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[ "What caused the error in O'Rielly's controls? ", "O'Rielly starts to talk about \"venus dames\" unprompted and acting strangely. Why?", "Why have Venus men struggled to keep their women interested in them?", "What can be said about Grandmamma Berta, Trillium, and the Madame President of Earth?" ]

[ [ "A control malfunctioned and reset itself.", "He missed something when they were preparing. ", "The controls weren't locked before take-off. ", "The Venus woman tampered with it. " ], [ "He's out of sorts from working on the controls. The heat got to him. ", "He's had an experience with them in the past, and wants to discuss is with Callahan. ", "It's the effect that Venus women have on Earth men. The woman's presence changes his focus. ", "He's embarrassed about the controls malfunction and is trying to change the subject " ], [ "Their culture has men in power, and thus they don't consider women their equals. ", "Earth men are too enticing to Venus women. They can't compete.", "They have been too pre-occupied with war, haven't realized the truth.", "Venus females don't interest them enough. " ], [ "They have all felt disrespected by then men that ruled over them. ", "They all anticipated this revolution, and have been working together to make it happen. ", "Madame President did not expect the revolution, but supports Trillium and Berta. ", "None of them anticipated this revolution. It all happened at once. " ] ]

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[ 1, 1, 0, 0 ]

[ [ "\"If every control hadn't been locked in correct setting,\" O'Rielly\n answered from his own angry bewilderment, \"the error would have\n registered before blast-off—wouldn't it, sir?\"", "Old Callahan's voice crackled now through the helmet's ear contact.\n \"Well, Mr. O'Rielly?\"\n\n\n \"Fusion control two points low, sir.\"", "\"So a control reset itself in flight, hey?\"\n\n\n \"I don't know yet, sir.\"\n\n\n \"Well, Mr. O'Rielly, you better know before we orbit Earth!\"", "chance! Swiftly O'Rielly unlocked the controls and reset them. The\n throbbing rumble changed tone.", "O'Rielly wondered had Callahan passed out, was so long before the old\n Burner Chief demanded hoarsely, \"Didn't you lock them controls before\n blast-off?\"", "\"Wasting your time talking nonsense!\" Old Woman's look was fit to\n freeze O'Rielly's brain, then she gave Callahan the look. \"I sent you\n down here to find the answer to that fusion control slippage!\"", "O'Rielly, instead of laying violent hands upon this one's person, heard\n himself saying in sympathetic outrage, \"A shame you had to go to all\n that bother to get out here!\"", "blowing her gaskets completely, O'Rielly simply stepped in, shut the\n door, flipped a switch and tingled as he was electronically cleansed", "When he talked he was like digging a hole in front of himself. \"Well,\n what about that control?\"\n\n\n \"What control?\"\n\n\n \"Your fusion control that got itself two points low!\"", "opened it. O'Rielly, however, suffered a cruel stab of dismay. Surely\n his dear stowaway had been listening through the door. Why didn't she", "O'Rielly's watch room. Was all O'Rielly could do to keep from busting\n out laughing for joy.", "naturally you couldn't hear me walk out while your back was turned\n resetting the control.\"\nO'Rielly suddenly felt like turning her over his knee and whaling her", "Sweat pouring off him, O'Rielly prowled around his burner. Design of\n the thing had been bossed by dames of course; what on Earth wasn't any", "\"Now, now, Burner Chief Callahan, sir,\" O'Rielly responded with an airy\n laugh. \"No Earth guy for a hundred twenty-five years been near one and\n lived to tell it, has he?\"", "O'Rielly's shower door, however, opened abruptly. O'Rielly had not", "this ship; why did something crazy have to happen to O'Rielly's? In a\n hundred years, so the instructors—brisk females all—had told O'Rielly", "a nip myself—or one of them dillies was radiating nearby.\" Then\n Callahan glared fit to drill holes in O'Rielly's head. \"Look! I was", "Was all O'Rielly could do to keep from rolling on the deck with glee.\n Old Callahan had been flimflammed for fair! The dear little stowaway", "\"Never a name, though. Never how it was done.\" O'Rielly snorted.\n \"Probably just a goofy tale set loose by some old space bum.\"", "in pre-flight school, no control had ever been known to slip. But one\n had moved here. Not enough to cause serious trouble this far out from" ], [ "Yes, ma'am, O'Rielly sure felt like proof of something all of a sudden.\n Worse than the hangover from that crap game with Venus vino. He looked", "O'Rielly, instead of laying violent hands upon this one's person, heard\n himself saying in sympathetic outrage, \"A shame you had to go to all\n that bother to get out here!\"", "\"Venus dames,\" O'Rielly said dreamily, \"don't boss anything, do they?\"", "Callahan said something through his teeth, then studied O'Rielly\n sharply. \"Hey, you been wetting your whistle on that Venus vino again?", "O'Rielly's shower opened and Callahan, glowing like a young bucko,\n bounced onto the bunk. \"Well, did you hide her good this time? No,", "Yes, ma'am, O'Rielly was floating on a pink cloud with heavenly music\n in his head. Never felt so fine before. Except on the Venus layover", "\"You—I mean, that Earth guy a hundred twenty-five years ago,\" O'Rielly\n said in sudden thought. \"If Venus dames wanted to be loved so bad, why\n did Trillium's Grandmamma let him go?\"", "\"I'm not sure,\" O'Rielly said, \"what you mean by, 'that's all.'\"\n\n\n \"Anybody ever seen anybody but a Venus guy come built with ear beards?\n Course not.\"", "\"Oh, I was shown the history films in pre-flight,\" O'Rielly said, still\n dreamily. \"But not a peek of any Venus dame.\"", "Sweat pouring off him, O'Rielly prowled around his burner. Design of\n the thing had been bossed by dames of course; what on Earth wasn't any", "then in O'Rielly's vicinity. \"Smothered it with chlorophyll probably,\"\n she muttered through her teeth, \"if it is that vino.\" Something", "a nip myself—or one of them dillies was radiating nearby.\" Then\n Callahan glared fit to drill holes in O'Rielly's head. \"Look! I was", "opened it. O'Rielly, however, suffered a cruel stab of dismay. Surely\n his dear stowaway had been listening through the door. Why didn't she", "devil was behind him with the fork ready. \"O'Rielly, open your big ears\n whilst for your own good and mine I speak of certain matters.", "O'Rielly stood looking thoughtfully at lovely, womanly, exquisite\n Trillium. Just like that, O'Rielly felt as sparkling of mind as a", "\"May as well.\" His Excellency glanced at O'Rielly and Callahan much as\n he might at a couple of worms. Could bet your last old sox no female\n ever told any Venus man what to do.", "would be improved by knowledge of she who was in O'Rielly's shower now.\n Not that the dear stowaway was less than charming. Quite the contrary.\n Oh, very quite!", "don't flimflam the Old Woman!\" With which ominous remark, rendered in\n a zesty devil-may-care manner, however, Callahan threw himself into\n O'Rielly's shower.", "\"Wasting your time talking nonsense!\" Old Woman's look was fit to\n freeze O'Rielly's brain, then she gave Callahan the look. \"I sent you\n down here to find the answer to that fusion control slippage!\"", "naturally you couldn't hear me walk out while your back was turned\n resetting the control.\"\nO'Rielly suddenly felt like turning her over his knee and whaling her" ], [ "\"But Venus men are so excited all the time about going to war they\n haven't time for us women. That's why we always radiated such a fatal", "Venus for ten thousand years and all the women in the universe can't\n change it!\"", "\"There are rewards,\" the Old Woman said with the deadly coldness of\n outer space, \"for Earthmen found in a Venus woman's company, and for\n her leaving her planet.\"", "\"Well, Grandmamma,\" Trillium said with a highly self-satisfied air, \"it\n works. And just like you said, Earthmen meant nothing once I knew we\n Venus women had our own men in our power.\"", "\"Thousand years ago, it was, the first flight reached Venus. Guys\n got one look at them dames. Had to bring some home or bust. So then", "Venus thrown to the tigers for supper. Same for any Earth guy caught\n around a Venus dame. In return, Earth could buy practically everything\n at bargain basement prices.\"", "\"You—I mean, that Earth guy a hundred twenty-five years ago,\" O'Rielly\n said in sudden thought. \"If Venus dames wanted to be loved so bad, why\n did Trillium's Grandmamma let him go?\"", "\"Impossible! The men run Venus! Nobody's turning this planet into\n another Earth where a man can't even sneeze unless some woman says so!\"", "\"May as well.\" His Excellency glanced at O'Rielly and Callahan much as\n he might at a couple of worms. Could bet your last old sox no female\n ever told any Venus man what to do.", "\"Venus guys wasn't so busy playing war all the time,\" Callahan mumbled,\n like to himself, \"they'd of found out the answer centuries ago. Yep,", "\"No Venus dames allowed within fifty miles of their port. Earth guys\n stay inside the high-voltage fence. Any dame caught trying to leave", "much longer. Venus dames could of let it out centuries ago themselves\n but didn't, just to spite Earth probably. Later, was part of organizing\n to take over Venus, I guess.\"", "\"Well, that's when Earth dames took over like armies of wild cats\n with knots in their tails. Before the guys who'd brought the Venus", "\"Long may the superior sex reign on Venus too! We shall be delighted to\n receive an Ambassadoress to discuss a new trade treaty at your earliest\n convenience.\"", "attraction for Earthmen. We want to be loved! We want our own men home\n doing useful work!\"", "everybody on Earth got a look, mostly by TV only of course. That did\n it. Every guy on Earth began blowing his fuse over them dames. Give up", "\"No. One of us stowing away was the only way we Venus women could bring\n our cause to the attention of Earth's President. If Earth will only", "around here gets hurt. Oh, maybe a few scratches here and there. But\n nobody on Venus dies from the things any more.\"", "IMAGE OF SPLENDOR\nBy LU KELLA\nFrom Venus to Earth, and all the way between,\n \nit was a hell of a world for men ... and", "\"Ain't nothing can match the natural growed-on variety, no, ma'am.\n Venus guy kisses a Venus dame, his beards grabs her roundst the ears.\"\n\n\n \"So what?\"" ], [ "\"Oh, I'm Trillium,\" she assured Callahan sweetly. \"But Grandmamma's\n name is Berta and people say I'm just like she was a hundred and", "\"Well, Grandmamma,\" Trillium said with a highly self-satisfied air, \"it\n works. And just like you said, Earthmen meant nothing once I knew we\n Venus women had our own men in our power.\"", "\"Now you just listen to me, Trillium!\" Grandpapa President was all\n Venus manhood laying down the law. \"That's the way things have been on", "\"Very well. Grandmamma told me how.\"\n\"Obviously Trillium's poor little brain has been drugged,\" His\n Excellency Dimdooly declared. \"Grandmamma Berta wouldn't know the first\n thing about such things!\"", "\"The Ambassadorial Suite, too,\" Madame President of Earth said\n graciously. \"Anything else now, Berta?\"", "\"So,\" Mr. President said evenly. \"Another violation by your Earthmen.\"\n\n\n \"By your granddaughter, at least,\" Madame President replied coolly.", "\"Impossible!\" Grandpapa President's ear beards stood near straight up\n as he roared, \"You couldn't have stolen away by yourself! Trillium,\n tell the truth!\"", "away from Trillium and took a look at Callahan. Old guy looked away\n from Grandmamma President like he was packing the second biggest\n headache in history.", "\"I should like,\" Grandmamma President Berta said charmingly, \"that\n Mr. O'Rielly and Mr. Callahan be suitably rewarded for assisting our\n revolution better than they knew.\"", "\"Those crewmen there,\" Grandmamma President said, \"seem to be proof\n enough that we Venus women no longer radiate any threat to Earth's\n tranquility.\"", "\"Hundred twenty-five,\" Grandpapa president growled like a boiling\n volcano. \"The year some Earthman.... Never did catch the devil....\n Berta? Impossible!\"", "Whereupon Grandpapa glared to one side. \"Berta! What are you doing\n here? I am deciding matters of the gravest interplanetary nature!\"", "\"Impossible!\" Grandpapa President agreed. \"I've been married to her\n for a hundred and twenty-four and a half years and she's the finest\n rattle-brain I ever knew!\"", "\"You—I mean, that Earth guy a hundred twenty-five years ago,\" O'Rielly\n said in sudden thought. \"If Venus dames wanted to be loved so bad, why\n did Trillium's Grandmamma let him go?\"", "Earth out of the universe. \"My grandchild was kidnapped by men under\n your official command! Weren't you, Trillium dear?\"", "\"Hmmmm, yes,\" Madame President of Earth observed. \"Reactions agree\n perfectly with the psychoanalytical research project we have been", "\"Trillium?\" His Excellency bellowed as if stung by one of the\n sabre-tailed hornets of his native planet. \"Trillium!\"", "Trillium—with her shape—passing as a boy hustling bags through this\n ship. O'Rielly chortled as he tucked her under his bunk. \"Now don't you\n worry about another thing!\"", "\"Presidents of Earth and Venus, please,\" the Old Woman stated evenly.\n \"Interplanetary emergency.\"\n\n\n Highly groomed flunkies appeared on the panels and were impersonally\n pleasant.", "\"May I remind His Excellency,\" the Old Woman snapped, \"that I represent\n Earth and her dominion of space gained by right of original flight!\"" ] ]

[ "Why does Joseph lie about the water supply?", "What is \"La-anago Yergis\"?", "Why do Harvey and Joe change thier plan when confronting Johnson about the water?", "What makes Johnson's son so different?", "How is Joe's asteroid fever cured? ", "Johnson claims to have a multitude of jobs. Which title best describes him and what he does? ", "Why does Johnson stay on the asteroid, even though few people come by? ", "How does Johnson trick the duo into paying for things more than once?" ]

[ [ "There isn't a lot of water there, and he needs to be able to ration it out. ", "He wants people to believe they need to pay for it. ", "He wants to keep the fresh water for himself. ", "He thinks that people would prefer to buy filtered water. " ], [ "It's a panacea that can cure any ailment. ", "It's medicine. It's a cure for \"asteroid fever.\" ", "It's purified water. ", "It's a placebo. It's not real medicine. " ], [ "Joe suddenly feels unwell, and Harvey needs to help him. ", "They want to buy Genius, and don't want there to be bad blood. ", "Joseph's son is large and intimidating, and they want to avoid a fight. ", "They don't think they could take Joseph in a fight. " ], [ "He grew up without Earth's gravity, allowing him to grow larger than most people.", "He is much larger than the average man. ", "Like Genius, he is not human. ", "He's been living isolated from other humans with his father. " ], [ "The La-anago Yergis cures him.", "Nothing does - his sickness was a ruse. ", "The bitter water that Harvey switched in cures him. ", "The fresh water from the planet cures him. " ], [ "Conman. ", "Bartender. ", "Mayor. ", "Sheriff. " ], [ "Here he's able to meet traders like Harvey and Joe and barter with them. ", "He's able to run business even with few customers. ", "Here he's able to take advantage of travelers who are lost or in need of supplies. ", "He doesn't want to give up the spring of water. " ], [ "He strong arms them into buying with his son.", "He is dishonest. He offers something for free, without mentioning the actual price of it or that there even is a price.", "He takes advantage of their good will. ", "He doesn't trick anyone - he is an honest man that is running several jobs. " ] ]

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[ 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0 ]

