Argosy (UK), January 1955 — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

- F | SEVENTH VICTIM 79° =m “No.” She looked at him, full in the face, and Frelaine saw something he hadn’t noticed before. She was very lovely. “IT am a bad, bad girl,” she said lightly. “I got the idea I’d like to commit a murder, so I signed on with ECB. Then—I couldn’t do it.” Frelaine shook his head, sympathizing with her. : * But I’m still in, of course. Even if I didn’t shoot, I still have to be a Victim.” “But why don’t you hire some spotters? ’’ he asked. “TI couldn’t kill anyone,” she said. “I just couldn’t. I don’t even have a gun.”’ ‘You've got a lot of courage,’’ Frelaine said, ‘‘ coming out in the open this way.” Secretly, he was amazed at her stupidity. “What can I do?” she asked listlessly. “ You can’t hide — from a Hunter. Not a real one. And I don’t have enough money to make a good disappearance.” ‘ Since it’s in your own defence, I should think— began, but she interrupted. ‘No. I’ve made up my mind on that. This whole thing is wrong, the whole system. When I had my Victim in the sights— ”» RV ED MTL he Se, ae Ae ee 1% p ) a, ie ; * 4 Lik ‘ ‘ ' ' ip Frelaine _ when I saw how easily I could—I could—” She pulled herself together quickly. “ Oh, let’s forget it,” she said, and smiled. : Frelaine found her smile dazzling. After that, they talked of other things. Frelaine told her of : his business, and she told him about New York. She was twenty-two, an unsuccessful actress. They had supper together. When she accepted Frelaine’s invitation to go to the Gladiatorials, he felt absurdly elated. He called a taxi—he seemed to be spending his entire time in New York in taxis—and opened the door for her. She started in. Frelaine hesitated. He could have pumped a shot into her at that moment. It would have been very easy. But he held back. Just for the moment, he told himself. The Gladiatorials were about the same as those held anywhere else, except that the talent was a little better. ‘There were the usual historical events, swordsmen and netmen, duels with sabre and foil. Most of these, naturally, were fought to the death. Then bull fighting, lion fighting, and rhino fighting, followed by the more modern events. Fights from behind barricades with bow and arrow. Duelling on a high wire. The evening passed pleasantly. Frelaine escorted the girl home, the palms of his hands sticky with sweat. He had never found a woman he liked better. And comicloools, a