To Prime the Pump

The Strange Mission of the Space Cruiser Ares

Lieut. John Grimes, officer on the space ship Ares, arrives at the planet El Dorado with his shipmates on a mission of mercy.

The men and women of that fabulous planet, who have almost but not quite achieved immortality, are in immediate danger of extinction. The men are infertile and the ladies are getting out of hand

Lieut. Grimes and his cohorts, who only want to help, are suddenly in deadly peril.

EBook

This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

First printing, June 2007

ISBN-13: 978-0-2071-1607-0
ISBN-10: 0-2071-1607-5

Copyright© 1971 by A. Bertram Chandler

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form.

A Baen Books Original
Baen publishing Enterprises
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Riverdale, NY 10471
https://www.baen.com

Electronic version by Baen Books
https://www.baen.com

THE GIRL LAY SPREAD-EAGLED ON THE ALTAR . . .

"The white goat!" they shouted . . . "The goat without horns . . ."

Two men set the animal down on the girl's naked body, its back to her breasts and belly, its head between her legs. The drums throbbed softly, insistently. The priest's knife swept down; the animal's cries ceased in mid-bleat, although its now released limbs kicked spasmodically. The girl, free herself from restraining hands, held the dying body to her.