Astounding British Edition, Volume 8, No. 11 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

THE SPECTER GENERAL send a sudden tremendous flare of energy spouting out through the rear jets. The pulse only lasted for a fraction of a second but the sudden application of several G’s meant a momentary blackout and, unless he was strapped carefully into the pilot seat, several new bruises to add to the old. What made Ozaki the unhappiest was that there was nothing he could do about it. Pilots who wanted to stay alive just didn’t tinker with the mechanism of their ships. Glumly he pulled out another red- bordered IMMEDIATE MAINTENANCE card from the rack and began to fill it in. Description of item requiring main- tenance: “Shower thermostat, M7, Small Standard.” Nature of malfunction: deliver only boiling water.” Justification for immediate maintenance: Slowly in large block letters Ozaki bitterly inked in “Haven’t had a bath since [I left base!” and tossed the card into the already overflowing gripe box with a feeling of helpless anger. “Kitchen mechanics,” he muttered. “Couldn’t do a decent repair job if they wanted to—and most of the time they don’t. I’d like to see one of them three days out on a scout sweep with a toilet that won’t flush!” “Shower will CHAPTER IX. Ir was a roomy cell as cells go but Kurt wasn’t happy there. His continual striding up and down was making Colonel Harris nervous. “Relax, son,” he said gently, wear yourself out.” Kurt turned to face the colonel who was stretched out comfortably on his cot. “Sir,” he said in a conspiratorial whisper, “we’ve got to break out of here.” “What for?” asked Harris. “This is the first decent rest I’ve had in years.” “You aren’t going to let Blick get away with this?” demanded Kurt in a shocked voice. “Why not?” said the colonel. “He’s the exec, isn’t he? If something happened to me, he’d have to take over command any- way. He’s just going through the impatient stage, that’s all. A few days behind my desk will settle him down. In two weeks he’ll be so.sick of the job he’ll be down on his knees begging me to take oVer again.” Kurt decided to try a new tack. “But sir, he’s going to shut down the Tech Schools!” “vou'll just 11 “A little .vacation won’t hurt the kids,” said the colonel indulgently. “After a week or so the wives will get so sick of having them underfoot all day that they'll turn the heat on him. Blick has six kids himself and I’ve a hunch his wife won’t be any happier than the rest. She’s a very deter- mined woman, Kurt; a very determined woman!” Kurt had a feeling he was getting no place rapidly. “Please, sir,’ he said ear- nestly, “I’ve got a plan.” ese “Just before the guard makes his evening check-in, stretch out on the bed and start moaning. [ll yeli that you’re dying and when he comes in to check [ll jump him!” “You'll do no such thing!” said the colonel sternly. “Sergeant Wetzel is an old friend of mine. Can’t you get it through your thick head that I don’t want to escape. When you’ve held command as long as I have you'll welcome a chance for a little peace and quiet. I know Blick inside out and I’m not worried about him. But, if you've got your heart set on escaping, I suppose there’s no particular reason why you shouldn’t. Do it the easy way though. Like this.” He walked to the bars that fronted the cell and bellowed, “Sergeant Wetzel! Sergeant Wetzel!” “Coming, sir!” called a voice from down the corridor. There was a shuffle of run- ning feet and a gray scalp-locked and extremely portly sergeant puffed into view. “What will it be, sir?” he asked. “Colonel Blick or any of the staff around?” questioned the colonel. “No, sir,” said the sergeant. “They’re all upstairs celebrating.” “Good!” said Harris. will you?” “Anything you say, colonel,” said the old man agreeably and produced a large key from his pouch and fitted it into the lock. There was a slight creaking and the door swung open. “Young Dixon here wants to escape,” said the colonel. “It’s all right by me,” replied the sergeant, “though it’s going to be awkward when Colonel Blick asks what happened to him.” “The lieutenant has a plan,” confided the colonel. “He’s going to over-power you and escape.” “There’s more to it than just that!” said Kurt. “I’m figuring on swapping uniforms with you. That way I can walk right out “Unlock the door, ECOMmichboo <SEiGO