# Pete — Short Fiction character guide

> Pete in Short Fiction by Frank Belknap Long.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Peter, Good old Pete

**First appearance:** 0000-the-hounds-of-tindalos

## Snapshot

Pete is the loyal, dogged companion who turns Lucky Jim's self-pity into a con, pleading for green earth and rain while quietly engineering their escape.

## Who they are

Pete endures the graveyard of old ships alongside Jim, but where Jim raves and envies him, Pete simply cares, begging for one more whiff of sea and home. He is the one who spots the yardmaster's angle and coaches Jim through a drunken bluff to win a ship without spending a cent. His shining-eyed readiness to follow Jim's wild schemes makes him both the story's conscience and its quiet instigator.

## Relationships

### [Mr. Caxton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_17_se/characters/mr_caxton)

_professional_

An employer-employee or mentor-protégé relationship, with frequent work-related interactions.

### [James Caldwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_17_se/characters/james_caldwell)

_friendship_

A strong friendship or camaraderie, possibly as allies in a shared mission or community.

### [The Man from Time](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_17_se/characters/the_man_from_time)

_rivalry_

A direct antagonistic relationship, with Pete opposing The Man from Time's schemes.

### [Susan Ashley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_17_se/characters/susan_ashley)

_friendship_

A supportive friendship, possibly as confidants or allies in a larger conflict.

### [James Caldwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_17_se/characters/james_caldwell)

_friendship_

A strong friendship or camaraderie, possibly as allies in a shared mission or community.

### [Mr. Caxton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_17_se/characters/mr_caxton)

_professional_

An employer-employee or mentor-protégé relationship, with frequent work-related interactions.

### [Susan Ashley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_17_se/characters/susan_ashley)

_friendship_

A supportive friendship, possibly as confidants or allies in a larger conflict.

### [The Man from Time](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_17_se/characters/the_man_from_time)

_rivalry_

A direct antagonistic relationship, with Pete opposing The Man from Time's schemes.

### [Mr. Caxton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_17_se/characters/mr_caxton)

_professional_

An employer-employee or mentor-protégé relationship, with frequent work-related interactions.

### [James Caldwell](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_17_se/characters/james_caldwell)

_friendship_

A strong friendship or camaraderie, possibly as allies in a shared mission or community.

### [Susan Ashley](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_17_se/characters/susan_ashley)

_friendship_

A supportive friendship, possibly as confidants or allies in a larger conflict.

## In the story

### [I: Graveyard of Old Ships](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_17_se/chapters/i-graveyard-of-old-ships)

A wiry, mysterious man with a hard-luck past; initially despondent but becomes hopeful; helps Jim with the scheme and is startled by the abrupt takeoff.

### [Planet Shift](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_17_se/chapters/ii-planet-shift)

Pete is terrified and convinced they are going mad, pleading with Jim to accept the reality of their situation.

### [III: The Mirage Pup](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_17_se/chapters/iii-the-mirage-pup)

Jim's companion; explains the mirage pup's abilities and tries to console Jim as they prepare to land.

### [IV: New York Kid](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_17_se/chapters/iv-new-york-kid)

Accompanies the narrator to New York, encourages him to let the pup lead, and disappears after the narrator finds Barbara.

### [The Miniature Menace](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_17_se/chapters/the-miniature-menace)

Pete reacts with alarm and suspicion to the miniature menace, embodying the human instinct for survival.

### [Mr. Caxton Draws a Martian Bird](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_17_se/chapters/mr-caxton-draws-a-martian-bird)

Peter Ashley, a ten-year-old boy who insists he saw a Martian bird and is humiliated by Mr. Caxton.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_17_se/characters/pete
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_17_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_17_se/characters