Astounding British Edition, Volume 8, No. 11 — page 35: what you’re looking at

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

BLOOD BANK If you don’t like this standard form, you may prepare your own.” — The jet-eyéd commander took the paper quickly and slashed his name quickly across the bottom. “Is this effective immediately, sir?” “In this case, we can make it so.” “Thank you, sir.” “Don’t regard it as a favor.” The colonel witnessed the signature, The Cophian could not be stung. “May I go now?” Beth looked up, noticing with amusement that Roki—now a civilian—had suddenly dropped the “sir.” And his eyes were no longer cold. They were angry, hurt, despaiting. “What makes you Cophians tick any- way?” he murmured thoughtfully. Roki stood up. “I don’t care to discuss it with you, colonel. [ll be going now.” “Wait, Roki.” Beth frowned ominously to cover whatever he felt. “I’m waiting.” “Up until this incident, I liked you, Roki. In fact, I told the general that you were the most promising young officer in my force.” “Kind of you,” he replied tonelessly. “And you could have been sitting at this desk, in a few years. You hoped to, I believe.” A curt nod, and a quick glance at Beth’s shoulder insignia, “You chose your career, and now you don’t have it. I know what it means to you.” i A tightening of the Cophian’s jaw told the colonel that he wanted no sympathy, but Beth continued. “Since this is the oldest, most established, most static planet in the Cluster, you’re out of a’ job in a place where there’s no work.” “That’s none of your business, colonel,” Roki said quietly. “According to my culture’s ethics it is my business,” he bellowed. “Of course you Cophians think differently: But we’fe not quite so cold. Now you listen: I’m prepared to help you a little, although you’re pro- bably too pig-headed to accept. God knows, you don’t deserve it anyway.” “Go on.” “I’m prepared to have a partol ship take you to any planet in the galaxy. Name it, and we'll take you there.” He paused. “All right, go ahead and refuse. Then get out.” Roki’s thin face twitched for a moment. 33 Then he nodded. “I'll accept. Take me to Sol IIL” The colonel got his breath again slowly. He reddened and chewed his lip. “I did say galaxy, didn’t 1? I meant... well... you know we can’t send a military ship outside the Sixty-Star Cluster.” Roki waited impassively, his dark eyes measuring the colonel. “Why do you want to go there?” “Personal reasons.” “Connected with the mercy ship inci- dent?” “The investigation is over.” Beth pounded his desk. “It’s crazy, man! Nobody’s been to Sol for a thousand years. No reason to go. Sloppy, decadent place. I never suspected they’d answer Jod VI’s plea for surgibank supplies!” “Why not? They were selling them.” “Of course. But I doubted that Sol still had ships, especially C-drive ships. Only contribution Sol ever made-to the galaxy was to spawn the race of Man—if you believe that story. It’s way out of contact with any interstellar nation. I just don't get it.” “Then you restrict your offer, colonel?” Roki’s eyes mocked him. Beth sighed. “No, no—TI said it. Til do it. But I can’t send a patrol ship that far. Ill have to pay your way on a private vessel. We can find some excuse—explora- tion maybe.” Roki’s eyes flickered sardonically. “Why not send a diplomatic delegation—to apologize to Sol for the blasting of their mercy ship.” “Uk! With YOU aboard?” “Certainly. They don’t know me.” Beth just stared at Roki as if he were of a strange species. “You'll do it?” urged Roki, “I'll think it over. I'll see that you get there, if you insist on going. Now get out of here. I’ve had enough of you, Roki.” The Cophian was not offended. He turned on his heel and left the office. The girl looked up from her filing cabinets as he came out. She darted ahead of him and blocked the doorway with her small tense body. Her face was a white mask of dis- gust, and she spoke between her teeth. “How does it feel to murder ten thousand people and get away with it?” she hissed. Roki looked at her face more closely and saw the racial characteristics of Jod VI—the slightly oversized irises of her yellow brown eyes, the thin nose with flaring nostrils, the EComichbooks-=co