The Chapter Ends

By Poul Anderson

Julith clasped the star-man’s arm with one hand, while her other arm gripped his waist. The generator in Jorun’s skull responded to his will . . . they rose quietly and went slowly seaward . . . .

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wilder Publications, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 14, 2016
• ISBN: 9781515411734

Poul Anderson

Poul Anderson (1926–2001) grew up bilingual in a Danish American family. After discovering science fiction fandom and earning a physics degree at the University of Minnesota, he found writing science fiction more satisfactory. Admired for his “hard” science fiction, mysteries, historical novels, and “fantasy with rivets,” he also excelled in humor. He was the guest of honor at the 1959 World Science Fiction Convention and at many similar events, including the 1998 Contact Japan 3 and the 1999 Strannik Conference in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Besides winning the Hugo and Nebula Awards, he has received the Gandalf, Seiun, and Strannik, or “Wanderer,” Awards. A founder of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, he became a Grand Master, and was inducted into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. In 1952 he met Karen Kruse; they married in Berkeley, California, where their daughter, Astrid, was born, and they later lived in Orinda, California. Astrid and her husband, science fiction author Greg Bear, now live with their family outside Seattle.

Book preview

The Chapter Ends

by Poul Anderson

© 2016 Positronic Publishing

Cover Image © Can Stock Photo Inc. / TsuneoMP

Positronic Publishing

PO Box 632

Floyd VA 24091

ISBN 13: 978-1-5154-1173-4

First Positronic Publishing Edition

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Table of Contents

Novelet of Latter Years

2

3

The Chapter Ends

Novelet of Latter Years

Julith clasped the star-man’s arm with one hand, while her other arm gripped his waist. The generator in Jorun’s skull responded to his will . . . they rose quietly and went slowly seaward . . . . 

*

"Look around you, Jorun of Fulkhis. This is Earth. This is the old home of all mankind. You cannot go off and forget it. Man cannot do so. It is in him, in his blood and bones and soul; he will carry Earth within him forever."

No, said the old man.

But you don’t realize what it means, said Jorun. You don’t know what you’re saying.

The old man, Kormt of Huerdar, Gerlaug’s son, and Speaker for Solis Township, shook his head till the long, grizzled locks swirled around his wide shoulders. I have thought it through, he said. His voice was deep and slow and implacable. You gave me five years to think about it. And my answer is no.

Jorun felt a weariness rise within him. It had been like this for days now, weeks, and it was like trying to knock down a mountain. You beat on its rocky flanks till your hands were bloody, and still the mountain stood there, sunlight on its high snow-fields and in the forests that rustled up its slopes, and it did not really notice you. You were a brief thin buzz between two long nights,