Astounding British Edition, Volume 8, No. 11 — page 68: what you’re looking at

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

—_ a . Ss oe “ O ryt G See ASTOUNDING SCIENCE 1 FICTION - se “Well... no!” = “All right. Now, I found out why no ships have been coming in Jately.. The Lrymians told Ferris that Fuller hasa bunch — of Terran space cruisers stopping them a couple of million miles out.” A mutter ran through the crowd. Taylor caught several references to “annexation,” uniformly followed by curses. He called for 5 silence. * “Look—suppose he really can do it,” he asked, “what are your holdings worth? At the worst, we oughta make him pay something. He might; it won’t be legal otherwise.” * “Whoever heard of the B. S. T. bein’ legal?” demanded Ludman. “What we oughta do... well, maybe you're right, Taylor. He’s got us cut off here, it looks like.” In the end, Taylor got behind the wheel of the truck, picked up Ferris, and drove out to their ship. é Fuller grinned blandly down: at them. as they approached. “Stay there,” he said genially. “TH = down.” Leaving his weapon with the Rervites at the top of the ladder, he descended. On the ground, he surveyed their wary expressions. “We're out here to bargain for both sides,” Ferris told him. “Glad you had the idea of getting together,” replied Fuller. “I feared that perhaps that shooting you two did was in earnest.” “Naw, I had time to tell him where I went,” Ferris said. “Excellent!’’ beamed Fuller. “And when they chased you out, you did hire out to the Lrymians, as was reported to me?” “Yeah, we have both sides tied up,” i Ferris confirmed, Fuller smiled broadly. “Just the sort of initiative I expected,” he said. “Now, Ill tell you what the Bureau is offering— Three days later, he stood with them in almost the same spot in the shade of their rocket, watching the last of the planters’ freighters preparing to leave with a Terran - cruiser. Taylor heard his name called, and See saw that one of the stragglers had set down his personal baggage on the way to the ship. It was Ludman, so he walked over. “Look, Taylor,” muttered the beefy planter, displaying his new contract, “you sure I don’t owe you anything on this?” ii: Everybody satisfied with | red!” “Naw, I told you—I ‘or a slice off the le prices?” “Sure are!” answered Ludman, “More apiece than we’d make in twenty years. - You an’ Ferris musta thrown some bluff to - keep us from bein’ annexed for nothing. I s don’t see how that B. S: T. stays out of the “They'll sail Saha else to make it up,” Taylor reassured him. “We were li ee ae When I found out how well Fuller ha ‘the ft “Wish I knew what he offered them,” mused Ludman. “Well, it all came out O.K. You coming with us to Terra?” pee “No, Ferris and I patched things up. sey Fuller’s letting us kick off in our own ship — ce when you and the Lrymians are gone. They were scared to go back to Lryme II, SO” - i Fuller's” sending them to Terra on that awe cruiser.” ; ee 2 He shook hands with a straight face and rejoined the others. “There. is one thing I don’t see,” he re- marked to Fuller as the rockets began clos. ee Rervites organized, I nearly dropped.” ing their ports. “How could the Bureau — as afford to pay so high for those plantations?” — re “It will not take as long to get it back — - as you may think,” said Fuller. “The =a Rervites on their own will operate at full — production instead of having the export controlled by that little cartel that was giv- ing Terra a bad name. A small customs — duty will repay the Bureau in a few years. Then, of course, we shall have to arrange ; for space freighters—the Rervites have no rockets of their own.” Taylor saw the gleam in Ferris’ eye snd was content that the hint had been caught. He went on to satisfy his curiosity. “But why should the B. S. T. take the risk? You say you're turning the plantations over to the Rervites without keeping any control.” Fuller smiled and fingered his ‘mustache, “They are the rightful owners, so it seemed only fair to dispose of both invading factions. Besides, the Bureau does not care to control such things completely, as long as we retain a share of influence and... ah . - good will.” “T see,” said Taylor. “Until now,” concluded Fuller, “the high price of tohkine has been making many out-— system traders unhappy during their visits to Terra. The duty of the Bureau is to keep them happy, even at the expense of a minor, somewhat dishonest crusade now and then.” comicbooks-com)