Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 52 — page 50: what you’re looking at

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

STAR HAVEN Williams? I won’t let you do it!” “Gerald, you fool!’ Her- mitage grabbed at the ecolo- gist and slammed him back in his chair. “Calm down, damn you!” **Let him go.”’ Williams had risen and stood, one hand resting easily on the butt of — the pistol in his belt. “It is time this matter was decided once and for all. Like it or not, Geraid, I am the com- mander here and you will do as I order. Exactly as I order, do you understand that? I’ve stood more in- solence from you than from any other man, but I tried to make allowances for you, find special justification for your arrogance and contempt of duly elected authority. It is our duty to grow food here. It is our duty to help feed the starving billions of Earth. They are your people, Gerald, yours and mine, and we owe it to them to obey our instructions. Perhaps this planet will be ruined. Per- haps we will fail, no matter 49 “ what we try, but I don’t intend failing until I have made every effort to do what I was selected to do. What if we do ruin the planet? What if we do wreck the ecology? What is that to us? Space is littered with worlds and, if we fail here, it is still no loss.” “You swine!” Gerald struggled against the doctor’s grip. “You stinking, selfish, ignorant swine! Touch a single one of those trees and I'll kill you! I swear it!” “No,” said Williams, quietly. “You will not kill me.”’ He looked at the others, Hermitage, still half-sitting- half-leaning against the writh- ing figure of the ecologist. Mary, standing, pale and silent, against the wall. “You both heard that threat. I, as commander of this settlement, have been threatened with ‘violence by a _ subordinate. The penalty, as laid down in the manual, is very clear. Punishment up to and in- cluding execution, at the dis- cretion of. the highest com- manding cfficer. I am he. As comiclooks.corn