Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 48 — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION Deliberately the giant en- gaged the young man’s eyes. Reluctantly Takato answered his gaze, and found himselff lost in Tabarni’s glowing red ¥y pupils. It was like being swallowed up in twin fur- naces. : Takato found himself losing consciousness of his own being, of the passage of time, of the very existence of the room in which he sat, of everything but the red haze which enveloped him. Then, suddenly, everything snapped back into focus. There was Cha _ Tabarni standing in front of him, swinging the hand weapon from the tip of one finger and smiling at him. “Now let us have a little talk,” said the Venusian. “Tf you. wish,” replied Takato, who was no longer alarmed. ‘But why not destroy me now and make an end of it?” ‘* Because friend.” Takato smiled sourly. “ An old trap,” he said. I am _ your 30 “Perhaps I can convince you,” continued the black giant, leaning forward in- tently. “I wrote the report which you saw at the Records Centre, the report of your activities on the Moon. I said you drank little. That is true in the main, if one chooses to overlook the occasion on which you got roaring drunk 33 “Which was your doing.” Tabarni nodded. “ Exactly. A being intoxicated in strange surroundings often reveals matters which would other- wise be hidden. You got drunk in a surprisingly short time. And since then, I notice, you have been careful never to give yourself away again in the same manner.” “Give myself away? I don’t understand.” Takato stirred uneasily. § Tabarni tapped him on the knee. ‘Perhaps you don’t re- member what you said... I tell you, Takato, it was one of the most magnificent demo- cratic speeches it has ever been my privilege to hear.” comiclbooks.cormn