Astounding Science Fiction (British edition) — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

SHARE OUR WORLD 49 most convenient place. The presence of natural sunlight improves the significance of the experiments, for one thing.” Hilda put in, turning her whole body around to face Chang, “But if he’s out there, the nibblies won’t stay there where we can watch them. What could be more important than that?” She turned back toward Melkote. “Finding sources of food on Four,” he answered firmly. ““That’s where you’re wrong!” She pointed a sturdy finger at him. ‘‘We’ll find food; there’s no danger there. But if we don’t get to understand the nibblies, fast, they may decide we’re interlopers, or we’re stupid, or we’re killing the captives we’re taking, or anything; and they may never co- operate in getting to know us. Also, if they’re not on the level where we can communicate with them, we want to know that. Maybe try these ‘wolves’ then, eh?” She looked challengingly at Chang. “We have to find out fast.” “But all this is irrelevant if we starve.” “This doesn’t seem very compli- cated to me,’’ Chang said: “Have you talked about it with Frank?” Melkote started, Chang thought. “Not yet,” he said. Hilda snorted. “‘He’ll say, “By all means let Melkote proceed. Oh, by all means!’ But he'll only say it because Melkote’s results will help fill a few more gaps in the charts he’s making.” Chang dropped the subject. “This is not very complicated,’’ she mused. ‘After all, the nibblies haven’t been paying any attention to us when we watch them, recently. And everyone on the ship has been wandering around outside looking for samples of one thing or another. There’s just nothing for Moreira to worry about.” ‘I would be spending almost half of the daylight hours outside,” Melkote explained. “Well, still. There’s one more thing, though—the wolves.” “Oh? They haven’t been seen in. this vicinity. And in any case, I don’t know why they should bother me.” “They eat things that move,” said Hilda succinctly. NC J Se\\ Wr "See , mry x \ ¥- e \ i Seca Se . Aye \ we \\ A g Mi; ‘ 1 a STN connicloooks.corn