Astounding Science Fiction, British Edition — page 84: what you’re looking at

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

82 - ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION “The Proctors believe that they can hold what is theirs,’’ Heldon said at last “If you overstay your con- tract, they will go to war against you. They will be justified, but unfortu- nately Earth justice is a long way away from here. You will win. My interest is to see that we have a way of escape.” “Via spindizzy?”’ “Precisely.”” Heldon permitted a stony smile to stir the corners of his mouth. “I'll be honest with you, Mr. Hazleton. If it comes to war, I will fight as hard as any other Proctor to hold this world of ours. I come to you only because you can repair the spin- dizzies of IMT. You needn’t expect me to enter into any extensive treason on that account.” Hazleton, it appeared, was being obdurately stupid. “I fail to see why [ should lift a finger for you,” he said. “Observe, please. The Proctors will fight, because they believe that they must. It will probably be a hopeless fight, but it will do your city some damage all the same. As a matter of fact, it will cripple your city beyond repair, unless your luck is phenomenal. Now then: none of the Proctors except one other man and myself know that the spindizzies of IMT are still able to function. That means that they won’t try to escape with them; they’ll try to knock you out instead. But with the machines in repair, and one knowl- edgeable hand at the controls—”’ “I see,’ Hazleton said. You pro- pose to put IMT into flight while you can still get off the planet with a reasonably whole city. In return you offer us the planet, and the chance that our own damages will be mini- mal. Hm-m-m. It’s interesting, any- how. Suppose we take a look at your spindizzies, and see if they’re in opera- ble condition. It’s been a good many years, without doubt, and untended machinery has a way of gumming up. If they can still be operated at ail, we'll talk about a deal. All right?” “It will have to do,” Heldon grum- bled. Amalfi saw in the Proctor’s eyes a gleam of cold satisfaction which he recognized at once, from having him- self looked out through it often— though never in such a poor state of concealment. He shut off the screen. “Well?” the mayor said. “What’s he up to?” “Trouble,” Karst said slowly. “It would be very foolish to give or trade him any advantage. His stated reasons are not his real ones.” “Of course not,” Amalfi said. . ‘““Whose are? Oh, hello, Mark. What do you make of our friend?” Hazleton stepped out of the lit shaft, bouncing lightly once on the resilient concrete of the control-room floor. ““He’s stupid,” the city manager said, ““but he’s dangerous. He knows that there’s something he doesn’t know. He also knows that we don’t know what he’s driving at, and he’s on his home grounds. It’s a combina- tion I don’t care for.” “I don’t like it myself,’ Amalfi said. ““When the enemy starts giving away information, look out! Do you think the majority of the Proctors really don’t know that IMT has operable spindizzies?” “T am sure they do not,” Karst offered tentatively. Both men turned to him. “The Proctors do not even believe that you are here to capture the planet. At least, they do not believe that that‘is what you intend, and I’m sure they don’t care, one way or the other.” “Why not?” Hazleton said. “I would.” “You have never owned several million serfs,” Karst said, without rancor. “You have serfs working for you, and you are paying them wages. That in itself is a disaster for the Proc- EComichooksico Al