Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition — page 114: what you’re looking at

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

112 There was no noise but suddenly an odor filled the room, as if someone was baking potatoes and had left them in the oven too long. Hugh tried to pull his mind into a point, to think of nothing. He could hear the heavy breathing of George beside him, and with almost clinical abstraction began to count the number of his friend’s almost tortured breaths. After a time that had no measure, one of the harsh voices commanded them again to turn around. One of the beings was folding up the cameralike apparatus. In the corner where the Smiths had stood there was nothing. The dust on the floor seemed thicker than before. In another few seconds, Hugh knew he would break and bolt for the door. The chief stepped forward to stare closely at himself and George. “We guard this system,” he said. Then he turned and made a motion to the others. They walked out the door, quickly, but without haste. Possibly five minutes had passed since they first had entered the room. George turned and was violently sick in a wastebasket. Hugh moved on stiff legs to the door and looked out into the dim cavern of the warehouse. Nothing moved. There was only the hodgepodge of the Smiths’ pur- chases. George recovered and came to join him at the door. “What happened?” he asked in a voice that was only barely under control. ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION Hugh took out and lit a cigarette, making all his motions with great care as though the lighting of a cigarette was an important and delicate pro- cess. He inhaled deeply, without _ pleasure, and began to speak. “Well, I think that the Smiths came from outside—way outside. They were probably a couple of sharp- ies, just like us, trying to hustle a fast buck or what passed for a fast buck with them and their kind. I guess they had a market for all that’—he ges- tured at the goods piled in the ware- house—‘‘or maybe they were taking samples to see what might have a demand back home. Anyway, they hired us to get it together for them because we knew our way around. Then, just when they were ready to take off, those other birds came and called time on them. The Smiths must have broken some rules so they got . . . burned up or something.” ““Who were those others?” “You heard what that guy said. They ‘guard this system.’ I don’t know if he meant solar system or star system or what. I don’t know who put them here or why. I don’t know whether they are supposed to keep things out, or us in, or both.” They stood silent and then with mutual accord started to walk. “You and I, George, are going to have trouble getting to sleep nights,” said Hugh as they neared the outer door, “from now on.” They left the warehouse and started back to the city. “SIDS” ® conniclooolks. con