name while you were still alive?" "Gahto." "My name was Gahto." "Gahto, huh?" "Well, that's a start." "Hey." "Pete, look." "For identification, maybe?" "It's gonna be on there for life," "That's a band of an enforced labor camp." "He'll be killed if he's found wandering so far from the permitted area," " What's a permitted area?" " Oh, it varies." "It's some distance from the labor center." "It's a method they have to stop humans from straying." "I am dead." "Believe me." "The gods have willed it." "Somebody sure sold him a bill of goods." "Question:" "If he wants to be dead, why can't he be dead?" "I've known a lot of humans who would be better off" "Is that your question?" "Tsk." "Well" "Then here's the answer, Galen, you're gonna stay here and keep an eye on him." "We're gonna go out and scout the area." "and see if we can find out who old Gahto here belongs to." "Does that meet with your approval?" "Come on." "Pete." "Let's take a walk." "Hey, don't mind him." "He just got up on the wrong side of the cave, huh?" " See you later." " Here." "Thanks," "Gahto." "Gahto!" "Shark!" "Shark!" "Man." "If this is Paradise Cove, they've sure made some changes." "Yeah." "Hey." "Pete, look." "The bracelets." "What do you think?" "I don't know, Pete, They've got a lot of artillery down there." "You!" "What are you doing here?" "Who are you?" "Where did you come from?" "Well, actually, we were just passing through." "We would've called ahead" "Silence!" "This way!" "Stop!" "Stay!" "Watch them." "You." "You know Gahto?" "Wait, Does Gahto live here?" "Looks like old Gahto's got a lot of acquaintances and no close friends." "Yep." "They're stray humans, sir, I found them hiding near the fishing area." "probably waiting to steal fish." "All right, don't just stand there!" "More problems." "Send them in!" "Hmm!" "That's all I need!" "Three wagon loads behind already this period." "and the fertilizer factory is wanting more!" "More!" "More!" "Hmm?" "And you, how many fish do you have in your gullet, eh?" "We didn't steal any fish." "Huh!" "You're wearing no band of a fisherman." "How else would you get fish if not by stealing them?" " Well, if you'll let me explain" " Silence!" "If they're not fishermen, they're of no use to me." "Take them out and kill them." "Wait a minute!" "You're making a mistake." "We're probably about the two best fishermen in this part of the world." "If you lie, you die." "Ah, no lie." "On the level." "Nobody, but nobody, fishes like we do," "Well, how is it that you're not wearing the bracelet of a fisherman?" "We were farmers." "We were just released from a big farm inland." "Because all we've ever wanted to do was fish." "We've been practicing." "You!" "You have good wind..." "to fish long underwater?" "Yes, sir." "Do you have your release papers?" "Uh, no, sir." "Unfortunately, we lost them." " While we were fishing." " Oh." "I could use two more good producers." "Have to discard the old ones." "It takes forever to grow the new ones." "Hmm." "We'll let the fire decide." "The fire?" "We'll test you tomorrow." "If you can prove your swimming ability under the sheet of flame." "I'll band you myself." "Two new producers in the prime." "Bandor will be delighted." "Actually, I don't think that we're really ready for swimming under fire." "Then it's out of my hands." "of course." "You will be killed immediately... before the gods can be offended," "Guard them." "No food before the test." "If we have to kill them, I don't want to waste any fish rations on them." "Quotas, quotas." "Out!" "Here." "Maybe you are not too dead... to have one of these." "Come on." "Eat." "I have failed the gods, I am dead." "Uh-huh." "You know, my friends have a saying." "I think it goes something like this:" "You are a pain in the neck." "And if anything happens to them." "I will personally feed you to the sharks, piece by piece." "It is the will of the gods." "Oh, shut up." "It is the will of Galen that you stay right here." "They've been gone for a whole day." "I'm gonna see if I can find them." "Do you understand?" "Well." "What do you think his chances are, Pete?" "He's probably been in training." "We get to go that route without even a test run." "Well, it can be done." "He made it." "Look at that." "Limbs as strong as a young horse." "Lungs like a whale's." "When the run of the fish is good." "they should produce an extra 200, 300 pounds a day," "Test them." "Come." "Good