Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 42 — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

PROCESS time today, I think. Hasn’t it ever struck vou, Samuels?” “Of course not.” “Strange. You know we have every facility for televis- ing. Yet we receive all battle reports by radio. We’re told that so many bombers have got through—but we’ve never felt even a tremor during a raid. Also, why have our own pilots never brought back films of their own successful attacks ?” Kermit waited for a reply, but there was none. He shook his head. “‘No, Samuels. I have a hunch that ENEMY ceased to exist as a great state about the _ time we went underground.” There was a long silence. Samuels studied him intently. “Very well, Kermit. Let’s fol- low through your line of reasoning. Suppose you are right ?” “Then why this terrible hoax?” Kermit demanded. “What would you have us do?” | “Go back aboveground. After ten years there are plenty of safe areas, free of radioacti- vity. Why must we stay here, like moles? Why the regimen- tation? Why the brutality?” _ Heleaped to his feet. ““Worst — of all—why this conditioning of people to live a weird dream- life, a gibberish of us, Father, ENEMY—an insane fantasy?” “Sit down,’ Samuels said. Kermit remained on his feet. “No. Answer me, Samuels. Why was it necessary to kill man’s most precious freedom —freedom of thought?’ “You talk like a child,’’ Samuels snapped. “‘Have you ever thought of what would happen if we went above- ground, into a fight for land? We'd simply repeat every mis- take in man’s history, every squabble, every dissension, every civil war. Why is it wrong to bind people together, why is it insane to end their differences? ‘““Have you ever thought of what holds a people together, Kermit ? Common fears, com- mon hopes, common symbols. Is it insane gibberish to give men those things ?”’ “Certainly, Kermit said. “Certainly it’s insane if the fears, hopes and symbols are false to reality. Certainly it’s wrong—if the purpose for which it’s done is wrong.” Suddenly Samuels smiled. Until now he had been tense, as though a battle had been joined between himself and Kermit. Now he acted as though the battle were over, and he were the victor. 135 comiclooks.corn