Read Online The Man-Kzin Wars 01 by Larry Niven - Free Book Online Page B

case, and come back. They didn't have the price of an outboard, but in a pinch they could row.
    To avoid coping with well-intentioned busybodies, they started after dark. By that time sufficient beer had gone down that they forgot about tuning in a weather report before leaving their tent-at the verge of kona season. It was a beautiful night, half a moon aloft and so many stars they could imagine they were in space. Wind lulled, seas whooshed, rigging creaked, the boat rocked forward and presently a couple of dolphins appeared, playing alongside for hours, a marvel that made even Kam sit silent in wonder. Then toward dawn, the goal a vague darkness ahead, clouds boiled out of the west, wind sharpened and shrilled, suddenly rain slanted like a flight of spears and through murk the mariners heard waves rumble against rocks .
    It wasn't much of a storm, really, but ample to deal with Wahine. Seams opened, letting in water to join that which dashed over the gunwales. Sail first reefed, soon struck, stays nonetheless gave way and the mast went. It would have capsized the hull had Bob not managed to heave it free. Thereafter he had the oars, keeping bow on to the waves, while Kam bailed. A couple of years older, and no weakling, the Hawaiian couldn't have rowed that long at a stretch. Eventually he did his share and a bit at the rudder, when somehow he worked the craft through a gap between two reefs which roared murder at them. They hit coral a while later, but close enough to shore that they could swim, never sure who saved the life of who in the surf. Collapsing behind a bush, they slept the weather out .
    Afterward they limped off till they found a road and hitched a ride. They'd been blown back to Kauai .
    Side by side, they stood on the carpet before a Coast Guard officer and endured what they must.
    Next day in their tent, Kam said, unwontedly solemn-the vast solemnity of youth- ” B ob, listen. You've been my hoa since we met, you became my hoalohal but what we've been through, what you did, makes you a hoapili." “ A w, wasn't more'n I had to, and you did just as much," mumbled the other, embarrassed. “ I f you mean what I suppose you do, okay, I'll call you kamnwrat, and let's get on with whatever we're going to do." “ H ow about this? I've got folks on the Big Island. A tiny little settlement tucked away where nobody ever comes. Beautiful country, mountains and woods. People still live in the old kanaka style. How'd you like that?"
    “ U m-m, how old a style? ”
    Kam was relieved at being enabled to laugh. “ Y ou won't eat long pig! Everybody knows English, though they use Hawaiian for choice, and never fear, you can watch the Chimp Show. But it's a great, relaxed, cheerful life-you've got to experience the girls to believe-the families don't talk about it much when they go outside, or invite haolena in, because tourists would ruin it-but you'll be welcome, I guarantee you. How about it? ”
    The month that followed lived up to his promises, and then some. Recollections of it flew unbidden across the years as Ryan worked in the galley. Everybody else was in the gym, where chairs and projection equipment had been brought, for the briefing the astronomers would give. Rover boosted on automatic; her instruments showed nothing ahead that she couldn't handle by herself for the next million kilometers. The quarter master could have joined the group, but he wanted to make a victory feast ready. Before long, they'd be too busy to appreciate his art.
    He did have a screen above the counter, monitoring the assembly. Tregennis and Laurinda stood facing their audience. The Plateaunian said, with joy alive beneath the dry words: “ I t is a matter of semantics whether we call this a first- or a second-generation system. Hydrogen and helium are overwhelmingly abundant, in proportions consistent with condensation shortly after the Big Bang-about which, not so incidentally, we may learn something more than hitherto. However,