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The document provides information about various eBooks available for download on ebookluna.com, including titles related to contract law and employment. It features a detailed table of contents for the eBook 'Privity of Contract,' outlining its chapters and sections. Additionally, it lists other related eBooks and offers instant digital product downloads in multiple formats.

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SUMM ARY CONTENTS

Table of Cases  xiii


Table of International Treaties, Conventions, and Other Instruments  xxxiii
Table of National Legislation  xxxv
List of Abbreviations  xliii

1. Early History  1
2. Modern History  13
3. Exceptions  44
4. Statutory Exceptions  103
5. Operation of the Rule with Relation to Exemption Clauses  140
6. Rights of the Promisee  159
7. Attempts to Impose Liabilities or Burdens on Non-Parties  249
8. The Contracts (Right of Third Parties) Act 1999  264
9. Statutory Reform in Other Jurisdictions  288
10. The Unidroit Principles of International Commercial Contracts  322

Index 333

vii
CONTENTS

Table of Cases xiii


Table of International Treaties, Conventions, and Other Instruments xxxiii
Table of National Legislation xxxv
List of Abbreviations xliii

1. Early History
Introduction  1.01
Roman Law  1.03
Medieval Common Law  1.05
The Rise of Assumpsit  1.07
The Nineteenth Century  1.13
The Civil Law  1.26
American Law  1.27

2. Modern History
Introduction  2.01
Dunlop and the Affirmation of the Privity Rule  2.02
After Dunlop and the Call for Reform  2.07
Privity, Consideration, Parties, Promisees, and Joint Promisees  2.26

3. Exceptions
Introduction to Exceptions  3.01
Tort  3.03
Covenants that Run with the Land  3.12
Collateral Contracts  3.18
Public Policy  3.21
Restitution  3.22
Letters of Credit  3.23
Bailment  3.26

ix
Contents

Agency  3.27
Trust  3.33
Assignment  3.51

4. Statutory Exceptions
Introduction  4.01
Insurance  4.03
Life Insurance  4.04
Fire Insurance  4.10
Motor Insurance  4.14
Third Parties Rights Against Insurers  4.22
Marine Insurance  4.33
Property Law  4.35
Negotiable Instruments  4.45
Bills of Lading  4.49
Manufacturers  4.56

5. Operation of the Rule with Relation to Exemption Clauses


The Problem  5.01
What Should the Answer Be?  5.04
The Leading Cases  5.09
Analysis of the Cases  5.45

6. Rights of the Promisee


Introduction to the Rights of the Promisee  6.01
Specific Performance  6.03
Injunction  6.17
Damages  6.25
Recovery Assessed by Reference to the Third Party’s Loss  6.30
Recovery Assessed by Reference to the Promisee’s Loss  6.140
Restitution  6.160
Performance and Variation of Contracts Made for the Benefit
of Third Parties  6.161

x
Contents

7. Attempts to Impose Liabilities or Burdens on Non-Parties


The Problem  7.01
The Position with Leases  7.04
Privity of Contract  7.05
Privity of Estate  7.06
Sub-leases  7.07
Restrictive Covenants  7.08
Positive Covenants  7.13
Application Outside Land Transactions  7.16
A Practical Problem  7.17
Restrictive Covenants and Chattels  7.21
Two Final Considerations  7.38

8. The Contracts (Right of Third Parties) Act 1999


Early Steps  8.01
The Law Commission  8.06
The Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999  8.14
The Most Important Provision?  8.15
Existing Statutory Exceptions  8.16
Existing Common Law Exceptions  8.19
The Central Proposal  8.23
Variation and Cancellation  8.40
Rights of the Parties  8.45
Arbitration  8.49
Exemption Clauses  8.50
Appendix—Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 284

9. Statutory Reform in Other Jurisdictions


Introduction to Statutory Reform  9.01
Australia  9.02
Canada 9.27
New Zealand  9.33
Singapore  9.42
USA  9.48

xi
Contents

10. The Unidroit Principles of International Commercial Contracts


What is Unidroit?  10.01
The Genesis of PICC  10.05
Working Style of PICC 10.08
Appendix—Section 2: Third Party Rights 327

Index 333

xii
TABLE OF CASES

A v National Blood Authority [2001] 3 All ER 289���������������������������������������������������������������� 4.60


A & K Holdings Pty Ltd, Re [1964] VR 257���������������������������������������������������������������������������4.41
ABN Amro Bank NV v Bathurst Regional Council [2014] FCAFC 65 ���������������������������������3.07
Abouzaid v Mothercare (UK) Ltd [2002] All ER (D) 2436 �������������������������������������������������� 4.60
Adler v Dickson [1955] 1 QB 158; [1954] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 283 ������������������������������2.02, 5.06, 5.18,
5.24, 5.34, 5.46, 5.47
Admiralty Commissioners v SS Amerika [1917] AC 38��������������������������������������������������������� 6.165
Aes Ust-Kamenogorsk Hydropower Plant v Ust-Kamenogorsk Hydropower Plant [2010]
2 All ER 1 (Comm) 1033�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������8.49
AF Grant Pty Ltd v MacDonald [1960] Qd R 465�����������������������������������������������������������������3.59
Air Tahiti Pty Ltd v McKenzie (2009) NSWLR 299, [2009] NSWCA 429�������������������������� 2.29
Aitken Transport Pty Ltd v Voysey [1990] 1 Qd R 510���������������������������������������������������������� 2.29
Albacruz v Albazero (The Albazero) [1977] AC 774 �����������������6.32, 6.37, 6.68, 6.70, 6.71, 6.72,
6.75, 6.84, 6.85, 6.89, 6.90, 6.91, 6.92, 6.94, 6.107, 6.117, 6.119,
6.120, 6.122, 6.127, 6.135, 6.140, 6.142, 6.144, 6.147, 6.149, 6.150, 6.152
Albazero, The See above Albacruz v Albazero (The Albazero)
Alfred McAlpine Construction Ltd v Panatown Ltd [2001] 1 AC 518 �������3.01, 3.28, 3.93, 6.72,
6.74, 6.75, 6.95, 6.115, 6.116, 6.117, 6.118, 6.119, 6.120, 6.121, 6.122,
6.123, 6.124, 6.125, 6.126, 6.127, 6.128, 6.142–6.149, 6.150,
6.151, 6.152, 6.153, 6.154, 6.155, 6.156, 6.158, 6.165
Alice’s case 37 HenVI, Mich f8, pl 18�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������1.05
Alucraft Pty Ltd v Grocon Ltd (No 2) (1996) 2 VR 386����������������������������������������������6.44, 6.141
Amsprop Trading Ltd v Harris Distribution Ltd [1997] 1 WLR 1025 ��������������������������4.41, 4.44
Andrew Weir & Co v Dobell & Co [1916] 1 KB 722��������������������������������������������������� 6.46, 6.64
Andrews v Hopkinson [1957] 1 QB 229�������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3.20
Andrews v The Patriotic Assurance Co of Ireland (1886) 18 LR Ir 355�����������������������������������4.11
Androma Pty Ltd, Re [1987] 2 Qd R 134�������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.62
Anning v Anning (1907) 4 CLR 1049�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.94
Application by Police Association of South Australia, Re (2008) 102 SASR 215������������3.39, 3.43
Aramis, The [1989] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 213���������������������������������������������������������� 4.51, 6.33, 6.71, 6.87
Argo Fund Ltd v Essar Steel Ltd [2006] EWCA Civ 241, [2006] 2 All ER
(Comm) 104, [2006] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 134 �������������������������������������������������������������������������3.57
Ashburn Anstalt v Arnold [1999] 1 Ch 1��������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 7.31
Ashby v Costin (1888) 21 QBD 401������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6.161
Associated Alloys Pty Ltd v ACN 001 452 106 Pty Ltd (2000) 202 CLR 588 �����������������������3.43
Atena Casualty and Surety Co v The Fireguard Corporation, 455
SA 2d 229 (1995) ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 9.58
Atkinson v The Newcastle and Gateshead Waterworks Co (1877) 2 Ex D 441����������������������� 9.51
Atlas Shipping Agency (UK) Ltd v Suisse Atlantique Société D’Armement
Maritime SA [1995] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 188 ���������������������������������������������������������������������������3.35
Austin v Zurich General Accident and Liability Insurance Co Ltd [1945]
1 KB 250�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4.17
Australian Broadcasting Commission v Australasian Performing Right
Association Ltd (1973) 129 CLR 99������������������������������������������������������������������������3.43, 3.45
Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust, Re (1991) 30 FCR 491 ��������������������������������������3.39, 3.43
Avraamides v Colwill [2006] EWCA Civ 1533, [2007] BLR 76���������������������������������������������8.31

xiii
Table of Cases

Bacon v Cooper (Metals) Ltd [1982] 1 All ER 397���������������������������������������������������������������� 6.36