luck, pal." "Looks like you won the toss." "I say, I think that's the starting' gun." "You're a hard act to follow." "Show-off." "As one big producer to another." "I hope we've graduated, we don't have to take any more tests." " Right." " Move!" "Well, well," "Ho-ho!" "Bandor will arrive tomorrow with new quotas, no doubt." "He will expect me to squirm and complain." "He always wanted to put his nephew in charge here." "I think I will surprise Bandor with these new fishermen." "I want to see his face!" "Bring them along!" " Did they say any more?" " They said nothing." "I am sure they have seen my father." "Gahto is alive." "Silence." "If the guards hear you speak his name, they're gonna punish us all." "The sea has taken him." "It's the law." "Now be still." "Well, let them occupy the hut of the old discarded fisherman." " Hear that?" " Aha!" "There you are." "Now, I warned you... the next time you strayed, you would be punished severely, and I meant it!" "Now, you come along with me!" "Wait!" "Stay!" "Who are you?" "Ah!" "Permit me to speak with you, sir." "Stay there!" "Oh!" "Ah!" "What a lovely place!" "My name is Zuma, and I am on this expedition from Central City." "And you have just found my two rather ignorant servants." "Always wandering off." "You know how it is." "I'm very grateful to you." "I'll just take them now." "Now, hold on." "This is all very irregular." "That's not the story they told me." "It isn't?" "Well, of course it isn't." "They are liars." "Oh, they are the most terrible liars!" "They lie all the time about everything." "But I'll take them off your hands." "It is out of my hands." "Since they have lied, only the gods of the sea can decide their fate." "Hmm." "Well, uh, that sounds reasonable enough." "Who are these gods of the sea?" "The sharks." "I object!" "I will not have my servants fed to the sharks... in order to satisfy some primitive custom." "I'm sorry, my friend." "It may not appeal... to your sophisticated Central City taste." "but in areas of production like this with minimum security, it is the law." " Send them out!" " Wait!" "At least, let me have the satisfaction... of giving these troublesome humans a piece of my mind." "Oh, very well." "Uhh." "See any chance of getting out of this at all?" "I don't." "Here, take this knife." "It may help." "Remind me to tell you someday how grateful we both are." "Liars, huh?" "Zuma!" "Enough!" "Enough!" "Send them to the gods!" "Watch it." "Galen, I don't think they're really particular who they shoot." "Move!" "Stay together till I reach the kelp." "I'll try to decoy him." "Well... that's that." "Get the production started." "Look!" "Well, I think that's that." "Your law has been carried out." "Now I think I'll take my slaves and be on my way." "I am not so sure about that." "The boat carrying old Gahto to the gods." "it's on the beach with the lacings cut." "Someone has defied the gods," "It is sacrilege." "High treason." "I knew it." "He's alive." "The old man can't be far." "Find him!" "I don't think they can leave just now." "This is a matter for Bandor to decide." "If the old man lives..." "someone must die." "Gahto!" "Gahto?" "Gahto!" "Gahto!" "Gahto!" "Gahto!" "Ridiculous." "Come on." "Why did you stop me?" "Gahto is dead." "Some of us would be better off if you were, but you are not." "Now, you have got to stay out of sight!" " I am dead." " Oh, I am tempted." "I am tempted!" "Gahto, unless you stay out of sight, others may be killed." "Now, you don't want that to happen, do you?" "It does not matter." "May not matter to you, but most humans do not share your enthusiasm with dying." "I promise you, Gahto." "I promise you." "sooner or later you will be able to die." "In the meantime." "stay in the cave!" "Hmm." "Hmm." " Ohh!" " Did you see him?" "He was out on the beach." " Gahto?" " Shh!" "Don't mention his name." "Someone might hear you." " Wish I'd never heard it." "Believe me." " Oh, yeah, me too." "I got him back to the cave, I hope he stays there." "We'd like to thank you for telling him we were liars." "It was a big help." "Well, I couldn't think of anything else to do." "And besides... if I hadn't found you, you two would've been banded... as fishermen for the rest of your lives." "We got to do something." "There's a big wheel who's coming in here tomorrow." "Mmm, that's Bandor." "He's in charge of many of the producing areas." "and he's the one who presides over