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Caretaker [MultiFormat]
eBook by Richard A. Lovett
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eBook Category: Science Fiction
eBook Description: In a sprawling galactic civilization, a wealthy hermit stakes a claim to an entire solar system, seeking to protect it from exploitation. Then, inevitably, a boatload of colonists stumbles onto the scene.
eBook Publisher: Fictionwise.com, Published: Analog, 2004
Fictionwise Release Date: September 2006
Available eBook Formats [MultiFormat - What's this?]: Adobe Acrobat (PDF) [190 KB], eReader (PDB) [29 KB], Palm Doc (PDB) [15 KB], Rocket/REB1100 (RB) [15 KB], Microsoft Reader (LIT) [76 KB] - PocketPC 1.0+ Compatible, Franklin eBookMan (FUB) [86 KB], hiebook (KML) [92 KB], Sony Reader (LRF) [43 KB], iSilo (PDB) [13 KB], Mobipocket (PRC) [16 KB], Kindle Compatible (MOBI) [44 KB], OEBFF Format (IMP) [25 KB]
Words: 4345
Reading time: 12-17 min.
Microsoft Reader (LIT) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud ENABLED
Adobe Acrobat (PDF) Format: Printing DISABLED, Read-Aloud DISABLED
All Other formats: Printing DISABLED, Read-aloud DISABLED
 
"There is an appealingly pulpish feel to Richard A. Lovett's 'Caretaker,' a short story that would have been perfectly at home in, say, Thrilling Wonder Tales or Startling Stories. Loren Zarken is the absolute ruler and sole occupant of a solar system, living peacefully alone on the fourth planet, with his robots and vegetables. When a spaceship from the Colonial Bureau lands, Zarken's solitude is threatened.... Just the name 'Loren Zarken' evokes the feel of Golden Age sf, and the robots, space colonists, and other trappings only served to accentuate the retro feel of the story ... an enjoyable evocation of sf's roots."--Chris Markwyn, Tangent Online (Learn more about Tangent Online, the Internet's leading SF&F short fiction review website)
The robot's soundless entrance into his field of vision brought Loren Zarken back to reality with a start.
"What is it?" he demanded. His robots had been programmed not to let anything short of a true emergency interrupt his meditation. "It better be important."
"A space vessel is approaching, master. The scanners located it just ten minutes ago. It appears to be on course for this planet."
That might not actually qualify as an emergency, but it was important, and the central computer's programming was flexible enough to allow it to override the robots' specific commands. "Where is it coming from?"
"The direction of the globular cluster."
"I see." Zarken pondered for a moment. "Have they contacted us yet?"
"No. They seem to be unaware of our probes."
"Then we will be the ones to speak first. Give them permission to land. In fact, issue an invitation. I must learn more." He returned to his interrupted meditation, but somehow found it difficult to concentrate. Visitors, he thought. It's happening all too quickly.
* * * *
Loren Zarken was absolute ruler of an entire solar system. He was also its sole occupant. His domain included one star, seven planets, and an indeterminate number of lesser bodies. He spent most of his time on the fourth planet from his sun, the only one that could easily support life.
For years he'd dwelt there in solitude, attended by automatons, isolated from civilization. At first, he'd found it difficult, for he was not a hermit by nature. But as the months melded into years and the years to decades, he'd fallen into a routine, with each day divided into carefully determined segments for manual labor, reading, recreation, and contemplation. It was a routine which, until today, hadn't been broken since the time--more than five years before--when an electrical fault had caused a fire in the robots' workshop.
The planet was perfect for Zarken's lifestyle. His garden grew rapidly, and native fruits and vegetable were plentiful. The world abounded with streams, lakes, snow-capped mountains, and wildlife. Zarken had visited hundreds of other planets throughout the Galaxy, and he knew his was unique. Never before had he encountered such serenity or beauty. He sincerely doubted it could be found elsewhere.
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