Bahr v Nicolay [No 2] (1988) 164 CLR 604��������������������������������������� 3.36, 3.37, 3.38, 3.47, 3.87
Bailey v New South Wales Medical Defence Union Ltd (1995) 184 CLR 399�����������������������9.02
Baird v Baird [1990] 2 AC 548 ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������6.163
Ballance Agri-Nutrients (Kapuni) Ltd v The Gama Foundation [2006]
2 NZLR 319���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������9.37
Banco de Portugal v Waterlow & Sons Ltd [1932] AC 452��������������������������������������������������� 6.165
Banco del Estado v Navistar International Transport Corporation,
954 F Supp 1275 (1997)��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 9.51
Bank of Australasia v Annie Hertz (1937) 54 WN (NSW) 179 ���������������������������������������������3.72
Bank of Boston Connecticut v European Grain & Shipping Ltd,
The Dominique [1989] 1 AC 1056���������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.102
Bank of Liverpool & Martins Ltd v Holland (1926) 43 TLR 29���������������������������������������������3.70
Barbados Trust Co Ltd v Bank of Zambia [2006] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 723�������������������������������������3.82
Barbados Trust Co Ltd v Bank of Zambia [2007] EWCA Civ 148,
[2007] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 495������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3.33, 3.50, 3.55
Barber v Fox (1682) 2 Wms Saund 134���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 2.26
Barker v Stickney [1919] 1 KB 121 ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������6.24, 7.37
Barroora Pty Ltd v Provincial Insurance Ltd (1992) 26 NSWLR 170���������� 2.21, 2.43, 9.18, 9.26
Bateman v Hunt [1904] 2 KB 530�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.73
Baumwoll v Furness [1893] 1 AC 8����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 7.25
BBMB Finance (Hong Kong) Ltd v Eda Holdings Ltd [1990] 1 WLR 409�������������������������� 6.36
Bear Stearns Bank plc v Forum Global Equity Ltd [2007] EWHC
1576 (Comm)������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6.47, 6.55, 6.61
Bell Brothers Pty Ltd v Sarich [1971] WAR 157 ���������������������������������������������������������������������3.59
Bell Group (in liq) Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation (No 9) (2008)
225 FLR 1, [2008] WASC 239������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 9.12, 9.13
Bellgrove v Eldridge (1954) 90 CLR 613������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6.141
Bence Graphics International Ltd v Fasson UK Ltd [1998] QB 87������������� 6.54, 6.55, 6.56, 6.57,
6.58, 6.59, 6.60, 6.61, 6.63, 6.64, 6.66
Bennett v Tugwell [1971] 2 QB 267 ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������5.07
Bennett v White [1910] 2 KB 643����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3.101
Beswick v Beswick [1968] AC 58, [1966] Ch 538 (CA)�������������1.16, 2.02, 2.08, 2.10, 3.33, 4.38,
4.39, 4.40, 4.41, 4.42, 4.43, 4.44, 6.06–6.13, 6.29, 6.40, 6.41,
6.71, 6.152, 6.161, 6.162, 6.163, 8.09, 8.46, 9.02
Biggin & Co Ltd v Permanite Ltd [1951] 1 KB 422 ���������������������������������������������������������������6.55
Binions v Evans [1972] 1 Ch 359������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 6.24, 7.31
Birch v Thomas [1972] 1 WLR 294�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������5.07
Bird v Trustees Executors & Agency Co Ltd [1957] VR 619���������������������������������������������������3.46
Birmingham v Renfrew (1937) 57 CLR 666������������������������������������������������������������������2.09, 3.37
Blake v Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co of Canada (1980) 110 DLR (3d) 44 �������������������������� 6.06
Board of Education of Community School District No 220 v Village of
Hoffman Estates, 467 NE 2d 1064 (1984)����������������������������������������������������������������������9.60
Bohn v Miller Brothers Pty Ltd [1953] VLR 354������������������������������������������������������������������� 4.44
Booth v Commissioner of Taxation (1987) 164 CLR 159�������������������������������������������������������3.92
Borough of Brooklawn v Brooklawn Housing Corporation, 11 A 2d 83��������������������������������� 9.55
Bourne v Mason (1670) 1 Vent 6, 2 Keb 457, 527, 86 ER 5,
84 ER 287�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 1.09, 1.12, 1.13, 2.27
Bovis International Construction Inc v The Circle Partnership See L/M International
Construction Inc (now Bovis International Inc) v The Circle Ltd Partnership
Bowater v Rowley Regis Corporation [1944] KB 476�������������������������������������������������������������5.06
Bowskill v Dawson [1955] 1 QB 13�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.37
BP Exploration Operating Co Ltd v Chevron Shipping Co [2003] 1 AC 197������������������������� 7.25
Bradley v Eagle Star Insurance Co Ltd [1989] AC 957���������������������������������������������������������� 4.27
Brandeis Goldschmidt & Co Ltd v Western Transport Ltd [1981] QB 864 �������������������������� 6.36

xiv
Table of Cases

Brandt v Liverpool, Brazil and River Plate Steam Navigation Co Ltd


[1924] 1 KB 575���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4.51
Brennan v Brighton Borough Council, The Times, May 15, 1997 (CA)�������������������������������� 3.22
Brice v Bannister (1878) 3 QBD 569������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.95, 3.99
Bristol Alliance Ltd Partnership v Williams [2012] EWCA Civ 1267,
[2013] QB 806������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 4.15, 4.17, 4.18
British Union & National Insurance Co v Rawson [1916] 2 Ch 476���������������������������������������3.76
British Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co Ltd v Underground
Electric Railways Co of London Ltd [1912] AC 673 �������������������������������������6.45, 6.49, 6.66
Broadcast Australia Pty Ltd v Minister Assisting the Minister for Natural
Resources (Lands) (2004) 204 ALR 46���������������������������������������������������������������������������3.82
Broadway Maintenance Corporation v The State University of Rutgers,
447 A 2d 906 (1982) ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 9.54, 9.55
Broken Hill Proprietary Co Ltd v Hapag-Lloyd Aktiengesellschaft [1980]
2 NSWLR 572�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6.17, 6.20
Brookfield Multiplex Ltd v Owners Corporation Strata Plan 61288
[2014] HCA 36 ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.10
Broughton v Capital Quality Ltd [2008] EWHC 3457�����������������������������������������������������������8.33
Brown v Sheen & Richmond Car Sales Ltd [1950] 1 All ER 1102 ���������������������������������������� 3.20
Brown v The Bank of Australasia [1915] VLR 453�������������������������������������������������������������������3.73
Brown v The Corporation of the City of Belleville [2013] ONCA 148�����������������������������������5.40
Brown & Davis Ltd v Galbraith [1972] 1 WLR 997���������������������������������������������������������������3.18
Browne’s Policy, Re [1903] 1 Ch 188������������������������������������������������������������������������������4.05, 4.07
Bryan v Maloney (1995) 182 CLR 609�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.10
Burgess’ Policy, Re (1915) 113 LT 443�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.37
Burnett v British Waterways Board [1973] 1 WLR 700 ���������������������������������������������������������5.07
Burns Philp & Co Ltd v Gillespie Brothers Pty Ltd (1947) 74 CLR 148���������������������������������3.32
Burns Philp Trust Co Pty Ltd v Kwikasair Freightlines Ltd (1963)
80 WN (NSW) 801���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������6.17
Burns v Shuttlehurst Ltd [1999] 1 WLR 1449������������������������������������������������������������������������ 4.27
Burr v Beers (1861) 24 NY 178 �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������1.27
Byrnes v Kendle [2011] HCA 26, (2011) 243 CLR 253��������������������������������3.36, 3.38, 3.43, 3.45

C Czarnikow Ltd v Koufos [1969] 1 AC 350���������������������������������������������������������������������������6.55


Calabar Properties Ltd v Stitcher [1984] 1 WLR 287�������������������������������������������������������������6.39
CaltexOil (Australia) Pty Ltd v The Dredge ‘Willemstad’ (1976) 136 CLR 529���������������������3.09
Camdex International Ltd v Bank of Zambia [1998] QB 22���������������������������������������������������3.90
Cameron v Smith (1819) 2 B&Ald 305, 106 ER 378 �������������������������������������������������������������3.91
Campbell, Re [1997] Ch 14�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.75
Campbellville Gravel Supply Ltd v Cook Paving Co (1968) 70 DLR (2d) 354���������������������� 3.28
Canadian Brotherhood of Railway Transport and General Workers v BC Airlines and
Pacific Western Airlines Ltd (1970) 14 DLR (3d) 691�����������������������������������������������������7.28
Canadian General Electric Co Ltd v Pickford & Black Ltd [1971] SCR 41,
(1970) 14 DLR (3d) 372�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 2.09
Canadian National Railways v Norsk Pacific Hydro [1992] 1 SCR 1021 �������������������������������3.09
Caparo Industries plc v Dickman [1990] 2 AC 605���������������������������������������������� 3.04, 3.06, 3.07
Caplen’s Estate, Re (1876) 45 LJ Ch 280������������������������������������������������������������������������ 3.37, 3.46
Carberry v Gardiner (1936) SR (NSW) 559�������������������������������������������������������������������������� 2.09
Carden v CE Heath Casualty & General Insurance Ltd (1992) 7 ANZ
Insurance Cases 61–147���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������9.23
Carlton and United Breweries Ltd v Tooth & Co Ltd (1986) 7 IPR 581�������������������������������� 6.24
Carminco Gold & Resources Ltd v Findlay & Co Stockbrokers (Underwriters)
Pty Ltd (2007) 243 ALR 472��������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 2.29, 3.28
Carr-Glynn v Frearsons [1997] 2 All ER 614������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6.115
Cathels v Commissioner of Stamp Duties [1962] SR (NSW) 455�����������3.42, 6.161, 6.162, 6.163

xv
Table of Cases

Catlin Estates Ltd v Carter Jonas [2005] EWHC 2315 (TCC)�����������������������������������������������6.72


