Argosy: The Short Story Magazine — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

THE CHRYSALIDS 129 - Yes, 19910. ** Know who I am? ”’ *“T think so. I think I found out,” I told him. He looked at me questioningly. “My father had an elder brother,” I said. ‘‘ He was thought to be normal until he was about three years old. Then his certifi- cate from the Inspector was revoked, and he was sent away.”’ He nodded slowly. ‘“‘ Not quite right,’ he said. ‘‘ When they came to take him away he was already missing—but they’d hush that up, of course.’ He paused reflectively, then he added, ‘‘ The eldest son. Waknuk should be mine. It is not—yjust because of this.’ He stretched out his long arm, and regarded it. ‘‘ Do you know what the length of a man’s arm should be? ” *No,”’ I admitted. ‘“ Nor do I. But somebody in Rigo does, some expert on the true image—so I must live like a savage among savages. Are you the eldest son?” “The only son,” I told him. ‘There was a younger one, Res ys ** No certificate, eh? ” I nodded. ‘“* So you, too, have lost Waknuk! ” That was an aspect which had not troubled me. I do not think I had ever had any real expectation of inheriting it. There had always been the sense of insecurity—the feeling, knowledge almost, that some day, sooner or later, I should be discovered. It had been too near the inevitable for me to feel the resentment that embittered him. After gazing at me thoughtfully a moment, he turned his atten- tion to Rosalind and Petra. I explained who they were. ** But what I don’t quite understand,” he said, “‘is why they are after you in such strength.”’ ** T think,” I told him, “‘ that we trouble them more than ordin- ary deviations because they’ve no way of identifying us. Also, I think they suspect that there may. be a lot more of us that they don’t know about, and they want to make us tell.” ** An extra-good reason for not being caught,” he said. I was aware that Michael had come in, and that Rosalind was answering him, but I could not pay attention to two things at once, so I left that to her. “They are coming right into the Fringes after you. How many of them?” asked the man. *“I’m not sure,” I said, wondering how to play it to the best advantage. ** You can find out,”’ he said flatly. I wondered how much he knew about us, and whether he knew about Michael, too. He looked me straight in the eye, and ~went on, “ It'll be better for you to co-operate with us fully. It’s you they’re after, and it would be quite simple for us to leave you comiclooks.comn