the banding of the fisherman ceremony." "You're pretty thick with Hurton." "Can't you get us out of here?" "I am primarily concerned that Hurton's patrols do not find Gahto." "If he points you two out, you will be killed instantly." "Okay..." "today you spear fish." "Well, wonderful." " Move!" " All right." "Where was he when we needed him yesterday?" "Move along, you two!" "All right, back in the water!" "Move!" "Great way to make a living." "That's why we're doing it, to keep on living." "Yeah." "Yeah, you know." "you go to school, you work hard." "you wind up fishing for raw material for a fertilizer factory." "Yep." "Year after year they raise my quotas," "The law requires that I discard worn-out producers like Gahto, who can not longer pass the test." "even before new offspring can be raised to take their place." "Oh, I do so sympathize with your problem, Oh!" "But then, of course, these two slaves are mine." "Oh, I'm not too sure the law of possession holds out here." "After all, they came to me and asked to be fishermen." "Oh!" "But they're liars." "I told you that." "They are such terrible liars." "Oh, but the gods of the sea said differently." "But they'll try to escape, I am sure of it." "I'm having them closely watched." "If they try to leave, they'll be shot." "Well, then, you will have gained nothing." "and I will be out two good slaves." "But I told you, that is out of my hands." "When Bandor comes for the ceremony of the bracelets." "he will make the decision," "And because Bandor is as interested in increased production as you are." "you think that he is going to decide in your favor?" "Are you questioning the ethics of Bandor?" "He has high connections in Central City." " Oh." " He knows Urko himself." "Urko himself!" "." "Oh!" "That's what he said." "Well, that's just great." "Bandor knows Urko, and Urko knows us." "All the more reason why we should split before the big man gets here." "Yeah, I agree, except that Hurton's got his anti-split devices all over town." "Oh, all of this over old Gahto who no one wanted in the first place." "Hello." "Gahto is my father." "Come on over here." "It's all right, Galen's a friend." "Sit down." " Why did they do that to your father?" " It is the law." "So that's why Hurton looked at you when the rider came in with the news." "Romar, my husband, is afraid we will both die, that we'll all be punished." "Now listen, we saved your father against his wishes." "We took him to a hiding place," "But he could die there if we don't find some way to help him." " Take me to him." " They've got us pretty heavily guarded." "I can help, You're prisoners here," "But remember, I can come and go as I please." "So?" "Well, if she's with me." "we can just casually stroll right out of the village." "All right." "Just leave here like you're just taking a walk." "Ready for din-din?" " Soma!" " Take it easy." "Your wife's all right." " Where is Soma?" " Quiet." "You're gonna wake the guards' head rifleman." "Our friend took her to see her father, so just calm down." "It's a trick." "The guards are trying to track us, Soma, it's a trick!" "Soma!" "Soma!" "Soma!" "Wait here!" "I can't move it." "If you're lucky, it'll heal." " I won't be able to pass the test for Bandor." " What do you mean?" "I knew it." "Now I'll be given to the sea gods like Gahto." "I knew it was death to mention his name," "Well, you did this." "Sir, a visitor." "Welcome, Bandor, welcome," "Did you have a good trip?" " Tiring." " Mm-hmm." "Whenever you greet me with such big smiles." "I have the feeling you are holding bad news behind your back." "Not so." "In fact, I have a special surprise for you." "Hey!" "The wagon ropes are gone." "Factory workers are getting worse and worse." "Not sending the wagon ropes back." "Go get some in the storehouse." " You should've checked." " I should've checked?" "How about you?" "Well, one of 'em should've checked." "Check." "Thank you." ""I am not interested in projections." "I am interested in production."" "My nephew said that..." "very cleverly." "Yes, very clever." "Unfortunately, we cannot catch fish with words." "Or promises." "What is this great news?" "You have three young ones for me to band... to replace the old one you discarded?" "Only one has been raised to age and size." "but two full-grown fishermen have joined us." "like they were sent by the gods." "Uh!" "Now Hurton is claiming partnership with the