Adventures in the Far Future & Tales of Outer Space — page 328: what you’re looking at

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

Although some smoke remained in the small cavern, only charred ruin marked where the hummock had been. And there were no “things” to bar their way, only sodden lumps strewn about in stiff attitudes. Stewie guided them along the return route, but nowhere did they find anything alive. The contrast of this with their recent difficulties made even Drummond forget his quarrel, and Blufore gazed hopefully about. “What's the meaning of this?” demanded Drummond, pointing out yet another vast pile of motionless “things” which lay open-mouthed In a tunnel, not even moving when run over by the tank. “That's the way things are,” said Gedso indifferently. “T ... 'd like to Know how they are,” said Drummond. “You'll probably get a copy of my report,” said Gedso. “To the left here, Stewie.” “| probably won't get that for a long time,” said Drummond, pouting. “| ought to know so as to regulate the activities in my command.” He looked pleadingly at Gedso. “What did going ‘outside’ have to do with this?” “Had to find out about the Black Nebula,” said Gedso matter-of-factly. “Right, Stewie. Right and down.” “Well, damn it, what about the Black Nebula?” Gedso turned toward him patiently in surrender. “The Black Nebula isn’t a barrier in the sky. I’m not sure what it Is. A fold, perhaps. | don’t know. | had to get pictures of this area from out there.” He reached into his pocket and brought out a photomontage. “Reduced the pictures after they were taken with an inverted telephoto. Got this.” “Why, that looks like a leaf,” said Drummond. “And what is that on the leaf?” ‘A leaf,” said Gedso, “and on the leaf, to you, a caterpillar worm.” “You mean this is a picture of the ‘outside?’ CORniclooo SS (SO)