Astounding British Edition, Vol. 9, No. 10 — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

a ee aa. et “y Nabe Lan “ne a ", vig 4 ave hee a ‘7 - reply Dondragmer, who Lackland was _ beginning to think must be some kind of mind reader, moved over to the pile of meat, selected a choice piece, and laid it ' in front of the radio set with every indica- tion of humility. He had taken a chance on having a pair of knives meet in his body, and knew it; but his guards were too absorbed by the new situation to take offense at his motion. Lackland, understanding how the mate had inter- preted his own lead,.followed on! he re- duced the volume in the hope that his next utterance would seem less like anger to the canoeists, and heartily approved the mate’s action. “Good work, Don. Every time one of you does something like that Ill try to show approval; and [Il bark like no- body’s business at anything I don’t want ‘our new acquaintances to be doing. You know the appropriate actions better than I, so just do everything in your power to make ’em think these radio boxes are high-powered beings who'll deliver light- ning if properly annoyed.” _“T understand; we can hold our end,” replied the mate. “I gathered that was what you had in mind.” The chief, gathering his courage once more, suddenly lunged at the nearest radio with his spear. Lackland remained silent, feeling that the natural result on the wooden point would be impressive enough; the sailors entered with a_ will into the game outlined by the Flyer. With what Lackland supposed were the equiva- lent of gasps of pious horror, they turned away from the scene and covered their eyes with their pincers. After a moment, seeing that nothing further was happening, Barlennan offered another piece of meat, at the same time gesturing in a way meant to convey the impression that he was begging for the life of the ignorant stranger. The river people were quite evidently impressed, and the chief drew back a little, gathered his committee, and began to discuss the whole situation with them. One of the guards reached slyly for a piece of the food that had been offered to the radio, and the sailor beside him went to the length of holding him back, giving every indication he could of horror.’ ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION The smilarity in natural gesture between all of these. people, that had helped so much in trading with the giants, was in full play here as well; and the people of the river were becoming convinced more thoroughly every moment that the radio boxes were objects with which it would be wise to remain on friendly terms. Finally one of the chief’s counselors, in what was evidently an experiment, picked up a piece of. meat and gave it to the nearest radio. Lackland was about to express gentle thanks when Dondrag- mer’s voice came, “Refuse it!” Not knowing why but willing to trust the mate’s judgment, Lackland turned up the volume and emitted a lionlike roar. The donor leaped back in genuine and unmistakable terror; then, at a sharp order from the chief, he crawled for- ward, retrieved the offending bit of food, selected another from the pile on the deck, and presented that. — “All right.” It was the mate’s voice again, and the Earthman lowered the volume of the speaker. “What was wrong the other time?” he asked quietly. “I wouldn’t have given that piece to a ternee belonging to my worst enemy,” replied Dondragmer. “I don’t know what attributes a being like you would be ex- pected to have, but in my experience the higher-up an individual is placed the choosier he gets.” “I keep finding resemblances between your people and mine in the darnedest situations,” Lackland remarked. “I hope this business is suspended for the night; I can’t see what’s going on in the dark. If anything happens that I should react to, be sure to tell me.” This remark was prompted by the arrival of sunset once more, and Bar- lennan assured him that he would be kept informed. The captain had recovered his poise, and was once again more or less in control of the situation—as far as a prisoner could be. The night was spent by the chief in discussion; his voice, interrupted oc- casionally by others which must belong to his counselors, came clearly to the Earthman far above. The ethnologist sit- Comichbooks Be et or eats eit) fl) 1€O