Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, Issue 45 — page 55: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION easily. “I find it very easy to slip into your Earthly ways of revenge and petty annoyance. My philosophy, the way of life of Molinar, should make - me completely free of all pettiness and power lust, and greed. All the things, in fact, that disfigure the civilisation of Terra.” Carpenter poured himself another drink and gestured to Louise to be seated. He said: ‘““You’ve got me rattled, fel- low. How do I know you're speaking the truth? Molinar could be losing the war, all right. A war against normal Earth people, adapted for varying planetary conditions in the ways I visualise, but still people. Still Earth-like, changed only in the minor ways that will fit them for their new environments. Your story could all be a fabrication to stop my work, and give your people of the future a walk over Earth.” “T don’t know——’”’ Louise began. “It is not so.” The Molinar- ian’s voice was low and hope- 54 less. ““We know of the drives that actuate you of Earth because we have channelled them in our own system so that we have a synthesis of all the values that are labelled ‘oood.’ The ‘bad’ characteris- tics have been weeded out. The terms ‘good’ and ‘bad’ are only relative, of course. We had always thought of our non-violence, our lack of the capacity to kill, as a ‘good’ facet. Now, with all Molinar being crushed by blood- hungry conquistadores, I’m not so sure.” “You mean that maybe if you could kill, and thus stave off your conquest by Earth, it wouldn’t be a ‘bad’ thing?’ Louise was sitting tensely on the edge of her chair. ‘*All that’s very interesting, but has nothing to do with me, with us, here and now!” Car- penter burst out. “Can I be- lieve you? Can I accept the fact that the future generations of man will do these things? I don’t know!” He put his face in his hands and his fingers conmicloooks.cormn