Astounding British Edition, Volume 8, No. 11 — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

Taylor sat up straight on the hard bed. “You ain’t going?” he exclaimed. Ferris grinned, and continued in a lower voice. = “I’ve already been!” He moved lithely to the curtained door- way and satisfied himself that they were alone. “What’s the idea,’ whispered Taylor fiercely, when the other had returned to perch upon the foot of the bed. “If that mob hears about this—!” “Nobody saw me,” Ferris reassured him. “I came in the other side of town and walked between the Rervite houses to the inn. Gerry, I think we have both ends of the jet plugged!” “Yeah?” Taylor was sceptical. _ “Yeah! Before I left, I let the Lrymians talk me into makin’ a deal. They’re willin’ ~~ to co-operate to stay on Rerv IV.” - Taylor pursed his lips, considering, “We might work something,” insisted Ferris. “I harped on the chance of the _ Terran government steppin’ in, so Zrok-Tu promised not to start anythin’ till he hears from me.” “You got promises the Terrans won’t start it?” asked Taylor doubtfully. “We got control, *specially since we got them all to turn in their guns for safe- _ keepin’ at the ship. They all know each _ other from *way back, so naturally none of them lets the others tell him anythin’. That’s why we’re in charge—nobody has any old grudges against us outsiders.” Taylor leaned back with hands clasped behind his head. “TI like to hear you figure the angles,” he said. “Now, tell me why the Lrymians don’t just send for help, too. Lryme is only a few light-years from here.” “I found that out, too,” grinned Ferris. “Fuller wouldn’t tell me, but Zrok-Tu did. _ The slicker has three Terran space cruisers in an orbit around Rerv IV.” He nodded at Taylor’s exclamation, and continued. “The Lrymians are about numb for fear the annexation will go through an’ they’ll get sent back to Lyrme without doin’ what they were sent for. They must have a cheer- ful kind of planetary government; they’re all shimmyin’ to the tips of their tentacles!” “Well, that’s a relief,” sighed Taylor. “Maybe Fuller can figure out some place for them to escape to.” He lay back after Ferris bounced out _ jauntily in search of lunch. The heat of BLUFF-STAINED TRANSACTION 61 early afternoon on Rerv IV encouraged the siesta habit. _ Taylor thought of the sea that covered almost all the planet. From the Rervites he had found time to speak with, he knew something of the general topography; and he could easily understand why most of the plantations were on the inner or polar side of the island ring. This was well populated by the odd but respectably advanced Rervite civilization. The few plantations on ‘the comparatively narrow shelf to the outside, on the other hand, were subject to raids by the voracious sea life that roamed the deeper waters. Just the same, thought Taylor, J bet it'd be nice on a day like this to put on a space- suit and go under for a few hours. Hunting with those bone spears they showed me could be sport. Hurried footsteps in the hall roused him from his reverie. Rolling silently to his feet, he hitched his shoulder holster into per- fect position. For a moment, he considered slipping on the jacket that lay on the chair beside the bed. The curtain was swept aside and three Terrans strode angrily in. Ludman, in the lead, slowed at the sight of Taylor and peered about suspiciously. “Ferris here?” “No,” answered Taylor, thinking swiftly and trying to keep the effort from showing in his expression. They're onto him, he thought. I knew he shouldn’a gone! “Ain't seen him since morning,” he added. Ludman turned to the other pair. One of them, a lean, bony-faced man with lank hair, said, “He could be lying.” Their beefy leader looked doubtfully from him to Taylor, but remembered his grudging respect for the latter. “Maybe not,” he said. “Listen, Taylor, did you know your partner went out to the Lrymian settlement this noon?” Taylor looked shocked. “What would he do that for? What hap- pened?” he asked. “That’s what we want to know,” growled Ludman. “Would he sell out?” “Sell out?” echoed Taylor in horrified tones, Ludman looked at him pityingly. “We better find Ferris,” the told the cthers. “Looks like he crossed his partner, too.” Taylor picked up his jacket and donned it to hide the dart pistol, striving desperately to think of some diversion. As he turned Gomichbooksaco