Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 44 — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION The smiles left the faces of my two opponents. ““Come,”’ they said together. I walked ahead of them across to the gymnasium, pushed open the door and pulled off my tunic. “Come now,” I said, pulling out my sword. The men who had followed us ranged themselves round the room. “You are ready, sir?” I asked the man who faced me. ““Ready,” he replied. I felt myself to be wound up like a spring, quivering, - ready for its release. “You are, quite ready?” I asked again. “You will not say later that I took you by surprise ?” “You talk a great deal,”’ he replied. “Show me whether you can fence.” I launched myself at him. Every ounce of skill and speed I possessed I put into three lightning motions. For- ward and up; parry down- wards, step aside—his guard went wide, as I knew it must, then I felt my point grate on bone as it went into his arm— his right arm, above the elbow. I stepped back and wiped my sword. “You, sir, next,” I snapped. “Quickly now, or do you wish to withdraw ?’ 30 For answer he whipped out his sword. “Ready ?” I asked. He watched me like a cat. He did not mean to be dealt. with so swiftly as his friend. I exchanged a few cautious passes with him. He grinned. *“Had you tried that trick again,” he said, “I’d have spitted you.” “I. have other tricks,” I assured him. “And now we have an hour in which to try them...” I allowed just a fraction of a second to elapse; just enough for my opponent to digest my remark and conclude that I was settling for a long and cautiously fought bout, then leapt at him. I used the same attack, brought his weapon a little wide, and thrust him through the right arm. I wiped my sword, pulled on my tunic and walked quickly away, and across to my quarters. Here I undressed, took a bath, brushed my hair, dressed again, and walked down to the main hall. I sauntered about the hall until I met the eye of one of the young ladies. There I spent the next hour lounging elegantly against a pillar carry- ing on a flirtation. The rumour of my exploit circulated. It grew, it buzzed, conmicloooks.comnn