Avon Fantasy Reader No. 13 — page 35: what you’re looking at

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

many broad, very crooked rivers. As Ame Baove had reported, there were no mountains, and no high land. eee constant,” I ordered. “Port three degrees. Stand by for further orders. The earth seemed to ail slowly beneath us. Great cities drifted astern, and I compared the scene below me with the great maps I took from our chart-case. The Control City should be just beyond the Visible rim; well in the daylight area. “Port five degrees,” I said, and eee the attention button to Barry’s quarters, “Mr. Barry, please call all men to quarters, including the off-duty watch, and then report to the navigating room. Mr. Eitel will be under my direct orders. We shall descend within the next few minutes,” “Very well, sir.” I pressed the attention button to Eitel’s room. “Mr. Eitel, please pick ten of your best men and have them report at the forward exit. Await me, with the men, at that place. I shall be with you as soon as I turn the command over to Mr. Barry. We are descending imme- diately.” “Right, sir!” said Eitel. i turned from the microphone to find that Barry had just entered the navigating room. _ “We will descend into the Great Court of the Control City, Mr. Barry,” I said. “I have a mission here. | am sorry, but these are the only instructions I can leave you. “IT do not know how long I shall be gone from the ship, but if I do not return within three hours, depart without me, and report directly to Kellen of the Council. To him, and no other. Tell him, verbally, what took place. Should there be any concerted action against the ['amon, use your own judg- ment as to the action to be taken, remembering that the safety of the ship and its crew, and the report to the Council, are infinitely more important than my personal welfare. Is that clear?” “Yes, sir. Too damned clear.” I smiled and shook my head. “Don’t worry,” I said lightly. “Pll be back well within the appointed time.” a hope so. But there’s something wrong as hell here. Pm talking now as man to man; not to my commanding officer. ’ve been watching below, and - I have seen at least two spots where large numbers of our ships have been destroyed. The remaining ships bear their own damned emblem where the crest of the eee should be—and was. What does it mean?” “It means,” I said slowly, “that I shall have to rely upon every man and officer to forget himself and myself, and obey orders without hesitation and without flinching. The orders are not mine, but direct from the Coun- cil itself.” I held out my hand to him—an ancient Earth gesture of greet- ing, good-will and farewell—and he shook it vigorously. “God go with you,” he said softly, and with a litte nod of thanks I turned and quickly left the room. R.2BOG Te NTS MY ounsi:ine, Kiwetes eo eck: . * land his Ore Viaude Thornhill and k $reg | rwiG ~ Dotcha Me ® Half as ia p< pe Ole House. “™muCn © This t. Caer _ sg 33 : Comichbooks co 5} |