Astounding British Edition, Vol. 9, No. 10 — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

50 ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION enable us to collapse their civilization quite easily. “Come on,” Taj said. “Ill show you around.” | “Good. I’d like that.” Potter followed him into the engine compartment. “That’s the converter, over there,” Taj, said, pointing. “When we cut in or out of subspace, it channels the kinetic energy of our velocity into the warp generator, and gives us the necessary power to accomplish the shift.” He turned his head to see Potter’s face, and was surprised to see the Earthman smile when he asked, “You’re familiar with the con- cept of subspace, of course?” “Oh... uh... yes, yes, of course.” Taj frowned. Once again, behind Pot- ter’s obvious confusion, he thought he noticed something quite different. That smile, too. That didn’t belong. There seemed to be a lot of inconsistencies in this avowed ceramicist-turned-holiday naturalist’s character. Potter’s next ques- tion served to be-cloud the issue even further. “But, if you use your kinetic energy to shift from and to subspace, that would mean you'd have to build up velocity again every time you made the shift. Doesn’t that take an awfully long time?” If the question was meant to present a picture of a not unintelligent being who was nevertheless ignorant of the principles of spaceflight, then it served exactly that purpose. On the other hand, if it was a deliberate probe for information, then it was just as effective in that context. Taj decided to hedge. “Inertialleviator,” he said shortly. “Oh,” was Potter’s answer. Which covers a multitude of sins, Taj thought. Only the knowledge that he was in complete control of the situation as long as the helmet’s field was off kept him from killing Potter immediately for caution’s sake. He considered drawing his sidearm and operating on a captor- prisoner basis, but decided apainst that, too. The strongest weapon is the opposi- tion’s failure to grasp the true situation, he remembered from his indoctrination. As long as he knew things about Potter that the Earthman didn’t know he knew, the situation was still under his control. In any case, it was entirely probable that Potter was just as naive as he pre- tended to be. Taj’s nerves had played tricks on him before. “Well, look, Taj—I’m no physicist. All Til ever get out of looking at a space- ship’s engines will be the satisfaction of normal curiosity. That, ’'ve done. How about showing me the rest of the ship?” Potter said. “Sure, Styles, sure. Follow me,” Taj said, his spirits rising in triumphant relief at Potter’s obvious inability to under- stand the drive’s workings. With the dis- solution of the uncertain mood he had experienced in the engine room, he led the Earthman confidently into the con- trol cabin, and showed him the fairly simple instrument board without mis- givings. He even permitted himself to smile over Potter’s awe of the celestial globe which did most of the actual work of pilotage. The Earthman peered into the tank, his eyebrows drawn together. “This thing actually a scale model of the galaxy?” he asked. Taj chuckled. “I’m afraid that would be a little beyond us,” he said. “It’s a model—but far from scale—of the sector of space we are capable of reaching. It shows all suns with worlds of practical value to us, though, of course, we couldn’t and don’t have to, reproduce the planets themselves.” “I'd say that was good enough,” Potter commented in an impressed tone. After a few more minutes of staring into the tank, he turned back to Taj. “I guess that about wraps up the grand tour, doesn’t it? Let’s find a place. to sit down and talk.” : “Certainly. Come on into the living quarters,” Taj said, and led him into his cabin. : They found seats, Taj carefully picking a chair where his arm would be free to draw his gun whenever he decided that Potter had given him enough information. Potter lounged back in a padded seat. “Nice Jayout—but then, with the traveling you do, I guess comfort’s one of your main concerns.” EOMIGDoOoks co im