Cattle v Stockton Waterworks Co (1875) LR 10 QB 453 �������������������������������������������������������3.09
Cavendish Browne’s Settlement Trusts, Re (1916) Sol Jo 27���������������������������������������������������3.49
CE Health Casualty & General Insurance Ltd v Grey (1993)
32 NSWLR 25�������������������������������������������������������������������� 2.29, 9.18, 9.23, 9.24, 9.25, 9.26
Centre Reinsurance International Co v Freakley [2005] 2 All ER (Comm) 65���������������������� 4.27
Chabbra Corporation Pte Ltd v Jag Shakti (The Jag Shakti) [1986] AC 337���������������������������6.33
Chappell v Somers & Blake [2004] Ch 19��������������������������������������������������������������������� 6.26, 6.76
Charlton v Fisher [2002] QB 578 ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 4.15, 4.17
Charnock v Liverpool Corporation [1968] 1 WLR 1498���������������������������������������������������������3.18
Chia Kok Leong v Prosperland Pte Ltd [2005] 2 SLR 484����������������������������������������6.120, 6.143
China Pacific SA v Food Corporation of India (The Winson) [1982] AC 939����������������3.32, 6.32
Chinery v Viall (1860) 5 H&N 288, 157 ER 1192 ���������������������������������������������������������������� 6.36
Chipper v Octra Nominees Pty Ltd [2006] FCA 1633�����������������������������������������������������������3.43
Choate, Hall and Stewart v SCA Services Inc (1979) 392 NE (2d) 1045 �������������������������������1.27
Choil Trading SA v Sahara Energy Resources Ltd [2010] EWHC 374 (Comm)������������6.48, 6.55
Christie v Taunton, Delmard, Lane & Co [1893] 2 Ch 175 �������������������������������������������������3.102
Christina Mulchrone v Swiss Life (UK) plc [2005] EWHC 1808, [2006]
Lloyds Rep 1 R 339�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 8.30
Chubb Insurance Co of Australia Ltd v Moore [2013] NSWCA 212,
(2013) 302 ALR 101��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 9.02
City of London Corporation v Fell [1994] 1 AC 456���������������������������������������������������������������7.06
CLAAS Medical Centre Pte Ltd v Ng Boon Ching [2010] 2 SLR 386���������������� 8.37–8.38, 9.44
Clark v Macourt (2013) 304 ALR 220 ���������������������������������������������������������������� 6.46, 6.49, 6.66
Clark Equipment Credit of Australia Ltd v Kiyose Holdings Pty Ltd (1989)
21 NSWLR 160�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 2.29
Clark’s Refrigerated Transport Pty Ltd, Re [1982] VR 989�����������������������������������������������������3.81
Clarkson Booker Ltd v Andjel [1964] 2 QB 775�������������������������������������������������������������������� 3.28
Clay’s Policy of Assurance, Re [1937] 2 All ER 548��������������������������������������������������������3.37, 4.06
Cleaver v Mutual Reserve Fund Life Association [1891] 1 QB 147�������������������������������3.37, 3.46,
3.49, 4.08, 6.29
Clore v Theatrical Properties Ltd [1936] 3 All ER 483 �������������������������������������������������� 6.24, 7.31
CN Marine Inc v Stena Line [1982] 2 Lloyds Rep 336����������������������������������������������������������� 7.19
Cockell v Taylor (1851) 15 Beav 103, 51 ER 475�������������������������������������������������������������������3.100
Collier, Re [1930] 2 Ch 37�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4.07
Colonial Bank v Whinney (1885) 30 Ch D 261, aff’d (1886) 11 App Cas 426�����������������������3.54
Commercial Bank of Bluefield v St Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Co,
336 SE 2d 552 (1985)�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������9.57
Commissioner of Taxation v Park (2012) 294 ALR 1����������������������������������������������������3.37, 3.44
Commissioner of Taxation of the Commonwealth of Australia v The Myer
Emporium Ltd (1986) 163 CLR 199�������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.91
Commissioners of Inland Revenue v Raphael [1935] AC 96������������������������������������������3.43, 3.45
Commonwealth Bank of Australia v Baltica General Insurance Co Ltd
(1992) 28 NSWLR 579�������������������������������������������������������������� 6.162, 9.18, 9.19, 9.21, 9.22
Commonwealth Construction Co Ltd v Imperial Oil Ltd [1978]
1 SCR 317, 69 DLR (3d)�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������5.39
Compania Portorafti Commerciale SA v Ultramar Panama Inc (The Captain Gregos)
[1990] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 310������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 2.08
Compania Portorafti Commerciale SA v Ultramar Panama Inc
(The Captain Gregos No 2) [1990] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 395�����������������������������������������������������4.51
Concrete Constructions Pty Ltd v GIO of NSW [1966] 2 NSWR 609 ������������������������2.09, 4.42
Congleton Corporation v Pattison (1808) 10 East 130�����������������������������������������������������������7.06
Construction Engineering (Aust) Pty Ltd v Hexyl Pty Ltd (1985) 155 CLR 541 ������������������ 3.28
Cook’s Settlement Trusts, Re [1964] 3 All ER 898���������������������������������������������������������������� 2.07
Cook’s Settlement Trusts, Re [1965] 1 Ch 902�����������������������������������������������������������������������3.37

xvi
Table of Cases

Cooma Clothing Pty Ltd v Create Invest Develop Pty Ltd [2013] VSCA 106 �����������������������3.14
Cooper v Micklefield Coal and Lime Co (1912) 107 LT 457��������������������������������������������������3.79
Co-operative Bulk Handling Ltd v Jennings Industries Ltd (1996) 17 WAR 257�������������������2.21
Co-operative Group Ltd v Birse Developments Ltd [2014] EWHC 530 (TCC)������������3.39, 3.82
Co-operative Insurance Society Ltd v Argyll Stores (Holdings) Ltd [1998] AC 1������������������ 6.05
Corin v Patton (1990) 169 CLR 540���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.62
Cosgrove v Horsfall (1946) 175 LT 334��������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6.20
Cossill v Strangman (1963) 80 WN (NSW) 628 �������������������������������������������������������������������3.72
Coulls v Bagot’s Executor and Trustee Co Ltd (1967) 119 CLR 460���������� 1.16, 2.02, 2.09, 2.28,
2.32, 2.34–2.44, 2.47, 2.48, 3.49, 6.06, 6.28, 6.41, 6.163
Court Line Ltd v Aktiebologet Gotaverken (The ‘Halcyon the Great’) [1984]
1 Lloyd’s Rep 283������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.70
Cousins v Sun Life Assurance Society [1933] Ch 126�������������������������������������������4.05, 4.07, 4.08
Cousins Securities Pty Ltd v CEC Group Ltd [2007] QCA 192���������������������������������������������9.07
Crest Nicholson Residential (South) Ltd v McAllister [2004] 1 WLR 2409���������������������������3.17
Croker v New York Trust Co (1927) 156 NE 81�������������������������������������������������������������������� 6.06
Crow v Rogers (1724) 1 Strange 592, 93 ER 719��������������������������������������������������� 1.12, 1.13, 1.27
Crowden v Aldridge [1993] 1 WLR 433���������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.43
Crowe v Price (1889) 22 QBD 429�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.89
Cunningham v Harrison [1973] QB 942��������������������������������������������������������������������������������6.39
Curro v Beyond Productions Pty Ltd (1993) 30 NSWLR 337 �����������������������������������������������6.17
Customs and Excise Commissioners v Barclays Bank plc [2006] UKHL 28���������������� 3.04, 3.05

D & F Estates Ltd v Church Commissioners for England [1989] AC 177�������������������������������3.10


Daley, ex p National Australia Bank Ltd, Re (1992) 8 ACSR 395�������������������������������������������3.90
Dalton v Ellis [2005] NSWSC 1252, (2005) 65 NSWLR 134 ����������������������������� 2.21, 3.37, 4.44
Darlington Borough Council v Wiltshier Northern Ltd [1995] 1 WLR 68 �����������������2.10, 3.33,
3.93, 3.97, 6.77, 6.99, 6.104, 6.105, 6.107, 6.108,
6.109, 6.111, 6.112, 6.113, 6.114, 6.115, 6.118, 6.129,
6.135, 6.137, 6.138, 6.139, 6.142, 6.147, 6.149, 6.152
Davies, Re [1892] 1 Ch 90�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4.07
Davies, Re [1892] 3 Ch 63����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6.161
Davies, Re [1989] 1 Qd R 48���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������9.07
Davies v Collins [1945] 1 All ER 247 ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 3.60
Dawson v Great Northern and City Railway Co [1905] 1 KB 260������������������������������ 3.97, 6.103
De Cesare v Deluxe Motors Pty Ltd [1996] SASR 28�������������������������������������������������� 6.78, 6.141
De Jongh Weill v Mean Fiddler Holdings [2005] All ER (D) 331�������������������������������������������6.25
De Mattos v Gibson (1858) 4 De G & J 276, 45 ER 108 ����������������������������������� 6.22, 6.23, 6.24,
7.21, 7.25, 7.27, 7.36
Dean v Ainley [1987] 1 WLR 1729���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������6.109
Dear v Reeves [2002] Ch 1�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.76
Deckard v General Motors Corporation, 307 F 3d 556 (2002)�����������������������������������������������9.60
Deepak Fertilisers and Petrochemicals Corporation v ICI Chemicals & Polymers Ltd
[1999] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 387������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 6.20
Denney, Gasquet and Metcalfe v Conklin [1913] 3 KB 177���������������������������������������������������3.73
Deposit Protection Board v Barclays Bank plc [1994] 2 AC 367���������������������������������������������3.95
Deposit Protection Board v Dalia [1994] 2 AC 367�����������������������������������������������������������������3.95
Design Services Ltd v Canada (2006) 272 DLR (4th) 361, aff’d 293 DLR (4th) 437,
[2008] 1 SCR 737 �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������5.40
Devefi Pty Ltd v Mateffy Pearl Nagy Pty Ltd (1993) 113 ALR 225������������������������������� 3.80, 3.82
Dewar v Goodman [1909] AC 72�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������7.06
Diptford Parish Lands, Re [1934] Ch 151�������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.72
Director of War Service Homes v Harris [1968] Qd R 275������������������������������������������6.44, 6.141
Dixon v Royal Insurance Australia Ltd (1998) 90 FCR 390���������������������������������������������������9.02
Dixon v Winch [1900] 1 Ch 736������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3.101

xvii
Table of Cases

Dodson v Peter H Dodson Insurance Services [2001] 1 WLR 1012���������������������������������������4.17


