Authentic Science Fiction, No. 23 — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

10 THE SINGING SPHERES possessed a fund of wisdom which Hartnell might do well to consider. What rash and impossible plan had he devised? Yet Tubby and I need do nothing, he said, save keep close at his heels when he went into action, and if they’d got the slightest sense of what was good for them the two spheres would do the same. ; “Very well,” I said, with a sigh. “Very well.” I could see the picture of those three graves very clearly. “Good!” said Hartnell, briskly. “Now Ill turn round while you unscrew the gravity-reactor from my suit.” “Almighty Altair!” Tubby stole one of young Hartnell’s favourite ejaculations without any shame, and | didn’t blame him, “Now listen—” I said, nervously. ‘Unscrew the thing and don’t argue!” I unscrewed it, making quite certain it was switched off. “Extend the power-pack leads about three feet, so that I can hold it in my hands.” When he had got the thing arranged to his liking, he said: “Now come on! When I run—you run, too!” Of course, the guards could see us coming for fifty yards or more. I wondered what it would be like hitting that in- visible barrier at speed. Would we bounce off—or feel as though we had run our heads against a block of solid mala- chite? Instantly an alarmed shrieking sounded over the inter-com. The guards—telling each other to be ready. They'd be exert- ‘ ing full power on the force-beam barrier. Hartnell went swiftly and unswervingly, with a strange, crouching movement, the gravity-reactor resting on both gloved palms and his elbows bent down against his chest, as though ready to take a sudden strain. Sweating copiously, I pounded at his heels, hearing Tubby behind me. I supposed Fuzzy-bubble and Fandar were there, too. I didn’t know definitely, but I certainly didn't feel like looking round to find out. Those evil, greenish guards were frighteningly near. As we drew level with the first of them, I heard Hartnell erunt suddenly and swing towards the opposite cliff. In- stantly, he threw his weight back to our path again, whereupon _ the same thing happened. And again—and again— ‘ THE SINGING SPHERES 71 “Perishing Polaris!” gasped Tubby. “We're actus Lin gMeRBaERt gasp y. ~We’re actually get- Personally, I hardly dared look. Th mals y dar. ere was Hartnell, grunting from time to time as though something kept hitting _ in the solar plexus, but still running. cast a fear-filled glance at the cliff—just ed e just at the instant when the last remaining guard threw himself violently against ae rock and disappeared! e kept running until we reached the plai 1 ‘ plain, then fell in a heap, completely spent. A great sound of rasped breathing occupied the inter-coms and I know for a fact that I made a considerable personal contribution to it. Trembling uncon- trollably with the reaction, I lay there feeling as though my very bones had turned to water. “tf you : Mee was a projecting noise from young Hartnell. Wo neavywelghts can drag your carce could find out the damage—” Pr Raat “I don’t know what sort of state Pop’s in,” sai 4 | WW. ps in,” said Tubby, but me—I don’t think I can shift for another ten minutes _ We did, though, to find Fuzzy-bubble and Fandar bouncing in violent wonder, Somehow I raised strength to switch on the M aitus. “Such marvels have never been known—even in a ye I ne es one |” twittered Fandar. “Eight guards —deleated by only three! Trul Te 288 | niet ae eee y y the strangers possess a “Defeated by one alone,’ I said, givi d ; , giving credit wh : was due. “We merely ran with you.” i ee “Also,” said Fuzzy-bubble, “are the str | d angers merciful, for they could have killed my own men at the entrance to the pass, yet they did not do so.” I stared along the rocky defile. N ed . No guard remained to twinkle greenly against the bare, jagged stones, with all colours of the rainbow shimmering across the surface of his envelope. I wondered how Hartnell had managed it. Weill,” said Tubby. “What now?” “As I’ve probably sprained both wrist ) rists getting you out of that fix, you might at least put this reactor in aie fot me.” 1 KS felt his arms through the supple material of the suit. ont try to make a martyr of yourself,” I said. “Your wrists Eomilichbooks.co =)