Traveller - L.W. Samuelson (free e books to read online TXT) 📗

believe that everyone has the chance to move up if they choose to take it,” Lori said.
“I do not understand the concept of moving up. Why can’t we all be treated equally like I was in Benwarian society? There was no working class or upper class. We were all on the same level,” Traveller said.
“But Benwar had far fewer people. The U.S. has a population of over two hundred million people. It is impossible to arrange that many people into an egalitarian society,” Lori explained.
“So the inequities exist because of overpopulation?” Traveller asked.
“Partly, but we are the most diverse society that has ever existed. The U.S. is a melting pot where all races and ethnic groups combine to form the most powerful country on Earth. Many of the inequities exist because so many people refuse to educate themselves. They feel comfortable with their own ignorance,” Lori said.
“I don’t believe humans would actually choose to be ignorant,” Traveller said with a puzzled expression.
Lori chewed and swallowed before replying, “Oh really? When you go back to work on Monday take time to get to know those you work with. I think you’ll change your opinion.” Lori finished her pancakes washing them down with the glass of milk Traveller had poured for her.
“I’ve got to go to work,” she said getting up from the table. Taveller stood up, too. She hugged her forlorn alien. “Go find Jesse and play some basketball. It’ll take your mind off things.”
“Okay, but I want you to know I won’t quit. The foreman and I have an understanding now and I’m sure the other workers will leave me alone.”
“Good because I don’t want you to be miserable,” Lori said as she slipped her coat on and left for work.

Traveller didn’t want to be alone. He dialed Jesse’s number. After several minutes a muffled voice came from the other end of the line, “Wha . . . Hello?”
“Good morning Jesse. How are you?” Traveller asked.
“What time is it?”
“Seven forty-five in the morning.”
“Man Travis, no one gets up this early on a Saturday morning unless they have to. I was sleeping in,” Jesse complained. “Didn’t you work last night?”
“Yes. I couldn’t sleep. I thought maybe you would like to play basketball today.”
“Let me sleep in for a while. I’ll meet you at Holt Gym about nine- thirty. Is that okay?”
“Thank you Jesse. I’ll go by Willy’s dorm on the way over and see if he wants to play.”

Chapter 32 - Grounded
Traveller knocked on Willy’s door. He could hear rustling inside before it opened a crack. When Willy saw who it was, he threw the door open and lit up with a smile. “Hey Bro! How ya’ll doin’? I ain’t seen you for two weeks.”
Traveller hugged his blood brother. “It is so pleasant to see a friend,” he said gratefully.
“Come on in. Take a seat,” Willy said holding something behind his back.
“What do you have there?” Traveller asked.
“Nothing man. It’s just a book. Don’t tell anyone.”
Willy slid it under the covers of his unmade bed. Traveller followed him and snatched it out. “The Grapes of Wrath? You got this from Lori didn’t you?”
“She say I should read it. It almost as sad as Of Mice and Men. Man those rich white people are hard-assed honkies. They rather hire police and thugs to keep people in line rather than pay a decent wage. No reason to starve people,” Willy said.
“Why are you reading it? I thought you hated to read.”
“Lori say it’s a great American classic. After reading Of Mice and Men, I figure it best to get some education.”
“Sounds to me like Lori’s been influencing you.”
“She smart. No reason not to listen to her.”
“I’m glad for you. Maybe I can read this after you,” Traveller said examining the book.
“Sure Bro. What brings you here on a Saturday morning?”
“I want you to play basketball with us. Jesse is going to round up some guys.”
“Man, I can’t. I just made it back on the team. I get caught playing a pick up game Coach’ll never let me off the practice squad.”
“You got back on the team? No one told me. Congratulations,” Traveller said.
“Yeah, my English teacher loved that essay y’all help me write. He bumped my grade up all the way to a B-.”
“I’m proud of you bro’.”
“Coach say if anyone gets hurt, he put me on the team, let me play in the regular game. I never would’ve done it without you.”
“That’s what brothers are for. We have to look out after each other,” Traveller said handing Willy his book back. “Let me know when you’re back on the team. I will be right in the front stands watching you.”

