Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 42 — page 135: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION The door swung shut. With a great effort, Kermit got his eyes open and focused his gaze on Brother. He’d been right. It was Samuels. The lean figure of the former philosopher loomed tall and sardonic before Kermit. “‘Here, wipe your face. You look awful.” Kermit accepted the cold towel. An astringent had been added to the water in which the towel had been wrung. Biting pain was added to the shock of cold, but the pain helped clear his head. When he handed the towel back to Samuels, Kermit was able to see clearly again. His mind, too, had regained clarity. “Thanks, Samuels.”’ “*Brother!”’ “Brother.” “Tet’s get this straight,” Samuels said. “You and I were once professors at the same university. We were con- sidered equals. This is no longer so. [am your Brother.” “Td guessed that,’’ Kermit grunted. “So? Apparently you have spent a good deal of thought on matters other than your work,” “Hardly a good deal,”’ Ker- mit said, dryly. ““You’ve kept me pretty busy.”* “Not busy enough, ap- parently. You’re not a crea- ture of impulse, Kermit. To- day you did two things which indicate a background of wrong thinking, of lack of oneness.” Samuels paused. “In fact, such a background can point to one thing only. You are an agent of ENEMY!”’ Kermit shut his eyes wearily. His head ached. He knew now that’ he was beyond help, doomed. There was only one conclusion to thisfarce.Andit didn’t matter any longer. “Stop talking nonsense, Samuels,”’ he said. “You call it nonsense?” “Certainly. You know [’’m not an agent of ENEMY.” “No _ “No. Because there is no ENEMY !”” There was a long silence then. Samuels hadn’t changed expression. Yet there was a definite change in feeling in the room. It was with a visible effort that Samuels kept his tone light. “When did you reach this remarkable conclusion?” Kermit managed a weak smile. “I don’t know. Some , 134 comiclboooks.c@ i F 4 % - Ai be Se ee ee ary . aa ae a aor, a sree snl oa i” ~ or : — oe , oe PD er ee Se “a ¥, a im) rae ‘|