Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 52 — page 64: what you’re looking at

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

STAR HAVEN tive effort ?”” Hermitage shook his head. “‘No, Williams. You know that you’ll never be able to retain control over the colonists that long. Dis- cipline is slackening already, and how long do you think you can make them work at useless tasks? If they had a constructive job to do things would be different, but you’re making work and they know it. They'll obey you for a while; the dead weight of tradition, the sheer inertia of the past years will see to that, and then they'll begin to question, to dodge, to disobey. One day you'll give a com- mand and it will be ignored. Then you will have to enforce it or lose your position. You might be lucky the first time. You might be able to threaten them into obedience, but there'll be a second episode, a third, and then, one day, you'll find yourself alone.’”’ He smiled at the serious face of | the young man. “Forget it, Williams. There’s nothing you can do to stop it.”’ “TI refuse to desert, and I 63 refuse to let any of my com- mand desert.’’ Unconsciously his hand fell to his holstered weapon. “I have the law to back me up.”’ “You have nothing but the gun at your belt and the courage to use it or not, as you decide fit. But one thing [ll promise you. If you ever decide to use it, then keep on using it, because if. you don’t then you'll be the next to die.” “Shoot me? Their com- mander?”? Shocked horror was in Williams’ voice, and Hermitage could understand his incredulity. Men just didn’t mutiny. Officers just weren’t shot. Men just didn’t refuse to obey. Hermitage rested his hand on the young man’s shoulder. | ““Look, son,” he said, quietly. “I’m a little older than you in years, and a damn sight more in experience. I know that this is hard for you to take, but look at it sensibly. Gerald should have warned you what to expect. He hates you, not as a man, but for comiclooks.cormn