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

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

6 % lion. Out there where the living is easy we'd lose that. We almost did once. A wise commander stopped it before it went too far. There are still a few signs of that time left—left deliberately as reminders of what can happen if commanding officers forget why we're here!” “What things—” asked Kurt curiously. “Well, son,” said the colonel, picking up his great war bonnet from the desk and gazing at it quizzically, “I don’t think you're quite ready for that information yet. Now take off and strut your feather. I’ve got work to do!” 2 CHAPTER IV. AT War Base Three nobody was happy. Ships that were supposed to be light-months away carrying on the carefully planned search for General Carr’s hideout were fluttering down out of thé sky like senile penguins, disabled by blown jets, jammed computers, and all the other natural ills that worn out and poorly serviced equip- ment is heir to. Technical maintenance was quietly going mad. Commander Krogson was being noisy about it. “Schninkle!* he screamed. thing happening any place?” “Nothing yet, sir,” Said the little man. “Well make something happen!” He hoisted his battered brogans onto the scarred top of the desk and chewed savagely on a frayed cigar. “How are the other ‘sectors doing?” “No better than we are,” said Schninkle. “Commander Snork of Sector Six tried to pull a fast one but he didn’t get away with it. He sent his STAP into a plantation planet out at the edge of the Belt and had them thypno the whole population. By the time they were through there were. about fifteen million greenies running around yelling ‘Up with General Carr!’ ‘Down with the Lord Protector!’ ‘Long Live. the People’s Revolution!’ and things like that. Snork even gave them a few medium vor- tex blasters to make it look more realistic. Then he sent in his whole fleet, tipped off the press at Prime Base, and waited. Guess what the Bureau of Essential Information finally sent him?” “Tl bite,” said Commander Krogson. “One lousy cub reporter. Snork couldn’t back out then so he had to go ahead and blast the planet down to bedrock. This morning he got a three line notice in Space “Isn't any- column on ‘Our Feathered Comrades’,” ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION and a citation as Third Rate Protector of the People’s Space Ways, Eighth Grade.” “That’s better than the nothing we've got so far!” said the commander gloomily, ‘Not when the press notice is buried on the next to last page right below the said Schninkle, “‘and when the citation is post- humous. They even misspelled his sso it came out Snark!” — CHAPTER V. As Kurt turned to go, there was a sharp knock on Colonel Harris’ door. “Come in!” called the colonel. Lieutenant Colonel Blick, the battalion executive officer, entered with an arrogant stride and threw his commander a slovenly salute. For a moment he didn’t notice Kurt standing at attention beside the door. “Listen, Harris!” he snarled. ‘““What’s the idea of pulling that clean-up detail out of my quarters?” “There are no servants in this battalion, Blick,” the older man said quietly. “When the men come in from work detail at night they’re tired. They’ve earned a rest and as long as I’m C.O. they’re going to get it. If you have dirty work that has to be done, do it yourself. You're. better able to do it than some poor devil who’s been dragging a plow all day. I suggest you check ee, tinent regulations!” “Regulations!” growled Blick. “What dc = you expect me to do, scrub my own floors “I do,” said the colonel dryly, “when wife is too busy to get to it. ee that either my dignity or ciency have suffered appreciably. I might | “ add,” he continued mildly, “that staff officers are supposed to set a good example for their juniors, I don’t think either your tone or your manner are those that Lieu- tenant Dixon should be encouraged to emulate.” He gestured toward Kurt and Blick spun on one heel. “Lieutenant Dixon!” he roared in an incredulous voice. “By’ whose authority?” “Mine,” said the colonel .mildly. “In case you’ve forgotten I am still commanding officer of this battalion.” “IT protest!” said Blick. “Commissions have@always been awarded by decision of the entire staff.” “Which you now control,” replied the colonel. Kurt coughed nervously, “Excuse me, sir,” he said, “but I think I’d better leave.” Comicboo <SEGO) I haven’t