Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 44 — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

THE LEVER AND THE FULCRUM ‘this robot does not require specific orders to act. He will start firing as soon as he thinks necessary. He will continue shooting even if you succeed in killing me—and I need hardly say that he is impervious to bribes or threats.” As I was speaking, my eight young noblemen came crowd- ing into the room, and they also distributed themselves round the walls and near the door. *“*My alternative proposal is this,” I resumed. ‘“‘That bro- ther Tomos shall abdicate, and that I shall be King in his stead, and shall marry the Princess Nara.” It was shattering in its sheer effrontery. It brought a com- plete and absolute silence. Then, after a moment, I saw expressions indicative of pro- cesses of thought begin to pass rapidly across the faces of the assembly. I could guess what these thoughts were. They realised, firstly and most urgently, that [ intended to kill Tomos rather than surrender, and that some of their number might be killed at the same time..After that they may have con- sidered that I might be no worse as a king than my brother—but all must have 41 quickly arrived at the con- clusion that there were many obstacles between me and my goal. *“You are mad!” Tomos ex- claimed. His expression bright- ened, for the possibilities and attractions of my scheme could not be very apparent to him. Very likely he seri- ously believed that I might have taken leave of my senses. He addressed himself again to Captain Karan. ‘“‘Whatever wild plan my brother may have induced you to take part in,”’ he said, “‘you must see that it has no pos- sibility of success. Think of your own safety, my dear fellow, and that of your family and relatives.” This remark was a shrewd touch. I saw Karan flinch. ““My plan will seem rather less wild and fantastic when you learn that Princess Nara and the King, her father, favour it,” I put in. Further shades of rapid thought flickered across the faces of the Councillors. There were certain grounds for supposing the Princess might favour the scheme, and all of them knew also that the King listened to her words. At this moment, prompt on his cue, the King of Argol stormed into the room. He comicloooks.conn