Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition, December 1955 — page 36: what you’re looking at

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

34 ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION than one hundred millions. I base that on other planetary surveys. When you've counted the number of peas per bottle in a large and varied collection of them you develop the ability to make reasonably accurate guesses. One hundred millions at most.” “That’s low for a planet of this size and fertility, isn’t it?’ asked Com- modore Leigh. “Not necessarily. There were no more of us in the far past. Look at us now.” “The implication is that these Waitabits are comparatively a young species?”’ “Could be. On the other hand they may be old and senile and dying out fast. Or perhaps they’re slow breeders and their natural increase isn’t much.” “I don’t go for the dying out theory,” put in Walterson, the geophysicist. “If once they were far bigger than they are today, the planet should still show signs of it. A huge inheritance leaves its mark for centuries. Remember that city-site we found on Hercules? Even the natives didn’t know of it, the markings being visible only from a considerable altitude.” They used their glasses again, sought for faint lines of orderliness in wide tracts of forest. There were none to be seen. ‘Short in history or slow to breed,” declared Pascoe. ‘“‘That’s my opinion for what it’s worth.” Frowning down at the blue-green ball, Leigh said heavily, “By our space- experienced standards a world of one hundred millions is weak. It’s certainly not sufficiently formidable to turn a hair on a minor bureaucrat, much less worry the Council itself.” He turned, lifted a oe eyebrow as a signals-runner came up to him. Well?” “Relay from Sector Nine, sir.’ Unfolding the message, he found it duly decoded, read it aloud. 19.12. ex Terra. Defense H.Q. to C.O. battleship Thunderer. Light cruiser Flame, Lieut. Mallory commanding, assigned your area for Pulok check. Twentieth heavy cruiser squadron readied Arlington port, Sector Nine. This authorizes you to call upon and assume command of said forces in emergency only. Rathbone. Com. Op. Dep. D.H.Q. Terra. He filed the message, shrugged and said, “Seems they’re taking few chances.” 3 “Yes,” agreed Pascoe, a trifle sardonically. “So they’ve assembled re- inforcements near enough to be summoned but too far away to do us any good. The Flame could not get here in less than seven weeks. The ships at Arlington couldn’t make it in under nineteen or twenty weeks even at super- drive. By then we could be cooked, eaten, burped and forgotten.” “I don’t see what all this jumpiness is about,’’ complained Walterson. “That scout Boydell went in and came out without losing his edible parts, didn’t he? Where one can go a million can follow.” Pascoe regarded him with pity. “A solitary invader rarely frightens any- one. That’s where scouts have an advantage. Consider Remy 11. Fellow name of James finds it, lands, makes friends, becomes a blood brother, finally takes off amid a huzzah of fond farewells. Next, down comes three Conmicloooks. corn: