Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 44 — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

THE LEVER AND THE FULCRUM suppose either then or after- wards did he quite understand how my preposterous demand had so swiftly become real and attainable. But now, looking round his Councillors, he saw a very good imitation of a number of rats preparing to abandon a sinking ship. “Ts this also the wish of the Princess Nara?’ he de- manded desperately. | There followed a_ hasty glancing from one to another, and a nodding of heads. After all, if the Princess would have nothing to do with me, events might even now turn round in favour of Tomos. “She must speak for herself. I have never tried to force her,” said the old hypocrite, her father, who was quite capable of having her beaten to make her do as he wished. “T will say a word privately to Prince Niklas,”’ the Princess remarked, and walked round the long table and the seated Councillors towards me. I looked at her steadily as she approached. Her eyes dropped as they encountered mine, and she blushed a little. “T would rather have you than your brother,” she told me softly. ““But you must tell me, what is your chance of success in this? Tell me the 45 truth. I think you owe me that much.” “If you come over on my side,” I replied, “I have a good chance. Not a certainty, for I shall still have the army and the people of Tauron to deal with, but a good chance indeed. If you do not declare for me now, at once, then my case will quickly pass into the category of lost causes. Within a few minutes some- one will try to earn my brother’s favour by loosing off a blast at me. One or two already are watching me very closely and fumbling in their pockets—and James and I alone cannot fight every man here. My fate is in your hands.” She sighed. “I’m sure you will be a very great trouble to me, but you seem to be some- thing of a man, as well as having the makings of a king, and I have such a strong liking for strong men. I shall come with you, and take a chance with you.” She turned to her father. “IT will marry Prince Niklas,” she told him. One of the Councillors rose to his feet. “I now propose,” he an- nounced ponderously, “that a statement be drawn up and issued on those lines: “That it comicloooks.conn