Astounding Science Fiction, February 1952 (British Edition) — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

22 ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION find. And they know that science. For they worked with it—before they entered the ‘Ordeal.’ “We will take them with us. Maybe our neuro-surgeons can undo the damage that was done. At least our psychologists should be able to dig out some of their memories. Apparently, to judge by what the voice said down there, there has been no effort to remove the memories. Only to keep the dreamers from using them. So these two, or others like them, will give us our weapon.” Triccy stared, then chuckled. “So all the time our answer just kept getting in our way.” Ter nodded, smiling at the irony of the expedition’s frustration. © Meik, from his corner, grunted. “Hey, boss. One thing you haven’t said. Just why did they freeze the cruiser? Why did they tip their hand like that?” “Maybe just playing tricks,” Ter said. “Just children showing off their power. Or perhaps the field of the Drive bothered them. Interfered with whatever they were doing. So they canceled it out. And thereby fixed the cruiser. Until they tell us,” he waved at the sleeping pair, “you can pick your answer.” - “Which, incidentally,” he continued after a moment, “is why I was afraid down there. There is nothing more dangerous than absolute power in the hands of the immature. And I was afraid that hail might be rigged to detect deviations from the norm.” - The girl looked at him. “I called you a coward. I’m sorry. | was wrong.” Her voice was soft. Ter blushed and turned abruptly away. But he turned back. They smiled at each other. Meik, from his corner, beamed. He knew he was forgotten in the glow of mutual understanding they had found. But he did not care. The interlude of peace, however, was not long. The burly leader of the expedi- tion, Lar, came stomping in. He glowered around, and, in particular, at Triccy. “So here you are,” he growled at her. “I might have known. I’ve been looking for you all day. I looked in all the staterooms of our ship, but I should have looked here, too.” He sneered. “In fact, I should have looked here first. These are new faces.” Triccy went white. Ter’s eyes slitted. “Your tongue is out of control. Please get out.” His voice was cold. Icy. — “Stay out of this, sonny,” Lar brushed him off. “This is between me and my, ah, secretary.” “T have no intention of staying out,” Ter answered. “And she’s your ex, ah, secretary. She’s leaving with me.” Triccy smiled at him. “Don’t I have a voice in that?” Her voice was gentle in spite of her words. Ter looked at her and smiled. “I suppose so. But aren’t you? After all, I love you and you love me. Don’t you?” “Yes,” she answered simply. But her eyes said much more. Lar looked as if he might explode. “You little meddling nosey— If that girl leaves with you, you can count yourself washed up. I’ve got plenty of influence with the Commission, see.” He stuck his face down close to Ter’s. “And as for her loving you—” Ter’s face was white. But his fist whipped up. The blow did littl damage, but it must have hurt. Lar roared, and came in swinging. Ter started forward, too. But he did not get there. He felt himself hurled backwards, by a hand at his collar. He saw Meik’s fist meet Lar. That blow, with Meik’s huge weight behind it, not only hurt, but damaged. It threw Lar back across the cabin. Meik moved forward, crouched. His face was savage. Lar scrambled out of the way, through the door. “You'll pay for this,” the leader snarled. “I4l see you’re black- listed everywhere you try to work.” Meik stood up from his crouch. The anger left his face, and it became bland. “I wouldn’t advise it.” His voice was un- expectedly cultured. “Aside from being an jon-jet jockey, I am also an investigator from the Commission. Your uncle, the Commissioner himself, sent me to check on you. He told me he was willing to get you a job—once. But that—after that—it was strictly up to you. If you should fail, he wouldn’t use his influence to get you hired as a stevedore. He wanted me to find out if you had failed. I regret to say that in my opinion you have.” He turned and touched the button to close the hatch. A while later, when seated in the pilot’s chair, Meik called to the other two. “If you can break it up for a little while,” he said, grinning, “we'll go see a couple of stars.” CORMCIOOXKS:COhM