[ [ "\"Folks are always thinkin' the other feller's out to do 'em,\" he said,\n shaking his head. \"Lemme explain about the water here. It's bitter", "But Joe was already on his knees, scooping up a handful of water and\n tasting it.\n\n\n \"Sweet!\" he snarled.", "\"We must not be selfish, my boy,\" Harvey said nobly. \"We have had our\n chance; now we must relinquish Fate to the hands of a man who might\n have more success than we. Go, Joseph. Bring it here.\"", "Joe estimated quickly. \"About seventy-five liters, if we go on half\n rations,\" he answered. He waited apprehensively.", "Harvey nodded in relief. \"We have attempted to repay our host, Joseph.\n He has spurned our generosity. We have now the chance to continue our\n study, which I am positive will soon reward us with the key to an\n enormous fortune.\"", "They rushed back to the first pool, where Joe again tasted a sample.\n His mouth went wry. \"Bitter! He uses only one pool, the sweet one! The\n only thing that needs purifying around here is that blasted mayor's\n conscience.\"", "\"Nonsense,\" Harvey croaked uncertainly. \"We have seen enough queer\n things to know there are always more.\"\n\n\n He led the way inside. Through thirst-cracked lips he rasped:\n \"Water—quick!\"", "Joe's performance was better than ever. He lay supine for several\n moments, his face twisted into an expression that seemed doomed\n to perpetual wryness. Slowly, however, he sat up and his features\n straightened out.", "\"It's only water we were short of,\" Harvey said apprehensively. \"We've\n got rations back at the ship.\"", "\"What's this doing here?\" Harvey asked, puzzled. \"I thought Johnson had\n to transport water in pails.\"\n\n\n \"Wonder where it leads to,\" Joe said uneasily.", "Harvey and Joe were breathing hard from having gulped the water so\n fast, but they were beginning to revive. They noticed the bartender's\n impersonal eyes studying them shrewdly.", "\"Joseph, I promise you that we shall get back every redsent of which\n that swindler cheated us, besides whatever other funds or valuables he\n possesses. We could not be content with less.\"", "swindled to the tune of ten buckos a liter? Where would our profit have\n been, then? No; I had to use the bitter free water, of course.\"", "With Joe stumbling along behind, he left the saloon, crossed the\n clearing and entered the ship. As soon as they were inside, Joe dropped\n his murderous silence and cried:", "\"Just the same,\" Joe griped, \"paying for water isn't something you can\n get used to in ten minutes.\"", "Without a word, the bartender reached under the counter, brought out\n two glasses of water. The interplanetary con-men drank noisily, asked", "Harvey looked reprovingly at his gangling partner. \"Did Johnson ask to\n taste it, or did he not? One must look ahead, Joseph. I had to produce", "\"Joseph!\" he exclaimed, looking at his partner in alarm. \"Don't you\n feel well?\"", "\"Now do you see, my hot-tempered colleague?\" said Harvey as he and Joe\n picked up buckets that hung on the tank. \"Johnson, as I saw instantly,\n is the victim of a difficult environment, and must charge accordingly.\"", "\"Nope. That's my son, Jed. Angus Johnson's my name. Folks here just\n call me Chief. I run this town, and run it right. How much water will\n you need?\"" ], [ "\"\nLa-anago Yergis\nnever fails, my friend,\" Harvey explained. \"By", "Yergis\n, the formula for which was recently discovered by ourselves in\n the ancient ruined city of La-anago. Medical science is unanimous in", "\"What kind of a dirty trick was that, giving me poison instead of that\n snake oil?\"\n\n\n \"That was not poison,\" Harvey contradicted quietly. \"It was\nLa-anago\n Yergis\nextract, plus.\"", "\"Solar salesmen, my colonial friend,\" Harvey answered in his usual\n lush manner. \"We purvey that renowned Martian remedy,\nLa-anago", "\"Nope. That's my son, Jed. Angus Johnson's my name. Folks here just\n call me Chief. I run this town, and run it right. How much water will\n you need?\"", "\"You dirty crook!\" Joe roared. \"Robbing honest spacemen!\"\nHarvey nudged him warningly. \"Easy, my boy, easy.\" He turned to the", "\"Well, if that's what's worrying you, you can stop worrying,\" answered\n the mayor promptly. \"What's more, the kind of dinner I serve here you\n can't get anywhere else for any price.\"", "merchant. This dinner is worth as least twenty buckos, yet I estimate\n our check at a mere bucko twenty redsents.\"", "Harvey focused on the microscopic print, and his face went pasty with\n rage. The minute note read: \"Services and entertainment, 327 buckos 80\n redsents.\"", "\"Nonsense,\" Harvey croaked uncertainly. \"We have seen enough queer\n things to know there are always more.\"\n\n\n He led the way inside. Through thirst-cracked lips he rasped:\n \"Water—quick!\"", "Harvey's eyes bulged. Joe gulped. \"That—that's robbery!\" the lanky man\n managed to get out in a thin quaver.", "\"\nH-mph!\n\" the mayor grunted. \"Powdered concentrates. Compressed pap.\n Suit yourselves. We treat our stomachs better here. And you're welcome\n to our hospitality.\"", "\"Well, we're starting all right,\" admitted Joe. \"How about that thing\n with six arms? He looks like a valuable. Can't we grab him off?\"\n\n\n Harvey stopped filling bottles and looked up pensively.", "\"Well, that's no plating off our bow,\" Joe grunted. \"I'm glad he did\n turn it down. I hated to give it up after working on it for three whole\n years.\"", "Joe's performance was better than ever. He lay supine for several\n moments, his face twisted into an expression that seemed doomed\n to perpetual wryness. Slowly, however, he sat up and his features\n straightened out.", "For an hour they were served amazing dishes, both fresh and canned, the\n culinary wealth of this planetoid and all the system. And the service", "With Joe stumbling along behind, he left the saloon, crossed the\n clearing and entered the ship. As soon as they were inside, Joe dropped\n his murderous silence and cried:", "!\"\nJohnson didn't answer. Neither did Genius; he simply put on the table,\n not a fingerbowl, but a magnifying glass. With one of his thirty", "\"We must not be selfish, my boy,\" Harvey said nobly. \"We have had our\n chance; now we must relinquish Fate to the hands of a man who might\n have more success than we. Go, Joseph. Bring it here.\"", "\"Pleased to meet you,\" piped a voice that had never known a dense\n atmosphere.\n\n\n The pursuit of vengeance, Harvey realized, had taken a quick and\n unpleasant turn. Something shrewd was called for...." ], [ "\"What's this doing here?\" Harvey asked, puzzled. \"I thought Johnson had\n to transport water in pails.\"\n\n\n \"Wonder where it leads to,\" Joe said uneasily.", "Harvey and Joe were breathing hard from having gulped the water so\n fast, but they were beginning to revive. They noticed the bartender's\n impersonal eyes studying them shrewdly.", "Johnson, the \"sheriff,\" collected the money, and Johnson, the\n \"restaurateur,\" pocketed it. Meanwhile, Harvey tipped Joe the sign to\n remain calm.", "\"Now do you see, my hot-tempered colleague?\" said Harvey as he and Joe\n picked up buckets that hung on the tank. \"Johnson, as I saw instantly,\n is the victim of a difficult environment, and must charge accordingly.\"", "Harvey helped Joe to the counter and lifted him up on it. The mayor and\n his gigantic offspring were cowering across the room, trying to breathe\n in tiny, uncontaminating gasps.", "Harvey's eyes bulged. Joe gulped. \"That—that's robbery!\" the lanky man\n managed to get out in a thin quaver.", "Joe reeled aside, and Harvey saw what had upset his partner. He stared,\n speechless for once.", "Harvey and Joe studied the menu critically. The prices were\n phenomenally low. When they glanced up at Johnson in perplexity, he\n grinned, bowed and asked: \"Everything satisfactory, gents?\"", "Joe's face grew as glum as Johnson's had been. \"Aw, Harv,\" he\n protested, \"do we have to sell it? And right when I thought we were\n getting the key!\"", "Harvey looked reprovingly at his gangling partner. \"Did Johnson ask to\n taste it, or did he not? One must look ahead, Joseph. I had to produce", "\"We must not be selfish, my boy,\" Harvey said nobly. \"We have had our\n chance; now we must relinquish Fate to the hands of a man who might\n have more success than we. Go, Joseph. Bring it here.\"", "Harvey and Joe looked at each other. They hadn't been thinking about\n food at all, but suddenly they realized that they were hungry.", "Swiftly, Harvey conned the possibilities of being bilked again. He saw\n none.\n\n\n \"Let's take a look at the menu, anyhow, Joe,\" he said guardedly.", "\"Nonsense,\" Harvey croaked uncertainly. \"We have seen enough queer\n things to know there are always more.\"\n\n\n He led the way inside. Through thirst-cracked lips he rasped:\n \"Water—quick!\"", "put the bottle to his lips and tilted it until he was forced to drink.\n When Joe tried to pull away, Harvey was inexorable. He made his partner\n drink until most of the liquid was gone. Then he stepped back and", "But Joe was already on his knees, scooping up a handful of water and\n tasting it.\n\n\n \"Sweet!\" he snarled.", "Astonished, Johnson and his son drew closer. They searched Joe's face,\n and then the mayor timidly felt his pulse.\n\n\n \"Well, I'll be hanged!\" Johnson ejaculated.", "\"It's only water we were short of,\" Harvey said apprehensively. \"We've\n got rations back at the ship.\"", "\"You dirty crook!\" Joe roared. \"Robbing honest spacemen!\"\nHarvey nudged him warningly. \"Easy, my boy, easy.\" He turned to the", "As if on cue, Genius came out and put the check down between Joe and\n Harvey. Harvey picked it up negligently, but his casual air vanished in\n a yelp of horror." ], [ "Johnson's eight-foot son, topped by a massive roof of sun-bleached hair\n and held up by a foundation that seemed immovable, had obviously been", "Astonished, Johnson and his son drew closer. They searched Joe's face,\n and then the mayor timidly felt his pulse.\n\n\n \"Well, I'll be hanged!\" Johnson ejaculated.", "\"Nope. That's my son, Jed. Angus Johnson's my name. Folks here just\n call me Chief. I run this town, and run it right. How much water will\n you need?\"", "\"I really hate to deprive you of this unique creature,\" he said to\n Johnson. \"I should imagine you will be rather lonely, with only your\n filial mammoth to keep you company.\"", "\"To make a long story, Mr. Johnson,\" he said, \"Joseph and I were among\n the chosen few who knew the famous Doctor Dean intimately. Just before", "!\"\nJohnson didn't answer. Neither did Genius; he simply put on the table,\n not a fingerbowl, but a magnifying glass. With one of his thirty", "\"Thought you gents were leaving,\" the mayor called out, seeing them\n frozen in the doorway. \"Glad you didn't. Now you can meet my son, Jed.\n Him and me are the whole Earthman population of Johnson City.\"", "Johnson sighed ponderously. \"I was afraid you'd act like that,\" he said\n with regret. He pulled a tin badge out of his rear pocket, pinned it on", "\"It does, Mr. Johnson! Only charlatans like those who envied Doctor\n Dean's magnificent accomplishments could deny that fact.\"", "Harvey looked reprovingly at his gangling partner. \"Did Johnson ask to\n taste it, or did he not? One must look ahead, Joseph. I had to produce", "\"Now do you see, my hot-tempered colleague?\" said Harvey as he and Joe\n picked up buckets that hung on the tank. \"Johnson, as I saw instantly,\n is the victim of a difficult environment, and must charge accordingly.\"", "\"I sure will,\" Johnson confessed glumly. \"I got pretty attached to\n Genius, and I'm going to miss him something awful.\"", "\"What do you mean,\nonce\n?\" demanded Johnson. \"I come down with it\n every year, and I ain't hankering to have it in an off-season. Get him\n out of here!\"", "\"Bring him in here!\" Johnson cried. \"I mean, get him away! He's coming\n down with asteroid fever!\"", "Angus Johnson knew differently. He charged them\n\n five buckos for a glass of water—and got it!\n\n\n [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from", "\"We must not be selfish, my boy,\" Harvey said nobly. \"We have had our\n chance; now we must relinquish Fate to the hands of a man who might\n have more success than we. Go, Joseph. Bring it here.\"", "\"You'll find everything you want in the back room,\" Johnson said\n frantically, \"sulfopyridine, mustard plasters, rubs, inhalers, suction\n cups—\"", "\"But I dislike having to revise my opinion of a man so often,\"\n complained Harvey. \"I wish Johnson would stay either swindler or honest", "Harvey and Joe studied the menu critically. The prices were\n phenomenally low. When they glanced up at Johnson in perplexity, he\n grinned, bowed and asked: \"Everything satisfactory, gents?\"", "\"Either one. It don't make no difference. Genius is too valuable to\n sell.\"\n\n\n \"Oh, come now, Mr. Johnson. Don't tell me no amount of money would\n tempt you!\"" ], [ "\"Bring him in here!\" Johnson cried. \"I mean, get him away! He's coming\n down with asteroid fever!\"", "\"The asteroidal Poobah has tricked us with a slick come-on,\" said\n Harvey slowly. His eyes grew cold. \"Joseph, the good-natured artist in", "\"Relics of the past,\" Harvey stated. \"One medication is all modern man\n requires to combat the dread menace, asteroid fever.\"\n\n\n \"What's that?\" asked the mayor without conviction.", "actual test, it conquers asteroid fever in from four to twenty-three\n minutes, depending on the severity of the attack. Luckily, we caught\n this one before it grew formidable.\"", "balanced between his pleasure at getting the fever remedy and his pain\n at paying for it. Then he glanced out to see the position of Jupiter,\n and asked: \"You gents eaten yet? The restaurant's open now.\"", "\"Besides nothing!\" Joe roared, finding his voice again. \"You dirty\n crook—robbing poor spacemen! You—\"", "Joe's performance was better than ever. He lay supine for several\n moments, his face twisted into an expression that seemed doomed\n to perpetual wryness. Slowly, however, he sat up and his features\n straightened out.", "Joe recoiled. \"I'm fine now!\" he cried, and sprang off the bar to prove\n it.", "Astonished, Johnson and his son drew closer. They searched Joe's face,\n and then the mayor timidly felt his pulse.\n\n\n \"Well, I'll be hanged!\" Johnson ejaculated.", "With Joe stumbling along behind, he left the saloon, crossed the\n clearing and entered the ship. As soon as they were inside, Joe dropped\n his murderous silence and cried:", "\"You dirty crook!\" Joe roared. \"Robbing honest spacemen!\"\nHarvey nudged him warningly. \"Easy, my boy, easy.\" He turned to the", "\"Are—are you all right?\" asked the mayor anxiously.\n\n\n \"Much better,\" said Joe in a weak voice.\n\n\n \"Maybe you need another dose,\" Harvey suggested.", "Harvey nodded in relief. \"We have attempted to repay our host, Joseph.\n He has spurned our generosity. We have now the chance to continue our\n study, which I am positive will soon reward us with the key to an\n enormous fortune.\"", "Harvey helped Joe to the counter and lifted him up on it. The mayor and\n his gigantic offspring were cowering across the room, trying to breathe\n in tiny, uncontaminating gasps.", "\"Of course,\" replied Harvey calmly. \"Any fool knows the first symptoms\n of the disease that once scourged the universe.\"", "GRIFTERS' ASTEROID\nBy H. L. GOLD\nHarvey and Joe were the slickest con-men ever\n\n to gyp a space-lane sucker. Or so they thought!", "according to the mayor, was theirs for the asking. They filled their\n buckets and hauled them to the ship, then returned for more.\nIt was on the sixth trip that Joe caught a glimpse of Jupiter-shine on", "\"We must not be selfish, my boy,\" Harvey said nobly. \"We have had our\n chance; now we must relinquish Fate to the hands of a man who might\n have more success than we. Go, Joseph. Bring it here.\"", "\"Well, that's no plating off our bow,\" Joe grunted. \"I'm glad he did\n turn it down. I hated to give it up after working on it for three whole\n years.\"", "Even before the others could turn to him, Joe's practiced eyes were\n gently crossing. He sagged against the door frame, all his features\n drooping like a bloodhound's." ], [ "\"To make a long story, Mr. Johnson,\" he said, \"Joseph and I were among\n the chosen few who knew the famous Doctor Dean intimately. Just before", "Johnson, the \"sheriff,\" collected the money, and Johnson, the\n \"restaurateur,\" pocketed it. Meanwhile, Harvey tipped Joe the sign to\n remain calm.", "Astonished, Johnson and his son drew closer. They searched Joe's face,\n and then the mayor timidly felt his pulse.\n\n\n \"Well, I'll be hanged!\" Johnson ejaculated.", "\"You'll find everything you want in the back room,\" Johnson said\n frantically, \"sulfopyridine, mustard plasters, rubs, inhalers, suction\n cups—\"", "\"But I dislike having to revise my opinion of a man so often,\"\n complained Harvey. \"I wish Johnson would stay either swindler or honest", "\"It does, Mr. Johnson! Only charlatans like those who envied Doctor\n Dean's magnificent accomplishments could deny that fact.\"", "\"What do you mean,\nonce\n?\" demanded Johnson. \"I come down with it\n every year, and I ain't hankering to have it in an off-season. Get him\n out of here!\"", "!\"\nJohnson didn't answer. Neither did Genius; he simply put on the table,\n not a fingerbowl, but a magnifying glass. With one of his thirty", "Johnson sighed ponderously. \"I was afraid you'd act like that,\" he said\n with regret. He pulled a tin badge out of his rear pocket, pinned it on", "Angus Johnson knew differently. He charged them\n\n five buckos for a glass of water—and got it!\n\n\n [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from", "\"Now do you see, my hot-tempered colleague?\" said Harvey as he and Joe\n picked up buckets that hung on the tank. \"Johnson, as I saw instantly,\n is the victim of a difficult environment, and must charge accordingly.\"", "\"We do not sell this unbelievable remedy,\" Harvey replied with dignity.\n \"It sells itself.\"\n\n\n \"'Course, I'd expect a considerable reduction if I bought a whole\n case,\" said Johnson.", "\"Bring him in here!\" Johnson cried. \"I mean, get him away! He's coming\n down with asteroid fever!\"", "\"Either one. It don't make no difference. Genius is too valuable to\n sell.\"\n\n\n \"Oh, come now, Mr. Johnson. Don't tell me no amount of money would\n tempt you!\"", "Johnson stabbed out a warning finger. \"No tricks now. I want a taste of\n that stuff. You're not switching some worthless junk on me.\"", "\"For you, since you have taken us in so hospitably, a mere five hundred\n buckos.\"\n\n\n Johnson did not actually stagger back, but he gave the impression of\n doing so. \"F-four hundred,\" he offered.", "\"Nope. That's my son, Jed. Angus Johnson's my name. Folks here just\n call me Chief. I run this town, and run it right. How much water will\n you need?\"", "\"This and that,\" concluded Joe. \"We'll give you five hundred buckos.\"\n\n\n \"Now, gents!\" Johnson remonstrated. \"Why, six hundred would hardly—\"", "Harvey and Joe studied the menu critically. The prices were\n phenomenally low. When they glanced up at Johnson in perplexity, he\n grinned, bowed and asked: \"Everything satisfactory, gents?\"", "\"I sure will,\" Johnson confessed glumly. \"I got pretty attached to\n Genius, and I'm going to miss him something awful.\"" ], [ "\"Bring him in here!\" Johnson cried. \"I mean, get him away! He's coming\n down with asteroid fever!\"", "\"The asteroidal Poobah has tricked us with a slick come-on,\" said\n Harvey slowly. His eyes grew cold. \"Joseph, the good-natured artist in", "\"Thought you gents were leaving,\" the mayor called out, seeing them\n frozen in the doorway. \"Glad you didn't. Now you can meet my son, Jed.\n Him and me are the whole Earthman population of Johnson City.\"", "Unwillingly, Joe turned and shuffled out.\nOn a larger and heavier world than Planetoid 42, Johnson's curiosity", "\"For a very good reason, sir. Patience is the virtue that will be\n rewarded with the key to these fourth dimensional broadcasts. A man who\n could devote his life to improving this lonely worldlet is obviously a\n person with unusual patience.\"", "\"Relics of the past,\" Harvey stated. \"One medication is all modern man\n requires to combat the dread menace, asteroid fever.\"\n\n\n \"What's that?\" asked the mayor without conviction.", "\"I really hate to deprive you of this unique creature,\" he said to\n Johnson. \"I should imagine you will be rather lonely, with only your\n filial mammoth to keep you company.\"", "Instead of replying, Harvey hurried outside to the ungainly second-hand\n rocket ship in the center of the shabby spaceport. He returned within a", "Johnson sighed ponderously. \"I was afraid you'd act like that,\" he said\n with regret. He pulled a tin badge out of his rear pocket, pinned it on", "\"Besides nothing!\" Joe roared, finding his voice again. \"You dirty\n crook—robbing poor spacemen! You—\"", "actual test, it conquers asteroid fever in from four to twenty-three\n minutes, depending on the severity of the attack. Luckily, we caught\n this one before it grew formidable.\"", "\"Got a mechanic around this dumping ground you call a port?\" Joe asked.\n\n\n \"We did. He came near starving and moved on to Titan. Ships don't land\n here unless they're in trouble.\"", "The barkeeper shrugged. \"When there ain't many customers, you gotta\n make more on each one. Besides—\"", "GRIFTERS' ASTEROID\nBy H. L. GOLD\nHarvey and Joe were the slickest con-men ever\n\n to gyp a space-lane sucker. Or so they thought!", "\"Joseph, get our most prized belonging from the communications room of\n the ship,\" Harvey instructed. To Johnson he explained: \"You must see", "Astonished, Johnson and his son drew closer. They searched Joe's face,\n and then the mayor timidly felt his pulse.\n\n\n \"Well, I'll be hanged!\" Johnson ejaculated.", "\"We do not sell this unbelievable remedy,\" Harvey replied with dignity.\n \"It sells itself.\"\n\n\n \"'Course, I'd expect a considerable reduction if I bought a whole\n case,\" said Johnson.", "\"For you, since you have taken us in so hospitably, a mere five hundred\n buckos.\"\n\n\n Johnson did not actually stagger back, but he gave the impression of\n doing so. \"F-four hundred,\" he offered.", "\"But I dislike having to revise my opinion of a man so often,\"\n complained Harvey. \"I wish Johnson would stay either swindler or honest", "At first I purpose to exhibit him on our interplanetary tours with our\n streamlined panacea; he would be a spectacular attraction for bucolic\n suckers. Later, a brief period of demonstrating his abilities on the" ], [ "Johnson, the \"sheriff,\" collected the money, and Johnson, the\n \"restaurateur,\" pocketed it. Meanwhile, Harvey tipped Joe the sign to\n remain calm.", "Harvey and Joe studied the menu critically. The prices were\n phenomenally low. When they glanced up at Johnson in perplexity, he\n grinned, bowed and asked: \"Everything satisfactory, gents?\"", "\"For you, since you have taken us in so hospitably, a mere five hundred\n buckos.\"\n\n\n Johnson did not actually stagger back, but he gave the impression of\n doing so. \"F-four hundred,\" he offered.", "Angus Johnson knew differently. He charged them\n\n five buckos for a glass of water—and got it!\n\n\n [Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from", "Astonished, Johnson and his son drew closer. They searched Joe's face,\n and then the mayor timidly felt his pulse.\n\n\n \"Well, I'll be hanged!\" Johnson ejaculated.", "\"This and that,\" concluded Joe. \"We'll give you five hundred buckos.\"\n\n\n \"Now, gents!\" Johnson remonstrated. \"Why, six hundred would hardly—\"", "\"We do not sell this unbelievable remedy,\" Harvey replied with dignity.\n \"It sells itself.\"\n\n\n \"'Course, I'd expect a considerable reduction if I bought a whole\n case,\" said Johnson.", "\"It does, Mr. Johnson! Only charlatans like those who envied Doctor\n Dean's magnificent accomplishments could deny that fact.\"", "\"We absolutely must purchase this incredible specimen,\" Harvey\n whispered excitedly when Johnson and the native were both in the", "\"Either one. It don't make no difference. Genius is too valuable to\n sell.\"\n\n\n \"Oh, come now, Mr. Johnson. Don't tell me no amount of money would\n tempt you!\"", "!\"\nJohnson didn't answer. Neither did Genius; he simply put on the table,\n not a fingerbowl, but a magnifying glass. With one of his thirty", "Johnson stabbed out a warning finger. \"No tricks now. I want a taste of\n that stuff. You're not switching some worthless junk on me.\"", "\"But I dislike having to revise my opinion of a man so often,\"\n complained Harvey. \"I wish Johnson would stay either swindler or honest", "\"That's the stuff, all right,\" he said, swallowing hard. He counted\n out the money into Harvey's hand, at a moderate rate that precariously", "Johnson immediately fell into the role of \"mine host.\"\n\n\n \"Come right in, gents,\" he invited. \"Right into the dining room.\"", "Without a word, the bartender reached under the counter, brought out\n two glasses of water. The interplanetary con-men drank noisily, asked", "\"Now do you see, my hot-tempered colleague?\" said Harvey as he and Joe\n picked up buckets that hung on the tank. \"Johnson, as I saw instantly,\n is the victim of a difficult environment, and must charge accordingly.\"", "The final price, however, was four hundred and sixty-nine buckos and\n fifty redsents. Magnanimously, Harvey added: \"And we will include,", "merchant. This dinner is worth as least twenty buckos, yet I estimate\n our check at a mere bucko twenty redsents.\"", "Johnson sighed ponderously. \"I was afraid you'd act like that,\" he said\n with regret. He pulled a tin badge out of his rear pocket, pinned it on" ] ]

[ "What was special or impressive about Gertrude?", "Why was Gertrude continuously screaming?", "How were Jig and Bucky attacked by the Vapor snakes?", "Why did the crew mind that the cave-cat had kittens?", "What did the Nahali people do in side-shows as their talent?", "Why was Kapper in such a state of disbelief when Bucky and Jig found him?", "What did Jig and Bucky promise Kapper?", "Why did Jig and Bucky rarely come in through the front door?", "Why was the Circus is danger of closing?" ]

[ [ "Her outrageous temperment", "She was an extreme rarity.", "Her extraordinary size and young age", "She was exceptionally talented" ], [ "She was cramped in a much too small space. ", "She missed her family. ", "She was near starving.", "She was desperate for a mate" ], [ "They had been released by someone on purpose", "Bucky had released them while inebriated", "They had gone into the wrong enclosure. ", "They had escaped their tanks in search of food." ], [ "They didn't perform well while they were small. ", "They were too dangerous to keep onboard", "They had no food for more mouths to feed", "One had only four legs" ], [ "Performed with the dangerous Vapor snakes", "Performed tricks with the electric power the held in their bodies", "Swallowed electricty and performed with currents", "Their appearance alone was their performance, as they had triangular mouths and scaled hides" ], [ "He was frantically searching for the male Cansin he had found", "He had lost all his animals and was desperate to find them ", "He had been attacked by the Vapor snakes", "He was being poisoned." ], [ "That they would find a way to save the Circus", "That they would be able to save him", "That they would take the cansin back.", "That they would not make the deal with Beamish" ], [ "They wanted to avoid the screams of Gertrude", "They wanted to avoid the debt collectors", "They preferred the back entrance as to be closer to the action", "They wanted to avoid the Vapor snakes" ], [ "They lacked impressive skills now that more of their kind had surfaced.", "They were out of money and out of options. ", "They were no longer able to manage the lot of animals they had acquired. ", "They were too inebriated to be coherent. " ] ]

[ 2, 4, 1, 4, 2, 4, 3, 2, 2 ]

[ 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 1, 1 ]

