The Thing in the Attic
Book Excerpt
The Spokesman was looking down at Seth with the identical expression of outraged disbelief which he had first bent upon Honath. "Who was it cut the blasphemies into the hardwood tree, by the house of Hosi the Lawgiver?" he demanded. "Sharp needles were at work there, and there are witnesses to say that your hands held them."
"More lies!"
"Needles found in your house fit the furrows, Seth."
"They were not mine--or they were stolen! I demand to be freed!"
"You will be freed," the Spokesman said coldly. There was no possible doubt as to what he meant. Seth began to weep and to shout at the same time. Hands closed over his mouth again. "Mathild the Forager, your plea may be heard."
The young woman stood up hesitantly. Her fur was nearly dry now, but she was still shivering.
"Spokesman
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From 'If Worlds of Science Fiction' July 1954.
R: * * * *
Plot bullets
This attic is not the scarey top floor of a dark old house and the things, abiding there are not supernatural..
On this far away planet, the attic is the tree tops, where a species of animals live.
The surface has it's flora and dangerous fauna and is known as hell.
One can be cast into hell, if they don't believe in The Book of Laws and the legend of the Giants.
Five tree top dwellers are sent below for just such a heresy.
Survival is life threatening, but the revelations may be worth it.
The "humans'" culture is nicely drawn, as is the ecology of the place. The writing almost makes up for the implausible plot twist at the end.