Astounding British Edition, Vol. 9, No. 10 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

MEDICINE SHOW “But—” the sheriff said. “Release him.” “He will be released when the court turns him loose, which will be about ten years from now,” Lapham said. “As to bail for them, I am going to see that it is set higher than any figure you can reach.” “Time is very important. This infection is at the crisis point. I want Yanvro to see what he can do to help the child. I admit I do not know what to do.” “You’re out of your mind,” Lapham said, coldly. “Stand aside.” “I see,” Harmon said. He did not move. “This is Donna Culver,” he said to the sheriff.. “I know it is,” the sheriff answered. “T didn’t even know she was sick until now.” “She” s your niece, isn’t she?” “Ves ‘<Well, you know now that she is sick. And there is something else I want you to know.” Harmon moved forward to whisper in the sheriff's ear. “Without more help than I can give, she is going to die. If you will take orders from me for just a little while, she may have a chance to live.” “W-w-what?” “Stop that whispering!” Lapham snapped. “This is your alibi for what is going to happen,” Harmon whispered to the sheriff. As the officer leaned forward to listen, Harmon slipped the pistol from its holster on the sheriff’s hip. “Unlock the es on these two men.” Staring at the gun, ‘the sheriff turned the key in the cuffs. “Harmon, you have gone completely crazy!” Lapham said. “You haven’t heard the end of this, I promise you.” The outraged physician stalked from the lot. “Carry her into the tent,” Harmon said, to Donna’s father. The crowd surged behind them. At the entrance Harmon paused. “If you folk will be both quiet and patient, I will appreciate it.” “Hurry up, Doc,’ Jason Kemper shouted from the crowd. “There’re others waiting.” Changés had been made inside the tent. The truck had been backed into the far end and the boxes of seeds had been loaded into it. “Set her in this chair beside the table,” Yanvro said to the father. “Is this all right, Doc?” Culver spoke to Harmon. “We're gambling. The way she is going now, there is nothing I can do for her. We're taking a chance that something can be done—here.” Harmon’s voice was suddenly choked and taut. “T’ll back your gamble, Doc,” the father spoke, his voice tense. “I'll bet my last dollar on one thing—your heart’s in the right place.” “Thank you.” “When one’s heart is in the right place, all other things may be possible,” Yanvro said softly. Behind his thick-lensed spec- tacles, his eyes seemed to glow with dancing lights. The needles on the dials jumped wildly as the child was placed in the chair. Watching, Harmon saw color go out of Yanvro’s face: Yanvro darted a quick glance at the twisting child. More color drained from his face. He turned mutely appealing eyes to Harmon as if begging not to be judged too quickly or too harshly, that some things were beyond human power to control. “You’ve got to save her,” Harmon said. His voice was a prayer. “My friend, we will do the best we can, but it may be that what you call a miracle is needed here. I have never seen such readings on these meters—” “Then work a miracle!” Harmon said y. “We will do our best. Pienster—” “Yes.” The spieler was instantly be- side Yanvro. Harmon watched the two men work as he had never seen two men work before. Yanvro and Pienster made a team. What one thought, the other seemed to act out. They moved, acted, and thought, in such perfect rapport and understanding that they were, in effect, one man, one mind. The panel hummed softly, the light glowed. Pienster snatched the pieces of metal from the receptacle. Using pieces of cloth torn from her nightgown, he CEORMICLOOL <SaEC)