Adventures in the Far Future & Tales of Outer Space — page 163: what you’re looking at

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

He entered, ducking under the low door. A single long, Smoky-raftered room was kitchen, dining room, and parlor; doors led off to the sleeping quarters. It was furnished with a clumsy elegance, skin rugs, Oak wainscoting, carved pillars, glowing ornaments of hammered copper. A radium clock, which must be incredibly old, stood on the stone mantel, above a snapping fire; a chemical-powered gun, obviously of local manufacture, hung over it. Julith’s parents, a plain, quiet peasant couple, conducted him to the end of the wooden table, while half a dozen children watched him with large eyes. The younger children were the only Terrans who seemed to find this removal an adventure. The meal was good-and plentiful: meat, vegetables, bread, beer, milk, ice cream, coffee, all of It from the farms hereabouts. There wasn’t much trade between the few thousand communities of Earth; they were practically self- sufficient. The company ate in silence, aS was the custom here. When they were finished, Jorun wanted to go, but it would have been rude to leave immediately. He went over to a chair by the fireplace, across from one in which Kormt Sprawled. The old man took out a big-bowled pipe and began stuffing it. Shadows wove across his seamed brown face, his eyes were a gleam out of darkness. “II go down to City Hall with you soon,” he said. “I imagine that’s where the work is going on.” “Yes,” said Jorun. “I can relieve Zarek at it. l’d appreciate it if you did come, good sir. Your influence Is very steadying on these people.” “It should be,” said Kormt. “I’ve been their Speaker for almost a hundred years. And my father Gerlaug was before me. and his father Kormt was before him.” Hetook a brand from the fire and held it over his pipe, puffing hard, looking up at Jorun through tangled brows. “Who was_ your greatgrandfather?” CORniclooo SS CO