Doherty v Allman (1878) 3 App Cas 709 �������������������������������������������������������������������������������6.17
Dolphin Maritime and Aviation Services Ltd v Sveriges Angfartygs Assurancs
Forening [2009] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 123�������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 8.34
Don King Productions Inc v Warren [2000] Ch 291, aff’d [2000] Ch 291��������������������3.33, 3.82
Donnelly v Joyce [1974] QB 454�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������6.143
Donoghue v Stevenson [1932] AC 562 ��������������������������������������3.03, 3.05, 5.02, 5.14, 5.30, 8.20
Dresser UK Ltd v Falcongate Freight Management [1992] 1 QB 502�������������������������������������5.33
Drewen v Bank of Manhattan Co of City of New York (1959) 155 A 2d 529������������������������ 6.06
Drimmie v Davies [1899] 1 Ir R 176������������������������������������������������������������2.03, 3.37, 6.04, 6.41
Drive Yourself Hire Co (London) Ltd v Strutt [1954] 1 QB 250����������������������������������� 2.02, 4.38
Dry Bulk Handy Holding Inc v Fayette International Holdings Ltd (The Bulk Chile)
[2013] 2 All ER (Comm) 295����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������6.163
Dunlop v Lambert (1839) 6 Cl & F 600, 7 ER 824 ��������������������������������������������6.70, 6.75, 6.90,
6.93, 6.94, 6.101, 6.106, 6.107, 6.108, 6.111, 6.112, 6.113,
6.118, 6.119, 6.120, 6.121, 6.122, 6.124, 6.125, 6.126,
6.127, 6.135, 6.136, 6.137, 6.142, 6.145, 6.146, 6.149,
6.152, 6.153, 6.154, 6.157
Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Co Ltd v Selfridge and Co Ltd [1915] AC 847��������������1.03, 1.25, 2.02,
2.03, 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.09, 2.26, 2.27, 2.45, 3.35, 5.12, 6.101
Durham Brothers v Robertson [1898] 1 QB 765��������������������������������������������������� 3.70, 3.71, 3.95
Dutton v Poole (1678) 2 Lev 210, 83 ER 523 ������������1.10, 1.11, 1.12, 1.14, 1.16, 1.22, 1.23, 1.27
Dyson v Forster [1909] AC 98����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4.43, 7.06

E Johnson & Co (Barbados) Ltd v NSR Ltd [1997] AC 400���������������������������������������������������4.35


Earl of Egmont v Smith (1877) 6 Ch D 469���������������������������������������������������������������������������3.59
East Ham v Bernard Sunley & Sons Ltd [1966] AC 406�������������������������������������������������������� 6.86
East West Corporation v DKBS AF 1912 A/S [2003] QB 1509 ������������������ 3.26, 4.51, 5.33, 6.32
Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England’s Conveyance, Re [1936] 1 Ch 430�����������������������4.38
Eden v Miller, 37 F 2d 8 (1930)���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6.28
Edgeworth Construction Ltd v N.D. Lea & Associates Ltd [1993] 3 SCR 206�����������������������5.38
Edmunds v Edmunds [1904] P 362�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.94
Effort Shipping Co Ltd v Linden Management SA (The Giannis NK) [1998] AC 605�����������4.54
Elder Dempster & Co Ltd v Paterson, Zochoins & Co Ltd [1924] AC 522,
[1923] 1 KB 420 (CA)������������������������������������������������ 5.10–5.11, 5.15, 5.17, 5.18, 5.20, 5.21,
5.22, 5.23, 5.24, 5.27, 5.30, 5.37, 5.48
Elder Dempster Lines v Zaki Ishag (The Lycaon) [1983] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 548�������������������������6.163
Elder Dempster Lines Ltd v Ionic Shipping Agency Inc [1968] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 529�����������������3.24
Electricity Supply Nominees Ltd v Thorn EMI Retail Ltd (1991) 63 P & CR 143��������������� 6.161
Ellis v Torrington [1920] 1 KB 399�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.90
Elliston v Reacher ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 7.14
Empress Engineering Co, Re (1880) 16 Ch D 125 ��������������������������������������������������������3.33, 3.37
Engelbach’s Estate, Re [1924] 2 Ch 348 ��������������������������������������������������������������3.37, 4.05, 6.161
Equuscorp Pty Ltd v Haxton (2012) 246 CLR 498�����������������������������������������������������������������3.90
Erskine Macdonald Ltd v Eyles [1921] 1 Ch 631��������������������������������������������������������������������� 7.19
Esanda Finance Corporation Ltd v Peat Marwick Hungerfords (1997) 188 CLR 241 �����������3.07
Eslea Holdings Ltd v Butts (1986) 6 NSWLR 175 �����������������������������������������������������������������3.43
Esso Petroleum Ltd v Hall Russell & Co [1989] 1 AC 643��������������������������������������������������� 6.165
European Asian Bank AG v Punjab and Sind Bank [1982] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 356 ���������������������� 6.20
Eurymedon, The See New Zealand Shipping Co Ltd v AM
Satterthwaite & Co Ltd (The Eurymedon)
Exall v Partridge (1799) 8 TR 308, 101 ER 1405 ����������������������������������������������������������������� 6.161

Falcke v Gray (1859) 4 Drewry 651����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 7.19


Family Food Court v Seah Boon Lock [2008] 4 SLR(R) 272�����������������������������������������������6.143

xviii
Table of Cases

Far Eastern Chartering Ltd v Great Eastern Shipping Co Ltd [2012]


EWCA Civ 180, [2012] 2 All ER (Comm) 707�������������������������������������������������������������� 8.36
Farrell v Federated Employers Insurance Association Ltd [1970] 1 WLR 1400�����������������������4.17
Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Everett (1980) 143 CLR 440�����������������������������������������3.91
Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Orica Ltd (1998) 194 CLR 500�������������������������������������6.41
Federated Coal v the King [1922] 2 KB 42����������������������������������������������������������������������������� 7.31
Federated Homes Ltd v Mill Lodge Properties Ltd [1980] 1 WLR 594�������������������3.15, 3.17, 7.11
Fergusson v Kerr (1848) 5 UCQB 261 ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 2.09
Field v Fitton [1988] 1 NZLR 482���������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 9.37, 9.41
Fightvision Pty Ltd v Onisforou (1999) 47 NSWLR 473�������������������������������������������������������3.57
Financial Services Compensation Scheme v Larnell (Insurances)
Ltd [2006] QB 808 �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 4.26
Firma C-Trade SA v Newcastle Protection and Indemnity Association
(The Fanti and the Padre Island) [1991] 2 AC 1�������������������������������������������������������������� 4.29
First National Bank of Chicago v The West of England Shipowners Mutual
Protection and Indemnity Association (Luxembourg) (The Evelpidis Era)
[1981] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 54���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.99
Fitzroy v Cave [1905] 2 KB 364����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.55
Flavell, Re (1883) 25 Ch D 89�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.33
Fleetwood’s Policy, Re [1926] Ch 48������������������������������������������������������������������������������4.05, 4.07
Fletcher v Fletcher (1844) 4 Hare 67, 67 ER 564��������������������������������� 3.33, 3.34, 3.37, 3.45, 3.50
Fletcher v Manton (1940) 64 CLR 37�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4.35
Florida Power & Light Co v Mid-Valley Inc, 763 F 2d 1316 (1985) ���������������������������������������9.58
Fluor Australia Pty Ltd v ASC Engineering Pty Ltd (2007) 19 VR 458���������������3.37, 3.43, 3.44
Forest View Nominees Pty Ltd v Perpetual Trustees [1998] 150 ALR 149 ����������������������������� 7.12
Formby v Barker ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 7.10
Formby Brothers v Formby (1910) 102 LT 116���������������������������������������������������������������������� 3.28
Forster v Elvet Colliery Co Ltd [1908] 1 KB 629 ��������������������������������������������������������� 4.43, 4.44
Forster v Silvermere Golf & Equestrian Centre Ltd (1981) 42 P & CR 255,
(1981) 125 SJ 397�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������6.10, 6.39, 6.42
Fortress Value Recovery Fund v Blue Skye Special Opportunities Fund [2013]
EWCA Civ 367, [2013] 1 WLR 1460 �����������������������������������������������������������������������������8.49
Foster, Re [1938] 3 All ER 357 ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.37, 4.44
Foster’s Policy, Re [1966] 1 WLR 222�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.37
Fournier Van & Storage Ltd v Fournier [1973] 38 DLR (3d) 161�������������������������������������������3.36
Fourth Ocean Putnam Corporation v Interstate Wrecking Co, 485 NE 2d 208 (1985)��������� 9.55
Fraser River Pile and Dredge Ltd v Can-Drive Services Ltd [1999] 3 SCR 108��������������2.07, 5.39
Fratelli Sorrentino v Buerger [1915] 1 KB 301, aff’d [1915] 3 KB 367����������������������������3.93, 6.45
Fred Drughorn Ltd v Rederiaktiebolaget Transatlantic [1919] AC 203���������������������������������� 3.28
Freeman and Lockyer (A Firm) v Buckhurst Park Properties (Mangal) Ltd
[1964] 2 QB 480 ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.27, 3.28
Freshwater v Western Australian Assurance Co Ltd [1933] 1 KB 515�������������������������������������4.17
Fry, Re [1946] 1 Ch 312 ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.70
Fuji Electronics and Machinery Enterprises v New Necca Shipping Corporation
[1982] 2 Ll L Rep 632 �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������5.12
FW Hempel & Co Inc v Metal World Inc (1983) 721 F 2d 610���������������������������������������������9.54

G & T Earle Ltd v Hemsworth RDC (1928) 44 TLR 758�����������������������������������������������������3.70


G H Renton & Co Ltd v Palmyra Trading Corporation of Panama [1957] AC 149���������������5.08
Gallagher v Murphy [1929] SCR 288������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 2.09
Gallagher v Rainbow (1994) 179 CLR 624�����������������������������������������������������������������������������3.85
Gandy v Gandy (1885) 30 Ch D 457�����������������������������������������������������������2.03, 3.33, 3.34, 3.50
Gartside v Sheffield Young & Ellis [1983] NZLR 37���������������������������������������������������������������9.34
Gasparini v Gasparini (1978) 87 DLR (3d) 282 �������������������������������������������������������������������� 6.06
Gatoil Anstalt v Omennial Ltd (The ‘Balder London’) [1980] 2 Lloyd’s Rep 489�������������������3.70

xix
Table of Cases

Gaudet v Brown (The Argos) (1873) LR 5 PC 134 �����������������������������������������������������������������3.32


