Astounding British Edition, Volume 8, No. 11 — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

tribute you gentlemen, all about the space- port,” said Fuller. Taylor stared at the thick black barrel jutting two feet out of the port. For a moment, he wondered how the agent could contrive to miss him if trouble ensued: then he wondered if he would. Someone, mistaking his hesitation, grabbed his elbow. “Let’s get out of here!” Ludman panted — in his ear. “If he let’s go with one of them shells, it'll leave just a big hole where we're sitting!” Taylor shrugged. “All right,’ he told Fuller. “But don’t _ think you can push us around for long. We - have an organization.” “But not the only one,” retorted Fuller. “I hear that the Lrymians are so impressed by yours that they are imitating it. In fact, there they come now.” Taylor took one look back toward the edge of the field, and ordered the driver to se get moving. The battered vehicle churned up a trail of dust as it sped toward the out- ____ skirts of town. = As they approached the first buildings, through the band of bushy trees bordering the landing field, Taylor saw that the Terran planters were also gathering. ~~ “Bout time you showed up!” cried one re as the truck squealed to a stop. “Things are -_-- eomin’ to a head! You fellows get the guns for us?” Taylor shook his head and looked across the narrow road. Through the bushes, he could see the robed figures of the Lrymians massing in a Clearing. Ferris was with them. Only about three dozen of them and nearly a hundred of us, he thought, but J wish I knew what Fuller expects. “What are we gonna do now?” Ludman - Taylor was conscious of the silent stares of the assemblage. He told them about Fuller and the ship. This dampened the general enthusiasm for a few seconds. Then someone pointed out _ that the weight of numbers should be _ Sufficient. Fac “You don’t get the idea,” said Taylor with sudden inspiration. “Maybe Fuller will be more trouble than the Lrymians. By the way, when was the last time one of your freighters. landed?” They looked at each other in puzzled silence, __ BLUFF-STAINED TRANSACTION 63 “1 should consider it. regrettable to dis- “Your rocket was the last landing,” some- one admitted. Before Taylor could frighten them fur- ther, everyone turned at the sound of a hail "from across the road. Taylor saw Ferris beckoning from beside a stunted tree. “I'd better see what he wants,” he told Ludman. “Maybe we ought to tie in with his -gang—for the time being.” He waited until he saw enough sullen nods of assent to feel they trusted him, then walked over to Ferris. “You an’ your gun-play!” the dark man greeted him, masking a grin with his left hand. “What happened out at the ship?” ~ Taylor told him. “So I said something about joining up with your Lrymians against Fuller,” he con- cluded. “What do you suppose he wants?” Ferris pondered. “I’m not too sure,” he muttered, “but it would be just like him to play off our two gangs against each other. Or would he have some idea “bout killin’ two birds with one stone?” “We oughta find a way to talk to him,” Taylor suggested. “For once,” Ferris admitted, “you got something. Now, we better agree on how to put it to our mobs.” After a few minutes spent in getting their stories straight, Taylor returned to his group. “The Lrymians are agreeable,” he an- nounced. “I didn’t make any promises about later. Ferris and I figure we’d better go out and see what we can get out of Fuller.” “You going with that two-timer?” de- manded the bony-face Tim. “You want him to go alone—and maybe get the best deal for the Lrymians?” coun- tered Taylor. THE ~ BRITISH INTERPLANETARY SOCIETY 12 Besshborough Gardens, London, $.W.1 Membership is open to all interested in rocket engineering and space-flight. Full particulars, together with a free copy of the Society’s Journal and programme of lectures, film shows, ecc., will be sent on request. Annuai Subscription . (under 21) Entrance Fee .