Jesse, Tim, and Bill were waiting for Traveller when he walked into the gym. “Where have you been?” Jesse asked throwing him the ball.
Traveller tried a jump shot. He hadn’t played since the mountain lion attack and the ball fell well short of the basket. Jesse caught it in mid-air then laid it in.
“Some one’s out of practice,” Jesse chided throwing Traveller the ball. He shot again, this time the ball bounced hard off the backboard. Traveller bunched and then tried to impel. He fell hard to the floor skidding across it.
Bill helped him up. “Are you okay?” he asked.
Traveller rubbed his elbow. “I think so,” he said. “Try bouncing the ball off the rim, Jesse.”
Jesse threw the ball off the edge of the metal. Traveller tried to think himself to where the ball was high above the rim. Again he tipped then fell to the floor. He caught himself with both hands but his butt hit hard.
Frustration etched Traveller face. Jesse helped him up again. “What’s the matter Travis?”
“I can’t impel. I feel like a piece of lead when I try.”
“Just play without impelling. Maybe it will come back to you.”
For several minutes the other three men threw Traveller the ball so he could practice shooting. Not until he started making baskets did they begin a game of two-on-two.
Traveller and Tim got the ball first. Tim cleared it by dribbling to half court. He drove to the basket with Jesse dogging him. When Bill left Traveller to prevent a lay-up, Tim passed the ball. Traveller crouched and sprung getting the ball well above the rim for a dunk.
“See,” Jesse said. “You don’t need anything but your athletic ability.”
Once Traveller adjusted to the lack of ability to impel, he discovered something. His arms and legs were stronger, more muscular from loading boxcars. His stamina had also increased, and he was faster.
Traveller was able to guard Bill so well that he wasn’t able to get a shot off. Traveller stole the ball or blocked his shots so many times that he began to pass off to Jesse as soon as he caught it. Traveller’s speed allowed him to double Jesse or intercept Bill’s pass several times. After several minutes of play, the score was six to eighteen with Traveller having made ten points. Once the alien forgot about impelling, his movements were vastly more fluid and coordinated. He shot with grace, defended with tenacity.
Jesse became so frustrated that he finally commented, “We had more of a chance when you impelled.”
Traveller smiled. He caught the ball from Tim, dribbled sideways to the basket then made a hook shot that swished. “Twenty points, we win,” he said quietly.
A loud clapping caused everyone to look at the bleachers. Willy looked back and said, “Yeah, that’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout. I tole you a little black blood set you right.”
Jesse paired up with Tim for the next game. They were able to pass the ball and use their quickness to make the game more competitive, but Traveller was still able to thwart them enough for his team to win. When Bill scored the winning basket, the alien looked to the bleachers for approval, but Willy had gone.
With the game over, everyone took a hot shower. “Man dude, you were hot,” Jesse told Traveller.
Traveller looked worried. “But there’s something wrong with me.”
“You played better today than I’ve ever seen you,” Tim said.
“It makes me angry that I can’t impel,” Traveller stated.
“Why? What difference does it make?” asked Jesse.
“It’s the only skill I had left to prove I’m a Benwarian.”
Traveller said goodbye to his friends as they exited the gym. On the way home he tried repeatedly to impel but to no avail. It seemed the weight of his Earthly kept him rooted to its reality.

Traveller arrived at work on early Monday morning. He knocked on the foreman’s office door. “What do ya want? The door’s open,” his boss yelled.
When Traveller entered, the foreman seemed disappointed, “Oh it’s you,” he said with downcast eyes.
“May I come in? I have a few questions I want to ask you.”
“Make it quick. There’s a freight train due in ten minutes.”
“I’m taking a survey and I want to know how much education a dock foreman has.”
“I graduated from high school by the skin of my teeth. I hated school, had to work my way up through the ranks. Started here when I was seventeen years old,” he said.
“Have you read John Steinbeck?”
“Is that the name of a book?” the foreman asked.
“No, it’s the name of an author.”
“I haven’t read but a couple of books in my entire life. Let’s see, the last one I read was “Where the Red Fern Grows.” Actually, my sixth grade teacher read it to me. I hate to read. Don’t have the patience.”
“If you don’t read, how do you learn new things?” Traveller asked.
“I read the newspaper and Outdoor Life. I have a job. I don’t need to learn anything else.”
“Did you vote in the last election?” Traveller asked.
“I’ve never voted.”
“Don’t you care what happens to you?”
“Voting doesn’t make any difference one way or the other,” the foreman replied angering. “We’re done. Your shift’s starting.”

At lunchtime Traveller yelled for everyone’s attention. They ignored him and kept talking. This would never happen among Benwarians. We are taught to be civil, considerate. These humans are so primitive.

Traveller spent another sleepless night. Being shunned had hurt him. No one deserved to be shunned. He made Lori’s coffee and then made scrambled eggs and toast. When she came out for breakfast, he poured her a glass of milk then set her plate on the table.
“Breakfast again? You’re too considerate to be a male,” she said.
“What does gender have to do with being polite?” he asked puzzled.
“It shouldn’t have anything to do with it, but most males seem oblivious to anyone but themselves.”
“Is that why the people at work won’t talk to me?” asked Traveller.
“I imagine it’s because they side with the two guys you beat up.”
“But they started it!”
“Oh Traveller, that doesn’t matter. You’re not one of them. Thank God. Why did you want to talk to them?” The second she asked, she knew the answer.
“You were trying to get to know them,” she said.
“I wanted to know how many of them read books, or voted, or tried to learn new things. Only the foreman would talk to me.”
“I’m sorry. Give it a while. Maybe they’ll come around,” she said finishing her eggs. “I’ve got to go now.”
“Wait, I have something for you,” he said handing her an envelope.
“It’s your paycheck,” she said shaking her head no. “I can’t take that.”
“I have no need for money. I want you to have it. Put it in the bank. Use