Adventures in the Far Future & Tales of Outer Space — page 157: what you’re looking at

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

felt that it should be more to him than just another osychotechnic job. “Hello, good sir.” He turned at the voice and forced his tired lips into a friendly smile. “Hello, Julith,” he said. It was a wise policy to learn the names of the townspeople, at least, and she was a great-great-granddaughter of the Speaker. She was some thirteen or fourteen years old, a freckle- faced child with a shy smile, and steady green eyes. There was a certain awkward grace about her, and she seemed more imaginative than most of her stolid race. She curtsied quaintly for him, her bare foot reaching out under the long smock which was daily female dress here. “Are you busy, good sir?” she asked. “Well, not too much,” said Jorun. He was glad of a chance to talk; it silenced his thoughts. “What can | do for you?” “l wondered—” She hesitated, then, breathlessly: “1 wonder if you could give me a lift down to the beach? Only for an hour or two. It’s too far to walk there before | have to be home, and | can’t borrow a car, or even a horse. If it won’t be any trouble, sir.” “Mmmmm-—shouldn’t you be at home now? Isn’t there milking and so on to do?” “Oh, | don’t live on a farm, good sir. My father is a baker.” “Yes, yes, so he is. | should have remembered.” Jorun considered for an instant. There was enough to do in town, and it wasn’t fair for him to play hooky while Zarek worked alone. “Why do you want to go to the beach, Julith?” “Well be busy packing up,” she said. “Starting tomorrow, | guess. This is my last chance to see it.” Jorun’s mouth twisted a little. “All right,” he said; “I'll take you.” “You are very kind, good sir,” she said gravely. He didn’t reply, but held out his arm, and she clasped it with one hand while her other arm gripped his waist. The generator inside his skull responded to his will, reaching out CORniclooo SS CO