GE Crane Sales Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (1971) 126 CLR 177���������������������������3.94
General Motors Acceptance Corporation Australia v RACQ Insurance Ltd
[2003] QSC 80 ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ 9.19, 9.20
George Fisher (Great Britain) Ltd v Multi Construction Ltd [1995] 1 BCLC 260�����������������6.25
George v Roach (1942) 67 CLR 253���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.57
Geroff v CAPD Enterprises Pty Ltd [2003] QCA 187 �������������������������������������������������� 3.74, 3.92
Gilbert Stokes & Kerr Prop Ltd v Dalgety & Co Ltd, 81 Ll L Rep 337 (1948)�����������������������5.27
Gilbert-Ash (Northern) Ltd v Modern Engineering (Bristol) Ltd [1974] AC 689�����������������3.102
Giles v Thompson [1994] 1 AC 142�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.90
GIO Australia Ltd v P Ward Civil Engineering Pty Ltd [2000] NSWSC 371 ����������������������� 9.19
Gladitz, Re [1937] Ch 588�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4.05
Glegg v Bromley [1912] 3 KB 474����������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.62, 3.90
Golden Straits Corporation v Nippon Yusen Kubishika Kaisha (The Golden
Victory) [2007] 2 AC 353���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������6.49, 6.66
Goldsmith v Macquarie Leasing Pty Ltd [2013] VSC 332 ���������������������������������������������������� 3.28
Gorczynski v W & FT Osmo Pty Ltd (2010) 77 NSWLR 62�������������������������������������������������9.02
Gordon, Re [1940] Ch 851 �����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.37
Gore v Van der Lann [1967] 2 QB 31 ��������������������������������������������������������������������������� 6.20, 6.21
Gorely, ex p (1864) 4 DeGJ&S 477, 46 ER 1003 �������������������������������������������������������������������4.11
Gorham v British Telecommunications plc [2000] 1 WLR 2129 �������������������������������������������3.07
Governors of the Peabody Donation Fund v Sir Lindsay Parkinson & Co Ltd
[1985] AC 210 ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3.04, 3.06
Graham v Johnson (1869) LR 8 Eq 36 ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.100
Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Ltd v Ryan [2002] HCA 54, (2002) 211 CLR 540������������������ 3.04
Grant v Australian Knitting Mills Ltd [1936] AC 85 �������������������������������������������������������������3.03
Grant v Edmondson [1931] 1 Ch 1�����������������������������������������������������������������������3.14, 4.43, 4.44
Green v CGU Insurance Ltd (2005) 215 ALR 612, [2005] NSWSC 254������������������������������ 2.29
Green v Russell [1959] 2 QB 226 ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 2.08, 3.37
Greenhalgh v Mallard [1943] 2 All ER 234����������������������������������������������������������������������������� 7.37
Greenwood Shopping Plaza Ltd v Beattie [1980] 2 SCR 228, (1980)
111 DLR (3d) 257 ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 2.09, 3.37, 3.46
Gregory and Parker v Williams (1817) 3 Mer 582, 36 ER 224������������������������������������ 3.33, 6.162
Grey v Australian Motorists & General Insurance Co Pty Ltd [1976]
1 NSWLR 669�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.63, 3.70, 3.73
Griffin v Weatherby (1868) LR 3 QB 753�������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.33
Griffith v Pelton [1958] Ch 205�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.76
Griffith v Tower Publishing Co Ltd [1897] 1 Ch 21���������������������������������������������������������������3.79
Griffiths Policy, Re [1903] 1 Ch 739������������������������������������������������������������������������������4.05, 4.07
Griffiths v Fleming [1909] 1 KB 805���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4.05
Guardian Assurance Co v Sutherland Ltd [1939] 2 All ER 246 ���������������������������������������������4.17
Gunner v Gunner [1949] P 77�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������4.07
Gurtner v Circuit [1968] 2 QB 587��������������������������������������������������������������������������������6.06, 6.14
GUS Property Management Ltd v Littlewoods Mail Order Stores Ltd
[1982] SLT 533��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 3.97, 6.44, 6.127
Gustafson v Koehler, 224 NW 699 (1929) �����������������������������������������������������������������������������6.02

Habibsons Bank Ltd v Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) Ltd [2011]
QB 943 ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.57
Hadley v Baxendale (1854) 9 Ex 341, 156 ER 145�������������������������������������� 6.46, 6.55, 6.56, 6.147
Hall v Busst (1960) 104 CLR 206�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.82
Halsall v Brizzell [1957] Ch 169 ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 7.14
Hamburg Star, The [1994] 1 Lloyd’s Rep 399������������������������������������������������������������������������ 3.26
Hamzeh Malas & Sons v British Imex Industries Ltd [1958] 2 QB 127���������������������������������3.24
Hanak v Green [1958] 2 QB 9�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������3.102

xx
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Rocketeers Have Shaggy Ears
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Title: The Rocketeers Have Shaggy Ears

Author: Keith Bennett

Illustrator: Al McWilliams

Release date: March 10, 2021 [eBook #64772]

Language: English

Credits: Greg Weeks, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed


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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE ROCKETEERS


HAVE SHAGGY EARS ***
THE ROCKETEERS HAVE
SHAGGY EARS
By KEITH BENNETT

Some day there will be a legend like this.


Some day, from steamy Venus or arid Mars,
the shaking, awe-struck words will come
whispering back to us, building the picture
of a glory so great that our throats will
choke with pride—pride in the Men of Terra!

[Transcriber's Note: This etext was produced from


Planet Stories Spring 1950.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that
the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]
The Commander's voice went droning on, but Hague's fatigued brain
registered it as mere sound with no words or meaning. He'd been
dazed since the crash. Like a cracked phonograph, his brain kept
playing back the ripping roar of jet chambers blowing out with a
sickening lurch that had thrown every man in the control room to the
floor. The lights had flickered out, and a sickening elevator glide
began as Patrol Rocket One smashed down through the Venusian
rainforest roof, and crashed in a clearing blasted by its own hurtling
passage.
Hague blinked hard and tried to focus his brain on what hard-faced
Commander Devlin was saying, something about the Base and
Odysseus, the mother ship.
"We've five hundred miles before we'll be in their vicinity, and every
yard of it we walk. Hunting parties will shoot food animals. All water
is to be boiled and treated with ultra-violet by my section. The
photographers will march with the science section, which will
continue classifying and writing reports. No actual specimens will be
taken. We can't afford the weight."
To Hague, the other five men seated around the little charting table
appeared cool, confidently ready to march through five hundred, or a
thousand miles of dark, unexplored, steaming Hell that is Venusian
rainforest. Their faces tightset, icily calm, they nodded in turn as the
Commander looked at each one of them; but Hague wondered if his
own face wasn't betraying the fear lurking within him. Suddenly
Commander Devlin grinned, and pulled a brandy bottle from his
pocket, uncorking it as he spoke: "Well, Rocketeers, a short life and a
merry one. I never did give a damn for riding in these tin cans." The
tension broke, they were all smiling, and saying they'd walk into the
base camp with some kind of a Venusian female under each arm for
the edification of Officers' Mess.
Leaden doubt of his own untried abilities and nerve lay icy in Hague's
innards, and he left after one drink. The others streamed from the
brightly lighted hatch a moment later. The Commander made a short
speech to the entire party. Then Navigator Clark, a smiling, wiry little
man, marched out of the clearing with his advance guard. Their
voices muffled suddenly as they vanished down a forest corridor that
lay gloomy between giant tree holes.
Commander Devlin slapped Hague cheerfully on the shoulder as he
moved past; and the second section, spruce and trim in blue-black
uniforms, with silver piping, followed him. Crewmen Didrickson and
Davis followed with rifles and sagging bandoliers of explosive bullets
crossing their chests; and then Arndt, the lean craggy geologist, his
arm in a sling, and marching beside him was rotund, begoggled
Gault, the botanist. The little whippet tank clattered by next with
Technician Whittaker grinning down at Hague from the turret.
"It pains me somethin' awful to see you walkin' when I'm ridin',"
Whittaker piped over the whippet's clanking growl.
Hague grinned back, then pinched his nose between two fingers in
the ageless dumb show of disgust, pointed at the tank, and shook his
head sadly. The two carts the whippet towed swayed by, and the rest
of the column followed; Bachmann, the doctor and Sewell, his beefy
crotchety assistant. The two photographers staggered past under
high-piled equipment packs, and Hague wondered how long they
would keep all of it. Lenkranz, Johnston, Harker, Szachek, Hirooka,
Ellis—each carried a pack full of equipment. The rest filed by until
finally Swenson, the big Swede technician, passed and the clearing
was empty.
Hague turned to look over his own party. In his mind's eye bobbed
the neatly typed "Equipment, march-order, light field artillery" lists
he'd memorized along with what seemed a thousand other neatly
typed lists at Gunnery School.
The list faded, and Hague watched his five-man gun-section lounge
against their rifles, leaning slightly forward to ease the heavy
webbing that supported their marching packs and the sectioned
pneumatic gun.
"All right," Hague said brusquely. He dredged his brain desperately
then for an encouraging speech, something that would show the
crew he liked them, something the Commander might say, but he
couldn't think of anything that sounded witty or rang with stirring
words. He finally muttered a disgusted curse at his own blank-
headedness, and said harshly, "All right, let's go."
The six men filed silently out of the clearing battered in the forest by
Patrol Rocket One, and into damp gloom between gargantuan trunks
that rose smoothly out of sight into darkness. Behind them a little rat-
like animal scurried into the deserted slot of blasted trees, its beady
black eyes studying curiously the silver ship that lay smashed and
half-buried in the forest floor.

