Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition, December 1955 — page 115: what you’re looking at

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

THE LONG WAY HOME 113 tion was scanned microscopically ; Langley guessed that Technon documents had some invisible code number which was changed daily at random. The retinal patterns of several men were scanned and compared with those recorded on the papers. Then the chief sentry nodded. “Very good, sir. Do you require assistance?’’ “Yes,” said Valti. “Bring a police van around for us. We’ll be out soon. And don’t admit anyone else till we’re gone.” Langley thought of automatic guns hidden in the walls. But the door dilated for him and he followed Valti down a corridor. They went past several pillbox rooms whose personnel did not interfere, then had to stop at a second check point. After that they went on to Saris’ prison; the papers told them where it was. The Holatan lay on a couch behind bars. The rest of the chamber was an enigmatic jumble of laboratory equipment. There were sentries with mechanical as well as energy guns, and a pair of technicians working at a desk. They had to call up their boss for another discussion before they could release their captive. Langley had gone up to the cell. Saris made no sign of recognition. “Hello,” said the spaceman softly, in English. ‘‘Are you all right?” “Yess. So far they iss only electrical and other measurementss made. But iss hard to be caged.” ‘““Have you been taught the present language?” “Yess. Wery well, better than English.” Langley felt weak with relief. His whole precarious plan had depended on this one assumption and on the amazing Holatan linguistic ability. “ve come to get you out,” he said. “But it'll take some doing; you'll have to cooperate and risk your neck.” Bitterness edged the bass purr: “My life? Iss all? That iss not much... now.” “Marin knows the facts and what my scheme is. Now you'll have to be told. But it'll be the three of us against everybody else.”’ Swiftly, the man sketched out his knowledge and plans. The golden eyes flared with a quick fierce light, and muscles bunched under the fur. But the voice said only: “Iss well. We will try it thus,” in a careful tone of boredom and hopelessness. Valti won his point with the supervisor. A long metal box with a few airholes was pushed in on an antigravity sled. Saris was prodded into it from his cell, and the lid locked over him. “Shall we go, my lord?” asked Valti. “Yes,” said the American. “The arrangements are complete.”’ Several men pushed the floating box back down the halls. Even with its weight nullified, the inertia was still considerable, and turning on the pro- pulsion unit might set off automatic alarm. When they came back on the flange, a large black flier hovered waiting for them. Saris’ crate was put into the rear compartment, the men piled in with it or into the cab, and Valti started it off for the Centaurian embassy. : COMIC OOS. COM