Astounding Science Fiction, February 1952 (British Edition) — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

COURTESY | 25 Morgan said. “It will take, in certain stub- born cases, six weeks or so for it to kill 2 man.” “Two months,” said Warren. “Three, at the outside. Would you say that was right, Dr. Morgan?” “Yes,” said Morgan. “There is something that I want you to tell me,” Warren said. “What is it?” Morgan asked. “Sometime when you have a moment, when you have the time and it is no incon- venience to you, I should like to know just how it feels to kill twenty-five of your fellow men.” “T,” said Morgan, “I—” “And yourself, of course,” said Warren. “That makes twenty-six.” Bat Ears Brady was a character. For more than thirty years now he had been going out on planetary expeditions with Commander Ira Warren, although Warren had not been a commander when it started, but a second looey. Today they were still together, a team of toughened planet- checkers. Although no one on the outside would have known that they were a team, for Warren headed the expeditions and Bat Ears cooked for them, Now Wairen set out a bottle on his desk and sent for Bat Ears Brady. Warren heard him coming for some time before he finally arrived. He’d had a drink or two too many and he was singing most obscenely. - He came through the tent entrance walk- ing stiff and straight, as if there were a chalked line laid out for him to follow. He saw the bottle on the desk and picked it up, disregarding the glasses set beside it, He lowered the bottle by a good three inches and set it back again. Then he took the camp chair that had been there for “What’s the matter now?” he demanded. “You never send for me unless there’s something wrong.” “What,” asked Warren, “have you been drinking?” Bat Ears hiccuped politely. “Little some- thing I cooked up.” He regarded Warren balefuily. “Use to be we could bring in a little something, but now they say we can’t. What little there is you keep under lock and key. When a man gets thirsty, it sure tests his ingen . . . ingen . . ingen—” “Ingenuity,” said Warren. ““That’s the word,” said Bat Ears. “That’s the word, exactly.” “We're in a jam, Bat Ears,” said Warren. “We're always in a jam,” said Bat Bars. “Ain’t like the old days, Ira. Had some he-men then. But now—” “IT know what you mean,” said Warren. “Kids,” said Bat Ears, spitting on the floor in a gesture of contempt. “Scarcely out of didies. Got to wipe their noses and—” : “Tt isn’t that kind of a jam,” said Warren. “This is the real McCoy. If we can’t figure this one out, we'll all be dead before two months are gone.” “Natives?” -asked Bat Ears. “Not the natives,’ Warren told him. “Although more than likely they’d be glad to do us in if there was a chance.” “Cheeky customers,” said Bat Ears. “One of them sneaked into the cook tent and I — kicked him off the reservation real uncere- monious. He did considerable squalling at me. He didn’t like it none.” “You shouldn't kick them, Bat Ears.” “Well, Ira, I didn’t really kick him. That was just a figure of speech, kind of. No sir, I didn’t kick him. I took a shovel to (211! SRY 1) E17 RS 91 S11 RES MY SR 1 a ANY SCIENTIFIC OR TECHNICAL MAGAZINE CAN BE POSTED TO YOU DIRECT FROM THE U.S.A.—SEE BELOW © HERE ARE JUST A FEW = (Showing the_annual subscription rate) 23/9 24/6 22/6 37/9 30/6 Q fm) 1 Your Physique- = Heaith Culture - Health & Strength - Popular Photography Popular Science ~- Dance - - Downbeat - - Home Craftsman _ Model Railroader Flying Models & The American Edition of THE RING 25- All subscriptions payable in advance YOUR ENQUIRIES WELCOMED — WRITE TO-DAY! ATLAS PUBLISHING & DISTRIBUTING Co. Ltd. 18 BRIDE LANE LONDON, E.C.4 4S Sm SS 74 1 RS S01 TT 1 » oo 8» © wo ep ee 8 nN (o*) Ay Os AS61117 RD 111() md 1944112 (11 Se RR L141 1 RR TTT RR EASA 111 111 WwW b | ~~ @ Placa 161 ema 1111 R11 A111 1111 ASPET R01 R11 817191 247111 04 GComichbooks.co