Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition, December 1955 — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

104 ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION © ; the voice. “I don’t really understand. We’re supposed to turn him over to the Centaurians.”’ AVI Langley made no reply. There didn’t seem to be anything to say. “IT don’t know, why,” Valti told him. “I often think that we, the Society, must have a Technon of our own. The decisions are some- times incomprehensible to me, though they have always worked out for the best. It} means war if either side gets the nullifier . . . and why should the Centaurian barbarians get the advantage?” “Why indeed?” whispered Langley. The night was utter'y still around him. “I can only think that... that Sol represents a long-range menace to us. It is, after all, a rigid culture; if it became dominant, it might act against us, who cannot be fitted into its own static pattern. It’s probably best in the light of history that the Centaurians take over for a while.” “Yeah,” said Langley. This tore it. This knocked every- thing he had thought into a ten- gallon hat. Apparently the Technon was not the real boss of the nomads. And yet— “T tell you this in all honesty,” said Valti. “It might have been easier to keep you in ignorance, but that was a risk. When you found out what we were up to, you and Saris could make trouble between you. Best to get your free consent at the start. “For your own help, captain, you are offered a manned spaceship in which you can find your own lanet, if you don’t like any known P 2 Comicbooksvcom § ny