Alan Mattox

Name: Shepherd of the Planets
Author: Alan Mattox

Shepherd of the Planets

Summary

“Shepherd of the Planets”, is a work by Alan Mattox. It explores elements such as Renner, Beeson and Farrow.

Quotes from Shepherd of the Planets (Alan Mattox)

Alan Mattox, Shepherd of the Planets

“ Farrow grumbled. "For a while, at least. But I don't see what good the natives are to us."
"If we take their food," Renner said, "we're going to feed them. At least until such time as the crops come in, and they are able to feed themselves!"
"Are you building this planet for us, or for them?" Farrow demanded.
Renner turned away.
They put out cannisters of food for the natives that night. In the morning it was gone. Each evening, someone left food for them near their favorite nest of rocks. The natives took it in the dark, unseen. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Alan Mattox, Shepherd of the Planets

“ Farrow said. "I've got equipment that will break up the soil for you. And I can throw a dam across the stream for water."
"There are seeds in the ship," Renner said, his eyes lighting with enthusiasm. "We'll start this planet all over again!"
"There's still one thing," Beeson reminded him drily. "Humus! Leaves, roots, organic material! Something to loosen up the soil, aerate it. Nothing will grow in a brick."
Renner stood up. He took a few slow paces, and then stood looking out at the groups of boulders studding the ancient plain. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Alan Mattox, Shepherd of the Planets

“ Captain Renner let his beard grow. It came out white and thick, and he did not bother to trim it. The others, too, became more careless in their dress, each man following his own particular whim. There was no longer need for a taut ship.
Farrow threw a dam across the little stream, and, while the water grew behind it, went on to breaking up the soil with his machines. Beeson searched for nitrate, and found it. He brought a load of it back, and this, together with the moss and lichen, was chopped into the soil. In the end, it was the lichen that was the limiting factor. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Alan Mattox, Shepherd of the Planets

“ We can run auxiliary equipment for a long time to come, but no more star drive."
"So we just stay here until we're rescued," David said.
"A fine chance for that!" Farrow's voice grew bitter again. "Our captain has landed us out here on the rim of the galaxy where there won't be another ship for a hundred years!"
"I don't understand the man," Beeson said suddenly, looking around him belligerently. "What are we doing out here anyway?"
"Extended Exploration," said Thorne. "It's a form of being put out to pasture. Renner's too old for the Service, but he's still a strong and competent man. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Alan Mattox, Shepherd of the Planets

“ David brought in the one new point that was of interest. He had been out hunting among the boulders again, and it was almost dark when he returned. He told Renner about it at the supper table, with the others listening in.
"I think the natives eat the lichen," he said.
"I haven't seen much else they could eat," Beeson muttered.
"There's more of the lichen than you might think," David said, "if you know where to look for it. But, even at that, there isn't very much. The thing is, it looks like it's been cropped. It's never touched if the plants are small, or half grown, or very nearly ready. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Alan Mattox, Shepherd of the Planets

“ His own hair had grown grey in the Service, and, in a way, the reason for his assignment to the ship was the same as Renner's.
"I think," he said slowly, "that Captain Renner is looking for something."
"But for what?" Beeson demanded. "He has taken us to every out-of-the-way, backward planet on the rim. And what happens? We land. We find the natives. We are kind to them. We teach them something, and leave them a few supplies. And then Renner loses interest, and we go on!"
"Perhaps it is for something in himself," David offered. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

Alan Mattox, Shepherd of the Planets

“ Captain Renner looked from face to face.
"We were lucky to set down safely," he said to them all. "We might have been caught too far out for a landing. It is night now, and I am going to get some rest. Tomorrow we will see what kind of a world this is."
He left the control room, and went down the corridor toward his quarters. The others watched him go. None of them made a move to leave their seats.
"What about the fuel pack?" David asked.
"Just what he said," Farrow answered him. "It's exhausted. Done for! ”

[↩︎]

Source: Gutenberg

Alan Mattox, Shepherd of the Planets

“ But just as soon as a patch is fully mature, it is stripped bare, and there never seems to be any of it dropped, or left behind, or wasted."
"If that's all they have to live on," Thorne said, "they have it pretty thin!" ”

Alan Mattox

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Quotes from Shepherd of the Planets (Alan Mattox)

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