Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition — page 56: what you’re looking at

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

110 ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION flash told him that whatever he said, he was already convicted. Regardless of what defense he might offer, he knew he would be condemned to whatever punishment these people decided to deal out to him. And that punishment, he realized, would be death. He straightened proudly. “Oh, priest,’”’ he said thickly, “I am guilty of no crime. You, however, are about to commit a:serious crime, which is beyond my power to prevent.” He hesitated, then continued. “Be warned, however, that if there are any real gods above or below, you will receive punishment. The gods, unlike men, are just!” | Aware of sudden motion in his direction, he rapidly finished. “So, make your sacrifice, and then see if you can save your vessel from the natural forces of wind and water.” The priest stiffened angrily. | “Blasphemy,” he said. “Blasphemy, of the worst sort. He looked away from Musa. “I believe that in this case, the Great One will require the ship’s company to deal with you in their own way, that they may be purged of any contamination due to your presence.”’ He raised his arms. “Oh, Great Kondaro, Lord of all the seas, and the things within the seas,” he began. Sad ca Musa evaded the two slaves with a quick weave of his shoulders. Covering the distance to the side of the ship with a few quick steps, he jumped over the rail. As he fell, the wind tore at him, and his windmilling arms and legs failed to find any purchase to right him. He hit the water with a splash and concussion that nearly knocked the breath from his body, and promptly sank. As the water closed over his head, he struck out with hands and feet in an effort to climb again to light and air. His head broke the surface, and he flailed the water in an effort to keep his nose in air. The ship was drawing away from him, its storm sails set. As he struggled in the water, he wondered if it was worth while. After all, he had only to allow himself to sink, and all his troubles would be over shortly. Wouldn’t it be easier to do this than to continue torturing himself with a hopeless fight? Too, he wondered if he had been right in leaving the ship, but he quickly dismissed that thought. The sea was impersonal, neither cruel nor kind. It was far better, he thought, to surrender to the forces of nature than to subject himself to the viciousness of angry men. Suddenly, a constraining force seized him. He instinctively fought to free himself, then realized that he was being drawn upward, out of the water. Possibly, he thought, the Great One wanted to speak to him. He rose swiftly through the air, passed through complete darkness for an instant, then found himself in a small room. Two men stood facing him, both of them vaguely familiar. As his mind refocused, Musa recognized the peddler of amulets, then the herder to whom he had once sold a sword. They were strangely familiar, but they were in strange costumes, He stared at them. “Well, Musa,” said the herder. “I see you got into trouble.” aes blinked. ‘‘Who are you?”’ he demanded. “‘How do you know of my affairs?” THE PLAYERS 111 The peddler of amulets grinned. ““Why, we are old companions, Musa,” he said. “Of course, you have forgotten us, but we never forgot you.” He pointed. , “This is Resident Guardsman Lanko. I am Banasel, also of the Stellar Guard. Our job is to prevent just such situations as the one you just found yourself in.” His grin faded. ‘“That, and a few other things.” Musa frowned. “‘Stellar Guard? What is that?” Lanko studied him for a moment, then crossed the small room. “You knew once,” he tossed over his shoulder, “but you rejected the knowledge, and it had to be taken from you. Since you'll be working with us for a while, I think we will have to restore your memories. Perhaps you'll want to retain them.” He removed equipment from a cabinet. “Some of this will have to be secondhand, since neither Banasel nor myself have been in the spots shown. But some of it is firsthand.” His hand flicked a switch. A power unit hummed, and Musa found himself recalling a campsite near the now destroyed and rebuilt city of Atakar. As the imposed mental blocks fell away, he remembered who Banasel and Lanko were. And he realized why he had been drawn to them in the recent past. Memories of his days of slavery in Atakar flashed before his mind, and he remembered the part these two had taken in his' escape. He recalled the days of banditry, and the strange visitors, who had brought with them dis- turbing knowledge, and strange powers. He saw the destruction of Atakar, and the capture of the galactic criminals who had depraved that city. He shared the experiences of his two companions during their introduction to the advanced culture of the Galactic Federation, and he saw snatches of their training at Aldebaran Base. He went with them on some of their missions. The humming stopped, and he looked up at the two. “So,” Lanko told him, ‘now you know.” Musa nodded. ‘‘I turned something down, didn’t 1?” As Musa disappeared over the vessel’s side, the priest, Dontor, lowered his arms. Quickly turning the unscheduled event to advantage, he cried, “We need worry no further, my children. The Great One has called this blasphemer to final account.” He turned to one of his juniors, lowering his voice. “Go below, Alnar, and break out this man’s goods. We must reward those who informed us.” The junior bowed. “‘Yes, sir.” He hesitated. ‘Will this storm blow over soon?” he queried. Dontor smiled. ‘‘You should have paid more attention to your course in practical seamanship,” he chided. “We are sailing fairly close hauled, so our speed is added to that of the wind. And, since storms move, it'll pass us shortly.”” He pointed to the horizon. “See that small break in the clouds? That indicates a possibility of clear en ieee COMMEDOOKS. com