[ [ "She was also much younger, but I didn't go into that. Gertrude may be\n a little creaky, but she's still pretty impressive. I only hoped she", "Gertrude screamed again. She didn't move, not even to raise her head.\n The sadness just built up inside her until it had to come out. That", "I wouldn't know, of course, but Gertrude looks to me like she got stuck\n some place between a dinosaur and a grizzly bear, with maybe a little\n bird blood thrown in. Anyway, she's big.", "I looked at Gertrude. Her cage is the biggest and strongest in the tank\n and even so she looked as though she could break it open just taking a", ". The only other one on the Triangle belongs to Savitt\n Brothers, and she's much smaller than Gertrude.\"", "He hammered on his gong, and things quieted down again. Gow stood\n looking out over the tank, sniffing a little, like a hound. Then he\n turned to Gertrude.", "He looked at me like he was thinking it wouldn't take much timber to\n fit me for a coffin. \"Okay! But Gertrude's unhappy. She's lonesome,", "He said, \"Boss, Gertrude's actin' up again.\"\n\n\n \"Gertrude be blowed,\" growled Bucky. \"Can't you see I'm busy?\"", "it's all I got. I love it, Jig. Unnerstan' me? Like Gow there with\n Gertrude. She's ugly and no good, but he loves her. I love....\"", "It had been quiet. Now every brute in the place let go at the same\n time. My stomach turned clear over. I called Gertrude every name I", "roars and shrieks, packed in tight by the metal walls, and above it all\n I could hear Gertrude's lonely, whistling scream.", "A high, ragged, whistling screech like nothing this side of hell,\n ripping through the musty darkness. Gertrude, on the wailing wall.", "I didn't want to see Gertrude. I never got over feeling funny going\n into the brute tank, especially at night or out in space. I'm a city", "I said, \"Sure,\" rather sourly. Bucky hiccoughed.\n\n\n \"Let's go see Gertrude.\"", "Gow's black eyes were unpleasant. \"I'm tellin' you, Boss, Gertrude\n ain't happy. She ain't had the right food. If something....\"", "\"I saved her life,\" he said. \"When we bought her out of Hanak's wreck\n and everybody thought she was too hurt to live, I saved her. I know\n her. I can do things with her. But this time....\"", "While we passed the hatchway to the brute tank, I could hear Gertrude,\n screaming.", "It was dark down there in the tank. Way off at the other end, there was\n a dim glow. Gow was evidently holding Gertrude's hand. We started down", "He pulled the curtains to and departed. Bucky Shannon groaned. Beamish\n cleared his throat and said, rather stiffly,\n\n\n \"Gertrude?\"", "\"She's the star attraction of our show, Mr. Beamish. A real blue-swamp\n Venusian\ncansin" ], [ "Gertrude screamed again. She didn't move, not even to raise her head.\n The sadness just built up inside her until it had to come out. That", "While we passed the hatchway to the brute tank, I could hear Gertrude,\n screaming.", "roars and shrieks, packed in tight by the metal walls, and above it all\n I could hear Gertrude's lonely, whistling scream.", "A high, ragged, whistling screech like nothing this side of hell,\n ripping through the musty darkness. Gertrude, on the wailing wall.", "It had been quiet. Now every brute in the place let go at the same\n time. My stomach turned clear over. I called Gertrude every name I", "He said, \"Boss, Gertrude's actin' up again.\"\n\n\n \"Gertrude be blowed,\" growled Bucky. \"Can't you see I'm busy?\"", "He hammered on his gong, and things quieted down again. Gow stood\n looking out over the tank, sniffing a little, like a hound. Then he\n turned to Gertrude.", "\" I tried to yell again. It strangled in my throat. I\n sobbed, and the sweat was thick and cold on me.", "He looked at me like he was thinking it wouldn't take much timber to\n fit me for a coffin. \"Okay! But Gertrude's unhappy. She's lonesome,", "Bucky Shannon lurched against me suddenly. I choked back a yell, and\n then wiped the sweat off my forehead and cursed. The scream came again.", "I yelled and knocked the table over into Bucky. It made a lot of noise.\n It knocked him sideways and down, and the little dark men jumped up,\n quivering and showing their teeth. The Martian girl screamed.", "She was also much younger, but I didn't go into that. Gertrude may be\n a little creaky, but she's still pretty impressive. I only hoped she", "I didn't want to see Gertrude. I never got over feeling funny going\n into the brute tank, especially at night or out in space. I'm a city", "Bucky Shannon began to cry. I snarled, \"You'll have to snap her out of\n this, Gow. She's driving the rest of 'em nuts.\"", "Gow's black eyes were unpleasant. \"I'm tellin' you, Boss, Gertrude\n ain't happy. She ain't had the right food. If something....\"", "He pulled the curtains to and departed. Bucky Shannon groaned. Beamish\n cleared his throat and said, rather stiffly,\n\n\n \"Gertrude?\"", "I looked at Gertrude. Her cage is the biggest and strongest in the tank\n and even so she looked as though she could break it open just taking a", "close, the screech was deafening, and it turned me all limp and cold\n inside. The loneliness, the sheer stark, simple pain....", "Kapper's face was horrible. I felt sick, listening to him fight for\n air. I wanted to go for a doctor anyway, but somehow I knew it was no\n use. Kapper whispered,", "I reached across Bucky suddenly and jerked the curtain back. Beamish\n was standing there. Beamish, bent over, with his ear cocked. Kapper\n made a harsh strangling noise and fell across the table." ], [ "\"Mis' Bucky okay. You save life. You big hero, Mis' Jig. Mis' Gow come\n nickuhtime get snakes. You hero. Haw! You funny like hell!\"", "Bucky was almost asleep on me. I started to slap him. And then the mist\n rose up out of the darkness in little lazy coils, sparkling faintly\n with blue, cold fire.", "\"Jig,\" he said, \"those vapor worms were all right when we went in.\n Somebody followed us down and let them out. On purpose.\"", "The first snake touched me. It was like a live wire, sliding along the\n back of my neck. I screamed. It came down along my cheek, hunting my\n mouth. There were more of them, burning me through my clothes.", "I yelled, \"Gow! Gow, the Vapor snakes! Gow—for God's sake!\"", "Bucky Shannon regarded them possessively, wiping blood from his nose.\n \"They're good guys, Jig. Swell people. They stuck by me, and I've\n rewarded them.\"", "\"Yeah,\" Bucky said reflectively. \"And I hear starvation isn't a\n comfortable death. Okay, Jig. Let's go sign.\" He put his hand on the", "Bucky Shannon got up. He grinned his pleasantest grin. \"Delighted. I'm\n Shannon. This is Jig Bentley, my business manager.\" He looked down at\n the table. \"I'm sorry about that. Mistaken identity.\"", "He fell on his knees in the mud, making noises. It took him three or\n four tries to get our names out clear enough to understand.\n\n\n Bucky said, \"Jig—it's Sam Kapper.\"", "Bucky started to help him up. Kapper was crying, and he jerked all over\n like animals I've seen that were scared to death. Some guy leaned over\n and put a cigarette in his mouth and lighted it for him.", "Bucky had relaxed. His grey-green eyes began to gleam. He started to\n speak, and I kicked him again.", "Bucky Shannon lurched against me suddenly. I choked back a yell, and\n then wiped the sweat off my forehead and cursed. The scream came again.", "I reached across Bucky suddenly and jerked the curtain back. Beamish\n was standing there. Beamish, bent over, with his ear cocked. Kapper\n made a harsh strangling noise and fell across the table.", "I yelled and knocked the table over into Bucky. It made a lot of noise.\n It knocked him sideways and down, and the little dark men jumped up,\n quivering and showing their teeth. The Martian girl screamed.", "Bucky heaved the table off his lap and cursed me. \"What's eating you,\n Jig? I'm not going to hurt him.\"", "I started to run, back along the passageway. Bucky weighed on me, limp\n and heavy. The noise burst suddenly in a deafening hell of moans and", "Bucky Shannon began to cry. I snarled, \"You'll have to snap her out of\n this, Gow. She's driving the rest of 'em nuts.\"", "Bucky got red around the ears. \"Just a minute,\" he murmured, and\n started to get up. I kicked him under the table.\n\n\n \"Shut up, you lug. Let Mister Beamish finish.\"", "One of Bucky's dragging, stumbling feet got between mine. We fell. I\n rolled on top of him, covering his face, and buried my own face in the\n hollow of his shoulder.", "\"That's tough,\" said Bucky Shannon. His grey-green eyes looked like an\n owl's. He swayed slightly. \"That's sure tough.\" He sniffled." ], [ "like a disaster hoping to happen. To make it worse, Zurt the Jovian\n strong-man got hurt during the take-off, and the Mercurian cave-cat had\n kittens.", "We were a long way from the light, then. The cages and tanks loomed\n high and black over us. It was still. The secret, uneasy motion all\n around us and the scruffing of our feet only made it stiller.", "Nobody would have minded that, only one of 'em had only four legs. It\n lived just long enough to scare that bunch of superstitious dopes out\n of their pants. Circus people are funny that way.", "the smell, I think; rank and sour and wild. And the sound of them,\n breathing and rustling in the dark, with the patient hatred walled\n around them as strong as the cage bars.", "We started to run. The crowd, mostly big unshaken miners, wheeled\n around to see what was happening. People began to close in on the man\n who crawled and whimpered in the mud.", "Gow glared at us as we came up into the lantern light. \"She's gettin'\n worse,\" he said. \"She's lonesome.\"", "I didn't like him. I didn't like him at all. But he had money. I said,\n \"Howdy. Let's go find a booth. These Marshies make me nervous, looking\n like hungry cats at a mouse-hole.\"", "had them nicely conditioned to that gong.\nBut they didn't quiet down. Not really. They were uneasy. You can feel", "\"Jig,\" he said, \"those vapor worms were all right when we went in.\n Somebody followed us down and let them out. On purpose.\"", "weren't happy. You get so you can feel those things. The steamy Venus\n heat was already sneaking into the ship.", "\"I saved her life,\" he said. \"When we bought her out of Hanak's wreck\n and everybody thought she was too hurt to live, I saved her. I know\n her. I can do things with her. But this time....\"", "I began to notice something, then. There were quite a lot of men in the\n place. At first glance they looked okay—a hard-faced, muscular bunch\n of miners in dirty shirts and high boots.", "Gow's black eyes were unpleasant. \"I'm tellin' you, Boss, Gertrude\n ain't happy. She ain't had the right food. If something....\"", "I didn't want to see Gertrude. I never got over feeling funny going\n into the brute tank, especially at night or out in space. I'm a city", "could think of, and I couldn't hear myself doing it. Presently a great\n metallic clash nearly burst my eardrums, and the beasts shut up. Gow", "I couldn't help feeling sorry for her. She was crouched in the cage\n with her hands—yeah, hands—hanging over her knees and her snaky head", "eleven years, and I know. It's lousy, it's mangy, it's broken-down!\n Nothing works, from the ship to the roustabouts. In short, it stinks!\"", "We had a lot of fun. Some of the boys inside the ship came out to join\n in. We raised a lot of dust and nobody got killed, quite. We all went\n home happy. They had their money, and we had their blood.", "than money. It grates on a man's pride to have to sneak in and out of\n his own property through the sewage lock. This was the first time in\n weeks we'd come in at the front door.", "I yelled and knocked the table over into Bucky. It made a lot of noise.\n It knocked him sideways and down, and the little dark men jumped up,\n quivering and showing their teeth. The Martian girl screamed." ], [ "You find a lot of Nahali people in side-shows, doing tricks with\n the electric power they carry in their own bodies. They're Venusian\n middle-swampers, they're not human, and they never forget it.", "I heard a noise behind me and looked around. Ahra the Nahali woman was\n standing in the mud with her arms up and her head thrown back, and her", "Nobody would have minded that, only one of 'em had only four legs. It\n lived just long enough to scare that bunch of superstitious dopes out\n of their pants. Circus people are funny that way.", "Shannon set the crate down on the edge of Nahru, the first stop on our\n itinerary. I stood beside him, looking out the ports at the scenery. It", "Sam Kapper was a hunter, supplying animals to zoos and circuses and\n carnivals. He'd given us good deals a couple of times, when we weren't\n too broke, and we were pretty friendly.", "muscle man from Jupiter, and all the other assorted geeks and kinkers\n and joeys that make up the usual corny carnie were doing nip-ups in the", "We were a long way from the light, then. The cages and tanks loomed\n high and black over us. It was still. The secret, uneasy motion all\n around us and the scruffing of our feet only made it stiller.", "We started to run. The crowd, mostly big unshaken miners, wheeled\n around to see what was happening. People began to close in on the man\n who crawled and whimpered in the mud.", "He hammered on his gong, and things quieted down again. Gow stood\n looking out over the tank, sniffing a little, like a hound. Then he\n turned to Gertrude.", "The news was all over the ship before we got inside. The freaks and the\n green girl from Tethys who could roll herself like a hoop, and Zurt the", "We weren't half way across the mud puddle that passed as a landing\n field when a man came out of a shack on the edge of the settlement. We\n could see him plainly, because he was off to one side of the crowd.", "\"You were right, Jig,\" he mumbled. \"Circus is no good. I know it. But", "The little guy nodded. \"Excellent idea. My name is Beamish. Simon\n Beamish. I wish to—ah—charter your circus.\"", "\"Death,\" she whispered. \"Death and trouble. The jungle tells me. I can\n smell it in the swamp wind.\"", "We had a lot of fun. Some of the boys inside the ship came out to join\n in. We raised a lot of dust and nobody got killed, quite. We all went\n home happy. They had their money, and we had their blood.", "\"The deep swamps are angry,\" she whispered. \"Something has been taken.\n They are angry, and I smell death in the wind!\"", "\"I saved her life,\" he said. \"When we bought her out of Hanak's wreck\n and everybody thought she was too hurt to live, I saved her. I know\n her. I can do things with her. But this time....\"", "Then I looked at their hands. They were dirty enough. But they never\n did any work in a mine, on Venus or anywhere else.", "I snarled, \"What do you want, with this lousy dog-and-pony show!\" and\n went out. He followed. The gang was converging on the lock, but they", "remedy that. I propose to charter your circus, Mister Shannon, to make\n a tour of several settlements along the Tehara Belt.\"" ], [ "Bucky started to help him up. Kapper was crying, and he jerked all over\n like animals I've seen that were scared to death. Some guy leaned over\n and put a cigarette in his mouth and lighted it for him.", "He fell on his knees in the mud, making noises. It took him three or\n four tries to get our names out clear enough to understand.\n\n\n Bucky said, \"Jig—it's Sam Kapper.\"", "Bucky looked at me. Kapper was blue around the mouth. I was scared,\n suddenly. I said, \"Get what back where?\"", "Bucky said gently, \"Okay, Sam. Relax. What's the trouble?\"\nKapper tried to straighten up. He hadn't shaved. The lean hard lines", "Beamish never changed expression. He didn't move while Bucky felt\n Kapper's pulse. Bucky didn't need to say anything. We knew.\n\n\n \"Heart?\" said Beamish finally.", "I reached across Bucky suddenly and jerked the curtain back. Beamish\n was standing there. Beamish, bent over, with his ear cocked. Kapper\n made a harsh strangling noise and fell across the table.", "Bucky got up. \"I'll get a doctor,\" he said. \"Stick with him.\" Kapper\n grabbed his wrist. Kapper's nails were blue and the cords in his hands\n stood out like guy wires.", "Kapper's face was horrible. I felt sick, listening to him fight for\n air. I wanted to go for a doctor anyway, but somehow I knew it was no\n use. Kapper whispered,", "Bucky Shannon lurched against me suddenly. I choked back a yell, and\n then wiped the sweat off my forehead and cursed. The scream came again.", "Bucky moaned and kicked under me. I remember hanging on and thinking,\n \"This is it. This is it, and oh God, I'm scared!\"\n\n\n Then I went out.\nII", "Bucky had relaxed. His grey-green eyes began to gleam. He started to\n speak, and I kicked him again.", "Bucky Shannon got up. He grinned his pleasantest grin. \"Delighted. I'm\n Shannon. This is Jig Bentley, my business manager.\" He looked down at\n the table. \"I'm sorry about that. Mistaken identity.\"", "Bucky heaved the table off his lap and cursed me. \"What's eating you,\n Jig? I'm not going to hurt him.\"", "I was thinking about Kapper, then, and I didn't pay much attention. I\n only caught a glimpse of the man's face as he straightened up. I didn't\n realize until later that he looked familiar.", "Bucky got red around the ears. \"Just a minute,\" he murmured, and\n started to get up. I kicked him under the table.\n\n\n \"Shut up, you lug. Let Mister Beamish finish.\"", "Bucky Shannon opened the door. He looked white and grim, and there was\n a big burn across his neck. He said:\n\n\n \"Beamish is here with his lawyer.\"", "\"That's tough,\" said Bucky Shannon. His grey-green eyes looked like an\n owl's. He swayed slightly. \"That's sure tough.\" He sniffled.", "I started to run, back along the passageway. Bucky weighed on me, limp\n and heavy. The noise burst suddenly in a deafening hell of moans and", "\"Yeah,\" Bucky said reflectively. \"And I hear starvation isn't a\n comfortable death. Okay, Jig. Let's go sign.\" He put his hand on the", "Bucky Shannon regarded them possessively, wiping blood from his nose.\n \"They're good guys, Jig. Swell people. They stuck by me, and I've\n rewarded them.\"" ], [ "Bucky started to help him up. Kapper was crying, and he jerked all over\n like animals I've seen that were scared to death. Some guy leaned over\n and put a cigarette in his mouth and lighted it for him.", "He fell on his knees in the mud, making noises. It took him three or\n four tries to get our names out clear enough to understand.\n\n\n Bucky said, \"Jig—it's Sam Kapper.\"", "Bucky Shannon regarded them possessively, wiping blood from his nose.\n \"They're good guys, Jig. Swell people. They stuck by me, and I've\n rewarded them.\"", "Bucky said gently, \"Okay, Sam. Relax. What's the trouble?\"\nKapper tried to straighten up. He hadn't shaved. The lean hard lines", "\"Yeah,\" Bucky said reflectively. \"And I hear starvation isn't a\n comfortable death. Okay, Jig. Let's go sign.\" He put his hand on the", "Bucky looked at me. Kapper was blue around the mouth. I was scared,\n suddenly. I said, \"Get what back where?\"", "Bucky got up. \"I'll get a doctor,\" he said. \"Stick with him.\" Kapper\n grabbed his wrist. Kapper's nails were blue and the cords in his hands\n stood out like guy wires.", "Beamish never changed expression. He didn't move while Bucky felt\n Kapper's pulse. Bucky didn't need to say anything. We knew.\n\n\n \"Heart?\" said Beamish finally.", "Bucky Shannon got up. He grinned his pleasantest grin. \"Delighted. I'm\n Shannon. This is Jig Bentley, my business manager.\" He looked down at\n the table. \"I'm sorry about that. Mistaken identity.\"", "Bucky heaved the table off his lap and cursed me. \"What's eating you,\n Jig? I'm not going to hurt him.\"", "\"Mis' Bucky okay. You save life. You big hero, Mis' Jig. Mis' Gow come\n nickuhtime get snakes. You hero. Haw! You funny like hell!\"", "I reached across Bucky suddenly and jerked the curtain back. Beamish\n was standing there. Beamish, bent over, with his ear cocked. Kapper\n made a harsh strangling noise and fell across the table.", "Bucky got red around the ears. \"Just a minute,\" he murmured, and\n started to get up. I kicked him under the table.\n\n\n \"Shut up, you lug. Let Mister Beamish finish.\"", "I looked at Bucky. He looked hungrier than the Marshies did. We didn't\n say anything until we got Beamish into a curtained booth with a fresh\n pitcher of\nthil", "Bucky had relaxed. His grey-green eyes began to gleam. He started to\n speak, and I kicked him again.", "We got Kapper inside the shack. It turned out to be a cheap bar, with a\n couple of curtained booths at the back. We got him into one and pulled", "\"Yeah,\" he said. \"I hope there'll be enough left to bribe the jury.\" He\n poked his head outside. \"Hey, boy! More", "I picked up my shirt. \"Right with you.\"\n\n\n Kanza went out, still giggling. Bucky closed the door.", "Kapper's face was horrible. I felt sick, listening to him fight for\n air. I wanted to go for a doctor anyway, but somehow I knew it was no\n use. Kapper whispered,", "\"\nSelak\n,\" said a voice in my ear. \"As if you didn't know.\"\n\n\n I turned. The man who had given Kapper the cigarette was standing\n behind me. And I remembered him, then." ], [ "than money. It grates on a man's pride to have to sneak in and out of\n his own property through the sewage lock. This was the first time in\n weeks we'd come in at the front door.", "Bucky Shannon got up. He grinned his pleasantest grin. \"Delighted. I'm\n Shannon. This is Jig Bentley, my business manager.\" He looked down at\n the table. \"I'm sorry about that. Mistaken identity.\"", "Bucky Shannon walked out into the glare of the light at the entrance to\n the roped-off space around the main lock. He was pretty steady on his\n feet. He waved and said, \"Hiya, boys.\"", "Bucky Shannon regarded them possessively, wiping blood from his nose.\n \"They're good guys, Jig. Swell people. They stuck by me, and I've\n rewarded them.\"", "Bucky Shannon opened the door. He looked white and grim, and there was\n a big burn across his neck. He said:\n\n\n \"Beamish is here with his lawyer.\"", "\"Yeah,\" Bucky said reflectively. \"And I hear starvation isn't a\n comfortable death. Okay, Jig. Let's go sign.\" He put his hand on the", "Bucky was almost asleep on me. I started to slap him. And then the mist\n rose up out of the darkness in little lazy coils, sparkling faintly\n with blue, cold fire.", "\"Mis' Bucky okay. You save life. You big hero, Mis' Jig. Mis' Gow come\n nickuhtime get snakes. You hero. Haw! You funny like hell!\"", "I picked up my shirt. \"Right with you.\"\n\n\n Kanza went out, still giggling. Bucky closed the door.", "Bucky Shannon lurched against me suddenly. I choked back a yell, and\n then wiped the sweat off my forehead and cursed. The scream came again.", "He fell on his knees in the mud, making noises. It took him three or\n four tries to get our names out clear enough to understand.\n\n\n Bucky said, \"Jig—it's Sam Kapper.\"", "Bucky got red around the ears. \"Just a minute,\" he murmured, and\n started to get up. I kicked him under the table.\n\n\n \"Shut up, you lug. Let Mister Beamish finish.\"", "\"I quite understand that. I would be prepared....\"\n\n\n The curtains were yanked back suddenly. Beamish shut up. Bucky and I\n glared at the head and shoulders poking in between the drapes.", "Bucky heaved the table off his lap and cursed me. \"What's eating you,\n Jig? I'm not going to hurt him.\"", "I looked at Bucky. He looked hungrier than the Marshies did. We didn't\n say anything until we got Beamish into a curtained booth with a fresh\n pitcher of\nthil", "Bucky said gently, \"Okay, Sam. Relax. What's the trouble?\"\nKapper tried to straighten up. He hadn't shaved. The lean hard lines", "Bucky started to help him up. Kapper was crying, and he jerked all over\n like animals I've seen that were scared to death. Some guy leaned over\n and put a cigarette in his mouth and lighted it for him.", "I reached across Bucky suddenly and jerked the curtain back. Beamish\n was standing there. Beamish, bent over, with his ear cocked. Kapper\n made a harsh strangling noise and fell across the table.", "I shot a glance at the newcomer. He'd saved me from a beating, even if\n he was a lousy bill-collecter; and I felt sorry for him. Bucky Shannon\n settled his shoulders and hips like a dancer.", "Bucky had relaxed. His grey-green eyes began to gleam. He started to\n speak, and I kicked him again." ], [ "\"You were right, Jig,\" he mumbled. \"Circus is no good. I know it. But", "Nobody would have minded that, only one of 'em had only four legs. It\n lived just long enough to scare that bunch of superstitious dopes out\n of their pants. Circus people are funny that way.", "The little guy nodded. \"Excellent idea. My name is Beamish. Simon\n Beamish. I wish to—ah—charter your circus.\"", "Sam Kapper was a hunter, supplying animals to zoos and circuses and\n carnivals. He'd given us good deals a couple of times, when we weren't\n too broke, and we were pretty friendly.", "I must have had the pitcher oftener than I thought. Nobody insults\n Buckhalter Shannon's Imperial Circus to Buckhalter Shannon's face\n unless he's tired and wants a long rest in a comfy fracture-frame.", "wouldn't die on us, because without her we'd have a sicker-looking\n circus than even I could stand.", "We were a long way from the light, then. The cages and tanks loomed\n high and black over us. It was still. The secret, uneasy motion all\n around us and the scruffing of our feet only made it stiller.", "\"I saved her life,\" he said. \"When we bought her out of Hanak's wreck\n and everybody thought she was too hurt to live, I saved her. I know\n her. I can do things with her. But this time....\"", "I'm kidding! With Shannon's Imperial Circus, the Greatest Show in\n Space, plastered so thick with attachments....\"", "remedy that. I propose to charter your circus, Mister Shannon, to make\n a tour of several settlements along the Tehara Belt.\"", "thildatum\n!\"\nIt was pretty late when we got back to the broken-down spaceport where\n Shannon's Imperial Circus was crouching beneath its attachments. Late", "We started to run. The crowd, mostly big unshaken miners, wheeled\n around to see what was happening. People began to close in on the man\n who crawled and whimpered in the mud.", "lot quicker grabbing the pitcher. \"The Greatest Show in Space. Phooey!\n I've wet-nursed Shannon's Imperial Circus around the Triangle for", "The Blue Behemoth\nBy LEIGH BRACKETT\nShannon's Imperial Circus was a jinxed\n\n space-carny leased for a mysterious tour\n\n of the inner worlds. It made a one-night", "I snarled, \"What do you want, with this lousy dog-and-pony show!\" and\n went out. He followed. The gang was converging on the lock, but they", "\"We,\" he said, \"are broke. We are finished, through. Washed up and\n down the drain.\" He added, as an afterthought, \"Destitute.\"", "than money. It grates on a man's pride to have to sneak in and out of\n his own property through the sewage lock. This was the first time in\n weeks we'd come in at the front door.", "The fight had just put the topper on him. I was afraid he'd fall down\n the ladder and break his neck. That's why I went along. If I hadn't....\n Oh, well, what's a few nightmares among friends?", "had them nicely conditioned to that gong.\nBut they didn't quiet down. Not really. They were uneasy. You can feel", "The news was all over the ship before we got inside. The freaks and the\n green girl from Tethys who could roll herself like a hoop, and Zurt the" ] ]

