Argosy, September 1955 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

ee ; / ioe + } ws ; i, ay owed . hae “e Tay yay es ‘ n 4 ~ ay mededl xi A, Fe Pe Pisa) a! ate) ao ai ake hm RE ae ; ; i ie ag 4 ern ; on he ela QUEER FISH a The stranger said quietly, ‘‘ We have petrol—fifty gallons in cans in the back of the car. The need for it had occurred to us.” | The silence returned. Albert shifted on his rock, restless; glancing at the pistol—and at the Alice, as if she might be able to tell him what he should do. , The stranger said impatiently, “‘ Well? ” - Albert shrugged. « ‘‘ Seems I shall have to take ’ee, mister,” he said sullenly. ‘“ But *tis agin the law and good sense, and you'll maybe not see tomorrow if the weather blows up.” a The stranger smiled. ‘‘ We shall be happy to take the risk,’ he said. ‘‘ Now give my companion some help with the petrol.” Fifteen minutes later the Alice had full tanks and a reserve of six four-gallon jerry-cans aboard. | While Albert made preparations to start the cold engines, the __ stranger with the gun stood over him. The other man drove thé car away and came back on foot. Albert said, ‘‘ She’m ready to go now if you’m still set on it.” “We are,” the stranger said. “Do you know the French coast? ”’ = ** IT been there.”’ oy “Do you know of a place where you could put us ashoré secretly?” : | “ ~ “T reckon I might find a place on the Brittany coast,” Albert said unwillingly. ‘‘ "Tis a risky business, though.” . ‘* How long will it take? ” “Bout fifteen hours, if the weather holds.”’ ie There was a silence. Then the man with the gun snarled; _ “Fifteen hours! You’re lying! It should not take so long as that.” Ban Albert looked at him. “I’m not lying,” he said quietly. “If _ you reckon you’m able to get her there quickerer, you’m welcome | eto try.” a The back of the stranger’s hand came slashing out of the dark- ness. It caught Albert on the cheek, knocking his head back and making his ears ring painfully. He madea noise in histhroatand = -_ moved forwards, his hands reaching out. The black eye of the _ pistol stared at him. He dropped his hands. : ‘“* That was for insolence and to show you that we can be harsh if necessary,” the stranger said. ‘‘ Now let us go, and if I think -you are trying any tricks I shall shoot you. Understand? ” Albert said nothing. He stooped to swing the handle of the main engine. It fired. He set the throttlé dnd turned to the wheel. The second stranger cast off. As the Alice pulled away from her mooring and turned down _ the estuary towards the sea, Albert was staring fixedly into the a comichooks.coun §