Trade World Saga 1: Manual Interpretation Read Online Free PDF

first try. I could be close to ten klicks to the car. That trip is going to be pretty rough with only scrub bushes and absolutely no survival tools. If he made it through this little ordeal, I’m never going to be caught flatfooted again with no plastic sheet to make a little solar survival still, no knife, and no fire starter kit. Quit bitchin’ he thought. I wonder why the ship’s still here. And not even an energy bar struck in pocket. Is it damaged? Well…I wouldn’t get anything done sitting here pondering will I? No time like the present to scope it out, he thought and he got up into a half crouched position.
    As Andrew was edging back from the hill, he noticed some tracks in the dirt off to his left. Following them over the rise with his eyes in one direction, he traced them back to the ship! There was just one set of distinct tracks. There were other tracks -- earlier tracks already partially filled in from the steady winds in the area, but just he one set of new ones. That changes my statistics, Andrew thought, since the alien has left and hasn't returned yet.
    Sprinting from the cover of the hill, Andrew crossed the open space quickly until he got to the edge of the cylinder below the hatch. He noticed how deep the tracks were below the hatch and finally realized how heavy the alien really was. Andrew marveled at his escape of the night before.
    Andrew looked into the distance and then straining to hear any indication of another being, moved under the hatch. He had to jump to get his hands to reach the bottom of the opening and when his full weight was on his arms, he let out a whimper of pain. His arms seemed to be on fire as he struggled and got his chest over the bottom of the opening. He lay there panting; hanging half in and half out of the hatch. When he recovered sufficiently he got in and stood up; and trying not to touch any instruments, began to move toward the larger central room of the ship where he had been before.
    It was only after he had gone a few steps that he had any thought as to automatic protective devices.
    Well, I just hope that there aren't any. There are no labels on any of the instruments or on any cabinets, of course. I don't even know if that language training covered written language or if that language would even be the one I learned. I have to get some water and food.
    When he thought of the word water and food, his mind provided many pictures from the language training. Maybe this could be useful, he thought as he realized a section of the room, which dealt with food and water.
    He found a set of cabinets and alternately opening doors found a whole shelf of quasi-elastic balls with a nipple like opening. When he pulled one off the shelf, he noticed it had been attached to a detachable tube sticking out of the bottom of the cabinet. Shaking the ball produced a satisfying sloshing noise. After smelling the nipple, part of the container to make sure it wasn't some chemical cleaner or something similar, he put it to his lips and then jerked it back away.
    I've gotta’ be crazy to be here and if I really am where I think I am. It's against all training to drink something because you think it may be water. I'm desperate; he thought as he eased the ball to his cracked, dry lips and sipped. The liquid seems to soak right into the lining of his mouth. Good, it is so good. All restraint gone, Andrew gulped half of the container before he realized drinking like this would just make him sick so he forced the glorious warm, flat water-ball from his lips. He took two more balls from the cabinet and stuck them inside his shirt.
    Gingerly sipping from the first ball, he looked for food but gave up the search after he undoubtedly found it. He found a cabinet next to the water cabinet full of five different types of small wrapped rectangles of food. Even opening the cabinet released a smell that would cause the staunchest stomach to lurch.
    Better stay sharp and be happy I found the water. Seeing