[ "Which best describes Peggy's relationship with her parents?", "What narrative role does Jean play in the story?", "Before Peggy's parents reveal their decision, was it obvious that they would let her move? ", "How would you describe the tone throughout the passage?", "Which of these sets of descriptions best describes Peggy?", "What is one potential moral of this story?", "Why was Socks a part of this story?" ]

[ [ "Her parents love her and support her, but want her to be practical as she enters an unpredictable career path.", "Her parents love her but don't truly think she'll be a successful actress because of how hard it is to get a big break.", "Her parents love her so much that they're willing to support her reckless career choices.", "Her parents trust her and love her but don't think that New York is the safest place for her because of her limited life experience." ], [ "She serves as encouragement to Peggy and gives the reader more reason to believe that Peggy has good acting skills.", "She serves as a deterrent to keep Peggy in the area because Jean loves her so much.", "Jean serves as proof that Peggy will likely succeed in life because Peggy has such a solid friendship with her and relationships are important to success.", "She pushes Peggy to pursue her dreams, so that Peggy doesn't have to end up being a teacher like Jean." ], [ "Totally. Her parents sounded supportive in every possible way and they had the resources to get her multiple auditions in New York.", "Not at all. Her parents had to argue about it for a while, and she was feeling nostalgic around her neighborhood so it looked like she was going to stay in town.", "Not entirely. But, their conversation with Peggy along with Jean's conversation with Peggy supplied strong evidence that they would say yes.", "Totally. Peggy had won so many awards and participated in so much theater that it would have been horrible parenting to make her stay." ], [ "It went from highly excited to mildly calm.", "Calm at the beginning, tense through the rest.", "While there was some uncertainty and excitement, it was relatively tranquil throughout.", "Uncertainty filled the passage, though it became calm at the end." ], [ "She's dedicated, bold, and pretty", "She's talented, unwise, and creative", "She's reserved, strong, and caring", "She's reasonable, unobservant, and bold" ], [ "Believing in yourself and advocating for yourself can open doors.", "Pursuing one's dream is difficult and often involves too much risk.", "Acting as a career should be more well respected because of how difficult it is to enter the industry.", "Sometimes dreams prevent you from enjoying what's right in front of you." ], [ "Technically Socks helped Peggy pass the time, but Socks also gives us more of an idea of what Peggy's life at home is like and how wonderful it is.", "Peggy talks to Socks about all her major life decisions.", "Peggy might reconsider staying home because of how much she loves Socks.", "She only helped Peggy pass time while her parents made a decision." ] ]

[ 1, 1, 3, 3, 1, 1, 1 ]

[ 0, 0, 0, 1, 1, 0, 1 ]

[ [ "“Oh, Mother!” Peggy shouted, jumping down from\n the stool and throwing her arms about her mother’s\n neck. “I knew you’d understand! And you understand\n too, don’t you, Dad?” she appealed.", "said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on\n the edge of a kitchen stool. “We could hardly have\n helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress", "Peggy stared at the faded linoleum on the floor for\n a few moments before answering. Then, looking first\n at her mother and then at her father, she replied", "After the kisses, the hugs, and the first excitement,\n Peggy and her parents adjourned to the kitchen, the\n favorite household conference room, for cookies and\n milk and more talk.", "“I know,” Peggy answered. “We had a long talk\n about it this evening after dinner.” Then she told her\n friend about the conversation and her proposed “bargain”\n with her parents.", "“What’s all set, Dad?” Peggy said, breaking into a\n run to her father’s side.\n\n15", "Peggy nodded silently, not trusting herself to\n speak for fear of saying something foolishly sentimental,\n or even of crying. Her friend’s earnestness about", "Peggy’s father put down his coffee cup and leaned\n back in the kitchen chair until it tilted on two legs\n against the wall behind him. He took his time before\n answering. When he finally spoke, his voice was\n warm and slow.", "Reluctantly, Peggy agreed, recognizing the sense\n of what her father said. She finished her milk and\n cookies, kissed her parents good night and went upstairs\n to bed.", "Peggy swallowed hard before answering. When\n her voice came, it sounded strange, about two tones", "“Now, tell me, Dad,” Peggy asked, her mouth full\n of oatmeal cookies, no longer “sedate” or “poised,”", "As Peggy entered the room, her father put down\n the phone and turned to Mrs. Lane. “Well, Betty,”\n he said, “it’s all set.”", "“Peg, your mother and I are cautious only because\n we love you so much and want what’s going to make", "It was not any dissatisfaction with her life, her\n friends, or her home that made Peggy want to leave\n Rockport. She was not running away from anything,\n she reminded herself; she was running\nto\nsomething.", "“You know, if I were as smart as you,” Peggy said\n thoughtfully, “I would have figured out a way to convince\n Mother and Dad by now.”", "“But, Dad!” Peggy almost wailed. “You just finished\n saying yourself that I’ve been thinking about", "Peggy had lived all her life here, knew every tree-shaded\n street, every country road, field, lake, and", "“Everything’s all set, Peg,” her father said with a\n grin. “And it’s set just the way you wanted it! There’s", "“Oh, Mother! It sounds wonderful!” Peggy exulted.\n “I’ll be with other girls my own age who are actresses,\n and living with an experienced actress! I’ll bet she\n can teach me loads!”", "“Don’t get too excited, Peg,” Mr. Lane interrupted.\n “You’re not accepted anywhere yet, but May\n Berriman told me that the Academy is the best place" ], [ "Jean nodded, accepting the compliment and seeming\n at the same time to brush it off. “That doesn’t", "The silence lasted what seemed a terribly long\n time, until Jean broke it by suddenly jumping up and\n flinging a last pillow which she had been hiding behind", "After a moment’s thoughtful silence, Jean answered\n slowly, “No, Peg. I’ve thought this all out before,\n and I know it would be as wrong for me as it is", "“Oh, don’t feel bad about being dumb,” Jean said in\n mock tones of comfort. “If I were as pretty and talented", "“No buts!” Jean cut in. “We’ve talked about this\n enough before, and I’m not going to change my", "“That’s the dark and devious part of my plan,”\n Jean answered with a mysterious laugh that ended in", "A short, breathless pillow fight followed, leaving\n the girls limp with laughter and with Jean having to\n retie her towel turban. From her new position, flat on\n the floor, Peggy looked up at her friend with a rueful\n smile.", "“But, Jean,” Peggy protested, “you can handle\n comedy and character lines as well as anyone I\n know!”", "Jean grinned, her eyes shut tight against the soapsuds.\n “Again, I’m afraid,” she answered. “Maybe it’s\n a nervous habit!”", "After a brisk rubdown with one towel, Jean rolled\n another dry towel around her head like an Indian\n turban. Then, having wrapped herself in an ancient,", "“Oh, that didn’t take much deduction, my dear\n Watson,” Jean laughed. “If they had decided against", "9\nII\nDramatic Decision\nUpstairs at the Wilsons’, Peggy found Jean swathed", "Peggy nodded silently and walked to the kitchen\n door, where she paused to say, “I’m just going out to\n the barn to see if Socks is all right for the night. Then\n maybe I’ll go down to Jean’s for a while.”", "“But, Jean—” Peggy began.\n\n13", "and down the street toward Jean Wilson’s\n house at the end of the block.", "“Nonsense!” Jean replied firmly. “Your parents\n know a lot better than to confuse being stuffy with\n being grown-up and responsible. And, besides, I", "comfortable on the pillow-strewn daybeds, Jean came\n straight to the point.", "“One thing at a time,” her father said. “To begin\n with, we decided almost as soon as you left that we\n were going to let you go to New York to try a year’s", "“Well, if I do go bald, at least it will be with a\n clean scalp!” Jean answered with a humorous crinkle", "Peggy stared at the faded linoleum on the floor for\n a few moments before answering. Then, looking first\n at her mother and then at her father, she replied" ], [ "“I know,” Peggy answered. “We had a long talk\n about it this evening after dinner.” Then she told her\n friend about the conversation and her proposed “bargain”\n with her parents.", "“Oh, Mother!” Peggy shouted, jumping down from\n the stool and throwing her arms about her mother’s\n neck. “I knew you’d understand! And you understand\n too, don’t you, Dad?” she appealed.", "said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on\n the edge of a kitchen stool. “We could hardly have\n helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress", "Peggy stared at the faded linoleum on the floor for\n a few moments before answering. Then, looking first\n at her mother and then at her father, she replied", "After the kisses, the hugs, and the first excitement,\n Peggy and her parents adjourned to the kitchen, the\n favorite household conference room, for cookies and\n milk and more talk.", "Peggy’s father put down his coffee cup and leaned\n back in the kitchen chair until it tilted on two legs\n against the wall behind him. He took his time before\n answering. When he finally spoke, his voice was\n warm and slow.", "Reluctantly, Peggy agreed, recognizing the sense\n of what her father said. She finished her milk and\n cookies, kissed her parents good night and went upstairs\n to bed.", "“You know, if I were as smart as you,” Peggy said\n thoughtfully, “I would have figured out a way to convince\n Mother and Dad by now.”", "As Peggy entered the room, her father put down\n the phone and turned to Mrs. Lane. “Well, Betty,”\n he said, “it’s all set.”", "Mrs. Lane patted Peggy’s arm and said, “We won’t\n keep you in suspense long, dear. Why don’t you go", "It was not any dissatisfaction with her life, her\n friends, or her home that made Peggy want to leave\n Rockport. She was not running away from anything,\n she reminded herself; she was running\nto\nsomething.", "“But, Dad!” Peggy almost wailed. “You just finished\n saying yourself that I’ve been thinking about", "time for your big Hour of Decision scene!”\nIt was nearly ten o’clock when Peggy finally felt\n that her parents had had enough time to talk things", "Peggy nodded silently, not trusting herself to\n speak for fear of saying something foolishly sentimental,\n or even of crying. Her friend’s earnestness about", "“Oh, Mother! It sounds wonderful!” Peggy exulted.\n “I’ll be with other girls my own age who are actresses,\n and living with an experienced actress! I’ll bet she\n can teach me loads!”", "“What’s all set, Dad?” Peggy said, breaking into a\n run to her father’s side.\n\n15", "“Peg, I don’t want to hold up your career. I don’t\n have any objections to your wanting to act. I think—judging", "“Everything’s all set, Peg,” her father said with a\n grin. “And it’s set just the way you wanted it! There’s", "still too early to go back to the house to see if her parents\n had reached a decision about her future. Fighting\n down an impulse to rush right into the kitchen to", "After a moment’s thoughtful silence, Jean answered\n slowly, “No, Peg. I’ve thought this all out before,\n and I know it would be as wrong for me as it is" ], [ "Peggy swallowed hard before answering. When\n her voice came, it sounded strange, about two tones", "higher than usual. “I ... I’m trying to be sedate ... and\n poised ... and very grown-up,” she said.\n “But it’s not easy. All I want to do is to—” and she", "The silence lasted what seemed a terribly long\n time, until Jean broke it by suddenly jumping up and\n flinging a last pillow which she had been hiding behind", "A short, breathless pillow fight followed, leaving\n the girls limp with laughter and with Jean having to\n retie her towel turban. From her new position, flat on\n the floor, Peggy looked up at her friend with a rueful\n smile.", "stood, hardly moving a muscle. Then she walked\n carefully, as if she were on the deck of a rolling ship,\n to the big easy chair and slowly sat down.", "think. Its musty but clean scent of straw and horses\n and leather made her feel calm and alive. Breathing\n in its odor gratefully, she walked into the half-dark to", "I’m over here waiting until the jury comes in with its\n decision. You know,” she said suddenly, sitting up\n on the floor and crossing her legs under her, “I bet", "“It seems to me, Tom, that Margaret has a pretty\n good idea of what she’s doing,” Mrs. Lane said. “She\n sounds sensible and practical. If she were all starry-eyed", "Mrs. Lane nodded. “Of course, dear. I know just\n how you feel about it,” she said. “I would have answered\n just the same way when I was your age, except", "... understand you ... did I?” His pipe satisfactorily\n sending up thick clouds of fragrant smoke, he\n took it out of his mouth before continuing more\n evenly.", "Peggy nodded silently, not trusting herself to\n speak for fear of saying something foolishly sentimental,\n or even of crying. Her friend’s earnestness about", "“It’s a wonder you’re not bald, with all the rubbing\n you give your hair,” Peggy said with a laugh.", "“Oh, don’t feel bad about being dumb,” Jean said in\n mock tones of comfort. “If I were as pretty and talented", "Peggy lay on her back, staring at the ceiling and\n the patterns of light and shade cast by the street\n lamp outside as it shone through the leaves of the big", "of nothing more than getting to bed. This is going to\n be a busy time for all of us.”", "You would have been flying around the room and\n talking a mile a minute. So I figured that nothing was\n decided yet.”", "said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on\n the edge of a kitchen stool. “We could hardly have\n helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress", "Seeing the image of herself hungry and tired, going\n from office to office looking for a part in a play,\n Peggy suddenly laughed aloud and brought herself", "Mrs. Lane smiled gently and placed her soft white\n hand on her daughter’s lean brown one. “Of course\n I understand, Margaret, and so does your father. We", "After a brisk rubdown with one towel, Jean rolled\n another dry towel around her head like an Indian\n turban. Then, having wrapped herself in an ancient," ], [ "“What’s all set, Dad?” Peggy said, breaking into a\n run to her father’s side.\n\n15", "“None of them is as fascinating as acting to me,”\n Peggy replied, “and none of them is nearly as important\n to my life.”\n\n3", "Peggy swallowed hard before answering. When\n her voice came, it sounded strange, about two tones", "said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on\n the edge of a kitchen stool. “We could hardly have\n helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress", "as you are, I wouldn’t need brains, either!”\n With a hoot of laughter, she rolled quickly aside on\n the couch to avoid the pillow that Peggy threw at\n her.", "Peggy nodded silently, not trusting herself to\n speak for fear of saying something foolishly sentimental,\n or even of crying. Her friend’s earnestness about", "A short, breathless pillow fight followed, leaving\n the girls limp with laughter and with Jean having to\n retie her towel turban. From her new position, flat on\n the floor, Peggy looked up at her friend with a rueful\n smile.", "Peggy stared at the faded linoleum on the floor for\n a few moments before answering. Then, looking first\n at her mother and then at her father, she replied", "Peggy had lived all her life here, knew every tree-shaded\n street, every country road, field, lake, and", "Peggy lay on her back, staring at the ceiling and\n the patterns of light and shade cast by the street\n lamp outside as it shone through the leaves of the big", "“Everything’s all set, Peg,” her father said with a\n grin. “And it’s set just the way you wanted it! There’s", "“It’s a wonder you’re not bald, with all the rubbing\n you give your hair,” Peggy said with a laugh.", "“Oh, Mother!” Peggy shouted, jumping down from\n the stool and throwing her arms about her mother’s\n neck. “I knew you’d understand! And you understand\n too, don’t you, Dad?” she appealed.", "Seeing the image of herself hungry and tired, going\n from office to office looking for a part in a play,\n Peggy suddenly laughed aloud and brought herself", "Socks’s stall. As the little bay horse heard her coming,\n she stamped one foot and softly whinnied a greeting.\n Peggy stopped first at the bag that hung on the wall", "“Oh, Mother! It sounds wonderful!” Peggy exulted.\n “I’ll be with other girls my own age who are actresses,\n and living with an experienced actress! I’ll bet she\n can teach me loads!”", "tattered, plaid bathrobe, she led Peggy out of the\n steamy room and into her cozy, if somewhat cluttered,\n bedroom. When they had made themselves", "As Peggy mixed some oats and barley for her pet\n and checked to see that there was enough straw in\n the stall, she thought about her life in Rockport and\n the new life that she might soon be going to.\n\n7", "As Peggy entered the room, her father put down\n the phone and turned to Mrs. Lane. “Well, Betty,”\n he said, “it’s all set.”", "Peggy nodded silently and walked to the kitchen\n door, where she paused to say, “I’m just going out to\n the barn to see if Socks is all right for the night. Then\n maybe I’ll go down to Jean’s for a while.”" ], [ "“One thing at a time,” her father said. “To begin\n with, we decided almost as soon as you left that we\n were going to let you go to New York to try a year’s", "“They both seemed to think it was fair,” she concluded,\n “and when I went out, they were talking it\n over. They promised me an answer by bedtime, and", "After a moment’s thoughtful silence, Jean answered\n slowly, “No, Peg. I’ve thought this all out before,\n and I know it would be as wrong for me as it is", "The silence lasted what seemed a terribly long\n time, until Jean broke it by suddenly jumping up and\n flinging a last pillow which she had been hiding behind", "I’m over here waiting until the jury comes in with its\n decision. You know,” she said suddenly, sitting up\n on the floor and crossing her legs under her, “I bet", "“It seems to me, Tom, that Margaret has a pretty\n good idea of what she’s doing,” Mrs. Lane said. “She\n sounds sensible and practical. If she were all starry-eyed", "Reluctantly, Peggy agreed, recognizing the sense\n of what her father said. She finished her milk and\n cookies, kissed her parents good night and went upstairs\n to bed.", "life. That’s no good either. Just let me think about it\n a little longer and let me talk to your mother some\n more.”", "“There’s more to life than that,” her father put in.\n “There’s history and literature and foreign languages\n and mathematics and sciences and music and art\n and philosophy and a lot more—all of them fascinating\n and all important.”", "Mrs. Lane nodded. “Of course, dear. I know just\n how you feel about it,” she said. “I would have answered\n just the same way when I was your age, except", "“Peg, your mother and I are cautious only because\n we love you so much and want what’s going to make", "Peggy stared at the faded linoleum on the floor for\n a few moments before answering. Then, looking first\n at her mother and then at her father, she replied", "“Don’t get too excited, Peg,” Mr. Lane interrupted.\n “You’re not accepted anywhere yet, but May\n Berriman told me that the Academy is the best place", "“I know,” Peggy answered. “We had a long talk\n about it this evening after dinner.” Then she told her\n friend about the conversation and her proposed “bargain”\n with her parents.", "Peggy nodded silently, not trusting herself to\n speak for fear of saying something foolishly sentimental,\n or even of crying. Her friend’s earnestness about", "... understand you ... did I?” His pipe satisfactorily\n sending up thick clouds of fragrant smoke, he\n took it out of his mouth before continuing more\n evenly.", "“Oh, don’t feel bad about being dumb,” Jean said in\n mock tones of comfort. “If I were as pretty and talented", "except luck. You may be one of these girls, and if you\n are, we want you to be prepared for it. We want you\n to have something to fall back on, just in case", "of nothing more than getting to bed. This is going to\n be a busy time for all of us.”", "“Oh, no,” her mother answered calmly. “We’re going\n to New York tomorrow on the first plane that we\n can get seats on. Your father doesn’t believe in wasting\n time, once his mind is made up.”" ], [ "“Socks,” she murmured, “I need some of your horse\n sense if I’m going to go out on my own! We’ll go\n for a fast run in the morning and see if some fresh air\n won’t clear my silly mind!”", "Socks’s stall. As the little bay horse heard her coming,\n she stamped one foot and softly whinnied a greeting.\n Peggy stopped first at the bag that hung on the wall", "Socks took it eagerly and pushed her nose against\n Peggy’s hand in appreciation.", "among the bridles and halters and took out a lump of\n sugar as a present. Then, after stroking Socks’s silky\n nose, she held out her palm with the sugar cube.", "Peggy nodded silently and walked to the kitchen\n door, where she paused to say, “I’m just going out to\n the barn to see if Socks is all right for the night. Then\n maybe I’ll go down to Jean’s for a while.”", "back to reality, to the warm barn smell and the big,\n soft-eyed gaze of Socks. She threw her arm around\n the smooth bay neck and laid her face next to the\n horse’s cheek.", "the New York trip, your face would be as long as\n Socks’s nose, and it’s not half that long. And if the answer\n was yes, I wouldn’t have to wait to hear about it!", "The silence lasted what seemed a terribly long\n time, until Jean broke it by suddenly jumping up and\n flinging a last pillow which she had been hiding behind", "stood, hardly moving a muscle. Then she walked\n carefully, as if she were on the deck of a rolling ship,\n to the big easy chair and slowly sat down.", "As Peggy mixed some oats and barley for her pet\n and checked to see that there was enough straw in\n the stall, she thought about her life in Rockport and\n the new life that she might soon be going to.\n\n7", "I’m over here waiting until the jury comes in with its\n decision. You know,” she said suddenly, sitting up\n on the floor and crossing her legs under her, “I bet", "“They both seemed to think it was fair,” she concluded,\n “and when I went out, they were talking it\n over. They promised me an answer by bedtime, and", "“One thing at a time,” her father said. “To begin\n with, we decided almost as soon as you left that we\n were going to let you go to New York to try a year’s", "After the kisses, the hugs, and the first excitement,\n Peggy and her parents adjourned to the kitchen, the\n favorite household conference room, for cookies and\n milk and more talk.", "said to his daughter Peggy, who perched tensely on\n the edge of a kitchen stool. “We could hardly have\n helped knowing that you’ve wanted to be an actress", "It was not any dissatisfaction with her life, her\n friends, or her home that made Peggy want to leave\n Rockport. She was not running away from anything,\n she reminded herself; she was running\nto\nsomething.", "Reluctantly, Peggy agreed, recognizing the sense\n of what her father said. She finished her milk and\n cookies, kissed her parents good night and went upstairs\n to bed.", "whole lot of other things. So I called New York to talk\n to an old friend of mine who I felt would be able to\n give us some help. Her name is May Berriman, and", "Peggy stared at the faded linoleum on the floor for\n a few moments before answering. Then, looking first\n at her mother and then at her father, she replied", "Peggy nodded silently, not trusting herself to\n speak for fear of saying something foolishly sentimental,\n or even of crying. Her friend’s earnestness about" ] ]

