Astounding Science Fiction (British edition) — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

64 ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION Judy: “That may not be safe to us —Hilda, get back.” Chang whirled. Hilda was dashing toward Balch from behind. “Don’t fire, Tim,” whispered Chang. The rest happened very fast. Chang vaulted the nibbly and dived. Her shoulder hit Hilda’s knee from the side and they both went down, Chang underneath. Hilda was up again with- out a pause. Chang left her for Balch to handle; herself, she seized the pellet gun from Judy, who gave it up without question, and turned back toward the air lock. Balch had realized Hilda was after his gun, and thrown it away, so as to confuse her; he’d then succeeded in twisting her arm behind her back, and was rapidly hustling her back toward Judy. Chang stepped forward, facing the wolf, who was within three meters, tensed to jump into the ship. She had time for one shot, and she aimed over his head! The wolf, startled by the sound, tried to draw back. He teetered there; Chang fired again, splintering the wood at his feet, and he lost his balance and fell. Chang wanted to see if he was killed; she leaned out over the edge a little way, clutching the tree for sup- port in her giddiness. She saw Melkote leaning far out on the left side of the ladder as the wolf, limbs thrashing, fell past on the right. This made her laugh. Melkote turned his face up to her: “What kind of behavior is this, Chang Kwei-T’ao?”’ Then Balch’s arms were around her, pulling her back into the ship. VI. CHANG rested there for a moment with her eyes closed. She said, weakly, “I’m sorry, Tim. Maybe I shouldn’t have told you not to fire. But Hilda was right this far: We had to try to stop the wolf without killing him. Well, we didn’t. Maybe at least it'll help our relations with the nibblies.”’ It was Judy’s voice which answered. “Rest a minute more, Chang. Are you hurt?” “T’m all right. Did Tim leave Hilda in one piece?” Tim laughed softly. “I did that; but you, little one, should be more careful of your fellow crew members. She bruised her hip properly when she hit the deck.” Chang smiled and opened her eyes. Tim was sitting beside her. Right in front of her stood Hilda, explaining in a low voice to Melkote what had hap- pened—rather shamefacedly when she came to her own part in it. Most of the other crew members were there, discussing disconnectedly. The most - unconcerned of all was the one who had been in the greatest danger: the nibbly. She pointed to him. “Tim Balch, look at him. What’s his name?” “*Let’s call him Max.” She chuckled. “‘Max the moron; moronic Max. Nothing matters to him.” “Say, you know... as a matter of fact—’ His tone was odd; she turned to face him. “I have just understood something. Max is a moron. So is Brian, upstairs.” “That’s what you said several days ago. Listen, you’re not joking, are you? What are you trying to say?” Balch rose to his feet, smiling in wonder. “Brian is a moron. He can’t think. Even in solving your little mazes, which is just the type of prob- lem a nibbly should be best at. Max is a moron. But the nibblies together were able to build a bridge across the clearing to the ship in practically no time. How can that be?” connicloooks.c© iin