Astounding British Edition, Volume 8, No. 11 — page 53: what you’re looking at

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

BLOOD BANK 51 I think you’ve had time to assure yourselves that this is not a bluff I am trying to put over on you.” “I’m sure it’s not. It’s merely an incon- venience.” “You know little of my home planet then.” “I know a little.” “Then you've heard of the ‘Sword of Apology.’ ’ “How does that—” Hulgruv paused and lost his smirk for an instant. “I see. If you blunder, your code demands that you die aliyway. So you think you ou t hesitate to neglect a Signal. "3 “Try me.’ “It may not be necessary. Tell me, why did you space them two minutes apart? Why not one signal every hour?” “You can answer that.” “Ah yes. You think the short period insures you against any painful method of persuasion, eh?” “Uh-huh. And it gives me a chance to decide frequently whether it’s worth it.” “What is it you want, Cophian? Sup- pose we give you the girl and release you.” “She is a mere incidental,” he growled, fearful of choking on the words. “The price is surrender.” Hulgruv laughed heartily. It was obvious he had other plans. “Why do you deem us your enemy?” “You heard the accusation I beamed back to my Cluster.” “Certainly. We ignored it, directly. In- directly we made a fool of you by launch- ing another, uh, mercy ship to your system. The cargo was labeled as to source, and the ship made a point of meeting one of your patrol vessels, It stopped for inspec- tion. You're less popular at home than ever.” He grinned. “I suggest you return to Sol with us. Help us develop the warp locks.” Roki hesitated. “You say the ship stopped {Or inspection?” “Certainly.” “Wasn’t it inconvenient? Changing your diet, leaving your ‘livestock’ at home—so our people wouldn’t know you for what you really are.” Hulgruv stiffened slightly, then nodded. “Good guess.” “Cannibal!” “Not at all. I am not a man.” They stared fixedly at one another. The Cophian felt the clammy cloak of hate creeping about him. The tone from the Speaker suddenly stopped. A motnent of Zz dead silence. Roki leaned back in his chair. “I’m not going to answer the first signal.” The commander glanced through the doorway and jerked his head. A moment later, Talewa Walkeka stepped proudly into the room, escorted by a burly guard. She gave him an icy glance and said nothing. “Daleth-—” She made a noise like an angry cat and sat where the guard pushed her. They waited. The first signal suddenly screeched from the receiver: two series of short bleats of three different notes. Involuntarily his hand leaped to the key. He bleated back the answering signal. Daleth wore a puzzled frown. “Ilgen times ufneg is hork-segan,” she muttered in translation. A slow giin spread across Hulgruv’s heavy face. He turned to look at the girl. “You're trained in the Cophian number system?” “Don’t answer that!” Roki bellowed. “She has answered it, manthing. Are you aware of what your friend is doing, female?” She shook her head. Hulgruv told her briefly, She frowned at Roki, shook her head, and stared impassively at the floor. Apparently she was either drugged or had learned nothing about the Solarians to con- vince her that they were enemies of the galaxy. “Tell me, Daleth. Have they been feeding you well?” She hissed at him again. “Are you crazy—?” Hulgruv chuckled. “He is trying to tell you that we are cannibals. Do you believe it?” Fright appeared in her face for an instant, then disbelief. She stared at the commander, saw no guilt in his expression. She looked scorn at Roki. “Listen, Daleth! That’s why they wouldn’t stop. Human livestock aboard. One look in their holds and we would have known, seen through their guise of mercy, recog- nized them as self-styled supermen, guessed their plans for galactic conquest. They breed their human cattle on their home planet and make a business of selling the parts. Their weapon is infiltration into our con- fidence. They knew that if we gained an insight into their bloodthirsty culture, we would crush them.” “You're insane, Roki!” she snapped. “No! Why else would they refuse to stop? Technical secrets? Baloney! Their (S©) EComichbooks