Adventures in the Far Future & Tales of Outer Space — page 323: what you’re looking at

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

were covered. It was impossible to clearly make out their maneuvers or numbers, for one received only an impression of vague hugenes on the march as though mountains were moving. Stewie looked alertly to Gedso for orders. “Transfer gravity,” said Gedso. “Perhaps they won't be able to rush across above for a moment!” A new whining note cried through the ship, and the gimbals in which the control room was suspended creaked as they allowed the room to invert. With a crunch the tank struck against the upper side of the tunnel and, scrambling for traction, began to run there. Below, the moving horde flowed ominously along, joined every moment by additional thousands. “You'll never make it,” said Drummond. “This crackpot- craving to explore will cost all of us our lives.” “Please,” pleaded Stewie, “can’t we jettison that Jonah?” “There’s a fork in the tunnel just ahead,” said Gedso, studying his chart. “We go to the right.” “Right or left,” said Drummond, “you'll never make it, you clumsy lout!” He got up. “Il order you to return instantly. lf you do not obey, I'll... I'll have you shot!” “Please,” said Stewie, “can’t | spring that under hatch and let him out?” “We turn into the main tunnel here,” said Gedso, pointing. They entered a cavernous place, larger than the mines, larger than any interior so far seen. The weirdly glowing walls curved down to a crystal-strewn floor forty-three kilometers below them. Moving on the debris were the legions of “things,” augmented in number until they congested the tunnel. “Thank Jala they don’t fly,” said Stewie. “How much farther do we have to go?” CORniclooo SS CO