[ "Why didn't Tremaine automatically include the state law enforcement in his investigation?", "Did the questions Tremaine needed answers to get resolved?", "Of the following options, which set of traits best describes Tremaine?", "Of the following options, which best describes the relationship between Tremaine and Jess?", "If Tremaine didn't go see Miss Carroll, what would've happened?", "If you were to recommend this story to someone else, of the following options who'd enjoy it the most?", "What is the most likely reason why Tremaine confides in Jess about the case?", "Of the following options, which could best describe the moral to this story?", "Of the following options, which seems to be Tremaine's biggest asset in his investigation?", "Which best summarizes this story?" ]

[ [ "He thinks the state law enforcement officers are all incredibly rude.", "He thinks the state law enforcement officers are all incredibly dumb.", "He's unsure of how serious the investigation is, and he doesn't want them stepping on his toes.", "He's unsure of how serious the investigation is." ], [ "No. He still doesn't know where the transmission is coming from.", "No. He thinks that Miss Carroll is behind this out of spite for Mr. Bram, but he's not quite sure.", "Yes. Mr. Bram was the cause of the transmission, so Tremaine's question has been answered.", "Probably. Mr. Bram is certainly evil, so Tremaine knows for sure where this investigation will lead." ], [ "Athletic, attractive, and quiet", "Smart, kind, and determined", "Charismatic, dumb, and athletic", "Unreasonable, attractive, and bold" ], [ "They hate each other but are working together in their investigation.", "They're childhood friends and they ran into each other and caught up for old times' sake.", "They knew each other growing up and are temporarily working together.", "They're hindering each other's ability to succeed in the investigation." ], [ "He wouldn't know how crazy Mr. Bram is and he wouldn't know the true culprit of the transmissions.", "He wouldn't know what thing scares Mr. Bram and Miss Carroll wouldn't have given him the item.", "He wouldn't know about the thing that scares Mr. Bram.", "He wouldn't have the item that Miss Carroll gave him and he wouldn't know how mean she thinks Mr. Bram is. " ], [ "Someone who loves true crime and murder mysteries.", "Someone who loves white-collar crime and historical fiction.", "Someone who loves mysteries and small-town gossip.", "Someone who loves small-town gossip and romance." ], [ "He knows that Jess is already two steps ahead of him and he wants to catch up.", "He trusts Jess to an extent, and he knows that Jess might have information that could help.", "He knows that Jess might compete with him even more if he doesn't try to work together.", "He's friends with Jess and cares about his well being because he's staying in the town with all of this crime." ], [ "The histories of small towns are interesting and often involve murder and other significant crimes.", "Working entirely by oneself can be great if one is smart and connected.", "Teamwork is good for solving problems, and not working as a cohesive team can lead to obstacles.", "Sometimes crimes are hard to solve and it's good to realize that some will never be solved fully." ], [ "His history with the town. Folks knew him and were more willing to help him like Miss Carroll, and he knew how to motivate people, like he did by bribing the record keeper for help.", "His good looks. They help him flirt with women like Miss Carroll and the librarian, so he could get more information.", "His strength. He was able to bust down the door at Mr. Bram's home and catch him in the act of transmitting data.", "His ruthlessness. He was strict enough to draw boundaries with the state police that helped his investigation significantly." ], [ "A private investigator tries to find a transmitter which allows him to save his hometown from certain danger.", "An investigator travels to his hometown to find conflict between the transmitter-using youth and the local and state police forces.", "An investigator travels to his hometown to locate a transmitter with an unknown use.", "A man seeks justice for a town plagued by a harmful transmitter." ] ]

[ 3, 1, 2, 3, 2, 3, 2, 3, 1, 3 ]

[ 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1 ]

[ [ "The heavy voice of the State Police chief crackled. \"What's your beef,\n Tremaine?\"\n\n\n \"I thought you were going to keep your men away from Elsby until I gave\n the word, Grammond.\"", "the answers. But if you get in trouble, don't call me; call Washington.\"\nBack in his room, Tremaine put through a call.", "\"Well, the State cops could be mighty handy to have around. I'm\n wondering why you don't want 'em in. If there's some kind of spy ring\n working—\"", "Tremaine got to his feet. \"I'd appreciate it if you'd keep your ears\n and eyes open for anything that might build into a lead on this, Jess.\n Meantime, I'm just a tourist, seeing the sights.\"", "The policeman got to his feet. \"Jimmy,\" he said, \"Jimmy Tremaine.\" He\n came to the counter and put out his hand. \"How are you, Jimmy? What\n brings you back to the boondocks?\"", "him.\" He turned and spoke to the other cop, who muttered into the mike\n before handing it to Tremaine.", "\"I....\" Tremaine started. He looked at the old lady. \"I want some\n information. This is an important matter. May I rely on your\n discretion?\"\n\n\n \"Of course.\"", "\"Don't tell me my job, Tremaine!\" the voice snapped. \"And don't try out\n your famous temper on me. I'm still in charge of this investigation.\"", "open the door to his car, slid into the seat, made a U-turn, and headed\n north after the police car.\nTwo miles into the dark hills north of the Elsby city limits, Tremaine", "\"Why Bram?\" Tremaine persisted. \"As far as I know, he never had any\n dealings to speak of with anybody here in town.\"", "\"You—uh—paying anything for information?\"\n\n\n \"Now why would I do that?\" Tremaine reached for the door knob.", "\"Don't I know you, mister?\" he said. His soft voice carried a note of\n authority.\n\n\n Tremaine took off his hat. \"Sure you do, Jess. It's been a while,\n though.\"", "As Tremaine walked slowly toward the lighted main street of Elsby a car\n pulled to a stop beside him. Jess leaned out, peered at Tremaine and\n asked:\n\n\n \"Any luck, Jimmy?\"", "The clerk looked sideways at Tremaine. \"Lots of funny stories about\n old Bram. Useta say his place was haunted. You know; funny noises and\n lights. And they used to say there was money buried out at his place.\"", "\"Let's go somewhere and sit down, Jess.\"\n\n\n In a back room Tremaine said, \"To everybody but you this is just a\n visit to the old home town. Between us, there's more.\"", "\"Come in.\" She led the way to a pleasant parlor set out with the\n furnishings of another era. She motioned Tremaine to a seat and took a\n straight chair across the room from him.", "He tried the door. It opened. A broken hasp dangled. He turned to\n Tremaine. \"Maybe this is more than kid stuff,\" he said. \"You carry a\n gun?\"\n\n\n \"In the car.\"", "\"I felt a technical man might succeed where a trained investigator\n could be misled. And since it seems to be pinpointed in your home\n area—\"", "The boy darted another look at Tremaine. \"They said they figured the\n spies was out north of town. Well, Bram's a foreigner, and he's out\n that way, ain't he?\"", "The man came over to the counter, eyeing Tremaine. \"He ain't going to\n sell, mister, if that's what you want to know.\"\n\n\n \"I want to know when he bought.\"" ], [ "\"I....\" Tremaine started. He looked at the old lady. \"I want some\n information. This is an important matter. May I rely on your\n discretion?\"\n\n\n \"Of course.\"", "the answers. But if you get in trouble, don't call me; call Washington.\"\nBack in his room, Tremaine put through a call.", "\"You—uh—paying anything for information?\"\n\n\n \"Now why would I do that?\" Tremaine reached for the door knob.", "The man turned to Tremaine, pushing a drawer shut with his hip. \"Bram?\n He dead?\"\n\n\n \"Nothing like that. I just want to know when he bought the place.\"", "As Tremaine walked slowly toward the lighted main street of Elsby a car\n pulled to a stop beside him. Jess leaned out, peered at Tremaine and\n asked:\n\n\n \"Any luck, Jimmy?\"", "Tremaine got to his feet. \"I'd appreciate it if you'd keep your ears\n and eyes open for anything that might build into a lead on this, Jess.\n Meantime, I'm just a tourist, seeing the sights.\"", "Tremaine stood up. \"I'm sorry. Really sorry. I didn't mean to grill\n you. Miss Carroll. You've been very kind. I had no right....\"", "\"Oh?\" Tremaine stubbed out his cigarette, lit another. \"What happened\n then?\"", "The librarian produced the papers. Tremaine turned the pages, read the\n heads, skimmed an article here and there. The librarian went back to", "\"Don't I know you, mister?\" he said. His soft voice carried a note of\n authority.\n\n\n Tremaine took off his hat. \"Sure you do, Jess. It's been a while,\n though.\"", "The clerk looked sideways at Tremaine. \"Lots of funny stories about\n old Bram. Useta say his place was haunted. You know; funny noises and\n lights. And they used to say there was money buried out at his place.\"", "questions.\"\nAt the station Jess led Tremaine to a cell where a lanky teen-age boy\n lounged on a steel-framed cot, blinking up at the visitor under a mop", "\"You've seen all the files! Now I want answers, not questions! I'm\n warning you, Tremaine. Get that transmitter. I need someone to hang!\"", "\"Maybe so.\" The clerk leaned on the counter, assumed a knowing look.\n \"There's one story that's not superstition....\"\n\n\n Tremaine waited.", "\"No, thanks,\" Tremaine said. \"That's all I needed.\" He turned back to\n the door.", "A wail sounded, a thin forlorn cry, trailing off into silence. Jess\n stared at Tremaine. \"I'm too damned old to start believing in spooks,\"", "The policeman got to his feet. \"Jimmy,\" he said, \"Jimmy Tremaine.\" He\n came to the counter and put out his hand. \"How are you, Jimmy? What\n brings you back to the boondocks?\"", "\"I think.\" Tremaine said, \"that we'd better go ask Hull Gaskin a few\n questions.\"", "Tremaine went to the car, dropped the pistol in his coat pocket,\n rejoined Jess inside the house. It was silent, deserted. In the kitchen", "The man came over to the counter, eyeing Tremaine. \"He ain't going to\n sell, mister, if that's what you want to know.\"\n\n\n \"I want to know when he bought.\"" ], [ "The clerk looked sideways at Tremaine. \"Lots of funny stories about\n old Bram. Useta say his place was haunted. You know; funny noises and\n lights. And they used to say there was money buried out at his place.\"", "\"Don't I know you, mister?\" he said. His soft voice carried a note of\n authority.\n\n\n Tremaine took off his hat. \"Sure you do, Jess. It's been a while,\n though.\"", "Grammond snorted. \"Okay, Tremaine,\" he said. \"You're the boy with all", "\"I....\" Tremaine started. He looked at the old lady. \"I want some\n information. This is an important matter. May I rely on your\n discretion?\"\n\n\n \"Of course.\"", "\"There were a lot of funny stories about him, I remember,\" Tremaine\n said. \"I always liked him. One time he tried to teach me something", "As Tremaine walked slowly toward the lighted main street of Elsby a car\n pulled to a stop beside him. Jess leaned out, peered at Tremaine and\n asked:\n\n\n \"Any luck, Jimmy?\"", "A wail sounded, a thin forlorn cry, trailing off into silence. Jess\n stared at Tremaine. \"I'm too damned old to start believing in spooks,\"", "Tremaine got to his feet. \"I'd appreciate it if you'd keep your ears\n and eyes open for anything that might build into a lead on this, Jess.\n Meantime, I'm just a tourist, seeing the sights.\"", "The man came over to the counter, eyeing Tremaine. \"He ain't going to\n sell, mister, if that's what you want to know.\"\n\n\n \"I want to know when he bought.\"", "\"I always liked Mr. Bram,\" said Tremaine. \"I'm not out to hurt him.\"\n\n\n \"Mr. Bram came here when I was a young woman. I'm not certain of the\n year.\"", "\"It's a trail.\" Tremaine followed the line of drops across the floor.\n It ended suddenly near the wall.\n\n\n \"What do you make of it. Jimmy?\"", "\"Are you boys in touch with Grammond on the car set?\"\n\n\n \"We could be.\"\n\n\n \"Mind if I have a word with him? My name's Tremaine.\"", "\"Come in.\" She led the way to a pleasant parlor set out with the\n furnishings of another era. She motioned Tremaine to a seat and took a\n straight chair across the room from him.", "\"Damn!\" he said aloud. An elderly man veered, eyeing him sharply.\n Tremaine set off at a run, covered the two blocks to the hotel, yanked", "\"Hull, this is Mr. Tremaine,\" said Jess. He took out a heavy key, swung\n the cell door open. \"He wants to talk to you.\"", "\"That's blood, Jess....\" Tremaine scanned the floor. It was of broad\n slabs, closely laid, scrubbed clean but for the dark stains.\n\n\n \"Maybe he cleaned a chicken. This is the kitchen.\"", "\"You—uh—paying anything for information?\"\n\n\n \"Now why would I do that?\" Tremaine reached for the door knob.", "be helpful to you, it is my duty to oblige you; and it may help him.\"\n She paused. Tremaine waited.", "\"Mr. Bram,\" repeated Tremaine. \"Is he still around? I remember him as a\n hundred years old when I was kid.\"", "The man turned to Tremaine, pushing a drawer shut with his hip. \"Bram?\n He dead?\"\n\n\n \"Nothing like that. I just want to know when he bought the place.\"" ], [ "\"Don't I know you, mister?\" he said. His soft voice carried a note of\n authority.\n\n\n Tremaine took off his hat. \"Sure you do, Jess. It's been a while,\n though.\"", "\"Let's go somewhere and sit down, Jess.\"\n\n\n In a back room Tremaine said, \"To everybody but you this is just a\n visit to the old home town. Between us, there's more.\"", "A wail sounded, a thin forlorn cry, trailing off into silence. Jess\n stared at Tremaine. \"I'm too damned old to start believing in spooks,\"", "Tremaine got to his feet. \"I'd appreciate it if you'd keep your ears\n and eyes open for anything that might build into a lead on this, Jess.\n Meantime, I'm just a tourist, seeing the sights.\"", "\"That's blood, Jess....\" Tremaine scanned the floor. It was of broad\n slabs, closely laid, scrubbed clean but for the dark stains.\n\n\n \"Maybe he cleaned a chicken. This is the kitchen.\"", "\"I'm getting jumpy,\" said Jess. \"Dern hounddog, I guess.\"\n\n\n A low growl seemed to rumble distantly. \"What the devil's that?\"\n Tremaine said.", "As Tremaine walked slowly toward the lighted main street of Elsby a car\n pulled to a stop beside him. Jess leaned out, peered at Tremaine and\n asked:\n\n\n \"Any luck, Jimmy?\"", "\"Hull, this is Mr. Tremaine,\" said Jess. He took out a heavy key, swung\n the cell door open. \"He wants to talk to you.\"", "Tremaine went to the car, dropped the pistol in his coat pocket,\n rejoined Jess inside the house. It was silent, deserted. In the kitchen", "a strident chirrup, suddenly cut off. Jess leaned down, picked up an\n empty shotgun shell. He looked at Tremaine. \"This don't look good,\" he", "questions.\"\nAt the station Jess led Tremaine to a cell where a lanky teen-age boy\n lounged on a steel-framed cot, blinking up at the visitor under a mop", "\"Oh hoh, you're a little young, Jimmy,\" Jess chuckled. \"You never knew\n about Mr. Bram—the young Mr. Bram—and Linda Carroll.\"\n\n\n Tremaine shook his head.", "\"I....\" Tremaine started. He looked at the old lady. \"I want some\n information. This is an important matter. May I rely on your\n discretion?\"\n\n\n \"Of course.\"", "The clerk looked sideways at Tremaine. \"Lots of funny stories about\n old Bram. Useta say his place was haunted. You know; funny noises and\n lights. And they used to say there was money buried out at his place.\"", "\"It's a trail.\" Tremaine followed the line of drops across the floor.\n It ended suddenly near the wall.\n\n\n \"What do you make of it. Jimmy?\"", "The policeman got to his feet. \"Jimmy,\" he said, \"Jimmy Tremaine.\" He\n came to the counter and put out his hand. \"How are you, Jimmy? What\n brings you back to the boondocks?\"", "\"I always liked Mr. Bram,\" said Tremaine. \"I'm not out to hurt him.\"\n\n\n \"Mr. Bram came here when I was a young woman. I'm not certain of the\n year.\"", "Tremaine left the hotel, walked two blocks west along Commerce Street\n and turned in at a yellow brick building with the words ELSBY", "\"Maybe so.\" The clerk leaned on the counter, assumed a knowing look.\n \"There's one story that's not superstition....\"\n\n\n Tremaine waited.", "\"This place is empty,\" he said. \"Anybody'd think he'd been gone a week.\"\n\n\n \"Not a very cozy—\" Tremaine broke off. A thin yelp sounded in the\n distance." ], [ "\"Miss Carroll,\" Tremaine said. \"You won't remember me, but I—\"", "Tremaine stood up. \"I'm sorry. Really sorry. I didn't mean to grill\n you. Miss Carroll. You've been very kind. I had no right....\"", "Miss Carroll drew a deep breath and went on. \"I was torn between pity\n and horror. I begged him to take me back. He refused.\" Miss Carroll", "\"Oh hoh, you're a little young, Jimmy,\" Jess chuckled. \"You never knew\n about Mr. Bram—the young Mr. Bram—and Linda Carroll.\"\n\n\n Tremaine shook his head.", "\"I....\" Tremaine started. He looked at the old lady. \"I want some\n information. This is an important matter. May I rely on your\n discretion?\"\n\n\n \"Of course.\"", "Tremaine got to his feet. \"I'd appreciate it if you'd keep your ears\n and eyes open for anything that might build into a lead on this, Jess.\n Meantime, I'm just a tourist, seeing the sights.\"", "Tremaine went to the car, dropped the pistol in his coat pocket,\n rejoined Jess inside the house. It was silent, deserted. In the kitchen", "\"This place is empty,\" he said. \"Anybody'd think he'd been gone a week.\"\n\n\n \"Not a very cozy—\" Tremaine broke off. A thin yelp sounded in the\n distance.", "\"I often wondered why you didn't leave, Miss Carroll. I thought, even\n as a boy, that you were a woman of great ability.\"\n\n\n \"Why did you come today, James?\" asked Miss Carroll.", "As Tremaine walked slowly toward the lighted main street of Elsby a car\n pulled to a stop beside him. Jess leaned out, peered at Tremaine and\n asked:\n\n\n \"Any luck, Jimmy?\"", "in a secret way ... and he would come. I told him that until he would\n consent to see a doctor, I did not wish him to call. He drove me home.\n He never called again.\"", "\"Don't I know you, mister?\" he said. His soft voice carried a note of\n authority.\n\n\n Tremaine took off his hat. \"Sure you do, Jess. It's been a while,\n though.\"", "A tear rolled down Miss Carroll's faded cheek. She wiped it away\n impatiently.\n\n\n \"I'm an unfulfilled old maid, James,\" she said. \"You must forgive me.\"", "the answers. But if you get in trouble, don't call me; call Washington.\"\nBack in his room, Tremaine put through a call.", "\"Come in.\" She led the way to a pleasant parlor set out with the\n furnishings of another era. She motioned Tremaine to a seat and took a\n straight chair across the room from him.", "\"Let's go somewhere and sit down, Jess.\"\n\n\n In a back room Tremaine said, \"To everybody but you this is just a\n visit to the old home town. Between us, there's more.\"", "A wail sounded, a thin forlorn cry, trailing off into silence. Jess\n stared at Tremaine. \"I'm too damned old to start believing in spooks,\"", "\"Oh?\" Tremaine stubbed out his cigarette, lit another. \"What happened\n then?\"", "He tried the door. It opened. A broken hasp dangled. He turned to\n Tremaine. \"Maybe this is more than kid stuff,\" he said. \"You carry a\n gun?\"\n\n\n \"In the car.\"", "\"Hull, this is Mr. Tremaine,\" said Jess. He took out a heavy key, swung\n the cell door open. \"He wants to talk to you.\"" ], [ "\"Many years ago I was courted by Bram. One day he asked me to go with\n him to his house. On the way he told me a terrible and pathetic tale.", "\"Maybe so.\" The clerk leaned on the counter, assumed a knowing look.\n \"There's one story that's not superstition....\"\n\n\n Tremaine waited.", "\"What does he do for a living?\"\n\n\n \"I have no idea.\"\n\n\n \"Why did a healthy young fellow like Bram settle out in that isolated\n piece of country? What's his story?\"", "\"There were a lot of funny stories about him, I remember,\" Tremaine\n said. \"I always liked him. One time he tried to teach me something", "\"There is one other thing,\" she said, \"perhaps quite meaningless....\"\n\n\n \"I'd be grateful for any lead.\"\n\n\n \"Bram fears the thunder.\"\nIII", "be helpful to you, it is my duty to oblige you; and it may help him.\"\n She paused. Tremaine waited.", "\"I felt a technical man might succeed where a trained investigator\n could be misled. And since it seems to be pinpointed in your home\n area—\"", "The man was looking at the book with pursed lips. \"Nineteen-oh-one,\"\n he said. \"I never thought of it before, but you know, old Bram must be", "\"Funny thing about Bram. You know, he hasn't showed up yet. I'm getting\n a little worried. Want to run out there with me and take a look around?\"", "\"Hold it, Jimmy. You're over my head.\" Jess got to his feet. \"Let me\n know if you want anything. And by the way—\" he winked broadly—\"I", "\"That's a tough one, Jimmy. This is where I should come up with the\n news that Old Man Whatchamacallit's got an attic full of gear he says", "\"He took a locket from his neck and put it into my hand. He told me to\n keep it and, if ever I should need him, to press it between my fingers", "has blue eyes and blond hair—or did before it turned white—and he\n talks just like everybody else. From a distance he seems just like an", "\"I....\" Tremaine started. He looked at the old lady. \"I want some\n information. This is an important matter. May I rely on your\n discretion?\"\n\n\n \"Of course.\"", "\"I'm ... not sure that anyone truly knows Bram's story.\"\n\n\n \"You called him 'Bram', Miss Carroll. Is that his first name ... or his\n last?\"", "\"I've never seen any harm in Bram,\" said Jess. \"But you know how this\n town is about foreigners, especially when they're a mite addled. Bram", "\"I've heard those stories. Just superstition, wouldn't you say?\"", "her an old maid, in those times. The word got out she was setting\n her cap for Bram. He was a good-looking young feller then, over six", "\"You look very well, James,\" she said, nodding. \"I'm pleased to see\n that you've amounted to something.\"\n\n\n \"Just another bureaucrat, I'm afraid.\"", "Miss Carroll shook her head. \"I knew you as a boy, James. I have\n complete confidence in you. If anything I can tell you about Bram will" ], [ "\"Let's go somewhere and sit down, Jess.\"\n\n\n In a back room Tremaine said, \"To everybody but you this is just a\n visit to the old home town. Between us, there's more.\"", "Tremaine got to his feet. \"I'd appreciate it if you'd keep your ears\n and eyes open for anything that might build into a lead on this, Jess.\n Meantime, I'm just a tourist, seeing the sights.\"", "\"Don't I know you, mister?\" he said. His soft voice carried a note of\n authority.\n\n\n Tremaine took off his hat. \"Sure you do, Jess. It's been a while,\n though.\"", "\"I....\" Tremaine started. He looked at the old lady. \"I want some\n information. This is an important matter. May I rely on your\n discretion?\"\n\n\n \"Of course.\"", "A wail sounded, a thin forlorn cry, trailing off into silence. Jess\n stared at Tremaine. \"I'm too damned old to start believing in spooks,\"", "\"Hull, this is Mr. Tremaine,\" said Jess. He took out a heavy key, swung\n the cell door open. \"He wants to talk to you.\"", "As Tremaine walked slowly toward the lighted main street of Elsby a car\n pulled to a stop beside him. Jess leaned out, peered at Tremaine and\n asked:\n\n\n \"Any luck, Jimmy?\"", "\"That's blood, Jess....\" Tremaine scanned the floor. It was of broad\n slabs, closely laid, scrubbed clean but for the dark stains.\n\n\n \"Maybe he cleaned a chicken. This is the kitchen.\"", "Tremaine went to the car, dropped the pistol in his coat pocket,\n rejoined Jess inside the house. It was silent, deserted. In the kitchen", "questions.\"\nAt the station Jess led Tremaine to a cell where a lanky teen-age boy\n lounged on a steel-framed cot, blinking up at the visitor under a mop", "a strident chirrup, suddenly cut off. Jess leaned down, picked up an\n empty shotgun shell. He looked at Tremaine. \"This don't look good,\" he", "The clerk looked sideways at Tremaine. \"Lots of funny stories about\n old Bram. Useta say his place was haunted. You know; funny noises and\n lights. And they used to say there was money buried out at his place.\"", "\"I'm getting jumpy,\" said Jess. \"Dern hounddog, I guess.\"\n\n\n A low growl seemed to rumble distantly. \"What the devil's that?\"\n Tremaine said.", "The policeman got to his feet. \"Jimmy,\" he said, \"Jimmy Tremaine.\" He\n came to the counter and put out his hand. \"How are you, Jimmy? What\n brings you back to the boondocks?\"", "\"You—uh—paying anything for information?\"\n\n\n \"Now why would I do that?\" Tremaine reached for the door knob.", "\"Maybe so.\" The clerk leaned on the counter, assumed a knowing look.\n \"There's one story that's not superstition....\"\n\n\n Tremaine waited.", "him.\" He turned and spoke to the other cop, who muttered into the mike\n before handing it to Tremaine.", "The boy looked directly at Tremaine for an instant, flicked his eyes to\n the corner of the cell. \"Cops was talkin about 'em,\" he said.", "\"Come in.\" She led the way to a pleasant parlor set out with the\n furnishings of another era. She motioned Tremaine to a seat and took a\n straight chair across the room from him.", "\"Oh hoh, you're a little young, Jimmy,\" Jess chuckled. \"You never knew\n about Mr. Bram—the young Mr. Bram—and Linda Carroll.\"\n\n\n Tremaine shook his head." ], [ "\"Maybe so.\" The clerk leaned on the counter, assumed a knowing look.\n \"There's one story that's not superstition....\"\n\n\n Tremaine waited.", "\"Many years ago I was courted by Bram. One day he asked me to go with\n him to his house. On the way he told me a terrible and pathetic tale.", "\"There is one other thing,\" she said, \"perhaps quite meaningless....\"\n\n\n \"I'd be grateful for any lead.\"\n\n\n \"Bram fears the thunder.\"\nIII", "be helpful to you, it is my duty to oblige you; and it may help him.\"\n She paused. Tremaine waited.", "\"There were a lot of funny stories about him, I remember,\" Tremaine\n said. \"I always liked him. One time he tried to teach me something", "The clerk looked sideways at Tremaine. \"Lots of funny stories about\n old Bram. Useta say his place was haunted. You know; funny noises and\n lights. And they used to say there was money buried out at his place.\"", "\"Nothing. But he's the town's mystery man. You know that. A little\n touched in the head.\"", "\"That's a tough one, Jimmy. This is where I should come up with the\n news that Old Man Whatchamacallit's got an attic full of gear he says", "in a secret way ... and he would come. I told him that until he would\n consent to see a doctor, I did not wish him to call. He drove me home.\n He never called again.\"", "door. There was a black patch of charred flooring under the window, and\n the paint on the wall above it was bubbled. Somewhere a cricket set up", "It was ten minutes before he beckoned Tremaine over to the table where\n a two-foot-square book lay open. An untrimmed fingernail indicated a\n line written in faded ink:", "\"You look very well, James,\" she said, nodding. \"I'm pleased to see\n that you've amounted to something.\"\n\n\n \"Just another bureaucrat, I'm afraid.\"", "\"Still just the same, Jimmy. Comes in town maybe once a week, buys his\n groceries and hikes back out to his place by the river.\"\n\n\n \"Well, what about him?\"", "\"Funny thing about Bram. You know, he hasn't showed up yet. I'm getting\n a little worried. Want to run out there with me and take a look around?\"", "\"This place is empty,\" he said. \"Anybody'd think he'd been gone a week.\"\n\n\n \"Not a very cozy—\" Tremaine broke off. A thin yelp sounded in the\n distance.", "\"What does he do for a living?\"\n\n\n \"I have no idea.\"\n\n\n \"Why did a healthy young fellow like Bram settle out in that isolated\n piece of country? What's his story?\"", "\"Hold it, Jimmy. You're over my head.\" Jess got to his feet. \"Let me\n know if you want anything. And by the way—\" he winked broadly—\"I", "shay. And the next day, she was home again—alone. That finished off\n her reputation, as far as the biddies in Elsby was concerned. It was", "\"I've heard those stories. Just superstition, wouldn't you say?\"", "twisted her fingers together, her eyes fixed on the long past. \"When\n we reached the house, he ran to the kitchen. He lit a lamp and threw" ], [ "\"I....\" Tremaine started. He looked at the old lady. \"I want some\n information. This is an important matter. May I rely on your\n discretion?\"\n\n\n \"Of course.\"", "Tremaine got to his feet. \"I'd appreciate it if you'd keep your ears\n and eyes open for anything that might build into a lead on this, Jess.\n Meantime, I'm just a tourist, seeing the sights.\"", "The clerk looked sideways at Tremaine. \"Lots of funny stories about\n old Bram. Useta say his place was haunted. You know; funny noises and\n lights. And they used to say there was money buried out at his place.\"", "\"Don't I know you, mister?\" he said. His soft voice carried a note of\n authority.\n\n\n Tremaine took off his hat. \"Sure you do, Jess. It's been a while,\n though.\"", "\"Don't tell me my job, Tremaine!\" the voice snapped. \"And don't try out\n your famous temper on me. I'm still in charge of this investigation.\"", "the answers. But if you get in trouble, don't call me; call Washington.\"\nBack in his room, Tremaine put through a call.", "\"You—uh—paying anything for information?\"\n\n\n \"Now why would I do that?\" Tremaine reached for the door knob.", "As Tremaine walked slowly toward the lighted main street of Elsby a car\n pulled to a stop beside him. Jess leaned out, peered at Tremaine and\n asked:\n\n\n \"Any luck, Jimmy?\"", "The man turned to Tremaine, pushing a drawer shut with his hip. \"Bram?\n He dead?\"\n\n\n \"Nothing like that. I just want to know when he bought the place.\"", "The policeman got to his feet. \"Jimmy,\" he said, \"Jimmy Tremaine.\" He\n came to the counter and put out his hand. \"How are you, Jimmy? What\n brings you back to the boondocks?\"", "In his room at the Elsby Commercial Hotel, Tremaine opened his luggage\n and took out a small tool kit, used a screwdriver to remove the bottom", "The librarian produced the papers. Tremaine turned the pages, read the\n heads, skimmed an article here and there. The librarian went back to", "open the door to his car, slid into the seat, made a U-turn, and headed\n north after the police car.\nTwo miles into the dark hills north of the Elsby city limits, Tremaine", "It was ten minutes before he beckoned Tremaine over to the table where\n a two-foot-square book lay open. An untrimmed fingernail indicated a\n line written in faded ink:", "The man came over to the counter, eyeing Tremaine. \"He ain't going to\n sell, mister, if that's what you want to know.\"\n\n\n \"I want to know when he bought.\"", "\"I felt a technical man might succeed where a trained investigator\n could be misled. And since it seems to be pinpointed in your home\n area—\"", "He tried the door. It opened. A broken hasp dangled. He turned to\n Tremaine. \"Maybe this is more than kid stuff,\" he said. \"You carry a\n gun?\"\n\n\n \"In the car.\"", "\"I think.\" Tremaine said, \"that we'd better go ask Hull Gaskin a few\n questions.\"", "\"Maybe so.\" The clerk leaned on the counter, assumed a knowing look.\n \"There's one story that's not superstition....\"\n\n\n Tremaine waited.", "\"Why Bram?\" Tremaine persisted. \"As far as I know, he never had any\n dealings to speak of with anybody here in town.\"" ], [ "\"Many years ago I was courted by Bram. One day he asked me to go with\n him to his house. On the way he told me a terrible and pathetic tale.", "\"Maybe so.\" The clerk leaned on the counter, assumed a knowing look.\n \"There's one story that's not superstition....\"\n\n\n Tremaine waited.", "\"There is one other thing,\" she said, \"perhaps quite meaningless....\"\n\n\n \"I'd be grateful for any lead.\"\n\n\n \"Bram fears the thunder.\"\nIII", "in a secret way ... and he would come. I told him that until he would\n consent to see a doctor, I did not wish him to call. He drove me home.\n He never called again.\"", "\"What does he do for a living?\"\n\n\n \"I have no idea.\"\n\n\n \"Why did a healthy young fellow like Bram settle out in that isolated\n piece of country? What's his story?\"", "door. There was a black patch of charred flooring under the window, and\n the paint on the wall above it was bubbled. Somewhere a cricket set up", "Untrimmed sumacs threw late-afternoon shadows on the discolored stucco\n facade of the Elsby Public Library. Inside, Tremaine followed a", "\"Still just the same, Jimmy. Comes in town maybe once a week, buys his\n groceries and hikes back out to his place by the river.\"\n\n\n \"Well, what about him?\"", "\"The point is this, Jess: we think we've got it narrowed down to this\n section. I'm not sure of a damn thing, but I think that transmitter's\n near here. Now, have you got any ideas?\"", "\"Nothing. But he's the town's mystery man. You know that. A little\n touched in the head.\"", "\"Hold it, Jimmy. You're over my head.\" Jess got to his feet. \"Let me\n know if you want anything. And by the way—\" he winked broadly—\"I", "The librarian pulled out a folded paper, placed it on the table,\n adjusted her glasses, squinted at the front page. \"That's it,\" she", "The clerk looked sideways at Tremaine. \"Lots of funny stories about\n old Bram. Useta say his place was haunted. You know; funny noises and\n lights. And they used to say there was money buried out at his place.\"", "Miss Carroll drew a deep breath and went on. \"I was torn between pity\n and horror. I begged him to take me back. He refused.\" Miss Carroll", "twisted her fingers together, her eyes fixed on the long past. \"When\n we reached the house, he ran to the kitchen. He lit a lamp and threw", "\"This place is empty,\" he said. \"Anybody'd think he'd been gone a week.\"\n\n\n \"Not a very cozy—\" Tremaine broke off. A thin yelp sounded in the\n distance.", "It was ten minutes before he beckoned Tremaine over to the table where\n a two-foot-square book lay open. An untrimmed fingernail indicated a\n line written in faded ink:", "\"That's a tough one, Jimmy. This is where I should come up with the\n news that Old Man Whatchamacallit's got an attic full of gear he says", "\"You look very well, James,\" she said, nodding. \"I'm pleased to see\n that you've amounted to something.\"\n\n\n \"Just another bureaucrat, I'm afraid.\"", "\"I'm getting jumpy,\" said Jess. \"Dern hounddog, I guess.\"\n\n\n A low growl seemed to rumble distantly. \"What the devil's that?\"\n Tremaine said." ] ]