Base Commander Chapman shuffled hopelessly through the thick


sheaf of onion-skin papers, and sank back sighing. Ammunition
reports, supply reports, medical reports, strength reports,
reconnaissance reports, radio logs, radar logs, sonar logs, bulging
dossiers of reports, files full of them, were there; and elsewhere in
the ship efficient clerks were rapping out fresh, crisp battalions of
new reports, neatly typed in triplicate on onion-skin paper.
He stared across his crowded desk at the quiet executive officer.
"Yes, Blake, it's a good picture of local conditions, but it isn't
exploration. Until the Patrol Rocket gets in, we can send only this
local stuff, and it just isn't enough."
Blake shrugged.
"It's all we've got. We can send parties out on foot from the base
here, even if we do lose men, but the dope they'd get would still be
on a localized area."
The Commander left his desk, and stared through a viewport at the
plateau, and beyond that at the jungled belt fringing an endless
expanse of rainforest lying sullenly quiet under the roof of racing grey
clouds.
"The point is we've got to have more extensive material than this
when we fire our robot-courier back to earth. This wonderful
mountain of papers—what do they do, what do they tell? They
describe beautifully the physical condition of this Base and its
complement. They describe very well a ten mile area around the Base
—but beyond that area they tell nothing. It's wonderful as far as it
goes, but it only goes ten miles, and that isn't enough."
Blake eyed the snowy pile of papers abstractedly. Then he jumped up
nervously as another bundle shot into a receiving tray from the
pneumatic message tube. He began pacing the floor.
"Well, what can we do? Suppose we send the stuff we have here, get
it microfilmed and get it off—what then?"
The Commander swore bitterly, and turned to face his executive.
"What then?" he demanded savagely. "Are we going into that again?
Why, the minute every other branch of the services realize that we
haven't got any kind of thorough preliminary report on this section of
Venus, they'll start pounding the war drums. The battleship admirals
and the bayonet generals will get to work and stir up enough public
opinion to have the United States Rocket Service absorbed by other
branches—the old, old game of military politics."
Blake nodded jerkily. "Yes, I know. We'd get the leftovers after the
battleships had been built, or new infantry regiments activated, or
something else. Anyway we wouldn't get enough money to carry on
rocket research for space explorations."
"Exactly," the Commander cut in harshly. "These rockets would be
grounded on earth. The generals or admirals would swear that the
international situation demanded that they be kept there as weapons
of defense; and that would be the end of our work."
"We've got to send back a good, thorough report, something to prove
that the Rocket Service can do the job, and that it is worth the doing.
And, until the patrol rocket gets back, we can't do it."
"Okay, Commander," Blake called as he went through the steel
passage opening onto the mother ship's upper corridor, "I'll be
holding the Courier Rocket until we get word."

Seven hours later it lightened a little, and day had come. Hague and
the Sergeant had pulled the early morning guard shift, and began
rolling the other four from their tiny individual tents.
Bormann staggered erect, yawned lustily, and swore that this was
worse than spring maneuvers in Carolina.
"Shake it," Brian snarled savagely. "That whistle will blow in a
minute."
When it did sound, they buckled each other into pack harness and
swung off smartly, but groaning and muttering as the mud dragged
at their heavy boots.
At midday, four hours later, there was no halt, and they marched
steadily forward through steaming veils of oppressive heat, eating
compressed ration as they walked. They splashed through a tiny
creek that was solidly slimed, and hurried ahead when crawling
things wriggled in the green mass. Perspiration ran in streams from
each face filing past on the trail, soaked through pack harness and
packs; and wiry Hurd began to complain that his pack straps had cut
through his shoulders as far as his navel. They stopped for a five
minute break at 1400, when Hurd stopped fussing with his back
straps and signalled for silence, though the other five had been too
wrapped in their own discomfort to be talking.
"Listen! Do you hear it, Lieutenant? Like a horn?" Hurd's wizened rat
face knotted in concentration. "Way off, like."
Hague listened blankly a moment, attempted an expression he fondly
hoped was at once intelligent and reassuring, then said, "I don't hear
anything. You may have taken too much fever dope, and it's causing
a ringing in your ears."
"Naw," with heavy disgust. "Listen! There it goes again!"
"I heard it." That was Sergeant Brian's voice, hard and incisive, and
Hague wished he sounded like that, or that he would have heard the
sound before his second in command. All of the six were hunched
forward, listening raptly, when the Lieutenant stood up.
"Yes, Hurd. Now I hear it."
The whistle blew then, and they moved forward. Hague noticed the
Sergeant had taken a post at the rear of the little file, and watched
their back trail warily as they marched.
"What do you think it was, sir?" Bucci inquired in the piping voice that
sounded strange coming from his deep chest.
"The Lord knows," Hague answered, and wondered how many times
he'd be using that phrase in the days to come. "Might have been
some animal. They hadn't found any traces of intelligent life when we
left the Base Camp."

But in the days that followed there was a new air of expectancy in
the marchers, as if their suspicions had solidified into a waiting for
attack. They'd been moving forward for several days.
Hague saw the pack before any of his men did, and thanked his
guiding star that for once he had been a little more alert than his
gun-section members.
The canvas carrier had been set neatly against one of the buttressing
roots of a giant tree bole and, from the collecting bottles strapped in
efficient rows outside, Hague deduced that it belonged to Bernstein,
the entomologist. The gunnery officer halted and peered back into
the gloom off the trail, called Bernstein's name; and when there was
no reply moved cautiously into the hushed shadows with his carbine
ready. He sensed that Sergeant Brian was catfooting behind him.
Then he saw the ghostly white bundle suspended six feet above the
forest floor, and moved closer, calling Bernstein's name softly. The
dim bundle vibrated gently, and Hague saw that it hung from a giant
white lattice radiating wheel-like from the green gloom above. He
raised his hand to touch the cocoon thing, noted it was shaped like a
man well-wrapped in some woolly material; and on a sudden hunch
pulled his belt knife and cut the fibers from what would be the head.
It was Bernstein suspended there, his snug, silken shroud bobbing
gently in the dimness. His dark face was pallid in the gloom, sunken
and flaccid of feature, as though the juices had been sucked from his
corpse, leaving it a limp mummy.
The lattice's thick white strands vibrated—something moved across it
overhead, and Hague flashed his lightpak up into the darkness.
Crouched twenty feet above him, two giant legs delicately testing the
strands of its lattice like web, Hague saw the spider, its bulbous
furred body fully four feet across, the monster's myriad eyes glittering
fire-like in the glow of Hague's lightpak, as it gathered the great legs
slightly in the manner of a tarantula ready to leap.
It gathered the great legs slightly ... ready to leap.

Brian's sharp yell broke Hague from his frozen trance. He threw
himself down as Brian's rifle crashed, and the giant arachnid was
bathed in a blue-white flash of explosive light, its body tumbling
down across the web onto Hague where he lay in the mud. The
officer's hoarse yells rang insanely while he pulled himself clear of the
dead spider-beast, but he forced himself to quiet at the sound of the
Sergeant's cool voice.
"All clear, Lieutenant. It's dead."
"Okay, Brian. I'll be all right now." Hague's voice shook, and he
cursed the weakness of his fear, forcing himself to walk calmly
without a glance over his shoulder until they were back on the trail.
He led the other four gunners back to the spider and Bernstein's
body, as a grim object lesson, warned them to leave the trail only in
pairs. They returned their weary footslogging pace down the muddy
creek marked by Clark's crew. When miles had sweated by at the
same steady pace, Hague could still feel in the men's stiff silence
their horror of the thing Brian had killed.

Hours, and then days, rolled past, drudging nightmares through


which they plowed in mud and steamy heat, with punctually once
every sixteen hours a breathtaking, pounding torrent of rain. Giant
drops turned the air into an aqueous mixture that was almost
unbreathable, and smashed against their faces until the skin was
numb. When the rain stopped abruptly the heat came back and water
vapor rose steaming from the mud they walked through; but always
they walked, shoving one aching foot ahead of the other through
sucking black glue. Sometimes Bormann's harmonica would wheedle
reedy airs, and they would sing and talk for a time, but mostly they
swung forward in silence, faces drawn with fatigue and pale in the
forest half light. Hague looked down at his hands, swollen, bloody
with insect bites, and painfully stiff; and wondered if he'd be able to
bend them round his ration pan at the evening halt.
Hague was somnambulating at the rear of his little column, listening
to an ardent account from Bormann of what his girl might expect
when he saw her again. Bucci, slowing occasionally to ease the
pneumatic gun's barrel assembly across his shoulder, chimed in with
an ecstatic description of his little Wilma. The two had been married
just before the Expedition blasted Venusward out of an Arizona
desert. Crosse was at the front end, and his voice came back nasally.
"Hey, Lieutenant, there's somebody sitting beside the trail."
"Okay. Halt." The Lieutenant swore tiredly and trotted up to Crosse's
side. "Where?"
"There. Against the big root."
Hague moved forward, carbine at ready, and knew without looking
that Sergeant Brian was at his shoulder, cool and self-sufficient as
always.
"Who's there?" the officer croaked.
"It's me, Bachmann."
Hague motioned his party forward, and they gathered in a small
circle about the Doctor, seated calmly beside the trail, with his back
against a root flange.
"What's the matter, Doc? Did you want to see us?"
"No. Sewell seems to think you're all healthy. Too bad the main party
isn't as well off. Quite a bit of trouble with fever. And, Bernstein gone
of course."
Hague nodded, and remembered he'd reported Bernstein's death to
the Commander three nights before.
"How's the Commander?" he inquired.
The Doctor's cherubic face darkened. "Not good. He's not a young
man, and this heat and walking are wrecking his heart. And he won't
ride the tank."
"Well, let's go, Doc." It was Brian's voice, cutting like a knife into
Hague's consciousness. The Doctor looked tired, and drawn.
"Go ahead, lads. I'm just going to sit here for a while." He looked up
and smiled weakly at the astonished faces, but his eyes were bleakly
determined.
"This is as far as I go. Snake bite. We've no anti-venom that seems to
work. All they can do is to amputate, and we can't afford another sick
man." He pulled a nylon wrapper from one leg that sprawled at an
awkward angle beneath him. The bared flesh was black, swollen, and
had a gangrenous smell. Young Crosse turned away, and Hague
heard his retching.
"What did the Commander say?"
"He agreed this was best. I am going to die anyway."
"Will—will you be all right here? Don't you want us to wait with you?"
The Doctor's smile was weaker, and he mopped at the rivulets of
perspiration streaking his mud-spattered face.
"No. I have an X-lethal dosage and a hypodermic. I'll be fine here.
Sewell knows what to do." His round face contorted, "Now, for God's
sake, get on, and let me take that tablet. The pain is driving me
crazy."
Hague gave a curt order, and they got under way. A little further on
the trail, he turned to wave at Doctor Bachmann, but the little man
was already invisible in forest shadows.

