Astounding Science Fiction (British Edition) — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

THE TEST “I’m afraid you don’t quite follow me,” the captain said patiently. “It is not the overt content of the sub- ject’s statements we are interested in, not what he says; it is the attitude be- hind them, why he says it. In this particular case, even at the logical level the statements show anomalies. For example, ‘helping our allies as much as_ possible,’ a _ speciously pseudo - democratic generality, be- comes in the specific instance of the Basque rumors ‘doubting our allies.’ But that is not really important. In this statement the subject clearly betrays a manipulative way of thinking about others, he assesses the Falangists on the basis of their utility to the Allies, rather than on their own merits. This ‘practical’ way of evaluating people of seeing them as objects to be ‘used,’ is one of the most basic authoritarian traits. A true democrat, as this man claims to be, if he honestly believed the Falange to be antidemocratic, would not accept their help or help them, however urgent his need.” ‘‘And the man is to be condemned for this, because he is practical?” the lieutenant asked. “I, too, am a prac- tical man. I, too, dislike the Falan- _ gists, but am willing to work toward a ~ common end with them. Am I then an authoritarian?” The captain felt his face redden. ‘Perhaps so,” he said, and immedi- ately regretted it. “Excuse me,” he added hastily, “I don’t mean to ques- tion your loyalty, it’s just—’? He paused helplessly. How could one convince these psychological illiter- ates, these soldiers who were “prac- tical” men themselves, who revered common sense and prided themselves on their lack of emotion, their cold- blooded logic? He turned to the colonel. ‘“‘Sir,”’ he said formally, “you have my report, which reflects my considered 49 professional opinion. I have nothing to add to it—” Rather early in the morning of his fifth day in the compound, Otto was awakened by a rap on his door. A Sergeant and two armed soldiers stood in the corridor. “What is this?” Otto asked. ‘“‘What do you want?” “You're to come along with us,” the sergeant said with a hint of Scot- tish accent. So, Otto thought bleakly, now comes the real questioning. He knew he had not slipped, but there must have been just enough doubt—Well, - he thought, I have been questioned before, by experts. They will get nothing from me. These Amis are too chicken-hearted for real torture. And once I have passed this test, he thought, there will no longer be any question — Good, he thought, his — spirits rising somewhat again, a rough job to do, but it must be done. Let us get on with it. He dressed quickly and neatly. “I am ready now,” he said quietly. They went down the corridor to- ward the back of the building and out a narrow side-door into a little en- closed court. There were more soldiers here, with machine-pistols, and at one end of the court there was a wall of heavy timbers, somewhat splin- tered at a height about four feet above the ground. In front of this wall there was a sturdy post set solidly in the ground, also splintered in places. “Wait,” Otto said, “you cannot do this! There is a mistake! I am a demo- crat, a Resistance fighter—” ‘““No mistake,” the sergeant said _ firmly. “Come along now, don’t make a fuss, there’s nothing to it, just like yanking a tooth. Grab him, you lads—” “Look at it this way,” the colonel! told the Intelligence lieutenant, “2 Qa EComichooksnco im