Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

24 planetarium; all the stars were there in their proper positions. Vanderhoff spotted Venus hanging over the west- ern “horizon.”’ Mars was riding above it. The Milky Way was just as bright as in outer space. “T’ve got a mighty fine moon in this rig, but it hasn’t come up yet,” Garver remarked as they got into a lift and were deposited on the upper floor. The room was surrounded by glass through which all of El Paso was visible as well as White Sands to the north. It was early evening and the lights were just coming on in the city. The bar was filled and there were but a few tables unoccupied. It wasn’t plush; it just looked comfortable, like a wardroom or a man’s den. Vander- hoff felt like sitting down and throwing his feet up on the table. They sat down by the north windows. Garver ordered drinks and a meal, then said, ‘‘Welcome to 1? Traveler’s Tavern! Vanderhoff looked around. ‘“‘This must have cost like hell!’’ “As a matter of fact,’’ Garver remarked, “‘it wasn’t so bad. I cut corners and used short cuts. I wasn’t trained as an engineer for nothing.’* “Looks like business is booming.” **All I had to do'was drop the word, and the boys came flocking.” He stopped and sighed. “Yeah, business is good, I guess.” ““What’s the matter? I should think you'd be nappy that business is, good.” Garver took the drink that was set before him and didn’t reply for a moment. “I don’t know how to explain it. When I was putting this place together, I kept busy all the time. I was working; I didn’t have time to think about anything else. Now I have trouble keeping busy. I guess I’m restless. Things are going too smoothly day to day.” “I know what you mean,” Vander- ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION hoff sighed. “I’ve been trying to write up my memoirs. I finally had ‘to get out of the place for the day. Doing nothing of importance, going nowhere—it’s got me down.” “Sold the Fafnir yet?” Garver suddenly asked. “Nope. Nobody wants her—at least as a spaceship. Three junk dealers want to bid on her.” “Going to look at their bids?” “I can’t sell her as junk, Garv,” Vanderhoff admitted. “I don’t want to see her cut up with torches. I’d just as soon leave her out on the pad to rust.” ‘“How about the mortgage on her?” “Still there. If I don’t sell her pretty quick, I'll have to take one of the junkmen’s bids.” Garver shook his head sadly. “Seen Winch lately?” Vanderhoff went on, changing the subject. “*Yeah, he drops in after every trip.” “Still on the Asgard shuttle?” “Still running a ferryboat.’’ Garver swirled his drink. “You knew that Cosmo died, didn’t you?” Vanderhoff sat up, shocked. “‘No! How?”’ “Poor animal forgot it was in a I-g field about a month ago,’ Garver explained. ‘Fell off a gantry crane at Bonneville trying to catch a bird. Winch is the lonesomest character you’d ever hope to run into.” Vanderhoff said nothing, but looked out the window. Away on the horizon to the north there was suddenly a cloud of dust and a vapor trail climb- ing high into the evening sky. ““Wonder where she’s going?’”’ the old skipper thought out loud. “‘New Denver? Canalopolis? Perrine? Roemer? What would you Pive to go back, Garv?” “Why should I even want to? I’ve got a prosperous business here. What would you give to go back?” he threw the question back at Vanderhoff. “IT can’t.” CoORnmiclooolkkxs.conn