American Science Fiction #41 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

ee 3.) ° dence of one man’s tadividual crafts- _Manship acd industry. He eyed the ’XT-L0’ s. “vith iol at. sinterest, “thea” ‘studied a ‘nearly-finished weapon “on the carving table. It looked. like... - Tt was! One of the just-conceived, self-reloading rocket-launchers on armoured mobile carriage with am- ‘phibious tractor-treads. He said. his voice dry and tight, “Where'd you get this, MacReedy?” MacReedy wandered over to stand beside him. He szid, “I-didn’t get it anywhere; it just seems like the logical ‘next step in ordnance, General. i've had pretty good luck in the past, “g- uring things out his way. I had the Sherman tank plotted back in nineteen- forty—just before 1 was drafted. | hadn’t dared trust my hunches till -J saw my first one two years later at Pine Camp.” >You were in the Army?” “Six years,” ‘y<urs here in camp and Officers’ Candidate School, then two abroad— Sicily, Anzio and the Rhone Valley. 1 stopped a piece of shell near Lyon, and put in the rest of my time in hos- pital.” “Rough,” said the General though he had neither the time nor the in- terest for sympathy. “Tell me. how you ‘figure’ these things out. The Sher- man tank, if you wish.” MacReedy wagged his head modestly. “It wasn’t too difficult, once I'd Seen the General Grant. That one obviously wouldn’t do; it was too high, needed a full-pivot turret. Yet the basic- design was there—anyone who'd thought about it could have done the same. But it was a pleasant shock to learn ['d been right.” - “f see,” said the General. “And you did: the others by the same process— and you're always right?” “Not always,” replied “MacReedy. “I fluffed badly on the atomic cannon. I expected a longer barrel for greater muzzle- velocity and range; here, I'll show you.” He led the way to a dusty -wall shelf where imperfect aad broken models: crowded together. There was the A-cannon—not as it had appeared, but as the General knew it was going said MacReedy. “Two quPHE:; FINAL « FIGURE to look in two years, ‘when certain | needed changes were made. , He said, SAn, understandable error. AG hortaaately, mobility had to: be'con- sidered.” He paused, looked Mac- Reedy straight in the eye. “I hope you didn’t show any of this to Yours phe vious visitor.” MacReedy laughed. “Hardly,” he replied. “I’m Anterican, never fear. I’m just one of the lucky few who has been able to make a good living out of my hobby; I have no axes to grind.” “We may have an ax. to grind with you,” said the General with a hint of grinaness. The rocket-launcher and the improved A-gun were like the one-two — punch of a good heavyweight-hitter. - He went back tc the XT-101, said, “About this twin-mount tank—how'd you figure we’d mount the automatic machinery outside the turret?” “That wasn’t too difficult—if I'm right; and I gather I am,” said Mac- Reedy. “There’s simply too much stuff to put inside a tank-turret; you've got to mount it outside. And that means plenty of protection, which means an extra armoured sleeve. So. HE General said. “MacReedy, why are you showing me this? { could be an impostor, a spy.’ “With that official limousine?” the model-maker countered. “I doubt it. Besides, Toby vouches for you.’ “Risky,” said the General, “Besides,” said MacReedy with the | suggestion of a smile, “Tl ve seen your picture in Life magazine.” He paused, added, “After all, in my humble way I’m a bit of an ordnance nut myself.” ~ “I don’t believe. you,” said the Gen- eral flatly—“I mean about’ working these things out through logic and guesses. But however you do it, surely you can appreciate that you’re much too dangerous to be walking around loose. Especiatly since They ‘know about you. I’m” afraid [’m going to have to take’ you back’ with me.’ + “Nothing doing,” said MacReedy. ot can take care of myself. Besides, this is my home. I like it here.” “You're being close’ to reasonable,” | said the General. “Not I—you are,” came ‘the ionede ible reply. “You, not Late attempting ‘ comicbooks. comm AS Be,