Dark Benediction
Walter M. Miller Jr.
Language: English
Pages: 610
ISBN: B00CLRG9ZK
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
The story is set about two years after the collapse of civilization due to a mysterious disease called neuroderm. The "disease" is actually caused by a symbiotic micro-organism sent to Earth from another inhabited planet, and is actually beneficial, though seen as disfiguring because of the graying of skin which eventually spreads over the entire body.
The story's protagonist, Paul Harris Oberlin, begins the story outside Houston. He has managed to avoid infection so far, but is tiring of a diet of small game and ditchwater. Paul has decided to risk exploring a city, figuring that the large, crowded cities are now deserted and, perhaps, offer better opportunities for scavenging.
Paul discovers that Houston is now controlled by a strongman named Georgelle, whose followers exterminate any "dermies" they come across. Unable to stomach the murder of a dermie girl, Paul rescues her and flees Houston.
The girl, Willow or "Willie," was heading for Galveston, familiar to her from visits before the collapse. She has heard that nuns have set themselves up there. Paul takes her to Galveston, hoping to find medical help for her crippling gunshot wound.
Paul finds that Galveston Island is an all-dermie colony which had deliberately destroyed all bridges leading from the mainland. There are nuns, and monks, and they provide the leadership for the colony. There is also a scientist who has survived the chaos, and who confirms for Paul the rumors that neuroderm has an extraterrestrial origin.
Eventually Paul overcomes his fears about neuroderm for the sake of Willie, and plans to go with her to some small island until sanity returns to the world. However, the implied threat of Georgelle's people remains, the dermies of Galveston providing a doubly-attractive target for their planned expansion: Extermination of the dermies, plus a treasure trove of loot, including gasoline and working cars and trucks.
Much of the story takes place at St. Mary's Hospital in Galveston, a real hospital which was run by a real order of nuns. The Hospital is now part of the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB)
sick and hag-ridden Mela who had bought security at the expense of integrity and was still paying for it in small installments like this, Mela whom he once had loved. The first small "triumph" coiled into a sick knot in his throat. She started away, but he caught her arm. "I'm sorry, Mela," he muttered hoarsely. "I'm really sorry.” “It's not your fault." But it was. She didn't know what he'd done, of course; didn't know he'd switched the tapes and steered his own selection as a replacement
drawing his gaze while he cranked. When he looked at the tension indicator, it read 5,600 pounds. He grunted his annoyance, reversed the jack ratchet, and began letting out the extra 600 pounds. The shift-change signal was already beeping in his headsets by the time he had eased it back down to 5,000, and the C-shift crewmen were standing around the foot of the tower jeering at him from below. "Get off it, boy. Give the men a chance." "Come on down, Relke. You can let go. It ain't gonna drop."
over them, his eyes nervous, his hand holding the mike close to his mouth so that they could hear his weak troffie voice. "If you men have questions," he said, "I'll answer them now. Do you want to know what you've been doing during the past year?" An affirmative rumble arose from the group. You've been helping to give Mars a breathable atmosphere." He glanced briefly at his watch, then looked back at his audience. "In fifty minutes, a controlled chain reaction will start in the tritium ice.
Roki, she departed from the port about five." "You've heard nothing of her since?" "Well . . . there was a call from the police agency, I understand." He looked apologetic. "I assure you I had nothing to do with the matter." "Police! What . . . what's wrong, man?" "I hear she went unescorted and unveiled. The police are holding her." "How long will they keep her?" "Until some gentleman signs for her custody." "You mean I have to sign for her?" "Yes, sir." Roki smiled thoughtfully. "Tell
They left quickly. Kenny was furious, and he kept on being furious all through the following day. At me. Cleo began agreeing with him to some extent, and I felt like a heel. "You want Kenny to get the full treatment?" I grumbled. "You want him to wind up a sob-story child?" "Certainly not, but it was cruel, Rod. The boy never had a happier moment until you . . ." "All right, so I'm a bastard. I'm sorry." That night Abe Sanders (Captain Chronos) came hack alone, in slacks and a sport shirt,