[ "Where was the Quest III coming home from?", "How did the Quest III crew feel as they first approached the Sun?", "Who did the ship’s crew expect would meet them on arrival?", "Why had the children never seen Earth?", "What would have happened if the Centaurus Expedition hadn’t failed?", "How did Gwar Den feel about his work?", "Why were three Quest ships built?", "What was Knof Junior’s plan to defeat the attackers?" ]

[ [ "A dying star", "Procyon", "Capella", "An expedition" ], [ "Satisfied that they had visited many wonderful planets.", "Eager but anxious to be home after many disappointing false hopes.", "Dizzy from the many colors displayed due to the Doppler Effect.", "Disappointed that Earth was still there." ], [ "The other Quest ships", "Warships on attack", "A parade", "Maybe nobody" ], [ "The ship didn’t have enough fuel to return to Earth.", "Earth was destroyed before they were born.", "They weren’t able to see through the portholes.", "They were born while on Quest III." ], [ "People from Earth would have colonized the Procyon system.", "Captain Llud would have become a hero.", "The other two Quest ships would have been launched.", "Humanity would have died out." ], [ "Bored and depressed since the work wasn’t meaningful.", "Ashamed since they didn’t find a hospitable planet.", "Ready to retire because he had been traveling for so long.", "Proud that he was able to steer the ship home." ], [ "To have a better chance of success if any failed.", "So each could travel for 20,000 years.", "To transport more people to the new planet.", "In case the others break down." ], [ "Talk to the attackers", "Replenish with fresh crew to fight", "Wait for the attackers to make a mistake in anger", "Release the gravity impulses" ] ]

[ 4, 2, 4, 4, 1, 4, 1, 3 ]

[ 0, 0, 1, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1 ]

