Astounding Science Fiction (British Edition) — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

THE GULF BETWEEN 17 I don’t suppose we ever will be able to teach him to act like a human being.” “Then he did something to cause Tim to have to stay overtime?” Connie asked. “Tim phoned that he had to stay for a while, but he didn’t say why.” ‘Probably too mad to want to re- hearse the details,” Knight said. “As the ship’s pilot-to-be, Tim likes every- thing to progress smoothly in its construction and George sometimes introduces an unexpected ripple.” “George was supposed to check those blueprints,’ June said. “‘He didn’t—I wonder why?” “We'll find out when we get there,” Knight answered, then spoke to Connie. “Do you want to go along? I can get you a pass.” “No, thanks.” Connie stood up and rested her hand on the back of the chair. “I wouldn’t want to try that much standing on hard concrete, right now. I’m going to take a walk down Saguaro Street this morning—if Tim gets home before I do, he’ll know where I am.” “Look—don’t overdo that walk- ing,’ June said, concern for her sister in her voice. “I know it’s doctor’s orders, but don’t try to walk too much in one day.” “Oh, I won’t try to make a mara- thon of it, honey. I take my time and every day I seem to be a little stronger and more certain in the way I can walk. If this keeps on, I'll be able to go back to my old job in another year or two. And now, you two be on your way to your mechanical marvels— I’m going down to that little park by Saguaro and Third where there’s a chipmunk who loves peanuts.” She left the house, walking with the slow, careful steps of one who has not walked unaided for a long time; a slight little thing with gray eyes too large for her face and too wise and understanding for her age, going with one pocket of her white sweater bulg- ing with peanuts to feed a saucy and impudent chipmunk. June watched Connie’s progress through the window. “Do you think She ever will be completely well again?” she asked. “She’s getting a little better all the time—she’ll be completely well one of these days, won’t she?” There was an unconscious pleading for assurance in June’s voice and he made his own casual and confident. “Of course. There isn’t any doubt about it.” “She wants to go back to her job. It takes all kinds of people to make the world, and Connie is the kind to restore your faith in all of them. All she asks is to be able to walk again so she can go back to the hospital and take up her job as nurse—go back to caring for the sick and the hurt.” “She will in another year or two. That last operation on her back really was the last operation—she won't need any more.” ‘““Mama died when I was six and Daddy had to be away all day, work- ing,” June mused, still watching Connie through the window. “‘Connie was only ten. It was a good thing she was sO wise and so sensible for her age, or they would have taken us away from Daddy. Connie showed them—she kept the house clean and my dirty face washed and my clothes clean. She was the one I went to when I got skinned up, or I got my feelings hurt. Part of the time she was my sister to play with but most of the time she was my mother.” June turned away from the window and looked up at him. “‘Why did it have to be Connie who got hurt in that wreck? Why could’t it have been someone the world wouldn’t miss—like me?” EComichooksnco im