American Science Fiction #41 — page 5: what you’re looking at

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

“STOPWATCH @N THEs WORED 5S his — fingers thrumming “Of course. | can-easily get a leave on the side of his chair. And after of absence for government: Penne’: : See hile. “Only two of us.” — aan os” =< “You mean to say the government “You won't be able,” Arreiong _ isn’t- going to, make even a routine broke in, “because it isn’t govern- check?” ment business. Remember there are ~~ *“That’s right, Arnold. The Korean only two of us who believe this note. affair has sidetracked everything . Whatever help we'll need Ill have _ else. Of course, they may be right; to wangle ey Eaune my rank.” He it may only be a hoax. But I have pointed to the colonel’s eagles. on : That's why I came _ his shoulders. “But I have six more lectures to. 4 have never kiiown you to have deliver this semester, Jim; that will : -a wrong hunch yet, Jim. fll go along tie me up for three weeks.” wi “That can’t be helped. When is = Arnold.” Armstrong lit your next class?”. p a cigarette and after the first. “Tuesday. My lectures are Tues- long puff went on, “Have you any days and Thursdays.” idea how Chetzisky could do it? “Good. That gives you lots of. ou’'re a scientist; you should time to work with me between lec- ‘ tures. Beginning right now.” “Well, Jim, it’s a fantastic possi-- “But— bility and it calls for some fantas- “Start packing some-things. I'll ar- tic conjectures. Perhaps he’s found a_ range for you to fly to the atom ic * way to produce a chain reaction Jabs and take up Chetzisky’s trail right down into the earth’s core; from there. You'll have the entire” erhaps he can produce a radioactive week-end to dig up something.” He — our ‘colossal proportions, Then took me by the arm and hustled: me -may have a way of activat- out of the office. : anium, thorium, and radium de- While f rummaged in my rooms its” allover the world by ultra- for a luggage case and packed some h frequency radiations.” clothes, the energetic Armstrong sat u don’t think,” said Armstrong, on my bed smoking a cigarette and there might ‘be atomic bombs filled me in on the details he had in strategic places throughout rounded ay in the past twenty-four world, ready to be set off ‘on a hours. A dgaient was a wonder the ' ain day by time mechanisms or way he had gone to work unofficial-- onfederates?” ly:on the Chetzisky case while still “Hardly. That would call for such handling a regular official assignment _ widespread - activity and the work of on the leakage of troop move- _ so many. hands it couldn't escape de- . ments. tection. Besides, to achieve the an- “Doctor Chetzisky got a _ year’s nihilation Chetzisky promises would leave of absence from the atomic take thousands - of bombs. Such pro- labs;. that was eight months ago. A _ duction is beyond us as a nation, nev- month ago he dropped out of sight ae er - mind an individual.” _ altogether.” ~ Armstrong. got up and walked rest- “Did he tell anyone where be: was: = lessly about the room. “Arnold, going?” | was only worried when I came here; _* “No, he didn’t. But he did have now Im terrified.” ~ - an “interesting chat with a visiting _-“What do you plan doing, Jim?” English chemist, Doctor Chaslington, “We've got to catch up with him the Nobel prize winner: Told Chas- -_ fast. We can’t take the chance it’s a__lington that our fission methods are cg ee hoax.” The square jaw hardened-and as out of date and wasteful as the a — the .muscles tightened in the-lean, first automobile. Chaslington. didn’t. -_weather-beaten face. = Will es Sas press him for further ~ information. - = = me, -Araold?” | ..-Matter of good taste and manners: : eCOMmeh ogo com