The Golden Enemy Read Online Free PDF

“I understand it was considered a good thing once. There were such vast numbers of people, you see, that life had become extremely complicated. Really, it passes belief. Anyway, when one needed food or clothes, he was unable to produce them as we do. He had to use money to buy them.”
    L’Mara frowned. “But suppose he didn’t have any money?”
    The Elder spread his hands. “I believe, to avoid going hungry or naked, he would have to borrow money—but for a price. As you can see, the system wasn’t perfect.”
    â€œStars, no!” L’Mara exclaimed. “Why, any greedy person with half sense would soon have most of the money, and all the others would be jumping for him.”
    â€œIt would seem so,” Emmon admitted. “Perhaps that’s why ancient man was always in such a hurry. And it may explain why he had such concern for time. Why, everyone in his day carried a time instrument! Every blessed second was so valued—” He stopped and tilted his head. “What is that noise I keep hearing? Is it the bleating of goats?”
    â€œYes, sir,” Boy Jaim replied uneasily. “There’s a bunch of them down at the gate.”
    â€œFor pity’s sake, what do the silly creatures want?”
    Boy Jaim didn’t consider goats exactly silly. But they certainly were curious and stubborn enough, and they’d worked out things pretty well to suit themselves.
    â€œI’m afraid they’ve got a problem, sir. They want to see you.”
    â€œI’m tired of their nonsense. They can just wait.”
    Boy Jaim knew Emmon could send and receive thoughts, though not too well. As clearly as he could, he thrust forth silently: “ Please, I think you’d better see them now. Something terrible has happened. ”
    The Elder looked startled, then said to the others, “I want to discuss Boy Jaim’s trip with him. Why don’t the rest of you fix tea and pick something to eat from the garden? Take charge, Betta.”
    Boy Jaim followed him to the terrace, where Doubtful lay curled, pretending sleep. The Elder said, “Now what is this all about?”
    â€œWe—we’d better talk to the goats first, sir.”
    Silently, with Doubtful following, they started down the winding path to the bottom of the hill. Boy Jaim, who had not eaten for hours, plucked eagerly at the ripe peaches growing beside the path and wondered how they were going to handle the goats. The goats, in exchange for milk and hair, were always making deals for special pastures to graze in. Their sly deals had long been a subject for much laughter, but there’d be nothing to laugh about this time …
    The Elder said, “I can’t understand about those things you found. They must have been made by an earlier people than the wheel people. Such workmanship! Where did you locate them?”
    For the moment Boy Jaim had lost all interest in his discoveries. But he described the deep cave-in he had stumbled across, and the dark opening that led into what may once have been a museum. He told how he’d found the things in the sand inside, but he did not mention the sudden dread that had come over him, and how he’d rushed out within minutes of having entered. Even Doubtful had been frightened and had insisted that the place was full of phantoms. The Barrens, of course, gave everyone the shivers, and it was no wonder that so little was actually known about it.
    They were at the bottom of the hill now. Before them in the high stone wall was an ornate wooden gate. The path on the other side was jammed with goats. In their lead was a shaggy-haired billy with huge horns and a long gray beard that nearly touched the ground. He was known to everyone as Old Man.
    â€œWell, what is it, Old Man?” the Elder said irritably. “Do you want a field of four-leafed clover this time, or will lettuce do?”
    â€œWe want protection,” Old Man