[ [ "voices, in tones of mingled eagerness and apprehension, of what might\n lie at the long journey's end. For the\nQuest III\nwas coming home; the", "The\nQuest III\nbored steadily on through space, decelerating. Even if", "Quest III\nshuddered, again and again, under blows that must have had millions\n of horsepower behind them; but it plunged on toward Earth, its mighty", "Quest\n III's\nponderous and unswerving progress toward Earth had somehow\n frightened it. So it was trying to frighten them.", "Knof Jr. whooped ecstatically and then subsided warily, but no one was\n paying attention to him. The men on the\nQuest III's", "Quest\n III\ndrove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of\n light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless", "The people in the\nQuest III\nwould have felt nothing at all of\n the vicious onslaught being hurled against them, save that their", "But now unwonted excitement possessed the hundred-odd members of the\nQuest III's\ncrew. It was a subdued excitement; men and women, they", "Quest III's\nframework. The\n navigator said, obviously striving for calm, \"They're light craft, not\n fifty feet long, but they move fast. The detectors hardly had time to", "Quest III\ntoo. Once more Knof Llud had the insidious sense of his own\n nerves and muscles and will weakening along with the power-sinews of\n his ship.", "than when the voyage had begun. That was the foreshortening along the\n time axis of a space ship approaching the speed of light. Weeks and\n months had passed for the\nQuest III", "There were people running in the corridors, heading for their posts.\n Their faces were set, scared, uncomprehending. The\nQuest III", "Quest III\nin interstellar flight while\n years and decades had raced by on the home world.", "\"According to plan, the\nQuest III\nhas reached its furthest point from", "He felt empty, drained—like his ship. As the\nQuest III's\nfuel stores", "Quest III\n, as for forty hours\n the ship had decelerated.", "He studied the data so far gathered. A few blurred pictures had been\n got, which showed cylindrical space ships much like the\nQuest III\n,", "\"Even so—by expending its remaining fuel freely, the\nQuest III\ncould\n achieve a velocity that would take us there without dying of senility", "the Sun, though in interstellar space and around planetless stars\n such collisions were rare to the vanishing point. No harm could have\n been done. The\nQuest III's", "\"Who are you? What do you want? We are the interstellar expedition\nQuest III\n....\" And so on, identifying themselves and protesting that" ], [ "The\nQuest III\nbored steadily on through space, decelerating. Even if", "But now unwonted excitement possessed the hundred-odd members of the\nQuest III's\ncrew. It was a subdued excitement; men and women, they", "Quest\n III's\nponderous and unswerving progress toward Earth had somehow\n frightened it. So it was trying to frighten them.", "Quest III\nshuddered, again and again, under blows that must have had millions\n of horsepower behind them; but it plunged on toward Earth, its mighty", "the Sun, though in interstellar space and around planetless stars\n such collisions were rare to the vanishing point. No harm could have\n been done. The\nQuest III's", "than when the voyage had begun. That was the foreshortening along the\n time axis of a space ship approaching the speed of light. Weeks and\n months had passed for the\nQuest III", "Quest\n III\ndrove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of\n light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless", "Knof Jr. whooped ecstatically and then subsided warily, but no one was\n paying attention to him. The men on the\nQuest III's", "voices, in tones of mingled eagerness and apprehension, of what might\n lie at the long journey's end. For the\nQuest III\nwas coming home; the", "Quest III's\nframework. The\n navigator said, obviously striving for calm, \"They're light craft, not\n fifty feet long, but they move fast. The detectors hardly had time to", "The people in the\nQuest III\nwould have felt nothing at all of\n the vicious onslaught being hurled against them, save that their", "came and stood quietly gazing into the big vision screens that showed\n the oncoming star, and there were wide-eyed children who had been born\n in the ship and had never seen a planet. The grownups talked in low", "Eyes lifted from the vision screens to interrogate Knof Llud; he met\n them with an impassive countenance, and announced quietly, \"We've\n sighted Earth.\"", "Quest III\ntoo. Once more Knof Llud had the insidious sense of his own\n nerves and muscles and will weakening along with the power-sinews of\n his ship.", "\"It is cheering to note that the crew seems only more resolute. We go\n on to Capella; its spectrum, so like our own Sun's, beckons. If success", "He studied the data so far gathered. A few blurred pictures had been\n got, which showed cylindrical space ships much like the\nQuest III\n,", "Quest III\nin interstellar flight while\n years and decades had raced by on the home world.", "There were people running in the corridors, heading for their posts.\n Their faces were set, scared, uncomprehending. The\nQuest III", "\"Even so—by expending its remaining fuel freely, the\nQuest III\ncould\n achieve a velocity that would take us there without dying of senility", "He felt empty, drained—like his ship. As the\nQuest III's\nfuel stores" ], [ "To a man, the ship's responsible officers were already on the bridge,\n most of them breathless. To a man they looked appeal at Captain Knof\n Llud.\n\n\n \"Well?\" he snapped. \"What are they doing?\"", "voices, in tones of mingled eagerness and apprehension, of what might\n lie at the long journey's end. For the\nQuest III\nwas coming home; the", "But now unwonted excitement possessed the hundred-odd members of the\nQuest III's\ncrew. It was a subdued excitement; men and women, they", "Suddenly a faint cushioned jar went through the great ship; it seemed\n to falter one moment in flight.\nThe captain was on his feet instantly, but then his movements became", "Eyes lifted from the vision screens to interrogate Knof Llud; he met\n them with an impassive countenance, and announced quietly, \"We've\n sighted Earth.\"", "One of the officers said shakily, \"It's as if they've been lying in\n wait for us. But why on Earth—\"", "Den was jolted out of his happy abstraction. \"Uh, Captain,\" he said\n hesitantly. \"What kind of a reception do you suppose we'll get?\"", "There was no answer. The ship drove on, its fuel trickling away under\n multiplied demands. Those outside were squandering vastly greater", "The captain sighed wearily. \"Good work,\" he said. \"Keep it up; perhaps\n you can answer some of these riddles before—\"", "The captain was momentarily silent, groping for an adequate reply.\n Behind him somebody made a choked noise, the only sound in the stunned\n hush, and the ship jarred slightly as a thunderbolt slammed vengefully\n into its field.", "ships\n will be long since dead. Nevertheless we go on. Our generation's dream,\n humanity's dream, lives in us and in the ship forever....\"", "\"If they had anything heavier,\" surmised the captain, \"they'd have\n unlimbered it by now. They're out to get us. But at this rate, they", "came and stood quietly gazing into the big vision screens that showed\n the oncoming star, and there were wide-eyed children who had been born\n in the ship and had never seen a planet. The grownups talked in low", "\"It is cheering to note that the crew seems only more resolute. We go\n on to Capella; its spectrum, so like our own Sun's, beckons. If success", "\"Would the crew be willing? I don't know—some of them still show signs\n of homesickness, though they know with their minds that everything that\n was once 'home' has probably been swept away....", "The ship's automatic mechanisms had scant need of tending; Knof Llud\n found himself wishing that he could find some back-breaking task for\n everyone on board, himself included, to fill up the hours that remained.", "bridge looked\n questions at each other, as the thought of help from outside flashed\n into many minds at once. But Captain Llud said soberly, \"It must have", "He reached the phone at the moment when another, heavier jolt shook\n the vessel. Llud snatched up the receiver with the speed of a scalded\n cat.", "positions of the planets thus far located agreed quite closely with\n his extrapolations from long unused charts of the Solar System. He had\n already set up on the calculator a course that would carry them to\n Earth.", "The captain put an arm round her with comforting pressure. \"Don't\n worry. Things may have changed—but we'll manage.\" But his face had" ], [ "came and stood quietly gazing into the big vision screens that showed\n the oncoming star, and there were wide-eyed children who had been born\n in the ship and had never seen a planet. The grownups talked in low", "Eyes lifted from the vision screens to interrogate Knof Llud; he met\n them with an impassive countenance, and announced quietly, \"We've\n sighted Earth.\"", "Earth, and not even nine hundred years of space and time had been able\n to alter that.", "\"That,\" said the captain grimly, \"is what we have to find out. Why—on\n Earth. At least, I suspect the answer's there.\"", "He said, with a touch of tolerant amusement, \"What did you think might\n have happened to Earth? After all, it's only been nine hundred years.\"", "She drew an uncertain breath and released it in a faint sigh. \"I don't\n know. It's good that Earth's still there.\" She was thinking, he judged", "\"There are some strange features,\" said the astronomer carefully.\n \"First of all—there are no lights on the night side. And on the", "pick out the atom of reflected light that was Earth, home. They wrung\n each other's hands, kissed, shouted, wept. For the present their fears\n were forgotten and exaltation prevailed.", "\"That was why the planners limited our voyage, and those of the other\nQuests\n, to less than a thousand years Earth time. Even now, according", "one world in all the Universe. Certainly the building of this ship\n and its two sisters, the immense expenditure of time and labor and\n energy stores that went into them, left Earth's economy drained and", "Quest\n III's\nponderous and unswerving progress toward Earth had somehow\n frightened it. So it was trying to frighten them.", "than when the voyage had begun. That was the foreshortening along the\n time axis of a space ship approaching the speed of light. Weeks and\n months had passed for the\nQuest III", "There was no answer. The ship drove on, its fuel trickling away under\n multiplied demands. Those outside were squandering vastly greater", "positions of the planets thus far located agreed quite closely with\n his extrapolations from long unused charts of the Solar System. He had\n already set up on the calculator a course that would carry them to\n Earth.", "\"We'll have reached Earth before then,\" Gwar Den said hopefully.\n\n\n \"If they don't bring out the heavy artillery first.\"", "\"That's just it,\" said Lesra shakily. \"Nine hundred years have gone\n by—\nthere\n—and nothing will be the same. It won't be the same world\n we left, the world we knew and fitted in....\"", "people saw each other's faces by the pale golden light of Earth's own\n Sun, mirrored and multiplied by the screens. In that light Lesra's eyes\n gleamed with unshed tears.", "Earth. Now we turn back along a curve that will take us past many more\n stars and stellar systems—but hope is small that any of those will\n prove a home for man, as have none of the thousands of stars examined", "comes there, a century will have passed before we can return to Earth;\n friends, relatives, all the generation that launched the\nQuest\nships", "ships\n will be long since dead. Nevertheless we go on. Our generation's dream,\n humanity's dream, lives in us and in the ship forever....\"" ], [ "\"Our hopes were dashed—and I think all of us, even remembering the\n Centaurus Expedition's failure, hoped more than we cared to admit. If", "\"Why go back, then with the news of our failure? Why not forget about\n Earth and go on to Omega Centauri? What use is quixotic loyalty to a", "possible—not likely, though—that something has happened to break\n civilization's continuity to the point where our expedition has been\n forgotten altogether.\"", "last. The two other interstellar expeditions that went out have already\n returned and been destroyed, as you will soon be—the sooner, if you\n continue toward Earth.\"", "the Sun, though in interstellar space and around planetless stars\n such collisions were rare to the vanishing point. No harm could have\n been done. The\nQuest III's", "\"Hopeless, unless we find planets!\"\nKnof Llud shook his head sorrowfully and took off the spool. That\n was from the time when he had grown philosophical after the first\n disappointments.", "of aging too greatly. It would be a one-way journey—even if enough\n fuel remained, there would be little point in returning to Earth after\n more than forty thousand years. By then our civilization certainly, and", "Procyon had possessed a habitable planet, we could have returned after\n an absence of not much over twenty years Earth time.", "He rose, slipped the record back in its niche and picked out another,\n later, one.\n\n\n \"One week since we passed close enough to Aldebaran to ascertain that\n that system, too, is devoid of planets.", "There was no answer. The ship drove on, its fuel trickling away under\n multiplied demands. Those outside were squandering vastly greater", "one world in all the Universe. Certainly the building of this ship\n and its two sisters, the immense expenditure of time and labor and\n energy stores that went into them, left Earth's economy drained and", "Quests\nreturned successful, or if they returned at\n all. And we don't know what changes have taken place on Earth. It's", "He said, with a touch of tolerant amusement, \"What did you think might\n have happened to Earth? After all, it's only been nine hundred years.\"", "and the hope of success in man's mightiest venture had dwindled, so the\n strength had gone out of him. Now the last fuel compartment was almost\n empty and Captain Knof Llud felt tired and old.", "comes there, a century will have passed before we can return to Earth;\n friends, relatives, all the generation that launched the\nQuest\nships", "\"That,\" said the captain grimly, \"is what we have to find out. Why—on\n Earth. At least, I suspect the answer's there.\"", "\"Even so—by expending its remaining fuel freely, the\nQuest III\ncould\n achieve a velocity that would take us there without dying of senility", "ships\n will be long since dead. Nevertheless we go on. Our generation's dream,\n humanity's dream, lives in us and in the ship forever....\"", "one were no fatalist, there seemed no reason to stop decelerating or\n change course. There was nowhere else to go and too little fuel left\n if there had been; come what might, this was journey's end—perhaps", "than when the voyage had begun. That was the foreshortening along the\n time axis of a space ship approaching the speed of light. Weeks and\n months had passed for the\nQuest III" ], [ "\"Captain?\" It was Gwar Den's voice, stammering a little. \"Captain,\n we're being attacked!\"", "Captain Llud found Navigator Gwar Den looking as smug as the cat\n that ate the canary. Gwar Den was finding that the actual observed", "interstellar ship. Knowing that Gwar Den was still there, he said,\n \"Now—attacked by what?\"", "Gwar Den had at first supposed—not large enough to hold even one man.\n Tiny, deadly hornets with a colossal sting.", "Gwar Den spoke. \"There are thirteen of them out there now, sir, and\n they're all banging away at us.\"", "\"Ships,\" said Gwar Den helplessly. \"Five of them so far. No, there's a\n sixth now.\" Repeated blows quivered the", "\"We'll have reached Earth before then,\" Gwar Den said hopefully.\n\n\n \"If they don't bring out the heavy artillery first.\"", "The captain sighed wearily. \"Good work,\" he said. \"Keep it up; perhaps\n you can answer some of these riddles before—\"", "Presently Knof Llud switched off that younger voice of his and leaned\n back, an ironic smile touching his lips. That fervent idealism seemed", "had already involuntarily told him a couple of things—that it was not\n as sure of itself as it sounded he deduced from the fact it had deigned\n to speak at all, and from its last remark he gathered that the", "Knof Llud smiled wryly. The rest of the little speech he had been about\n to make didn't matter anyway, and it might have spoiled this moment.", "He turned to go, and was halted by the sight of his wife, standing at\n his elbow. His wry smile took on warmth; he asked, \"How do\nyou\nfeel,\n Lesra?\"", "hardened against registering the gnawing of that same doubtful fear\n within him. He let his arm fall. \"I'd better get up to the bridge.", "\"He fought off our interceptors, which are around you now, for some\n time,\" said the voice lightly. \"When he saw that it was hopeless, he", "Llud sighed. He still couldn't say just why he had given the order to\n turn back. The stars had claimed his heart—but he was still a part of", "of Llud's, nine hundred years ago.... He growled, \"What happened to\n him?\"", "\"Robot craft, no doubt,\" said Knof Llud, but a chill ran down his spine\n as it occurred to him that perhaps the attackers weren't of human", "and the hope of success in man's mightiest venture had dwindled, so the\n strength had gone out of him. Now the last fuel compartment was almost\n empty and Captain Knof Llud felt tired and old.", "III\n, but he had an elusive look of deformity. Most obviously, his head\n seemed too big for his body, and his eyes in turn too big for his head.", "He grinned nastily at Knof Llud. \"Have you any other last wishes?\"" ], [ "He studied the data so far gathered. A few blurred pictures had been\n got, which showed cylindrical space ships much like the\nQuest III\n,", "Quest III's\nframework. The\n navigator said, obviously striving for calm, \"They're light craft, not\n fifty feet long, but they move fast. The detectors hardly had time to", "Quest III\nshuddered, again and again, under blows that must have had millions\n of horsepower behind them; but it plunged on toward Earth, its mighty", "The\nQuest III\nbored steadily on through space, decelerating. Even if", "Quest\n III's\nponderous and unswerving progress toward Earth had somehow\n frightened it. So it was trying to frighten them.", "one world in all the Universe. Certainly the building of this ship\n and its two sisters, the immense expenditure of time and labor and\n energy stores that went into them, left Earth's economy drained and", "than when the voyage had begun. That was the foreshortening along the\n time axis of a space ship approaching the speed of light. Weeks and\n months had passed for the\nQuest III", "the Sun, though in interstellar space and around planetless stars\n such collisions were rare to the vanishing point. No harm could have\n been done. The\nQuest III's", "\"Even so—by expending its remaining fuel freely, the\nQuest III\ncould\n achieve a velocity that would take us there without dying of senility", "\"Who are you? What do you want? We are the interstellar expedition\nQuest III\n....\" And so on, identifying themselves and protesting that", "Quest III\ntoo. Once more Knof Llud had the insidious sense of his own\n nerves and muscles and will weakening along with the power-sinews of\n his ship.", "He felt empty, drained—like his ship. As the\nQuest III's\nfuel stores", "voices, in tones of mingled eagerness and apprehension, of what might\n lie at the long journey's end. For the\nQuest III\nwas coming home; the", "But now unwonted excitement possessed the hundred-odd members of the\nQuest III's\ncrew. It was a subdued excitement; men and women, they", "Quest\n III\ndrove on its way once more, lashed by despair toward the speed of\n light, leaving behind the mockery of yet another solitary and lifeless", "The people in the\nQuest III\nwould have felt nothing at all of\n the vicious onslaught being hurled against them, save that their", "\"Ships,\" said Gwar Den helplessly. \"Five of them so far. No, there's a\n sixth now.\" Repeated blows quivered the", "changes that nine hundred years had wrought. \"Perhaps, if you realize\n your position, you will follow the intelligent example of the\nQuest\n I's\ncommander.\"", "\"According to plan, the\nQuest III\nhas reached its furthest point from", "star cloud called Berenice's Hair, had been after the\nQuest III\nthe\n most hopeful of the expeditions—and its captain had been a good friend" ], [ "Knof Jr. flattened himself against the metal wall and watched silently.\n His young face was less anxious than his elders'; he had confidence in\n his father.", "Knof Jr. whooped ecstatically and then subsided warily, but no one was\n paying attention to him. The men on the\nQuest III's", "Knof Jr. burst out, spluttering slightly with the violence of a\n thought too important to suppress, \"But we're under a ps-psychological\n advantage, too!\"", "\"If they're that small,\" said Knof Llud deliberately, \"they can't carry\n anything heavy enough to hurt us. Hold to course. I'll be right up.\"", "In the open doorway he almost fell over his son. Young Knof's eyes were\n big; he had heard his father's words.", "To a man, the ship's responsible officers were already on the bridge,\n most of them breathless. To a man they looked appeal at Captain Knof\n Llud.\n\n\n \"Well?\" he snapped. \"What are they doing?\"", "a position to throw any punches.\" He turned back to the others. \"As I\n was going to say—I think we'd better try to parley with the enemy. At", "Savagely Knof Llud stabbed the button that shut off the speaker. Then\n he sat for a time with head resting in his hands, staring into nothing.", "\"He fought off our interceptors, which are around you now, for some\n time,\" said the voice lightly. \"When he saw that it was hopeless, he", "\"Robot craft, no doubt,\" said Knof Llud, but a chill ran down his spine\n as it occurred to him that perhaps the attackers weren't of human", "Presently Knof Llud switched off that younger voice of his and leaned\n back, an ironic smile touching his lips. That fervent idealism seemed", "Just as he took his finger off the button that opened the door, the\n intercommunication phone shrilled imperatively. Knof Llud wheeled,", "and the hope of success in man's mightiest venture had dwindled, so the\n strength had gone out of him. Now the last fuel compartment was almost\n empty and Captain Knof Llud felt tired and old.", "\"They're mad and we aren't, yet,\" said the boy. Then, seeing that he\n hadn't made himself clear, \"In a fight, if a guy gets mad he starts\n swinging wild and then you nail him.\"", "\"Captain?\" It was Gwar Den's voice, stammering a little. \"Captain,\n we're being attacked!\"", "Knof Llud's mind was clicking again. The voice—which must be coming\n from Earth, relayed by one of the midget ships—was not very smart; it", "Knof Llud smiled wryly. The rest of the little speech he had been about\n to make didn't matter anyway, and it might have spoiled this moment.", "constant arrival of fresh attackers, while others raced away into\n space, presumably returning to base to replenish their ammunition. That\n argued a planned and prepared interception with virulent hatred behind", "\"Sound the alarm. Emergency stations.\" He had said it automatically,\n then felt a curious detached relief at the knowledge that after all", "Eyes lifted from the vision screens to interrogate Knof Llud; he met\n them with an impassive countenance, and announced quietly, \"We've\n sighted Earth.\"" ] ]

[ "What wouldn't Casey say to describe himself?", "Why didn't Casey want to take the deal?", "What was the stoolie's job?", "What hadn't been smuggled out of Mars?", "What convinced Casey to go to Jupiter?", "What didn't surprise Casey about Jupiter?", "Which true statement may have changed Casey's mind if he'd have known?", "How would Casey describe most of the scorpions he saw?", "Was Akroida like the rest of the scorpions?", "What did Casey probably learn from this experience?" ]

[ [ "He'd never give up a client", "He's a master smuggler", "He's traveled all over the solar system", "He'd do anything for money" ], [ "He'd never make a deal with the S.S.C.", "He wanted to retire from smuggling", "He didn't think he'd live through it.", "They didn't offer him enough money" ], [ "To find out Casey's smuggling secrets", "To get information from Casey to give to the S.S.C.", "To become Casey's friend and confidante", "To convince Casey to change his mind" ], [ "emeralds", "diamonds", "rubies", "crystals" ], [ "The Government offered additional money", "Pard told him about the perfume", "He learned that Pard had a friend there", "Pard told him he'd lived through it" ], [ "the red coloring was plants", "items could float in mid-air", "the aliens could remove their eyeballs", "the aliens communicated by tapping" ], [ "Attaboy was Pard's colorblind friend", "The perfume doesn't work", "Akroida really loves jewels", "Pard was working for the S.S.C." ], [ "intelligent and fierce", "huge and curious", "ugly yet caring", "terrifying yet peaceful" ], [ "Yes - they were all enormous and vicious", "Yes - they were all purple and covered in jewels", "No - she was larger and meaner", "No - she spoke better and was prettier" ], [ "Never give up on your friends", "Never trust a crook", "Always listen carefully to instructions", "Don't judge others by how they look" ] ]

[ 4, 3, 4, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2 ]

[ 1, 1, 1, 0, 0, 1, 1, 1, 0, 1 ]