The tenth day after the crash of Patrol Rocket One, unofficially known
as the Ration Can, glimpses of skylight opened over the trail Clark's
crew were marking; and Hague and his men found themselves
suddenly in an opening where low, thick vines, and luxuriant, thick-
leaved shrubs struggled viciously for life. Balistierri, the zoologist,
slight wisp of a dark man always and almost a shadow now, stood
wearily beside the trail waiting as they drew up. Their shade-blinded
eyes picked out details in the open ground dimly. Hague groaned
inwardly when he saw that this was a mere slit in the forest, and the
great trees loomed again a hundred yards ahead. Balistierri seized
Hague by the shoulder and pointed into the thick mat of green,
smiling.
"Watch, all of you."
He blew a shrill blast on his whistle and waited, while Hague's
gunners wondered and watched. There was a wild, silvery call, a
threshing of wings, and two huge birds rose into the gold tinted air.
They flapped up, locked their wings, and glided, soared, and wheeled
over the earth-stained knot of men—two great white birds, with
crests of fire-gold, plumage snowy save where it was dusted with
rosy overtones. Their call was bell-like as they floated across the
clearing in a golden haze of sunlight filtered through clouds.
"They're—they're like angels." It was Bormann, the tough young
sentimentalist.
"You've named them, soldier," Balistierri grinned. "I've been trying for
a name; and that's the best I've heard. Bormann's angels they'll be.
In Latin, of course."
Unfolding vistas of eternal zoological glory left Bormann speechless
and red-faced. Sergeant Brian broke in.
"I guess they would have made those horn sounds. Right,
Lieutenant?" His voice, dry and a little patronizing, suggested that
this was a poor waste of valuable marching time.
"I wouldn't know, Sergeant," Hague answered, trying to keep dislike
out of his voice, but the momentary thrill was broken and, with
Balistierri beside him, Gunnery Officer Hague struck out on the trail
that had been blasted and hacked through the clearing's wanton
extravagance of greedy plant life.
As they crossed the clearing, Bucci tripped and sprawled full length in
the mud. When he tried to get up, the vine over which he'd stumbled
clutched with a woody tendril that wound snakelike tightly about his
ankle; and, white-faced, the rest of the men chopped him free of the
serpentine thing with belt knives, bandaged the thorn wounds in his
leg, and went on.
The clearing had one more secret to divulge, however. A movement
in the forest edge caught Brian's eye and he motioned to Hague, who
followed him questioningly as the Sergeant led him off trail. Brian
pointed silently and Hague saw Didrickson, Sergeant in charge of
Supplies, seated in the lemon-colored sunlight at the forest edge, an
open food pack between his knees, from which he snatched things
and swallowed them voraciously, feeding like a wild dog.
"Didrickson! Sergeant Didrickson!" the Lieutenant yelled. "What are
you doing?"
The supply man stared back, and Hague knew from the man's face
what had happened. He crouched warily, eyes wild with panic and
jaw hanging foolishly slack. This was Didrickson, the steady, efficient
man who'd sat at the chart table the night they began this march. He
had been the only man Devlin thought competent and nerveless
enough to handle the food. This was the same Didrickson, and
madder now than a March hare, Hague concluded grimly. The
enlisted man snatched up the food pack, staring at them in wild fear,
and began to run back down the trail, back the way they'd come.
"Come back, Didrickson. We've got to have that food, you fool!"
The madman laughed crazily at the sound of the officer's voice,
glanced back for a moment, then spun and ran.
Sergeant Brian, as always, was ready. His rifle cracked, and the
explosive missile blew the running man nearly in half. Sergeant Brian
silently retrieved the food pack and brought it back to Hague.
"Do you want it here, Lieutenant, or shall I take it up to the main
party?"
"We'll keep it here, Sergeant. Sewell can take it back tonight after our
medical check." Hague's voice shook, and he wished savagely that he
could have had the nerve to pass that swift death sentence.
Didrickson's crime was dangerous to every member of the party, and
the Sergeant had been right to shoot. But when the time came—
when perhaps the Sergeant wasn't with him—would he, Hague, react
swiftly and coolly as an officer should, he wondered despairingly?
"All right, lads, let's pull," he said, and the tight-lipped gun crew filed
again into the hushed, somber forest corridors.
II

Communications Technician Harker took a deep pull at his mug of


steaming coffee, blinked his eyes hard at the swimming dials before
him, and lit a cigarette. Odysseus warning center was never quiet,
even now in the graveyard watch when all other lights were turned
low through the great ship's hull. Here in the neat grey room,
murmuring, softly-clicking signal equipment was banked against
every wall in a gleaming array of dials and meters, heavy power
leads, black panels, and intricate sheafs of colored wire. The sonar
kept up a sleepy drone, and radar scopes glowed fitfully with
interference patterns, and the warning buzzer beeped softly as the
radar echoed back to its receivers the rumor of strange planetary
forces that radar hadn't been built to filter through. What made the
interference, base technicians couldn't tell, but it practically paralyzed
radio communication on all bands, and blanketed out even radar
warnings.
The cigarette burned his finger tips, and Harker jerked awake and
tried to concentrate on the letter he was writing home. It would be
microfilmed, and go on the next courier rocket. A movement at the
Warnings Room door, brought Harker's head up, and he saw
Commander Chapman, lean and grey, standing there.
"Good evening, sir. Come on in. I've got coffee on." The
Communications Technician took a pot from the glow heater at his
elbow, and set out another cup.
The Commander smiled tiredly, pulled out a stubby metal stool, and
sat across the low table from Harker, sipping the scalding coffee
cautiously. He looked up after a moment.
"What's the good word, Harker? Picked up anything?"
Harker ran his fingers through his mop of black hair, and grimaced.
"Not a squeak, sir. No radio, no radar. Of course, the interference may
be blanketing those. Creates a lot of false signals, too, on the radar
screens. But we can't even pick 'em up with long-range sonar. That
should get through. We're pretty sure they crashed, all right."
"How about our signals, Harker? Do you think we're getting through
to them?"
Harker leaned back expansively, happy to expound his specialty.
"Well, we've been sending radio signals every hour on the hour, and
radio voice messages every hour on the half hour. We're sending a
continuous sonar beam for their direction-finder. That's about all we
can do. As for their picking it up, assuming the rocket has crashed
and been totally knocked out, they still have a radio in the whippet
tank. It's a transreceiver. And they have a portable sonar set, one of
those little twenty-pound armored detection units. They'll use it as a
direction finder."
Chapman swirled the coffee around in the bottom of his cup and
stared thoughtfully into it.
"If they can get sonar, why can't we send them messages down the
sonar beam? You know, flick it on and off in Morse code?"
"It won't work with a small detector like they have, sir. With our big
set here, we could send them a message, but that outfit they have
might burn out. It has a limited sealed motor supply that must break
down an initial current resistance on the grids before the rectifiers
can convert it to audible sound. With the set operating continuously,
power drainage is small, but begin changing your signal beam and
the power has to break down the grid resistance several hundred
times for every short signal sent. It would burn out their set in a
matter of hours.
"It works like a slide trombone, sort of. Run your slide way out, and
you get a slowly vibrating column of air, and that is heard as a low
note, only on sonar it would be a short note. Run your slide way up,
and the vibrations are progessively faster and higher in pitch. The
sonar set, at peak, is vibrating so rapidly that it's almost static, and
the power flow is actually continuous. But, starting and stopping the
set continuously, the vibrators never have a chance to reach a normal
peak, and the power flow is broken at each vibration in the receiver—
and a few hours later your sonar receptor is a hunk of junk."
"All right, Harker. Your discussion is vague, but I get the general idea
that my suggestion wasn't too hot. Well, have whoever is on duty call
me if any signals come through." The Commander set down his cup,
said goodnight, and moved off down the hushed corridor. Harker
returned to his letter and a chewed stub of pencil, while he scowled
in a fevered agony of composition. It was a letter to his girl, and it
had to be good.

