Read Online To Your Scattered Bodies Go by Philip José Farmer - Free Book Online
Authors: Philip José Farmer
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These were by the grailstone of which Brontich had spoken. Burton wondered if there were others near the base of the mountain, strung out at approximate distances of a mile. This one lacked the grail in the center depression, however. Perhaps this meant that it was not ready to operate. He did not think so. It could be assumed that Whoever had made the grailstones had placed the grails in the center holes of those on the river's edge because the resurrectees would be using these first. By the time they found the inland stones, they would know how to use them.
The grails were set on the depressions of the outmost circle. Their owners stood or sat around, talking but with their minds on the grails. All were wondering when - or perhaps if - the blue flames would come. Much of their conversation was about how hungry they were. The rest was mainly surmise about how they had come here, Who had put them here, where they were, and what was being planned for them. A few spoke of their lives on Earth.
Burton sat down beneath the wide-flung and densely leaved branches of the gnarled black-trunked irontree. He felt tired, as all, except Razz, obviously did. His empty belly and his stretched-out nerves kept him from dozing off, although the quiet voices and the rustle of leaves conduced to sleep. The hollow in which the group waited was formed by a level space at the junction of four hills and was surrounded by trees. Though it was darker than on top of the hills, it also seemed to be a little warmer. After a while, as the dusk and the chill increased, Burton organized a firewood-collecting party. Using the knives and bandages, they cut down many mature bamboo pleats and gathered piles of grass. With the white-hot wire o£ the lighter, Burt started a fire of leaves and grass. These were green, and so the fire was smoky and unsatisfactory until the bamboo was put on.
Suddenly, an explosion made them jump. Some of the women screamed. They had forgotten about watching the grailstone. Burton turned just in time to see the blue flames soar up about twenty feet. The heat from the discharge could be felt by Brontich, who was about twenty feet from it.
Then the noise was gone, and they stared at the grails. Burton was the first upon the stone again; most of them did not care to venture on the stone too soon after the flames. He lifted the lid of his grail, looked within, and whooped with delight. The others climbed up and opened their own grails. Within a minute, they were seated near the fire eating rapidly, exclaiming with ecstasy, pointing out to each other what they'd found, laughing, and joking. Things were not so bad after all. Whoever was responsible for this was taking care of them.
There was food in plenty, even after fasting all day, or, as Frigate put it, "probably fasting for half of-eternity." He meant by this as he explained to Monat, that there was no telling hove much time had elapsed between AD 2008 and today. This world wasn't built in a day, and preparing humanity for resurrection take more than seven days. That is, if all of this been brought about by scientific means, not by supernatural. Burton's grail had yielded a four-inch cube of steak; a small ball of dark bread; butter; potatoes and gravy; lettuce with salad dressing of an unfamiliar but delicious taste. In addition, there was a five-ounce cup containing an excellent bourbon and another small cup with four ice cubes in it.
There was more, all the better because unexpected. A small briar pipe, A sack of pipe tobacco. Three cigars. A plastic package with ten cigarettes.
"Unfiltered!" Frigate said.
There was also one small brown cigarette which Burton and Frigate smelled and said, at the same time, "Marihuana!"
Alice, holding up a small metallic scissors and a black comb, said, "Evidently we're going to get our hair back. Otherwise, there'd be no need for these. I'm so glad! But do ... They really expect me to use this?" She held out a tube of bright red
The grails were set on the depressions of the outmost circle. Their owners stood or sat around, talking but with their minds on the grails. All were wondering when - or perhaps if - the blue flames would come. Much of their conversation was about how hungry they were. The rest was mainly surmise about how they had come here, Who had put them here, where they were, and what was being planned for them. A few spoke of their lives on Earth.
Burton sat down beneath the wide-flung and densely leaved branches of the gnarled black-trunked irontree. He felt tired, as all, except Razz, obviously did. His empty belly and his stretched-out nerves kept him from dozing off, although the quiet voices and the rustle of leaves conduced to sleep. The hollow in which the group waited was formed by a level space at the junction of four hills and was surrounded by trees. Though it was darker than on top of the hills, it also seemed to be a little warmer. After a while, as the dusk and the chill increased, Burton organized a firewood-collecting party. Using the knives and bandages, they cut down many mature bamboo pleats and gathered piles of grass. With the white-hot wire o£ the lighter, Burt started a fire of leaves and grass. These were green, and so the fire was smoky and unsatisfactory until the bamboo was put on.
Suddenly, an explosion made them jump. Some of the women screamed. They had forgotten about watching the grailstone. Burton turned just in time to see the blue flames soar up about twenty feet. The heat from the discharge could be felt by Brontich, who was about twenty feet from it.
Then the noise was gone, and they stared at the grails. Burton was the first upon the stone again; most of them did not care to venture on the stone too soon after the flames. He lifted the lid of his grail, looked within, and whooped with delight. The others climbed up and opened their own grails. Within a minute, they were seated near the fire eating rapidly, exclaiming with ecstasy, pointing out to each other what they'd found, laughing, and joking. Things were not so bad after all. Whoever was responsible for this was taking care of them.
There was food in plenty, even after fasting all day, or, as Frigate put it, "probably fasting for half of-eternity." He meant by this as he explained to Monat, that there was no telling hove much time had elapsed between AD 2008 and today. This world wasn't built in a day, and preparing humanity for resurrection take more than seven days. That is, if all of this been brought about by scientific means, not by supernatural. Burton's grail had yielded a four-inch cube of steak; a small ball of dark bread; butter; potatoes and gravy; lettuce with salad dressing of an unfamiliar but delicious taste. In addition, there was a five-ounce cup containing an excellent bourbon and another small cup with four ice cubes in it.
There was more, all the better because unexpected. A small briar pipe, A sack of pipe tobacco. Three cigars. A plastic package with ten cigarettes.
"Unfiltered!" Frigate said.
There was also one small brown cigarette which Burton and Frigate smelled and said, at the same time, "Marihuana!"
Alice, holding up a small metallic scissors and a black comb, said, "Evidently we're going to get our hair back. Otherwise, there'd be no need for these. I'm so glad! But do ... They really expect me to use this?" She held out a tube of bright red
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