[ [ "Well, Casey Ritter may be a lot of things we won't mention, but he\n doesn't rat on his clients. So there I was, closeted with the ten", "I tried to back off from him a bit, but the ship stopped me. \"I'm Casey\n Ritter. What's your label, chum?\"\n\n\n \"Attaboy,\" he ticked coyly.", "his code, she reared up higher on her skinny elbow and glared in my\n direction. \"Casey Ritter? Never heard of him. Where's he from?\"", "A crafty-eyed buzzard across the table leaned toward me. \"So this is\n the great Casey Ritter, daredevil of the Solar System!\" he sneered.\n \"Never loses a bet, never turns down a dare!\"", "I went back to my cot that night, and this time instead of biting my\n nails, I bit myself. So I faced it. Casey Ritter lost his nerve, and", "My actions didn't bother him a bit. \"Jewels, did you say?\" he tapped\n out thoughtfully, just like an ordinary business man, and I managed to", "with me. But he wouldn't tell me how he'd worked the steal. Instead,\n he opened up on the trade he'd booked for the string. He said, \"When I", "as solid as if on a floor. Which was fine for flying hopper-scorps, but\n what about Casey Ritter, who hadn't cultivated even a feather?", "He shrugged, trying for nonchalance. \"About the size of a man, I\n believe.\"\n\n\n I raised my shrinking head. \"Take me to jail!\" I said firmly, and\n collapsed onto my chair.", "dropped the arsenic. But he didn't have any brakes I could grab, so he\n just flew out into mid-air in a room that could have swallowed a city", "The senior judge rapped ferociously, and I skidded to a halt. Our\n little story teller patiently cleared his skinny throat again.", "JUPITER'S JOKE\nBy A. L. HALEY\nCasey Ritter, the guy who never turned\n \ndown a dare, breathed a prayer to the gods", "\"How'd you make the getaway?\" I asked, taking him at his word.\n\n\n He looked loftily past me. \"Sorry. Gotta keep that a secret. Likewise\n where I cached 'em.\"", "here slicker around me to sorta fancy up the rig before goin' in to\n an audience with the old rip.\" He shook his head slowly. \"The kid", "I tapped back very politely that he must be mistaking me for someone\n else. \"I've never been here before, and so I've never met the charming", "That twitch of the nose riled me no little. \"I ain't failed yet!\" I\n snarled at him. \"Just you wait till I do, feller!\" I slipped the string", "I shuddered. \"You're telling that one! And besides, a man's got to draw\n the line somewhere. And I'm drawing it right here. Take me to jail!\"", "made a gold-barred chimpanzee out of me has broken my spirit and\n turned me into an honest trader. Me, Casey Ritter, slickest slicker in", "He looked at me as if I hadn't yet got out from under the rock where he\n was sure I'd been born. \"Don't you know nothin', butterhead?\"", "me. I chewed my fingernails down to the quick by the time he got out a\n week later.\nBy that time he really had me hooked. I'd of sworn he was leveling" ], [ "Well, Casey Ritter may be a lot of things we won't mention, but he\n doesn't rat on his clients. So there I was, closeted with the ten", "I shuddered. \"You're telling that one! And besides, a man's got to draw\n the line somewhere. And I'm drawing it right here. Take me to jail!\"", "He shrugged, trying for nonchalance. \"About the size of a man, I\n believe.\"\n\n\n I raised my shrinking head. \"Take me to jail!\" I said firmly, and\n collapsed onto my chair.", "I tried to back off from him a bit, but the ship stopped me. \"I'm Casey\n Ritter. What's your label, chum?\"\n\n\n \"Attaboy,\" he ticked coyly.", "A crafty-eyed buzzard across the table leaned toward me. \"So this is\n the great Casey Ritter, daredevil of the Solar System!\" he sneered.\n \"Never loses a bet, never turns down a dare!\"", "I went back to my cot that night, and this time instead of biting my\n nails, I bit myself. So I faced it. Casey Ritter lost his nerve, and", "them was illegal even if it needed to be done; also, I had promised not\n to rat on him before taking the job.", "He paused, his long nose twitching cynically—\"IF you succeed, your\n reward will be triple what you could get for them in any market. Added\n to which, IF you succeed, you will be a free man.\"", "I hardly heard the cut. \"You mean you really did get away with them?\"\n My jaw must've been hanging down a foot, because I'd just been playing", "\"How'd you make the getaway?\" I asked, taking him at his word.\n\n\n He looked loftily past me. \"Sorry. Gotta keep that a secret. Likewise\n where I cached 'em.\"", "court didn't seem important just then. Jupiter was worse than the pen,\n a lot worse. Jupiter was a death sentence.", "I didn't get it at first. I'd argued with 'em, but inside I'd been all\n set for the sentence, and even sort of reconciled to it. I could even", "pardon. And a reward. Oh, no! I told myself, it wasn't possible. Not\n when I already had more counts against me than a cur has fleas. Not\n unless it was a straight suicide mission!", "with me. But he wouldn't tell me how he'd worked the steal. Instead,\n he opened up on the trade he'd booked for the string. He said, \"When I", "dropped the arsenic. But he didn't have any brakes I could grab, so he\n just flew out into mid-air in a room that could have swallowed a city", "the government stands ready to issue you a full pardon as well as a\n substantial monetary reward. Your talents, Mr. Ritter, seem, shall we\n say, eminently suited to the task.\"", "me. I chewed my fingernails down to the quick by the time he got out a\n week later.\nBy that time he really had me hooked. I'd of sworn he was leveling", "I snorted. \"Aw, hell, judge, that's just one of those screwy fairy\n tales! How could any—\"", "his code, she reared up higher on her skinny elbow and glared in my\n direction. \"Casey Ritter? Never heard of him. Where's he from?\"", "The senior judge rapped ferociously, and I skidded to a halt. Our\n little story teller patiently cleared his skinny throat again." ], [ "At this strategic point, the enemy planted a stoolie on me. Not in my\n cell block. They were too smart for that. But we met at recreation, and", "Well, Casey Ritter may be a lot of things we won't mention, but he\n doesn't rat on his clients. So there I was, closeted with the ten", "them was illegal even if it needed to be done; also, I had promised not\n to rat on him before taking the job.", "slobbering. But the Big Sneer of the S.S.C., the fellow that had got\n me into this caper, was right there to take the joy out of it all and", "The senior judge rapped ferociously, and I skidded to a halt. Our\n little story teller patiently cleared his skinny throat again.", "\"How'd you make the getaway?\" I asked, taking him at his word.\n\n\n He looked loftily past me. \"Sorry. Gotta keep that a secret. Likewise\n where I cached 'em.\"", "The Big Sneer of the conference table promptly dropped in on me,\n friendly as a bottle of strychnine. But for a lad headed for Jupiter", "up in the blockhouse, the special building reserved for escapees. Pard\n Hoskins was in the bunch. He'd never get out of there, and he knew it.\n So did I.", "with this fever for information, only to find that Pard had got himself\n put in solitary for mugging a guard, and that really put the heat on", "He beamed at me. I looked around. They were all beaming. At me!\n Suddenly I smelled a rat as big as an elephant. That whole Kooleen", "that was good training, so I sneered right back at him, explained the\n caper, and we both paid a visit to Pard. In two days the deal was made", "He shrugged, trying for nonchalance. \"About the size of a man, I\n believe.\"\n\n\n I raised my shrinking head. \"Take me to jail!\" I said firmly, and\n collapsed onto my chair.", "the government stands ready to issue you a full pardon as well as a\n substantial monetary reward. Your talents, Mr. Ritter, seem, shall we\n say, eminently suited to the task.\"", "He paused, his long nose twitching cynically—\"IF you succeed, your\n reward will be triple what you could get for them in any market. Added\n to which, IF you succeed, you will be a free man.\"", "here slicker around me to sorta fancy up the rig before goin' in to\n an audience with the old rip.\" He shook his head slowly. \"The kid", "The senior judge rapped sharply with his gavel. He frowned me down and\n then nodded at the judge on his right. This bird, a little old hank of", "with me. But he wouldn't tell me how he'd worked the steal. Instead,\n he opened up on the trade he'd booked for the string. He said, \"When I", "I hardly heard the cut. \"You mean you really did get away with them?\"\n My jaw must've been hanging down a foot, because I'd just been playing", "That night I turned on my hard prison cot until my bones were so much\n jelly, trying to figure that steal. The next morning I got up burning", "Attaboy, however, had the answers for everything. Towing me from the\n airlock to the window ledge, he again sniffed that delectable odor on" ], [ "smuggling Kooleen crystals in from Mars, I knew I was in that corner,\n and sewed up tight.", "I'd had a lot of cooperation getting that far. An Earth patrol had\n slipped down onto the Red Desert of Mars and picked up the Killicut", "you know. Mars! What a place fer jools! Damn desert's lousy with 'em,\n if it wasn't so much trouble to dig 'em out—\" He went off into a dream", "Halcyon Diamond that disappeared from the World Museum five years ago,\n remember?\" He winked broadly. \"It come from Mars in the first place,", "about the rocks on Mars but I jerked him back.", "can sure happen. A man can get himself backed into a corner in this\n little old solar system. It just ain't big enough for a gent of scope\n and talent; and the day the Solar System Customs caught me red-handed", "building on any planet at all. And, in fact, it wasn't on a planet; it\n was floating up there only two hundred miles in from the raw edge of\n space.", "Killicuts on Mars—the real aborigines. Bleachies, we call them, sort\n of contemptuously; but those Bleachies are a rough lot when they're", "dropped the arsenic. But he didn't have any brakes I could grab, so he\n just flew out into mid-air in a room that could have swallowed a city", "\"Oh, no!\" I moaned. \"What were you trying to do, start a feud between\n us and Mars?\"", "manifestly migrated there from some other system and who inhabit\n the Red Spot of the planet, floating in some kind of artificial\n anti-gravity field in the gaseous portion of the atmosphere—\"", "Pard was right again. These critters had brains. And my S.S.C.\n persecutor was right, too. That anti-grav secret was worth more than\n any string of rocks in the system, including the Killicut Emeralds.", "fer them. Besides, the space suit rig you got to wear, they can't bite\n you. Akroida's not a bad old girl. Partial to arsenic on her lettuce,", "along with it, the chance of a lifetime. A better man than me had\n already penetrated the Great Red Spot of old Jupiter and come out\n alive. That thought ate me to the quick, and I began to wonder if it", "With that we got down to business and fixed a meeting point out on\n Jupiter's farthest moon; then they took me in to the edge of Jupiter's", "The stuff was plants! Plants as big as meadows, bright red, floating\n around in those clouds of frozen ammonia like seaweed! Then I noticed", "Emeralds from where Pard Hoskins had cached them; and safe out in space\n again, we had pored over that string of green headlights practically", "\"How'd you make the getaway?\" I asked, taking him at his word.\n\n\n He looked loftily past me. \"Sorry. Gotta keep that a secret. Likewise\n where I cached 'em.\"", "fumbling, too. \"Zero hour, chump!\" it told me, and I shuddered. Picking\n up the first hundred pounds of the arsenic, I wobbled over to the\n airlock.", "ecstasy, like the book says. Didn't have a chance to try it on Akroida,\n though. She wouldn't give me another audience. It's in the stuff they" ], [ "JUPITER'S JOKE\nBy A. L. HALEY\nCasey Ritter, the guy who never turned\n \ndown a dare, breathed a prayer to the gods", "With that we got down to business and fixed a meeting point out on\n Jupiter's farthest moon; then they took me in to the edge of Jupiter's", "He ruminated a few minutes. \"Tell you what, chump. Make them shell out\n with a green an' poiple spacesuit—them's the real Jupiter colors—an'", "circulation for a long, long time. And instead, blast me, if they\n didn't foul me with this trip to good old Jupiter.", "along with it, the chance of a lifetime. A better man than me had\n already penetrated the Great Red Spot of old Jupiter and come out\n alive. That thought ate me to the quick, and I began to wonder if it", "A crafty-eyed buzzard across the table leaned toward me. \"So this is\n the great Casey Ritter, daredevil of the Solar System!\" he sneered.\n \"Never loses a bet, never turns down a dare!\"", "\"You've no doubt heard tales of the strange population of Jupiter,\"\n he said. \"Every spaceman has, I am sure. Insect-like creatures who", "\"Akroida,\" he explained in his own sweet time, \"is the queen-scorp\n of them idiotic scorpions that lives on Jupiter. I sold her the", "Then I croaked, \"Jupiter! What for? Are you running outa space in stir?\n Want to choke me to death in chlorine instead?\" Being civil to the", "court didn't seem important just then. Jupiter was worse than the pen,\n a lot worse. Jupiter was a death sentence.", "That palace was like nothing on earth. Naturally, you'll say, it's\n on Jupiter. But I mean it was even queerer than that. It was like no", "manifestly migrated there from some other system and who inhabit\n the Red Spot of the planet, floating in some kind of artificial\n anti-gravity field in the gaseous portion of the atmosphere—\"", "of idiots and spacemen, and headed in toward\n \nthe great red spot of terrible Jupiter.", "can sure happen. A man can get himself backed into a corner in this\n little old solar system. It just ain't big enough for a gent of scope\n and talent; and the day the Solar System Customs caught me red-handed", "The Big Sneer of the conference table promptly dropped in on me,\n friendly as a bottle of strychnine. But for a lad headed for Jupiter", "I tried to back off from him a bit, but the ship stopped me. \"I'm Casey\n Ritter. What's your label, chum?\"\n\n\n \"Attaboy,\" he ticked coyly.", "ice-cloud and turned me loose in a peanut of a space boat with old Jupe\n looming ahead bigger than all outdoors and the Red Spot dead ahead. I", "Attaboy, however, had the answers for everything. Towing me from the\n airlock to the window ledge, he again sniffed that delectable odor on", "though he was climbing vertically up from the planet. In fact, he\n didn't seem to be climbing at all but just going along horizontally.", "Meanwhile the hopper-scorp reached the ship. Hastily I squirted some of\n my Scorpion-Come-Hither lure on the chest of my spacesuit, opened the" ], [ "JUPITER'S JOKE\nBy A. L. HALEY\nCasey Ritter, the guy who never turned\n \ndown a dare, breathed a prayer to the gods", "court didn't seem important just then. Jupiter was worse than the pen,\n a lot worse. Jupiter was a death sentence.", "\"You've no doubt heard tales of the strange population of Jupiter,\"\n he said. \"Every spaceman has, I am sure. Insect-like creatures who", "circulation for a long, long time. And instead, blast me, if they\n didn't foul me with this trip to good old Jupiter.", "That palace was like nothing on earth. Naturally, you'll say, it's\n on Jupiter. But I mean it was even queerer than that. It was like no", "A crafty-eyed buzzard across the table leaned toward me. \"So this is\n the great Casey Ritter, daredevil of the Solar System!\" he sneered.\n \"Never loses a bet, never turns down a dare!\"", "With that we got down to business and fixed a meeting point out on\n Jupiter's farthest moon; then they took me in to the edge of Jupiter's", "He ruminated a few minutes. \"Tell you what, chump. Make them shell out\n with a green an' poiple spacesuit—them's the real Jupiter colors—an'", "along with it, the chance of a lifetime. A better man than me had\n already penetrated the Great Red Spot of old Jupiter and come out\n alive. That thought ate me to the quick, and I began to wonder if it", "though he was climbing vertically up from the planet. In fact, he\n didn't seem to be climbing at all but just going along horizontally.", "\"Akroida,\" he explained in his own sweet time, \"is the queen-scorp\n of them idiotic scorpions that lives on Jupiter. I sold her the", "as solid as if on a floor. Which was fine for flying hopper-scorps, but\n what about Casey Ritter, who hadn't cultivated even a feather?", "My actions didn't bother him a bit. \"Jewels, did you say?\" he tapped\n out thoughtfully, just like an ordinary business man, and I managed to", "Well, Casey Ritter may be a lot of things we won't mention, but he\n doesn't rat on his clients. So there I was, closeted with the ten", "\"Jupiter!\" I goggled at him. \"Akroida! Who's she?\"", "manifestly migrated there from some other system and who inhabit\n the Red Spot of the planet, floating in some kind of artificial\n anti-gravity field in the gaseous portion of the atmosphere—\"", "Then I croaked, \"Jupiter! What for? Are you running outa space in stir?\n Want to choke me to death in chlorine instead?\" Being civil to the", "The Big Sneer of the conference table promptly dropped in on me,\n friendly as a bottle of strychnine. But for a lad headed for Jupiter", "I tried to back off from him a bit, but the ship stopped me. \"I'm Casey\n Ritter. What's your label, chum?\"\n\n\n \"Attaboy,\" he ticked coyly.", "of idiots and spacemen, and headed in toward\n \nthe great red spot of terrible Jupiter." ], [ "Well, Casey Ritter may be a lot of things we won't mention, but he\n doesn't rat on his clients. So there I was, closeted with the ten", "I went back to my cot that night, and this time instead of biting my\n nails, I bit myself. So I faced it. Casey Ritter lost his nerve, and", "He shrugged, trying for nonchalance. \"About the size of a man, I\n believe.\"\n\n\n I raised my shrinking head. \"Take me to jail!\" I said firmly, and\n collapsed onto my chair.", "A crafty-eyed buzzard across the table leaned toward me. \"So this is\n the great Casey Ritter, daredevil of the Solar System!\" he sneered.\n \"Never loses a bet, never turns down a dare!\"", "me. I chewed my fingernails down to the quick by the time he got out a\n week later.\nBy that time he really had me hooked. I'd of sworn he was leveling", "I hardly heard the cut. \"You mean you really did get away with them?\"\n My jaw must've been hanging down a foot, because I'd just been playing", "dropped the arsenic. But he didn't have any brakes I could grab, so he\n just flew out into mid-air in a room that could have swallowed a city", "JUPITER'S JOKE\nBy A. L. HALEY\nCasey Ritter, the guy who never turned\n \ndown a dare, breathed a prayer to the gods", "I tried to back off from him a bit, but the ship stopped me. \"I'm Casey\n Ritter. What's your label, chum?\"\n\n\n \"Attaboy,\" he ticked coyly.", "I shuddered. \"You're telling that one! And besides, a man's got to draw\n the line somewhere. And I'm drawing it right here. Take me to jail!\"", "Well, after all, she wasn't blind. He had to confess. \"I—uh—the\n stones were so amazing, Royal Akroida, that I didn't pay much attention", "along with him, not really believing him, and now all of a sudden I\n somehow knew that he'd really lifted those emeralds. But how? It was\n impossible. I'd investigated once myself.", "along with it, the chance of a lifetime. A better man than me had\n already penetrated the Great Red Spot of old Jupiter and come out\n alive. That thought ate me to the quick, and I began to wonder if it", "I didn't get it at first. I'd argued with 'em, but inside I'd been all\n set for the sentence, and even sort of reconciled to it. I could even", "as solid as if on a floor. Which was fine for flying hopper-scorps, but\n what about Casey Ritter, who hadn't cultivated even a feather?", "He paused, his long nose twitching cynically—\"IF you succeed, your\n reward will be triple what you could get for them in any market. Added\n to which, IF you succeed, you will be a free man.\"", "mad, and if Pard had really got near those emeralds, he should be\n nothing but a heap of cleaned bones by now. Either he was the world's", "hear the words in my mind. But they didn't match what the judge was\n saying. I stood there gaping like a beached fish while I sorted it out.", "dead away right there if Pard Hoskins hadn't been there already and\n lived. If that little shrimp could do it, I could, too.", "That twitch of the nose riled me no little. \"I ain't failed yet!\" I\n snarled at him. \"Just you wait till I do, feller!\" I slipped the string" ], [ "Other scorpions oared and floated about in twos and threes in a free\n and peaceable manner that almost made me forget that I was scared to", "a cross between a scorpion and a grasshopper, to be accurate. Floating\n among that red stuff, they showed up a kind of sickly purple turning to\n gangrene around the edges.", "that took me in was colorblind, so I didn't have no warning at all.\n I found out that them scorpions can't stand yeller. It just plain", "I squeezed out more when I saw those pictures, though. Those\n inhabitants were charming, just charming if you like scorpions. Well,", "Meanwhile the hopper-scorp reached the ship. Hastily I squirted some of\n my Scorpion-Come-Hither lure on the chest of my spacesuit, opened the", "throttle and tore after him among the immense red blobs that were now\n beginning to be patterned with dozens of green-and-purple scorpions,", "hopper-scorp traveling straight toward me, sort of rowing along with\n a pair of stubby wings. He didn't seem to be making much effort, even", "A crafty-eyed buzzard across the table leaned toward me. \"So this is\n the great Casey Ritter, daredevil of the Solar System!\" he sneered.\n \"Never loses a bet, never turns down a dare!\"", "into a sea of ammonia among man-size scorpions just for the hell of\n it. Nuts! After all, in the pen a man can eat and breathe, and a guard", "\"Akroida,\" he explained in his own sweet time, \"is the queen-scorp\n of them idiotic scorpions that lives on Jupiter. I sold her the", "Well, Casey Ritter may be a lot of things we won't mention, but he\n doesn't rat on his clients. So there I was, closeted with the ten", "\"You mean those scorpions have really got brains?\"", "my chest, caressed me with his front pair of legs while I manfully\n endured, and then without warning tossed me onto his back above the\n little box and flew off with me along a tunnel with luminous red walls.", "as solid as if on a floor. Which was fine for flying hopper-scorps, but\n what about Casey Ritter, who hadn't cultivated even a feather?", "No wonder those scorpions like green and purple. What a relief from all\n that red!", "those scorpions, and how he'd made Akroida mad.", "and he wafted closer still. Right there I began to harbor a premonition\n that there might be such a thing as being too popular in Scorpdom, but", "him. To my surprise a vapor shot out of a box that I had taken for a\n natural lump on his back, and he darted away from me. I opened the", "diameter, and its sides were pierced with thousands of openings through\n which its nightmare occupants appeared and disappeared, drifting in\n and out like they had all the time in the world. I stared until my", "I went back to my cot that night, and this time instead of biting my\n nails, I bit myself. So I faced it. Casey Ritter lost his nerve, and" ], [ "\"Akroida,\" he explained in his own sweet time, \"is the queen-scorp\n of them idiotic scorpions that lives on Jupiter. I sold her the", "those scorpions, and how he'd made Akroida mad.", "\"Who from?\" asked Akroida.\n\n\n That conversation was telegraphed to me blow by blow by the actions of\n those hopper-scorps. I didn't need their particular brand of Morse Code\n at all.", "Akroida rose up sort of languidly on an elbow that was all stripped\n bone and sharp as a needle. She pulled an eyeball out about a yard and", "A sort of jerking quiver ran through Akroida. She reared up even\n higher. Her mean Roman nose twitched. \"An earthman? Like Pard Hoskins?\"", "grass, and in the center of this reclined Akroida. It had to be. Who\n else could look like that? No one, believe me, boys and girls, no one!", "Our little Akroida was a pure and peculiarly violent purple—not a\n green edge anywhere. She was even more purple than my fancy enameled", "Akroida toyed with the Halcyon Diamond and ignored the bait. \"His\n name?\" she demanded. And when he told her, with a bad stutter in", "over beside her. Akroida eased her eyeball back, opened the box and\n sniffed, and then turned to Attaboy with a full-blown Satanic grin. I", "I was back so soon when I knew that Akroida was all set to carve me\n into steaks for just any meal. But the tone was friendly and even", "hadn't helped me, they'd of done it, too. And Akroida claimed I done it\n a-purpose to upset her.\"", "fer them. Besides, the space suit rig you got to wear, they can't bite\n you. Akroida's not a bad old girl. Partial to arsenic on her lettuce,", "Other scorpions oared and floated about in twos and threes in a free\n and peaceable manner that almost made me forget that I was scared to", "Well, after all, she wasn't blind. He had to confess. \"I—uh—the\n stones were so amazing, Royal Akroida, that I didn't pay much attention", "\"You mean those scorpions have really got brains?\"", "Meanwhile the hopper-scorp reached the ship. Hastily I squirted some of\n my Scorpion-Come-Hither lure on the chest of my spacesuit, opened the", "a cross between a scorpion and a grasshopper, to be accurate. Floating\n among that red stuff, they showed up a kind of sickly purple turning to\n gangrene around the edges.", "\"Jupiter!\" I goggled at him. \"Akroida! Who's she?\"", "Taking advantage of his condition, I boldly tapped out, \"How's about\n taking me on a guided tour through this red spinach patch to Akroida,\n old pal?\" Or words to that effect.", "that took me in was colorblind, so I didn't have no warning at all.\n I found out that them scorpions can't stand yeller. It just plain" ], [ "I went back to my cot that night, and this time instead of biting my\n nails, I bit myself. So I faced it. Casey Ritter lost his nerve, and", "Well, Casey Ritter may be a lot of things we won't mention, but he\n doesn't rat on his clients. So there I was, closeted with the ten", "A crafty-eyed buzzard across the table leaned toward me. \"So this is\n the great Casey Ritter, daredevil of the Solar System!\" he sneered.\n \"Never loses a bet, never turns down a dare!\"", "I tried to back off from him a bit, but the ship stopped me. \"I'm Casey\n Ritter. What's your label, chum?\"\n\n\n \"Attaboy,\" he ticked coyly.", "JUPITER'S JOKE\nBy A. L. HALEY\nCasey Ritter, the guy who never turned\n \ndown a dare, breathed a prayer to the gods", "Right there I forgave him for pulling that eye on me. He was the guide\n I needed, the one who had got Pard out alive. I almost hugged him.", "me. I chewed my fingernails down to the quick by the time he got out a\n week later.\nBy that time he really had me hooked. I'd of sworn he was leveling", "The senior judge rapped ferociously, and I skidded to a halt. Our\n little story teller patiently cleared his skinny throat again.", "I hardly heard the cut. \"You mean you really did get away with them?\"\n My jaw must've been hanging down a foot, because I'd just been playing", "He shrugged, trying for nonchalance. \"About the size of a man, I\n believe.\"\n\n\n I raised my shrinking head. \"Take me to jail!\" I said firmly, and\n collapsed onto my chair.", "Then I gagged. But I could still remember that I had to live in that\n suit for awhile, so I held on. Then that monstrosity reeled in the eye,\n and I gagged again.", "That twitch of the nose riled me no little. \"I ain't failed yet!\" I\n snarled at him. \"Just you wait till I do, feller!\" I slipped the string", "dropped the arsenic. But he didn't have any brakes I could grab, so he\n just flew out into mid-air in a room that could have swallowed a city", "as solid as if on a floor. Which was fine for flying hopper-scorps, but\n what about Casey Ritter, who hadn't cultivated even a feather?", "scanned Attaboy and the box. He closed in to the couch all hunched\n over, ducked his head humbly half-a-dozen times, and pushed the box", "made a gold-barred chimpanzee out of me has broken my spirit and\n turned me into an honest trader. Me, Casey Ritter, slickest slicker in", "dead away right there if Pard Hoskins hadn't been there already and\n lived. If that little shrimp could do it, I could, too.", "his code, she reared up higher on her skinny elbow and glared in my\n direction. \"Casey Ritter? Never heard of him. Where's he from?\"", "For three more days I worked down my knuckles, my nails being gone,\n while I sat around all hunched up, wondering feverishly if Pard would", "along with him, not really believing him, and now all of a sudden I\n somehow knew that he'd really lifted those emeralds. But how? It was\n impossible. I'd investigated once myself." ] ]

["How do Lowry and the Exec feel about the Venusians?","How did Svan feel about the Earthlings?","Ho(...TRUNCATED)

[["Lowry is hoping the Earth immigrants will easily defeat the Venusians, but the Exec doesn't want (...TRUNCATED)

[ 3, 2, 2, 3, 1, 2, 4, 4, 1 ]

[ 1, 1, 0, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 0 ]

[["The Exec shrugged. \"I don't know, Lowry,\" he said. \"This is a funny\n place. I don't trust the(...TRUNCATED)

["What are the four hypotheses Charles has about how he might have survived the plague? ","What is t(...TRUNCATED)

[["He’s too strange; he’s a prophet; the odds were against him; he got a vaccine \n\n","He’s a(...TRUNCATED)

[ 4, 2, 1, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2 ]

[ 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1 ]

[["\"No,\" Charles said, standing up in the quiet of the spring evening.\n \"No, chance won't do it.(...TRUNCATED)

["Why is Acoustix so valuable? ","What is true about the Red Spot Fever?","Why does Grannie fool Bil(...TRUNCATED)

[["Acoustix can be sold at a high price. ","It's an ore that can only be found in one place.","It he(...TRUNCATED)

[ 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 2 ]

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[["\"However, as you perhaps know, the only reason for colonial activities\n here at all is because (...TRUNCATED)