Plot Summary
Set in the Antarctic region of the planet Krishna, "Calories" focuses on a long pursuit by a numerous and well-equipped cohort of fanatical soldiers from the Krishnan theocracy of Nichnyamadze of two Earthmen, Cuthwin ("Dinky") Singer and Earl Okagamut, who are possessed of a minimum of equipment and supplies. The chase tests the endurance of both fugitives and hunters, with the latter slowly but surely overtaking the former.
In the end, however, the Krishnans halt and give up the chase, as Okagamut, who is of Inuit heritage, has calculated they must. Having determined the caloric requirements of the trip he knew that he and his companion, subsisting on dried meat, could complete the journey, while the soldiers, whose religion requires a vegetarian diet, could not. Worn out by the pursuit, they have no option but to return to more temperate climes or perish. The life-and-death clash the story was apparently building up to is precluded by Okagamut's display of cleverness.
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