Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition, December 1955 — page 108: what you’re looking at

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

106 ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION ““T think so—given enough money.” Valti emitted a piteous groan, but dug deep. It was a very fat purse which Langley clipped to his belt. He also held out for a small blaster, which he holstered beneath his cloak. “Very well, captain,”’ said the trader. ““Good luck. I'll expect you to be in the Twin Moons at 2100 hours tomorrow night. If not—”’ ‘T know.” Langley drew a finger across his throat. “‘I’Il be there.” Valti bowed, lowered his helmet, and left the same way he had come. Langley could have wept and howled for sheer excitement, but there wasn’t time. He went out of the apartment and down the halls. They were deserted at this hour. The bridgeway beyond was still jammed, but when he took a grav-shaft going down he was alone. It brawled and shouted in the Commons, crowds milled about him, in his drab university gown he met little respect and had to push his way. Down to Etie Town. It lay on the border of the slum section, but was itself orderly and well policed. There were some humans living in or near it, he knew, hired help. A nonhuman had no interest in a woman, except as a servant. It would be the safest place for a girl thrown out of high-level to go. At least, it was the logical place to begin his search. He had been a clumsy amateur, grown mentally paralyzed by his own repeated failures in a world of professionals. That feeling was gone now. The magnitude of his determination lent an assurance which was almost frightening. This time nothing was going to get in his way without being trampled down! He entered a tavern. Its customers were mostly of a scaly, bi-pedal race with snouted heads, who didn’t need special conditions of atmosphere or temperature. They ignored him as he walked through the weird maze of wet sponge couches they favored. The light was dull red, hard to see by. Langley went over to a corner where a few men in the livery of paid servants were drinking. They stared at him, it must be the first time a pro- fessor had come in here. “May I sit down?” he asked. “Kind of crowded,” snapped a sulky-looking man. “Sorry. I was going to buy a round, but—”’ ““Oh, well, then, sit.”’ Langley didn’t mind the somewhat constrained silence that fell. It suited him perfectly. “I’m looking for a woman,”’ he said. “Four doors down.” “No ... a particular woman. Tall, dark red hair, upper-level accent. I think she must have come here about two weeks ago. Has anyone seen her?” INO. ‘‘I’m offering a reward for the information. A hundred solars.”’ Their eyes widened. Langley saw avarice on some of the faces, and flipped his cloak back in a casual way to reveal his gun. Its possession was a serious offense, but nobody seemed inclined to cry out for the police. ““Well, if you can’t help me I’ll just have to try somewhere else.” comicbooks. com 4 i