Night had begun to fall over the forest roof, and stole thickening
down the muddy cathedral aisles of great trees, and Hague listened
hopefully for the halt signal from the whippet tank, which should
come soon. He was worried about Bucci who was laughing and
talking volubly, and the officer decided he must have a touch of fever.
The dark, muscular gunner kept talking about his young wife in what
was almost a babble. Once he staggered and nearly fell, until Hurd
took the pneumatic gun barrel assembly and carried it on his own
shoulders. They were all listening expectantly for the tank's klaxon,
when a brassy scream ripped the evening to echoing shreds and a
flurry of shots broke out ahead.
The scream came again, metallic and shrill as a locomotive gone
amok; yells, explosive-bullet reports, and the sound of hammering
blows drifted back.
"Take over, Brian," Hague snapped. "Crosse, Hurd—let's go!"
The three men ran at a stagger through the dragging mud around a
turn in the trail, and dropped the pneumatic gun swiftly into place,
Hurd at firing position, Crosse on the charger, and Hague prone in
the slime snapping an ammunition belt into the loader.
Two emergency flares some one had thrown lit the trail ahead in a
garish photographic fantasy of bright, white light and ink-black
shadow, a scene out of Inferno. A cart lay on its side, men were
running clear, the whippet tank lay squirming on its side, and above it
towered the screaming thing. A lizard, or dinosaur, rearing up thirty
feet, scaly grey, a man clutched in its two hand-like claws, while its
armored tail smashed and smashed at the tank with pile-driver blows.
Explosive bullets cracked around the thing's chest in blue-white flares
of light, but it continued to rip at the man twisting pygmy-like in its
claws—white teeth glinting like sabers as its blindly malevolent
screams went on.
"On target," Hurd's voice came strained and low.
"Charge on," from Crosse.
"Let her go!" Hague yelled, and fed APX cartridges as the gun
coughed a burst of armor-piercing, explosive shells into the rearing
beast. Hague saw the tank turret swing up as Whittaker tried to get
his gun in action, but a slashing slap of the monster's tail spun it back
brokenly. The cluster of pneumatic shells hit then and burst within
that body, and the great grey-skinned trunk was hurled off the trail,
the head slapping against a tree trunk on the other side as the reptile
was halved.
"Good shooting, Crosse," Hague grunted. "Get back with Brian. Keep
the gun ready. That thing might have a mate." He ran toward the
main party, and into the glare of the two flares.
"Where's Devlin?"
Clark, the navigation officer, was standing with a small huddle of men
near the smashed supply cart.
"Here, Hague," he called. His eyes were sunken, his face older in the
days since Hague had last seen him. "Devlin's dead, smashed
between the cart and a tree trunk. We've lost two men, Commander
Devlin and Ellis, the soils man. He's the one it was eating." He
grimaced.
"That leaves twenty-three of us?" Hague inquired, and tried to sound
casual.
"That's right. You'll continue to cover the rear. Those horn sounds you
reported had Devlin worried about an attack from your direction. I'll
be with the tank."
Sergeant Brian was stoically heating ration stew over the cook unit
when Hague returned, while the crew sat in a close circle, alternately
eying nervously the forest at their backs, and the savory steam that
rose from Brian's mixture. There wasn't much for each of them, but it
was hot and highly nutritious, and after a cigarette and coffee they
would feel comfort for a while.
Crosse, seated on the grey metal charger tube he'd carried all day,
fingered the helmet in his lap, and looked inquiringly at the
Lieutenant.
"Well, sir, anybody hurt? Was the tank smashed?"
Hague squatted in the circle, sniffed the stew with loud enthusiasm,
and looked about the circle.
"Commander Devlin's dead, and Ellis. One supply cart smashed, but
the tank'll be all right. The lizard charged the tank. Balistierri thinks it
was the lizard's mating season, and he figured the tank was another
male and he tried to fight it. Then he stayed—to—lunch and we got
him. Lieutenant Clark is in command now."
The orange glow of Brian's cook unit painted queer shadows on the
strained faces around him, and Hague tried to brighten them up.
"Will you favor us with one of your inimitable harmonica
arrangements, Maestro Bormann?"
"I can't right now. I'm bandaging Helen's wing." He held out
something in the palm of his hand, and the heater's glow glittered on
liquid black eyes. "She's like a little bird, but without her feathers.
See?" He placed the warm lump in Hague's hand. "For wings, she's
just got skin, like a bat, except she's built like a bird."
"You ought to show this to Balistierri, and maybe he'll name this for
you too."
Bormann's homely face creased into a grin. "I did, sir. At the noon
halt when I found it. It's named after my girl. 'Bormann's Helen', only
in Latin. Helen's got a broken wing."
As they ate, they heard the horn note again. Bucci's black eyes were
feverishly bright, his skin hot and dry, and the vine scratches on his
leg badly inflamed; and when the rest began to sing he was quiet.
The reedy song of Bormann's harmonica piped down the quiet forest
passages, and echoed back from the great trees; and somewhere, as
Hague dozed off in his little tent, he heard the horn note again,
sandwiched into mouth organ melody.
Two days of slogging through the slimy green mud, and at a noon
halt Sewell brought back word to be careful, that a man had failed to
report at roll call that morning. The gun crew divided Bucci's
equipment between them, and he limped in the middle of the file on
crutches fashioned from ration cart wreckage. Crosse, who'd been
glancing off continually, like a wizened, curious rat, flung up his arm
in a silent signal to halt, and Hague moved in to investigate, the ever
present Brian moving carefully and with jungle beast's silent poise
just behind him. Crumpled like a sack of damp laundry, in the murk of
two root buttresses, lay Romano, one of the two photographers. His
Hasselblad camera lay beneath his body crushing a small plant he
must have been photographing.
From the back of Romano's neck protruded a gleaming nine-inch
arrow shaft, a lovely thing of gleaming bronze-like metal, delicately
thin of shaft and with fragile hammered bronze vanes. Brian moved
up behind Hague, bent over the body and cut the arrow free.
They examined the thing, and when Brian spoke Hague was
surprised that this time even the rock-steady Sergeant spoke in a
hushed voice, the kind boys use when they walk by a graveyard at
night and don't wish to attract unwelcome attention.
"Looks like it came from a blowgun, Lieutenant. See the plug at the
back. It must be poisoned; it's not big enough to kill him otherwise."
Hague grunted assent, and the two moved back trailward.
"Brian, take over. Crosse, come on. We'll report this to Clark.
Remember, from now on wear your body armor and go in pairs when
you leave the trail. Get Bucci's plates on to him."
Bormann and Hurd set down their loads, and were buckling the
weakly protesting Bucci into his chest and back plates, as Hague left
them.

Commander Chapman stared at the circle of faces. His section


commanders lounged about his tiny square office. "Well, then, what
are their chances?"
Bjornson, executive for the technical section, stared at Chapman
levelly.
"I can vouch for Devlin. He's not precisely a rule-book officer, but
that's why I recommended him for this expedition. He's at his best in
an unusual situation, one where he has to depend on his own wits.
He'll bring them through."
Artilleryman Branch spoke in turn. "I don't know about Hague. He's
young, untried. Seemed a little unsure. He might grow panicky and
be useless. I sent him because there was no one else, unless I went
myself."
The Commander cleared his throat brusquely. "I know you wanted to
go, Branch, but we can't send out our executive officers. Not yet,
anyway. What about Clark? Could he take over Devlin's job?"
"Clark can handle it," Captain Rindell of the Science Section, was
saying. "He likes to follow the rule-book, but he's sturdy stuff. He'll
bring them through if something happens to Devlin."
"Hmmmm—that leaves Hague as the one questionable link in their
chain of command. Young man, untried. Of course, he's only the
junior officer. There's no use stewing over this; but I'll tell you frankly,
that if those men can't get their records through to us before we
send the next courier rocket to earth, I think the U.S. Rocket Service
is finished. This attempt will be chalked up as a failure. The project
will be abandoned entirely, and we'll be ordered back to Earth to
serve as a fighter arm there."
Bjornson peered from the space-port window and looked out over the
cinder-packed parade a hundred feet below. "What makes you so
sure the Rocket Service is in immediate danger of being scrapped?"
"The last courier rocket contained a confidential memo from
Secretary Dougherty. There is considerable war talk, and the other
Service Arms are plunging for larger armaments. They want their
appropriations of money and stock pile materials expanded at our
expense. We've got to show that we are doing a good job, show the
Government a concrete return in the form of adequate reports on the
surface of Venus, and its soils and raw materials."
"What about the 'copters!" Rindell inquired. "They brought in some
good stuff for the reports."
"Yes, but with a crew of only four men, they can't do enough."
Branch cut in dryly. "About all I can see is to look hopeful. The Rocket
would have exhausted its fuel long ago. It's been over ten weeks
since they left Base."
"Assuming they're marching overland, God forbid, they'll have only
sonar and radio, right?" Bjornson was saying. "Why not keep our
klaxon going? It's a pretty faint hope, but we'll have to try everything.
My section is keeping the listeners manned continually, we've got a
sonar beam out, radio messages every thirty minutes, and with the
klaxon we're doing all we can. I doubt if anything living could
approach within a twenty-five mile range without hearing that klaxon,
or without us hearing them with the listeners."
"All right." Commander Chapman stared hopelessly at a fresh batch
of reports burdening his desk. "Send out ground parties within the
ten mile limit, but remember we can't afford to lose men. When the
'copters are back in, send them both West." West meant merely in a
direction west from Meridian 0, as the mother rocket's landing place
had been designated. "They can't do much searching over that
rainforest, but it's a try. They might pick up a radio message."
Chapman returned grumpily to his reports, and the others filed out.

III

At night, on guard, Hague saw a thousand horrors peopling the


Stygian forest murk; but when he flashed his lightpak into darkness
there was nothing. He wondered how long he could stand the
waiting, when he would crack as Supply Sergeant Didrickson had,
and his comrades would blast him down with explosive bullets. He
should be like Brian, hard and sure, and always doing the right thing,
he decided. He'd come out of OCS Gunnery School, trained briefly in
the newly-formed U.S. Rocket Service. Then the expedition to Venus
—it was a fifty-fifty chance they said, and out of all the volunteers
he'd been picked. And when the first expedition was ready to blast
off from the Base Camp on Venus, he'd been picked again. Why, he
cursed despairingly? Sure, he wanted to come, but how could his
commanders have had faith in him, when he didn't know himself if he
could continue to hold out.
Sounds on the trail sent his carbine automatically to ready, and he
called a strained, "Halt."
"Okay, Hague. It's Clark and Arndt."
The wiry little navigation officer, and lean, scraggy Geologist Arndt,
the latter's arm still in a sling, came into the glow of Hague's
lightpak.
"Any more horns or arrows?" Clark's voice sounded tight, and
repressed; Hague reflected that perhaps the strain was getting him
too.
"No, but Bucci is getting worse. Can't you carry him on the cart?"
"Hague, I've told you twenty times. That cart is full and breaking
down now. Get it through your head that it's no longer individual men
we can think of now, but the entire party. If they can't march, they

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