Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 41 — page 126: what you’re looking at

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

KIDS’ GAME A guffaw greeted the words. The huge bearded head shook in laughter. A heavy foot nudged his chest. Instantly Phil grasped the ragged, muddy shoe, mean- while rolling his body to bring his legs under him. Then, lifting with his back and leg muscles, he gave the tramp’s leg a wrenching twist. The man went down heavily with a savage scream of pain. The boy moved in, his hands clasped tightly together, palms open. But he stopped and stared down at the im- potent giant. *“{ should kill you for a stupid criminal,” he spat. ‘“‘I can do it, too. But that broken ankle is enough—you won’t tell how you got it.” Fifteen minutes later he squeezed the crude door latch and noiselessly pushed in the wooden door. The adolescent voice he had heard as he approached the railroad shack paused, its owner regarding him with irritation. ““You’re late, Phil. Have trouble getting away from mamma ?”’ *“*A tramp tried to rob me.” The thick-set boy of per- haps seventeen sneered and turned toward other seated boys of various ages. ‘Our baby-faced member seems to attract such incidents.” There was a flutter of boyish laughter. Phil blushed as he took a seat on the rough floor among them. “As I was saying, the Manual prescribes that when the average age of the mem- bers reaches fourteen years, Phase Two will be considered entered...” “Phase Two—what’s that mean?’ demanded a red- haired boy near Phil. ‘We gotta go to school or some- thing ?”’ The older youth smiled at the interrupter. ‘Frankie— you'll like this. You won’t want to play hookie from Phase Two. According to the Manual, it is time we prepared ourselves physically for what ultimately lies ahead.” “You mean like baseball ?”’ demanded Frankie. “Naw—he means like Judo,’ said another, smaller boy. Phil frowned. Why didn’t they let the leader continue? 125 < conmmiclooks.comn