Avon Fantasy Reader No. 8 — page 70: what you’re looking at

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

66 | -» RAY BRADBURY Meanwhile, parents came and went in chromium beetles. Repair men came to repair the. vacuum elevators in houses, to fix fluttering television sets or hammer upon stubborn food-delivery tubes. The adult civilization passed and repassed the busy youngsters, jealous of the fierce energy ‘of the wild tots, tolerantly amused at their flourishings, longing to join in’ themselves. “This and this and this,” said Mink, instructing the others with their as- sorted spoons and wrenches. “Do that, and bring that over here. No! Here, ninnie! Right. Now, get back while I fix this—” Tongue in teeth, face wrinkled in thought. “Like that. See?” ~Yayyyy!” shouted the kids.’ Twelve-year-old Joseph Connors ran up. “Go away,” said Mink straight at him. “I wanna play,” said Joseph. “Can't!” said Mink. “Why not?” “You'd just make fain of us.” “Honest, I wouldn’t.” © 3 “No. We know you. Go away or we'll kick you.” Another twelve-year-old boy whirred by on little motor-skates, “Aye, Joe! Come on! Let them sissies play!” 3 Joseph showed reluctance and a certain wistfulness. “I want to play,” he said. | 3 “You're old,” said Mink, firmly. “Not that old,” said Joe sensibly. “You'd only laugh and spoil the Invasion.” The boy on the motor-skates made a rude lip noise. “Come on, Joe! Them and their fairies! Nuts!”’. Joseph walked off slowly. He kept looking back, all down the block. Mink was already busy again. She made a kind of apparatus with her gathered equipment. She had appointed another little girl with a pad and pencil to take down notes in painful slow scribbles. Their voices rose and fell in the warm sunlight. 3 , All around them the city hummed. The streets were lined with good green and peaceful trees. Only the wind made. a conflict across the city, across the country, across the continent. In a thousand other cities there were trees and children and avenues, business men in their quiet offices taping their voices, or watching televisors. Rockets hovered like darning needles in the blue sky. There was the universal, quiet conceit and easiness'of men accustomed to peace, quite certain there would never be trouble again. Arm in arm, men all over earth were a united front. The perfect weapons were held in equal trust by all nations. A situation of incredibly beautiful balance. had been brought about. There were no traitors among men, no unhappy ones, no —