Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

ENOUGH ROPE Meinz scowled. ‘““That’s what I’m » here about,” he said brusquely. “‘Aren’t they satisfied at home with . my conduct of the operation?” “Frankly, no. Now I’m on your side, Alak. I was the one who pushed that approval through Parliament. But that was almost a year ago, and so far you’ve reported no results at all. Your dispatches have been so much meaningless verbiage. Finally certain political groups hired an in- vestigating force of their own. They sent out observers—’’ ‘“‘“A wonder they weren’t nabbed. Hurulta has an efficient Intelligence Service and Secret Police.” “Well, they weren’t. They saw enough to send them hightailing back home, and the stink it’s raised on Terra—”’ ‘“‘Ah-hah! That explains it. Hurulta must have foreseen that result and let the observers do as they pleased. He’s a canny lad, that old blueface.”’ “Well, you must admit there’s some justification for the complaints,” said Meinz with a hint of bitterness. ““The authorization was of doubtful legality in the first place, and could only be justified at the next Council meeting if there were solid results to show. Instead, you’ve dawdled out here, skulking I might say. You haven’t fought one battle, not so much as a skirmish. You’ve let Ulugan occupy no less than seven planets besides Tukatan—”’ “At last reports, it was about twenty,”’ said Alak blandly. “We’ve got them scared, you see. They're grabbing everything that might con- ceivably be of value to us.” ‘In other words,” said Meinz, “you’re pushing them in exactly the direction they want to go.” “Correct.” **Now look, Alak. I came out here myself, and it’s a long troublesome journey, to get your side of it. I have 15 to tell them something at home, or they’ll pass a recall order in spite of everything I can do. Now I’m not even sure if I would resist such a move.” ““Give me credit for some sense,” urged Alak. “I can’t tell you every- thing. The real reason why we operate this way is a Patrol secret. Let’s just say, which is true enough, that out- right war is cruel and expensive, and that I don’t even think we could win 99 one. “But what are you doing then, man?” “Just sitting here,” laughed Alak. “Sitting here drinking Scotch, and letting nature take its course.” The medical officer halted at the entrance to the tent. The steady, end- less rain dripped off his shoulders and made a puddle about his muddy feet. By the one glaring lamp inside, he noticed that the fungus had begun to devour this tent, too. It would be a rag before the eight-day was out. And you couldn’t live in the metal barracks left by the Patrolmen—they were bake-ovens, and air-conditioning units rotted and rusted too fast to be of help. He saluted wearily. The comman- dant of Garvish Base looked up from his game of galanzu solitaire. ““What is it?” he asked listlessly. “Fifteen more men down with fever, sir,” said the medical officer. “And ten of the earlier cases are dead.” The commandant nodded. Light gleamed off his wet bald head. The blue face was haggard, unhealthily flushed, and the smart uniform was a sodden ruin. “The sanitators don’t work, eh?’ he asked. “Not against this stuff, sir,’ said the doctor. “‘It seems to be a virus which isn’t bothered by the vibrations, EComichooksco im