Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 52 — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION one of them to have crept near the settlement, driven by curiosity, perhaps, or just from a desire to see if he could find any new play- mates ?”’ “But if they're here why haven’t we seen them? Why didn’t they answer the radio call from the ship?” “Perhaps they didn’t want to be disturbed.” *“No.”’ Gerald shook his ~ head. “‘No, that isn’t logical. After ten years they would have been glad to hear another human voice, learn the news, catch up with events. They would have answered if only to obtain more tools, supplies, things they must need. It just isn’t natural that they deliber- ately hid from the contact vessel,” “You think not?’ Her- mitage shrugged. “I’m a doc- tor, Gerald, and in order to heal bodies I’ve had to learn a little about the workings of the mind. Nothing men do is ever illogical—to them. No matter how insane a man is, his actions and processes will 56 always be logical—to him. Sometimes I wonder whether or not we haven’t reversed the meanings of the words ‘sane’ and ‘insane.’ For, when you come to think about it, could anything be more illogical than our own civilisation? I told you that I knew Lambert. He was one of the few men I’ve ever found cause to admire. He managed to re- main an individualist in a society which actively dis- courages individuality. A reader of poems and old books, an idealist, a dreamer if you like. I found him a fascinating study in psy- chology, and we spent many hours together discussing everything from philosophy to cybernetics.” “Interesting,” said Gerald, absently, “but what has that to do with us?” “Maybe more than you think.’ Hermitage raised him- self on one elbow and stared at the ecologist. “Knowing the man enabled me to know what he would do under a given set of circumstances. He comicloooks.com