Astounding British Edition, Vol. 6, No. 8 — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

to look at me that I was just a typical trans- ‘system tramp once. Look around. Them hangings cost a fortune and them pictures is worth a cold five million. They’re originals and if they ain’t and I ever find out about it, God help my agents.” He laughed again. “Well, doc, I guess you’re wondering why I’m being so great about this thing, huh?” “Somewhat.” “You're a cool one. I like that. I like it very much. Well, I tell you. I could use a doctor. I don’t need a good one, see. You'll do just fine if you know anything at all.” “| thought there were doctors here.” “Them that was here up and went away.” He enjoyed a brief chuckle and then sobered. “I had a doc as partner. He’d been a good one in his day but.drink and women had got too much for him. He died about five years back and we been kind of isolated for some time, like. So, I can use a doctor. A doctor that ain’t all knocked around’ by professional ethics.” “And what’s in it for him?” “Thousands and thousands and thousands. Oh, I can pay all right. And pay very weil indeed. Taxes, fees, sales . . . I can pay. Alr, Limited, is just about as sound a concern as you'll ever find, my friend.” He beamed jovially. “You give me quite a turn with that thingum-a-jig on your throat. The U.M.S.— Well, you knew how to back up a play. If I thought you was on the level, you wouldn’t be sitting there, but I know you ain’t. Not an honest pill in your pockets. No stethoscope. A blaster. Oh, -I can tell a thing or two.” “Where'd I slip up?” said Ole Doc in- ocently. “Why, the blaster of course. The U.M:S. is death on violence. Oh, I’ve studied up, I have. And [I figure the chances of one of their big patrols coming this way is about ten million to one at least in this century. n We ain’t nothing on Arphon and Sun! is gone to pieces as a confederated system. We don’t spread no germs around and we ain’t in any kind of quarantine. So they won’t come, But if one of them big gold ships with the hundred men crews come around, why I want to be reasonable. So that’s where we talk business. You seem to know the ropes.” “Yes,” said Ole Doc. “One has to under-. stand his fellow man to get along. Just why are you worried?” “Well, doc, it ain’t so much the U.M:S. Them Soldiers would never come here and wouldn’t stay if they did. No, it’s the way taxes have fallen off. I want you to do some- thine about it. People don’t pay their taxes. And then there’s the fees—”’ “Wait. Are you the government?” “Well, in a way, yes. At least there ain’t any other government on Arphon just now and we're a big commercial outfit. So, well we eollect taxes for the machines.” > ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION - = - .- « es - > “What machines?”’ “The health machines of course.” And here Big Lem began to laugh again. “Maybe we can do business of one kind or another,” said Ole Doc. “But there’s one thing I’ve got to fix up. I want to get hold of an extraracial being named Bestin Kar- tees let me find him and then I'll come ack—” _ Big Lem looked sly. “Some old. partner in crime, eh? Well, doc, if that’s what you want, you'll get it.” “Now,” said Ole Doc. “When we've settled a thing or two,” said Tolliver. “You'll work for me?” . We'll settle this when you’ve found this Bestin Karjoy for me,” said Ole Doc. “It won't wait.” , _ “Pm afraid it will, my friend. Will you sign on?” ~« “I'd have to know more,” said Ole Doc, restraining a blow-up with difficulty and holding on to his cunning. “Such as—” “What taxes? What air? What are you doing?” “We sell air,” said Tolliver. “We sell it in small bombs or in cans and we get a hundred dollars for a flask big enough to rs a man a month. Now that’s legal, isn’t it ” “Why air?” “Why not?” said Tolliver. “Men have to breathe, don’t they?” “What taxes then?” said Ole Doc. “Why, the taxes to keep the machines running. Didn’t you see the big machine central when you came into town?” “I wagn't looking closely,” said Ole Doc. “Well, that’s just one. We got hundreds all over the planet. And we keep them going so long as the citizens pay the tax. when they refuse to pay it, well, we oe “em to put up a bond. And— “What kind of a bond?” “Personal liberty bond, of course. If we don’t collect when it’s due, then the man’s liberty is over and he’s repossessed by us.” “Why do you want him?” “Slaves, of course. Nine-tenths of the people on this planet would rather be slaves than have the machines stop. So there we “You mean nine-tenths are slaves by this action. See here, Tolliver, what do the machines do?” “Why, they keep the outer: spacial gases from settling down and killing people. The gases ruin the oxygen content of the air. So we run the machines and keep the gases going up, not down. That’s simple, isn’t it? And the air bombs we sell let men breathe when they’ve been hit by the gases too much.” “What kind of gases?” Tolliver looked shrewdly at Ole Doc. The > COMniclooo S (CO)