Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition, December 1955 — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

RAT RACE 82% “Would they be any good?” “That depends on how soon the blood was extracted. The time element varies with temperature, body condition, a whole barrel full of things.” “But why?” The surgeon ran a hand through his gray hair. “I don’t like my answer to that question,” he said. “I keep thinking of how we fractionate the blood of guinea pigs, how we recover vaccine from chick embryos, how we use all of our test animals.” . Lewis’ eyes fell on the dresser across his room. Someone had taken the books from his night stand and put them on the dresser. He could still see the bug-eyed monster cover. “From what I know of science fiction,” said Lewis, “that silver grid in the hall must be some kind of matter transmitter for sending the tanks to wherever they're used. I wonder why they didn’t put it downstairs with the machinery.” “Maybe it had to be above ground,” said Bellarmine. “You figure it the same way I do.” “You’re a bard-headed guy, Doc,” said Lewis. ““How come you go for this bug-eyed monster theory?” “It was the combination,” said Bellarmine. “That silver grid, the design of the machinery and its purpose, the strange metals, the differences in Johnson. It all spells A-L-I-E-N, alien. But I could say the same holds for you, Lewis. What put you wise?” “Johnson. He called me a mere human. I got to wondering how alien a guy could be to separate himself from the human race.” “‘It checks,”’ said Bellarmine. “But why guinea pigs?” asked Lewis. The surgeon frowned, looked at the floor, back to Lewis. ““That rig had a secondary stage,’ he said. “It could have only one function—passing live virus under some kind of bombardment—X-ray or beta ray or whatever— and depositing the mutated strain in a little spray container about as big as your fist. I know from my own research experience that some mutated virus can be deadly.” ‘““Germ warfare,” whispered Lewis. ““You sure it isn’t the Russians?” “I’m sure. This was a perfect infecting center. Complete. Banbury would’ve been decimated by now if that’s what it was.” ‘“Maybe they weren’t ready.” “Germ warfare is ready when one infecting center is set up. No. This rig was for producing slight alterations in common germs or I miss my guess. This little spray container went intoa.. .” “Rack on Johnson’s desk,” said Lewis. ‘“Yeah,”’ said Bellarmine. “T saw it,” said Lewis. “I thought it was one of those deodorant things.” He picked a piece of lint off the covers. “So they’re infecting us with mutated virus.” ‘It scares me,” said Bellarmine. 99 Lewis squinted his eyes, looked up at the surgeon. “Doc, what would COmichookskeom