Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

a2 ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION Brannoch sprawled back, letting his interminable legs stretch across the polished floor. “I’ve kicked around a bit, too,” he said. “Had to get out of the system a while back, when my family got the short end of a feud. Spent a hundred years external time knocking around, till I got a chance to make a comeback. Planetography’s a sort of hobby with me, which is the only reason I come to your parties, Valti, you kettle-bellied old fraud. Tell me, captain, did you ever touch at Procyon?” For half an hour the conversation spanned stars and planets. Something of the weight within Langley lifted. The vision of many-faced strangeness spinning through an endless outer dark was one to catch at his heart. “By the way,” said Brannoch, “I’ve been hearing some rumors about an alien you had along, who broke loose. What’s the truth on that?” ! “Ah, yes,” murmured Valti in his tangled beard. “I, too, have been in- trigued, yes, a most interesting sort he seems to be. Why, should he take such a desperate action?” | Langley stiffened. What had Chanthavar said—wasn’t the whole affair supposed to be confidential? Brannoch would have his spies, of course; and seemingly Valti did, too. The American had a chilling sense of immense contending powers, a machine running wild and he caught in the whirling gears. “1’d rather like to add him to the collection,” said Brannoch idly. ‘‘That is, not to harm him, just to meet the creature. If he really is a true telepath, he’s almost unique.” “The Society would also have an interest in this matter,” said Valti diffi- — 4 dently. ‘‘The planet may have something to trade worth even such a long trip.” After a moment, he added dreamily: “I think the payment for such in- formation would be quite generous, captain. The Society has its little quirks, and the desire to meet a new race is one, Yes . . . there would be money in it.” | “Could be I’d venture a little fling myself,” said Brannoch. “Couple million solars—and my protection. These are troubled times, captain. A powerful patron isn’t to be sniffed at.” | “The Society,” remarked Valti, “has extraterritorial rights. It can grant sanctuary, as well as removal from Earth, which is becoming an unsalubrious place. And, of course, monetary rewards—three million solars, as an invest- ment in new knowledge?” “This is hardly the place to talk business,” said Brannoch. “But as I said, I think you might like Thor—or we could set you up anywhere else you chose. Three and a half million.” 7 Valti groaned. ‘““My lord, do you wish to impoverish me? I have a family to support.” ‘Yeah. One on each planet,” chuckled Brannoch. ! , Langley sat very still. He. thought he knew why they all wanted Saris Hronna—but what to do about it? Chanthavar’s short supple form emerged from the crowd. “Oh, there you are,” he said. He bowed casually to Brannoch and Valti. “Your servant, my lord and good sir.” “Thanks, Channy,” said Brannoch. “Sit down. Why don’t you?” THE LONG WAY HOME | 33 “No. Another person would like to meet the captain. Excuse us.” When they were safely into the mob, Chanthavar drew Langley aside. “Were those men after you to deliver this alien up to them?” he asked. There was something ugly on his face. “Yes,” said Langley wearily. “I thought so. The Solar government’s riddled with their agents. Well, don’t do it.” pe A tired, harried anger bristled in Langley. ‘Look here, son,” he said, straightening till Chanthavar’s eyes were well below his. “I don’t see as how I owe any faction today anything. Why don’t you quit treating me like a child?” . “I’m not going to hold you incommunicado, though I could,” said Chan- thavar mildly. “Isn’t worth the trouble, because we’ll probably have that beast before long. I’m just warning you, though, that if he should fall into any hands but mine, it’ll go hard with you.” “Why not lock me up and be done with it?” “It wouldn’t make you think, as I'll want you to think in case my own search fails. And it’s too crude.” Chanthavar paused, then said with a curious intensity: “Do you know why I play out this. game of politics and war? Do you think maybe I want power for myself? That’s for fools who want to command other fools. It’s fun to play, though—life gets so thundering tedious otherwise, What else can I do that I haven’t done a hundred times already? But it’s fun to match wits with Brannoch and that slobbering red-beard. Win, lose, or draw, it’s amusing; but I intend to win.” ‘Ever thought of—compromising?”’ “Don’t let Brannoch bluff you. He’s one of the coldest and cleverest brains in the galaxy. Fairly decent sort— I'll be sorry when I finally have to kill him —but— Never mind!” Chanthavar turned away. “Come on, let’s get down to the serious business of getting drunk.” V. There was darkness around Saris Hronna where he crouched, and a wet wind blowing off the canal with a thousand odors of strangeness. The night was full of fear. He lay in the weeds and mud of the canal bank, flattening his belly to the earth, and listened for those who hunted him. There was no moon yet, but the stars were high and clear, a distant pulsing glow on the world’s edge told of a city, and for him there was enough gray light for vision. He looked down the straight line of the canal, the ordered rows of wind-rustling grain marching from.horizon to horizon, the rounded bulk of somebody’s darkened hut three miles off; his nostrils sucked in a cool dank air, green growth and the small warm scurry of wildlife; he heard the slow, light dragging of wind, the remote honking of a bird, the incredibly faint boom of some airship miles overhead; his nerves drank the eddies and pulses of other nerves, other beings—so had he lain in the darknesses of Holat, We eaMmicbooks.co 2