Astounding Science Fiction (British edition) — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

20 ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION the presence of two assistants, for he thought that his own frequent sessions alone in the control booth were beginning to look funny. “This is top secret,” he warned them, pleased with his own cool man- ner. He was becoming a regular Ma- chiavelli. “You'll be skinned alive if you mention it to anyone.” Rodney gave him a shrewd glance. “So they’re not even sure of their own top men now, are they?” he murmured. “I’ve been told to make some checks,’’ snapped Thornberg. “That’s all you need to know.” He studied the files for many hours before coming to a decision. Secret observations were, of course, made of everyone from time to time. A cross- check with Matilda showed that the cop who had filed the last report on Lindahl had been killed the next day in a spontaneous and abortive upris- ing. The report was innocuous: Lin- dahl had stayed at home, studying some papers; he had been alone in the house except for a bodyguard who had been in another room and not seen him. And Lindahl was Lge rsneeeeary of Defense. Thornberg changed the record. A masked man—stocky, black-haired— had come in and talked for three hours with Lindahl. They had spoken low, so that the cop’s ears, outside the window, couldn’t catch what was said. The visitor had gone away then, and Lindahl had retired. The cop went back in great excitement and made out his report and gave it to the signalman, who had sent it on to Matilda. Tough on the signalman, thought Thornberg. They'll want to know why he didn’t tell this to his chief in New Washington, if the observer was killed before doing so. He'll deny every such report, and they'll hypnoquiz him— but they don’t trust that method any more ! His sympathy didn’t last long. What counted was having the war over before Jack got here. He re-filed the altered spool and did a little back tracking, shifting the last report of Sam Hall from Salt Lake City to Philadelphia. Make it more plausible. Then, as opportunity permitted, he did some work on other men’s records. He had to wait two haggard days before the next requisition came from Security for a fresh cross-check on Sam Hall. The scanners swept in an intricate pattern, a cog turned over, a tube glowed. Circuits were activated elsewhere, the spool LINDAHL was unrolled before the microprinter in- side the machine. Cross-references to that spool ramified in all directions. Thornberg sent the preliminary re- port back with a query: This matter -looked interesting, did they want more information? They did! Next day the telecast announced a drastic shakeup in the Department of Defense. Lindahl was not heard from again. And I, thought Thornberg grimly, have grabbed a very large tiger by the tail. Now they'll have to check every- body—and I’m one man, trying to keep ahead of the whole Security Police! Lindahl is a traitor. How did his chief ever let him get on the board? Secretary Hoheimer was pretty good friends with Lindahl, too. Get Records to cross-check Hoheimer. What’s this? Hoheimer himself! Five years ago, ‘yes, but even so— the records show that he lived in an apartment unit where Sam Hall was janitor! Grab Hoheimer! Who’ll take his place? General Halliburton? That stupid old fool? Well, at least his dossier is clean. Can’t trust those slick characters. connicloookks.c© iin