The Star Beast by Robert A. Heinlein - The Heinlein Prize

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CHAPTER TWO: The scene shifts to the Department of Spatial Affairs. John Thomas is the eleventh in that line. Heinlein then displays the range of troubles people have – Mr. Ito is about to die, the problems of money, family, health, or face, the Governor facing evidence his best friend is crooked, a prospector on Mars about to die on a long trek back to civilization, the starship Bolivar about to be lost forever, an alien race Earth would have gotten along with very well is going to be wiped out in a Darwinian struggle, and then, there’s Mr. Kiku. Mr. Kiku is the Permanent Under Secretary for Spatial Affairs, a man with a great deal of responsibility. There is a Secretary who is his nominal boss, but he mostly just gives speeches and does ceremonial stuff. Mr. Kiku can get rid of him if he doesn’t stay out of his way. The Secretary comes into his office, whistling a tune Mr. Kiku does not recognize – “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” The Secretary dumps another assignment on his desk. Mr. Kiku takes out real estate brochures from Kenya, and escapes his trouble for a little while pondering retirement to a farm. Mr. Kiku is afraid of snakes, and the diplomat he now has to meet looks like one. The problem of Lummox shows up in his incoming box. Mr. Kiku assigns Sergei Greenberg to investigate.
CHAPTER THREE: Greenberg shows up and expedites the court hearing. He wants Lummox there. The judge is hesitant, but Greenberg wants things done quickly, so the judge agrees to rig a pen on the lawn. They’re going to make it out of steel… The police show up at 4 in the morning, to take Lummox. John Thomas refuses to cooperate until after they’ve had breakfast, both he and Lummox. John Thomas gets mad when his mother doesn’t take his side. She is shocked, because he’s always been obedient. The police chief gets all huffy with him, and shows him the court order – which John Thomas then points out says 10 am. He offers to make his mother breakfast; she offers to make it for him and the chief. John Thomas apologizes to her for being rude. He goes out to see Lummox. Lummox has a sentry eye that keeps guard when Lummox sleeps; the eye doesn’t see John Thomas as a threat, and Lummox remains asleep. John Thomas feels better after breakfast. So does the chief. His mother makes breakfast for the other officers while he wakes up Lummox and feeds him. Lummox is put in the steel cage, and John Thomas tells Lummox not to eat it. John Thomas never explains to the police that Lummox won’t be held by the steel cage; he feels no reason to enlighten them, since they didn’t bother to ask his advice. He orders Lummox not to eat the cage; Lummox wants to argue with him. One of the workers expresses surprise that Lummox can talk. John Thomas notices there are two swellings where Lummox’s shoulders would be if he had them. He’s worried Lummox hurt himself on his escapade. The swellings are bigger now, like tumors, and softer than his thick hide. John Thomas worries Lummox might have cancer. He decides to look back over his grandfather and greatgrandfather’s diary and notes about Lummox. Lummox says the spots tickle. Betty shows up to help. When she hears that Greenberg is coming, she is worried, because she doesn’t know him enough to handle him. She wants to “homestead” Lummox so he can’t be charged with the damages from the escape. Johnny’s mother has money, but it can’t be touched, as it is in a trust. Betty asserts “The law is whatever you can convince a court it is.” They file the paperwork to homestead Lummox. Johnny rushes out to tell the two men to leave Lummox alone – they are the judge and Greenberg. Johnny gets embarrassed when he sees who they are. Greenberg asks if he is related to the famous John Thomas Stuart, whose statue is on Mars. John Thomas has never been to Mars. Betty thinks she can handle Greenberg.
Page 1 and 2: Introduction: The Star Beast by Rob
Page 3 and 4: CHAPTER ONE The novel starts with t
Page 5: John Thomas knows he has to chastis
Page 9 and 10: CHAPTER FOUR: The court opens. Gree
Page 11 and 12: CHAPTER FIVE: We turn back to Mr. K
Page 13 and 14: CHAPTER SIX: Greenberg and Kiku mee
Page 15 and 16: CHAPTER SEVEN: Lummox escaped from
Page 17 and 18: CHAPTER EIGHT: Lummox asks him what
Page 19 and 20: CHAPTER TEN: John Thomas wakes in t
Page 21 and 22: CHAPTER ELEVEN: They discuss the Cy
Page 23 and 24: CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Mrs. Kiku lets he
Page 25 and 26: CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Greenberg comes in
Page 27 and 28: CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Betty meets with
Page 29 and 30: 1. What does the Police Chief do th
Page 31 and 32: CHAPTER TWELVE: 1. What is the new
Page 33 and 34: Vocabulary Words (these are all wor

The Star Beast by Robert A. Heinlein - The Heinlein Prize

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