Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 50 — page 80: what you’re looking at

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

HIDDEN TREASURE OF KALIN serve us, and even to master the Great Secret.” “The Atom?” Kalin shrugged. “Old tales to frighten children.” “No.” The Reader stared at the King and something strange burned in his eyes. “We know that is notso. We know that our ancestors had power we can but dream of. But those ancestors left us the knowledge of how to harness that powe®., They left it to us in the Bébks.”” He touched the stained and cracked covers with reverent fingers. “Why else did the old King collect them? Why else should he have appointed a Reader? Would our forefathers have saved the Books had they not known them to be of great value?” “We have ‘had them for almost eight generations,” re- minded Kalin. “If they con- tained what you say why haven’t we mastered their secrets by now?” “Tt takes time to train a warrior, to teach a man how to break a horse, and it takes 79 time to show a woman how to spin and weave. How much longer then must it take for us to solve the meanings of these words ?” “You speak in riddles,” snapped Kalin. He held up his bow. “ This is a twanger. We call it so because. . .” he plucked the cord and the thin sound echoed through the room. “That is reasonable. A sticker sticks in things. A sword...” Hefrowned. “I know not why it is so called; a cutter would be better, but we have always called it a sword.” He shrugged. “All these names have a meaning. They belong to something we can feel and touch. They are real. Of what use then are the words in the Books?” ““A woman learns to weave by an older woman showing her how,” said the old man. “A young warrior learns how to aim his twanger with an older man at his side. A farmer is told what and what not to do by his father. Who can teach us how to use the words in the Books ?” comicloooks.con