A Handful of Darkness by Philip K. Dick Read Free Book Online Page A

the chest. He pulled.
    “What are you doing?” Olham cried.
    Nelson stood up. He was holding on to the metal object. His face was blank with terror. It was a metal knife, an Outspace needle-knife, covered with blood.
    “This killed him,” Nelson whispered. “My friend was killed With this.” He looked at Olham. “You killed him with this and left him beside the ship.”
    Olham was trembling. His teeth chattered. He looked from the knife to the body. “This can’t be Olham,” he said. His mind spun, everything was whirling. “Was I wrong?”
    He gaped.
    “But if that’s Olham, then I must be—”
    He did not complete the sentence, only the first phase. The blast was visible all the way to Alpha Centauri.

EXPENDABLE
    The man came out on the front porch and examined the day. Bright and clear—with dew on the lawns. He buttoned his coat and put his hands in his pockets.
    As the man started down the steps the two caterpillars waiting by the mailbox twitched with interest.
    “There he goes,” the first one said. “Send in your report.”
    As the other began to rotate his vanes the man stopped, turning quickly.
    “I heard that,” he said. Then he brought his foot down against the wall, scraping the caterpillars off, on to the concrete. He crushed them.
    Then he hurried down the path to the pavement. As he walked he looked around him. In the cherry tree a bird was hopping, pecking bright-eyed lit the cherries. The man studied him. All right? Or—The bird flew off. Birds all right. No harm from them.
    He went on. At the corner he brushed against a spider web, crossed from the bushes to the telephone pole. His heart pounded. He tore away, batting in the air. As he went on he glanced over his shoulder. The spider was coming slowly down the bush, feeling out the damage to his web.
    Hard to tell about spiders. Difficult to figure out. More facts needed—no contact, yet.
    He waited at the bus stop, stamping his feet to keep them warm.
    The bus came and he boarded it, feeling a sudden pleasure as he took his seat with all the warm, silent people, staring indifferently ahead. A vague flow of security poured through him.
    He grinned, and relaxed, the first time in days.
    The bus went down the street.
    Tirmus waved his antennae excitedly.
    “Vote, then, if you want.” He hurried past them, up on to the mound. “But let me say what I said yesterday, before you start.”
    “We already know it,” Lala said impatiently. “Let’s get moving. We have the plans worked out. What’s holding us up?”
    “More reason for me to speak.” Tirmus gazed around at the assembled gods. “The entire Hill is ready to march against the giant in question. Why? We know he can’t communicate to his fellows—it’s out of the question. The type of vibration, the language they use makes it impossible to convey such ideas as he holds about us, about our—”
    “Nonsense.” Lala stepped up. “Giants communicate well enough.”
    “There is no record of a giant having made known information about us!”
    The army moved restlessly.
    “Go ahead,” Tirmus said. “But it’s a waste of effort. He’s harmless—cut off. Why take all the time and—”
    “Harmless?” Lala stared at him. “Don’t you understand? He knows!”
    Tirmus walked away from the mound. “I’m against unnecessary violence. We should save our strength. Some day we’ll need it.”
    The vote was taken. As expected, the army was in favour of moving against the giant. Tirmus sighed and began stroking out the plans on the ground.
    “This is the location that he takes. He can be expected to appear there at period-end. Now, as I see the situation—”
    He went on, laying out the plans in the soft soil.
    One of the gods leaned towards another, antennae touching. “This giant. He doesn’t stand a chance. In a way, I feel sorry for him. How’d he happen to butt in?”
    “Accident.” The other grinned. “You know, the way they do, barging around.”
    “It’s