Adventures in the Far Future & Tales of Outer Space — page 138: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

“How could he do that?” demanded Maun, fascinated. “By the most grueling kind of counter-research. And by wanton insults hurled on the heads of men who had given their lives in a search for the truth. And by proclaiming the anarchy of science. That was his life-work.” “Fascinating!” breathed the old man. “But what were his conclusions?” “He formulated none. Fort died—died young, some might think. But his work leads so inevitably to certain conclusions that it only remains to check them.” “It may be so,” said Maun tolerantly. “Go on.” “What do you Know about ball lightning?” “Nonsense! A fable.” “| thought you'd speak that little piece,” laughed Striker. “I’ve heard it before. But ball lightning exists nonetheless. Countless observers have seen it with eyes as sound as mine. How about lights in the sky?” “Scores of reasons. Gegenschein, cloud effects, meteorites, radiant gas escaping from some natural well, distant cities, aircraft—take your choice.” “You've taken yours already, eh? | shan’t argue. You can never argue on the premise that the other man Is wrong, which is what you're doing.” Striker paced the floor, softly fuming. “I'll see,” he murmured at last. “Balls of fire ... lights in the sky ... strange visitors ... unknown languages ... poltergeisten, fairies and demons!” “One of our newspapers.” said Maun, “has a jeering column. They collect stories from papers all over the country and poke fun at them for their provincialism, sincere religious conviction, or whatever other crude manifestation of emotion they may display. Surely they should have a jest or two at the expense of some backwoods editor reporting lights in the sky.” “Thanks, Maun,” said Striker. “And the day that one appears I’m going—wherever it is.” CORniclooo SS CO