Astounding British Edition, Vol. 9, No. 7 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

7 ie rik Bartie. DN et sapiens : tee ts ae ve fi i ~ y ae SS. eS ame ; dag he 89 GEM Dacor ~ — ae re : < than we lose for Pelton. And we had an informal meeting—Joyner for Retail Merchandising, Starke for Grievance Settlements, and four or five others in- cluding myself, to make up a quorum. We had Bayne in, and heard his story of it, and we got a report from one of our stoolies in the store. Bayne thought he was due for a commendation; instead, he got an eat-out. Of course, it was a fact that Pelton’d hit him, and we can’t have Literates punched around, regardless of provocation. So we voted to fine Pelton ten million for beating Bayne up, and to award him ten million for losses resulting from unauthorized withdrawal of Literate services. We ordered a new crew of Literates to the store, and we exiled Bayne to Brooklyn, to something called Stillman’s Used Copter and Junk Bazaar. For the next few months, the only thing he’ll find that’s round and pinchable will be secondhand tires.. But don’t be too hard on him; I think he did us a favor.” | “You mean, starting a rift between Pelton and the Consolidated Illiterates’ Organization, which can widen after the - election?” “No. I hadn’t thought of it that way, Frank,” Lancedale smiled. “It’s an idea worth keeping in mind, and we'll exploit it, later. What I was thinking about was the more immediate problem of the election—” The buzzer on Lancedale’s desk inter- rupted, and a voice came out of the commo box: “Message, urgent and private, sir. Source named as Sforza.” Cardon recognized the name. Maybe the Independent-Conservatives have troubles, too, he thought hopefully. Then Lance- dale’s video screen became the frame for an almost unbelievably commonplace set of features. “Sforza, sir,” the man in the screen said. “Sorry I’m late, but I was able to get out of the building only a few minutes ago, and I had to make sure I wasn’t wearing a tail. I have two new facts. Pte ah oe = “aor, ee SM ee a ee ie ee See ee ee . ee eo Fy a a att oy PR Os SS i ee Sin : aL tying ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION _ fidicule Gardner,” Lancedale told him. “And even this business at the store can be turned to some advantage. Before we're through, we may gain more votes First, the Conservatives have been bring- ing stormtroops in from outside, from — Philadelphia, and from Wilkes-Scranton, and from Buffalo. They are being con- centrated in lower Manhattan, in plain clothes, with only concealed weapons, and carrying their hoods folded up under their coats. Second, I overheard a few snatches of conversation between two of the Conservative stormtroop leaders, as follows. ‘. .. Start it in China .. . thirteen- thirty,’ and ‘. . . Important to make it appear either spontaneous or planned for business motives.’ ” “Try to get us more information, as quickly as possible,” Lancedale directed. “Obviously, we should know, by about thirteen hundred, what’s being planned.” “Right, sir.” Lancedale’s spy at In- dependent - Conservative headquarters nodded and vanished from the screen. “What does it sound like to you, Frank?” Lancedale asked. “China is obviously a code-designation for some place in downtown Manhattan, where the Conservative goon gangs are being concentrated. The only thing I can say is that it probably is not Chinatown. They'd either say ‘Chinatown’ and not ‘China,’ or they would use some code- designation that wasn’t so close to the actual name,” Cardon considered. “What they’re going to start, at thirteen-thirty, which is only two hours and a half from now, is probably some kind of a riot.” “A riot which could arise from busi- ness motives,” Lancedale added. “That sounds like the docks, or the wholesale district, or something like that.” He passed his hand rapidly over the photo- electric eye of the commo box. “Get me Major Slater,” he said; and, a little later, “Major, get a platoon out to Long Island, to Chester Pelton’s home; have the place searched for possible booby traps, and maintain guard there till further notice. You'll have no trouble with the servants, they’re all in our pay. That platoon must not, repeat not, wear uniform or appear to have any connection with the Frater- nities. Put another platoon in Pelton’s store. Concealed weapons, and plain clothes. They should carry their leather helmets in shopping bags, and roam about in the store, ostensibly shopping. Comicbooks-co