Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 48 — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

TABARNI DOCUMENT Takato stared at the Thought Guardian, surprised and fascinated. “You damned your illus- trious father from here to the outer nebulz. You tore apart in words which were almost luminous the whole concept of aggression, terror and anni- hilation. If ever a man earned death in agony, you did that evening. And your mother’s name occurred again and again.” The young Constructor’s body went limp. “I see,” he said dully. Then he raised his head again. “And do I have to thank you for my life?” “Yes, you do. I persuaded your drinking companions that you were being slightly bawdy. The girls were blush- ing and laughing at the same time. The rest of us roared with laughter, and I laughed loudest of all. And then, of course, I saw that the incident never found its way into your records.” “ But why did you do all this for me, Cha? Why?” 31 “Because, my impulsive, honest, idealistic and arrogant friend, I have work for you. What has blurted from your lips is what I have hidden in my heart for years without number. You and I are going to lead a great rebellion against the vicious ideas which poison every planet in the solar system.” “TIT don’t understand.” Takato passed a hand quickly before his eyes. “I cannot understand. If you share my ideas, then how could you have stood aside when Soren- sen was destroyed? You did not save him. Yet you saved me. Why, Cha, why did you allow Sorensen to be elimi- nated ?” Tabarni dropped his eyes for the first time. He shifted his feet uneasily. “I have to live with my conscience,” he said. ‘* You don’t. Takato, how old do you think I am?” “Three absolute years?” Tabarni smiled. “ You'll never guess. I have lived for nearly twenty-seven absolute comicloooks.com