American Science Fiction #41 — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

sight as much as possible. “i THE © FINAL © ~ FIGURE eto deny ‘a citizen “his tights lider the oreo. “Damnit: an!” the Genéraf back- apedalled ‘quickly. “Cant you “under- stand? Suppose They got hold of - you—They'd have you dishing up our innermost secrets te them ahead of time. 1 don’t need to tell you what that could mean in the present world situation.” “You don’t, General,” said Mac- Reedy. “But I don’t think They’d get much out of me—much that was use- - ful, I mean. I can’t think clearly un- der drugs or torture; I'd be more of a menace than a help. I explained that to my visitor before you came. He ‘seemed to believe me.” “Maybe he did,” said the baffled General, “but don’t bet on his su- periors. You've been an Army officer, MacReedy; I can have you called back — into service.” “With a permanent medical dis- charge?” MacReedy countered. The General sighed. He knew when | he was beaten. He said, “You'll have to stand for a guard then—twenty- four hours. We'll keep them out of : * He wished the whole business were rationally ex- plicable to his Own superiors. As it was he knew his hands were tied when it came to drastic action. “I suppose it’s necessary,” said MacReedy sadly, but not defiantly; “I should never have tried to show . - “It’s too late for that sort of thing.” said the General. “I’m going to have -to take some of your models with me —it’s too late to do much about the new tank, but Ill have to have the rocket-launcher and the A-gun. And Vil want your promise not to indulge in any more such experiments except as I request.” “That I am glad to give you,’ said _ MacReedy and there-was no doubting the sincerity of his words. “TH pay you f.< them,” offered the General. ; “Of course,” replied the model- maker; “my name isn’t MacReedy for poms: ees As he handed over a ‘couple of hun-— died dollars the General found him-_ - self almost Temes the man. - Damn -couldn’t be happening, ed grimly, ts 7. these screwballs, he. thought. ‘He won- dered when he was going to. wake and’ find’ it. hadn't haphered: ol ‘it any of_it. as the perilously-perfect models, of wea- pons that were yet to be, felt terribly real to his touch. He said, “Toby, run upstairs and tell Sergeant Riley to come down here and take some stuff out to the car.” And, when the boy was gone. “Mac- seedy, will you do some work for us? “Of course,” said the otker. “A man gets feeling a bit useless making toy soldiers in times like these.” “The pay won't be much. « .” the said MacReedy Genes began. “I can afford it,” with the unexpected genérosity of the “What do you want : true Scotsman.. me to do?” “They have a new weapon. build- ing,’ said the General. “All we’ve got are a few spy-photographs—not very good, I’m afraid.” “What sort of weapon?” the model- maker asked. “That’s just it—we don’t know,” replied the General. “I’m going to send you what we have on it to-mor- row; I'm hoping you can give us a line on its purpose.” He paused, add- “As it is we don’t know how to meet it. We haven't an inkling. It’s given the Chief a whole new patch of grey hairs.” “Til do what I can,” said Mac- Reedy. “But don't — the moon.” “All I want is the nature and pur- pose of that weapon—if it is a wea- pon,” was the Seneral’s reply. Then Toby and Sergeant Riley came clump- ing down the stairs and the conference was at an end. Before he left the General gave Toby. five dollars. “That’s for bring- ing me here,” he told the lad. “You'll be seeing me again.” “Yes, sir,” said Toby. He didn’t sound. at all surprised. THEN he got back in the car ‘alone, the general counted the models on the seat beside: him—one rocket-launcher, one A- -gun. He said, “Riley, how are we fixed for gas?”. 3 ee good, sir,” came the reply.” comicbooks com ~~