gods." "Bring in the two new fishermen!" "You'll see." "Two excellent recruits." "They not only spear fish while swimming under the test of fire." "they kill sharks with their bare hands." "Two full-grown fishermen for you to band." "Sent by the gods." "you say?" "Well... actually... they are runaway slaves... once owned by a rather irresponsible chimpanzee named..." "Zuma." "Ah, I knew there was some catch to it." "I dispute his claim to them." "He's here... to claim them." "Does he have papers?" "Here, you see?" "Strong." "Many prime years of production in them." "You say this Zuma has no papers?" "None." "Or why would he have stolen one of our female slaves?" "Skins have not been long in the water." "But they kill sharks with their bare hands." "I would say this Zuma has made an unwise move," "We will just let him keep his worthless female." "Tomorrow, at the ceremony." "I will band these two myself," "I knew you would decide quickly and fairly." "Someone has to keep these producing villages going." "Pete, the fish is burning," "I don't care if I ever see another fish again, ever," "I don't feel much like spearing fish and ducking sharks for the rest of my life, either." "This thing better work, Alan." "It will, Pete." "or we're gonna be fitted with a pair of permanent handcuffs." "You, human." "Don't worry." "Everything's settled." "You and your father have nothing to worry about." "Come along." "There." "New areas are being opened for crops." "More fertilizer is needed." "which means more fish." "There must be a limit." "We cannot just keep increasing production." "Now, now, if you keep getting these godsend producers" " And where are they?" " What?" "Well, I don't see these two new surprises." "who kill sharks with their bare hands." "Guard, where are the two new producers?" "Sir, they're missing, They're not here," "Missing?" "Your surprises are getting tiresome, Hurton." "Okay, Al!" "Let's go fishing!" "There they are!" " Shoot them!" " Wait!" "All right, Gahto." "this is where you stop being a dead discard... and become a live hero." "If you want your daughter to live. go." "Huh." "Gahto?" "That's it!" "Bring it in!" "There!" "Easy!" "Easy!" "Well!" " Very good." " What is this?" "Fish by the dozens from some" "From a net, mighty Bandor," "It can trap more fish in a few hours than your men could spear in a month." "Just another of the surprises I promised you." "And even old men and women can fish in this way," "You'll have all the fish you need." "and the gods will be pleased." "So you can let your old people and your injured live on in your village," "Well, that is so!" "That is certainly so." "All part of my plan." "Now the producers will have all they want to eat, and the security problems will be almost eliminated." "What has this discard to do with your plan, Hurton?" "Er, uh" "Mighty Bandor, Hurton has saved his greatest surprise for last." "Tell him, Zuma." "Oh, uh, this magic webbing." "which brings in fish, is all Gahto's idea." "And Hurton has saved Gahto... so that he can teach others how to make and mend the webbing." "It's easy." "Hurton, I knew you could do it." "Now, that is why I have kept you on here." "despite all efforts of those higher-ups... to replace you with my nephew." "I appreciate it." "I always do my best, as you can see." "Extra rations for all from now on!" "A celebration." "First, we start with the banding ceremony." "Uh, sir, would the mighty Bandor... do us the honor of assisting in the greatest catch of all?" " And what is that?" " Come with me, sir." "It's not fitting the greatest bounty of the sea should be taken by a human." "Therefore. this revolving reel will be held by Zuma." "I don't understand." "Oh. uh. you see. uh... the largest fish can break the net." "But this cord... will entangle it in its loop." "Uh-huh. yes." "Well... here." "You hold tight." " Tight?" "Tight." " Tight." "Come on. now!" "Come along." "We must not keep Bandor waiting." "Aye. aye. sir." "You watch this." "Mmm." "Mm-hmm." "Hmm." "Grab a paddle." "Would you rather swim?" "Me?" "Ugh!" "End of the line." "Mm-hmm." "Hmm." "Shoot!" "Shoot!" "At what?" "I said you were liars." "I just had no idea you were that good at it." "Hey, listen, Galen, as soon as we're away, I want to talk with you." "And I'd like to discuss this owner-slave relationship with you." "Well, personally, I don't want to have to pull you two out of another scrape." "By the way"