Astounding British Edition, Vol. 9, No. 7 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

Claire, like a pair of marionettes on the same set of strings, cast a quick glance at the door and then were in each other’s arms. Chester Pelton slept placidly as they kissed and whispered endearments. It was Claire who terminated the em- brace, looking apprehensively at her slumbering father. “Ralph, what’s it all about?” she asked. “I didn’t even know that you and Frank Cardon knew each other, let alone that he had any idea about us.” Prestonby thought furiously, trying to find a safe path through the tangle of Claire Pelton’s conflicting loyalties, trying to find a path between his own loyalties and his love for her, wondering how much it would be safe to tell her. “And Cardon’s gone completely cloak- and-dagger-happy,” she continued. “He’s talking about plots against my father’s life, and against me, and—” “A lot of things are going on under cloaks, around here,” he told her. “And under Literate smocks, and under other kinds of costume. And a lot of daggers are out, too. You didn’t know Frank Car- don was a Literate, did you?” Her eyes widened. “I thought I was Literate enough to spot Literacy in any- body else,” she said. “No, I never even suspected—” Somebody rapped on the door. “Miss Pelton,” the sergeant’s voice called. “Visi- phone call from Literates’ Hall.” Prestonby smiled. “Ill take it, if you don’t mind,” he said. “I’m acting-chief- Literate here, now, I suppose.” She followed him as he went out into Pelton’s office. When he snapped on the screen, a2 young man in a white smock, with the Fraternities Executive Section badge, looked out of it. He gave a slight start when he saw Prestonby. “Literate First Class Ralph N. Preston- by, acting voluntarily for Pelton’s Pur- chasers’ Paradise during emergency,” he said. “Literate First Class Armandez, Exe- cutive Section,” the man in the screen replied. “This call is in connection with the recent attack of Chester Pelton upon Literate First Class Bayne.” “Continue, understanding that admit nothing,” Prestonby told him. we ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION — “ss tee ~~ eee ’evt- * | a ‘9 = ee ~~ ll a a * “An extemporary session of the Coun- cil has found Pelton guilty of assaulting Literate Bayne, and has fined him ten million dollars,” Armandez announced. “We enter protest,” Prestonby replied automatically. . “Wait a moment, Literate. The Council has also awarded Pelton’s Purchasers’ Paradise damages to the extent of ten million dollars, for losses incurred by suspension of Literate service, and voted censure against Literate Bayne for order- ing said suspension without consent of. the Council. Furthermore, a new crew of Literates, with their novices, guards, et- cetera, is being sent at once to your store. Obviously, neither the Fraternities, nor Pelton’s, nor the public, would be bene- fitted by returning Literate Bayne or any of his crew; he has been given another assignment.” “Thank you. And when can we expect this new crew of Literates?” Prestonby asked. 3 The man in the screen consulted his watch. “Probably inside of an hour. We’ve had to do some re-shuffling; you know how these things are handled. And if you'll pardon me, Literate; just what are you doing at Pelton’s? I understood that you were principal of Mineola High School.” . “That’s a good question.” Prestonby hastily assessed the circumstances and their implications. “I'd suggest that you ask it of my superior, Literate Lancedale, however.” The Literate in the screen blinked; that was the equivalent, for him, of any- body else’s jaw dropping to his midriff. “Well! A pleasure, Literate. Good “Miss Pelton!” The man in the blue- and-orange suit was still trying to catch her attention. “Where are we going to put that stuff? Russ Latterman’s out in the store, somewhere, and I can’t get in touch with him.” “What did you say it was?” she replied. “Fireworks, for the Peace Day trade. We want to get it on sale about the middle of the month.” “This was a fine time to deliver them. Peace Day isn’t till the Tenth of Decem- (Eo) (OME NCO KS hae An *. all -_ > — =. ae ieee Ol ae ee “St seth cong it rg PAE ES HES Pe ee ON esl <7 : % ae - 2 , iS ca