Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 44 — page 23: what you’re looking at

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

ee eS Se - - My Mh a AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION operation slowly at first, then faster and faster. The result was that in my second and third encounters I killed my opponent with such obvious ease that no other person proved willing to attempt this particular means of earning my brother’s gratitude. Where one’s life depends on a steady hand and a quick eye, it is nothing less than common sense to refrain from what James called “the excessive ~ consumption of alcohol,” and where one’s continued sur- vival is rendered more prob- able by the avoidance of large crowds, dark streets, packed dance halls, rowdy company and chance com- panions, it must be equally obvious that I should asso- ciate less than formerly with the sort of young lady who used to be my companion. You can see already that I was becoming a changed man —a reformed character. Other factors contributed to this change. Having by my examination and practical test in Astrogation shown evidence of special talent, I _. found myseif posted to No. 1 Naval Astrogation Research Centre, with an advance of rank. This appointment was - mo sinecure, for James proved 22 curiously unable to give me any further help, and, there- fore, in order to maintain my rather too easily won reputa- tion I had to study hard and continuously. I myself was scarcely con- scious of the extent to which my way of living had changed in those two years until I happened to hear a news talk in which reference was made to myself. I learned that I had inherited all my illustrious father’s brilliance; I was per- haps one of the best naval scientists of our age; although I lacked my royal brother’s unique personal magnetism and gifts of kingship, I was discovered by my closer ac- quaintances to have a quiet charm beneath a somewhat austere and studious manner; I was a fine swordsman.... ““How would you have des- cribed me when you first en- tered my service?’ I asked James. “TI am unable to assess and evaluate human physical pro- portions, except from the point of view of functional efficiency,” he replied. “T don’t mean physical proportions,” I told him. “I mean me—myself.” “You were,” James stated without hesitation, “‘a typical comicloooks.conn