Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

104 greatly desired by his present cus- tomers or not, provided he could unload enough to purchase some of the stretching rope and a supply of the fabric used in covering the wings on the gliders. The latter was a new desire, picked up as a result of his conversations with the lEarthmen about the operation of the flying machines. . He realized perfectly well that neither item might be for sale, but he intended to try, anyway. He saw uses for both of them. The plan was matured and well rehearsed long before the interpreter’s return, and the officers found them- selves impatient to try it out though Dondragmer had been spending time at the radio meanwhile on yet another project. In fact, after controlling them- selves for a few days, the captain and mate strolled one morning up the hill toward the parked gliders with a full determination to make a test of the idea, though neither had said a word to the other about his intention. The weather had completely cleared long since, and there was only the perpetual wind of Mesklin’s seas to help or hinder flying. Apparently it wanted to help; the gliders were tugging at their tie-down cables like living creatures, -and crewmen were standing by the wings with a secure grip on the sur- rounding bushes, evidently ready to add their strength if necessary to that of the restraining lines. Barlennan and Dondragmer ap- proached the machines until they were ordered sharply to halt. They had no idea of the rank or authority of the individual giving the order, since he wore no insignia; but it was not part of their plan to argue such matters. They halted, and looked over the machines casually from a distance of thirty or forty yards, while the crew- men looked back rather belligerently. Apparently Reejaaren’s supercilious- ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION ness was not a rare trait with his nation. *“You look astonished, Barbarians,” one of them remarked after a brief silence. “If I thought you could learn anything by looking at our machines, I would have to force you to stop. As it is, I can only assure you that you look rather childish.” He spoke Bar- lennan’s tongue with an accent not much worse than that of the chief linguist. Dondragmer found time to wonder how his own language came to be known even this well in a country which had managed to keep its very existence secret from his people. Bar- lennan did not wonder; he seized the opportunity. “There seems little to learn from your machines. You could save much | trouble with the wind in your present Situation by warping the front of your wings down ; why do you keep so many people busy instead?” He used the English word for “wings,” not having one in his own language. The other requested an explanation; receiving it, he was startled out of his superiority for a moment. “You have seen gliders before? Where?” “I have never seen your type of fly- ing machine in my life,” Barlennan answered. His words were truthful, though their emphasis was decidedly misleading. “‘I have not been this close to the Rim before, and I should imagine that these flimsy structures - would collapse from their added weight if you flew them much farther south.” ‘“‘How—?” the guard stopped, real- izing his attitude was not that of a civilized being toward a barbarian. He was silent for a moment, trying to decide just what his attitude should be in this case; then he decided to pass the problem higher in the chain of command. “When Reejaaren returns, he will no doubt be interested in any minor improvements you may be able Conniclooolks COL