Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition, December 1955 — page 74: what you’re looking at

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

72 ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION Back at his office Lewis sat on a corner of his desk, pulled the telephone to him and dialed the Johnson-Tule Mortuary. An unfamiliar masculine voice answered. Lewis said, ‘““‘Do you do cremations at your mortuary?”’ “Not at our mortuary,” said the masculine voice, ““but we have an arrange- ment with Rose Lawn Memorial Crematorium. Would you care to stop by and discuss your problem?” ‘Not right now, thank you,” said Lewis and replaced the phone on its hook. He checked off another question in his mind—the possibility that the tanks held gas for a crematorium. What the devil’s in those tanks? he asked. himself. ‘Somebody die?” The voice came from the doorway, breaking into Lewis’ reverie. The deputy turned, saw Sheriff Czernak. “No,” said Lewis. “I’ve i got a puzzle.”” He went around the desk to his chair, sat down. ‘Doc Bellarmine say anything about the Cerino dame?” asked the sheriff. He came into theroom, eased himself into the chair beneath the calendar art. “Alcoholism,” said Lewis. ‘‘Like I said.’ He leaned back in his chair, put his feet on the desk and stared at a stained spot on the ceiling. ‘What's niggling you?” asked the sheriff. “You look like a guy trying to solve a conundrum.” “J am,” said Lewis and told him about the incident at the mortuary. Czernak took off his hat, scratched his bald head. “It don’t sound like much to me, Welby. In all probability there’s a very simple explanation.”’ **I don’t think so,” said Lewis. “Why not?” Lewis shook his head. “I don’t know. I just don’t think so. Something about that mortuary doesn’t ring true.” “What you think’s in them tanks?” asked the sheriff. **T don’t know,” said Lewis. The sheriff seated his hat firmly on his head. ‘““Anybody else I’d tell *em forget it,” he said. ‘““But you—I dunno. I seen you pull too many rabbits out of the hat. Sometimes I think you’re a freak an’ see inside people.” “T am a freak,” said Lewis. He dropped his feet to the floor, pulled a scratch pad to him and began doodling. “Yeah, I can see you got six heads,”’ said the sheriff. ‘No, really,” said Lewis. “My heart’s on the right side of my chest.” “IT hadn’t noticed,” said the sheriff. “But now you point it out to me—”’ “Freak,” said Lewis. ““That’s what I felt looking at that mortician. Like he was some kind of a creepy freak.” He pushed the scratch pad away from him. It bore a square broken into tiny segments by zigzag lines. Like a jigsaw puzzle. ‘Was he a freak?”’ Lewis shook his head. **Not that I could see.” Czernak pushed himself out of his chair. “‘Tell you what,” he said. “It’s quiet today. Why’ncha nose around a little?” “Who can I have to help me?” asked Lewis. ‘Barney Keeler’ll be back in about a half hour,” said Czernak. “He’s deliverin’ a subpoena for Judge Gordon.” , ComichbooksEecom