Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition, December 1955 — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

116 ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION acceptance of the impermanent and the doomed as essential to the scheme of things. Brannoch’s sinewy face was etched against adow by the dim light of the instrument panel. “Do you know why the Society has decided to help us?’’ he asked. “No, I don’t, my lord,” said the trader. “‘There’s money in it somewhere. Big money. Unless you plan some treachery—”’ For a moment, teeth gleamed white, then the Thorian laughed. ‘““No. Why should you bother with me at all, if not for the purpose you stated?” “Of course, my lord, the League will not be ungrateful for all my exertions?” “Oh, yes, yes, you'll have your squeeze, never fear. I’ll get it back from Earth. This does mean war, you know. There’s no stopping the war now. But if I know these fat-gutted Ministers, they'll keep their fleet in this system to protect their own precious hides—long enough to give us a chance at the nullifier. We'll make a couple of heavy raids just to throw a scare into them.” Brannoch stared darkly ahead of him. “I wonder what Thrymka wanted to stay for. I wonder how big their web really is. Some day I hope to do something about them too . . . the damned spiders!” The van slanted toward a small clump of forest. When it grounded, Valti tumbled out. “I’ve got the flitter here. If you please, sirs!”’ A blaster cut the lock on Saris’ box. The Holatan emerged in one supple bound, and the party groped forward between trees. ‘They iss all wit’ energy weaponss here,’ murmured the alien in English. ““All but one, the tall fellow there. Can you handle him?” ““T'd better be able to,” said Langley between clenched jaws. The flitter loomed huge in the grove, like a pillar of night. ““Where are the rest of your gang?” asked Brannoch as he went up the ladder to the air lock. — “Snugly in bed, my lord,” said Valti. His voice sounded loud and flat in the immense hush. Somewhere, far off, crickets were chirping. It would probably be the last time he heard crickets, thought Langley. “Ill have to get out of the Solar System, of course, but that’s no reason to break up the rest of the organization.” Twenty men to capture. This spaceboat was meant for velocity rather than comfort. A single long room held passenger chairs and the pilot’s seat. Valti sloughed off his armor, planted his large bottom in the control chair, and moved thick fingers in an astonishingly graceful dance over the panel. The boat shivered, roared, and leaped for the sky. Atmosphere fell behind. Earth rolled huge and lovely against a curtain of incandescent stars. Langley looked at her with a wrenching of farewell. Good-by, Earth. Good-by, hill and forest, tall mountains, windy plains, great march of seas under the moon. Good-by, Peggy A computer chattered quietly to itself. Lights blinked on the panel. Valti locked a switch in place, sighed gustily, and turned around. “‘All right,’ he P b ene Cane Oks com>