Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition, December 1955 — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

THE LONG WAY HOME 93 small transmitter surgically embedded in her body, showing her whereabouts. This was obviously the work of Chanthavar, who must have staged her kidnaping for that purpose. Langley was, therefore, not surprised when the stronghold was attacked. PART 4 XVI AoeE™ hooted. As its echoes rang down the hall, the guards jerked about, frozen for a bare instant. The door flew open and Saris Hronna was through. His tigerish leap smashed one man into the farther wall. The other went spinning, to fall a yard away. He was still gripping his weapon. He bounced to his feet, raising it, as Langley charged him. The spaceman was not a boxer or wrestler. He got hold of the gun barrel, twisting it aside, and sent his other fist in a right cross to the jaw. The Thorian blinked, spat blood, but failed to collapse. Instead, he slammed a booted kick at Langley’s ankle. The American lurched away, pain like a lance in him. The Centaurian backed, lifting the musket. Saris brushed Langley aside in a single bound and flattened the man. 3 “Iss you well?” he asked, wheeling about. “Iss hurt?’ “I’m still moving.’” Langley shook his head, tasting the acridness of defeat. “Come on . . . spring the rest. Maybe we can still make a break during the fracas.” Shots and explosions crashed through the other rooms. Valti stumbled forth, his untidy red head lowered bull-like. “This way!’’ he roared. ‘“‘Follow me! There must be a rear exit.” The prisoners crowded after him, swiftly down the corridor to a door which Saris opened. A ramp led upward to ground level. Saris hunched himself—anything might be waiting beyond. But there was no alternative. The camouflaged entrance flew up for him, and he bounded into a late daylight. Black patrol ships swarmed overhead like angry bees. There was a flier near one of the buildings. Saris went after it in huge leaps. He was almost there when a blue-white beam from the sky slashed it in half. Wheeling with a snarl, the Holatan seemed to brace himself. A police vessel suddenly reeled and crashed into another. They fell in flame. Saris sprang for the edge of the compound, the humans gasping in his wake. A curtain of fire dropped over his path. Valti shouted something, pointi ng behind, and they saw black-clad slave soldiers rushing from the undergroun section. “Stop their weapons!” shrieked Langley. He had one of the muskets, he laid it to his cheek and fired. The crack of it and the live recoil were a glory to him. A man spun on his heel and fell. “Too many.” Saris lay down on the bare earth, panting. “Iss more than I can handle. I had little hope for escape anyhow.”’ P P y Cconniclooks.conn