Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 41 — page 127: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION His heart beat faster in an- ticipation of what was coming. “Neither of those,’ con- tinued the older boy. “Since you haven’t read the Manual —you couldn’t understand it yet—I"ll have to put its language in terms you boys can understand. Phase Two will be semi-military ...” “Oh, boy!” “But before you summon up visions of some kind of non-Terran West Point, let me say that it will mean a great deal stricter discipline than we have had in our little gang so far.” There were expressions of dismay. Discipline? What did that mean? Phil motioned one of the boys to silence and re- ceived a vulgar gesture in return. ““We will conceive and exe- cute assignments. . For ex- ample, the Manual suggests that we try to gain entrance to a rocket assembly plant... .”’ Los WE BAN Eas sputtered Phil, involuntarily. The leader frowned at him intensely. ‘“‘Philip—the rest of you... you'll have to be quiet. You’ve assigned me Reader of the Manual because I’m older and can translate it into Terran child’s English. Now you're going to have to let me talk—any objections?” He scanned the six faces bel- ligerently. No one objected. ‘“‘As I was saying, tonight’s meeting marks the beginning ~ of Phase Two. Presum- ably——”” He cast an amused look at Phil. “Presumably the next two years or perhaps three will see us all reach adolescence. From this point we will work together on specific assignments as teams or—if you prefer—squads.” “What for, Jake? Why can’t we keep the gang?” asked a boy. “Because of a curious psy- chological .phenomenon of which you are not aware. As you know, we have taken full advantage of the fact that at our age boys—and presum- ably girls—tend toward gang Orientation within their own Sex. | “Terrans expected us to want to form gangs. After adolescence, however, the ex- pectation is the reverse.” At that moment one of the boys released a toy car. The 126 comicloooks.cOnm ©