Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

HUMPTY of the child’s stomach, made the fragile flame quiver and blow in a new direction before it swung back to its perseverant burning. So many things would shake that flame, in even the best of all worlds—but, he thought with sudden clarity, in that flame the personality of the child would be forged and made strong. He looked toward Lucy. She was sitting in the chair now, and electrodes were being attached to her temples and the base of her skull. A man he recognized as Pomerance, gaunt and gray-haired, was hovering over her, getting in the way of the experi- menters. In Pomerance’s mind, Cody saw, was a Slight irritation the man was trying hard to repress. This application, this connection—I don’t understand how it fits the theory. If only I were a telepath! But if the Inductor works, I can be. Now how does this hookup fit into—and then the thoughts swung into inductive abstractions as the biochemist tried to puzzle the problem out. The cave-laboratory was crowded. There were the Mute-scientists, and there were a score of captives from the Caves—all volunteers, Cody realized warmly. In spite of everything, they had wanted to help, as Lucy had wanted to. Now the test was beginning. Lucy relaxed in the chair, her thoughts nervously considering the pressure of the electrodes. Cody withdrew his mind. He felt nervous, too. He scanned the group, found a receptive mind, and recognized Allenby. ‘Suppose. the Inductor works,” Cody said in silence. “How will that stop the pogrom?” “We'll offer telepathy to every- body,”’ Allenby told him. “‘There’s a video hookup all ready to cut in on every screen in every town. I think even a lynch mob will stop to listen if they’re offered telepathy.” DUMPTY “TI wonder.” “Besides, there are plenty of humans on our side, like Pomerance. We’ve got—” The thought paused. For something was happening to Lucy’s mind. It was like a wave, a flood of something as indefinable as abstract music rising in Lucy’s thoughts as the nucleoproteins of her brain altered. She’s becoming a telepath, one of us, Cody thought. 57 ‘“Power off,’’ Allenby said suddenly. He bent forward and removed the electrodes. ‘Wait a minute now, Lucy.” He stopped talking, but his mind spoke urgently in silence. Move your right hand, Lucy. Move your right hand. Not a Baldy looked at Lucy’s hands. There must be no unconscious signals. Lucy did not move. Her mind, opened to Cody, suddenly and appall- ingly reminded him of Jasper Horne’s walled mind. He did not know why, but a little thrill of fear touched him. Move your right hand. No response. Try another command, someone suggested. Lucy—stand up. Stand up. She did not move. It may take time, a Baldy suggested desperately. She may need time to learn— Maybe, Allenby thought. But we’d better try another subject. “All right, Lucy,” Cody said. ‘“Come over here with me. We’re going to try someone else.” “Didn’t it work?” she asked. She went to him, staring into his eyes as though trying to force rapport between mind and mind. “We can’t tell yet,” “Watch June.”’ June Barton was in the: chair now, flinching a little as the electrodes were attached. In Cody’s he said. thoughts something conniicloooks.c© im