Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 52 — page 76: what you’re looking at

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

CLEANSING FIRES planets increased the work of ESRA grew correspondingly, and reactionary groups in the Federation began to agitate about “‘The Earthman’s Bur- den.” With some validity they felt that the growing colossus ESRA should be made to pay off in some more material respect than the mere gather- ing of anthropological data. The two Earthmen rode through the gates of the city and along cobbled streets. Munson eyed the miserable hovels on either side of them. The faces that stared back at him out of dimly lit, unglazed windows were dull and un- intelligent. He wrinkled his nose as evidence of the primi- tive sanitary arrangements of the city reached his nostrils. Rounding a corner abruptly they entered a large square, in the centre of which stood an enormous, magnificently decorated building. Sheathed in what appeared to be beaten gold and encrusted with col- oured stones, the palace shone in the light of hundreds of torches. Munson exhaled sharply. - “Quite a surprise after the shacks of the working class, eh ?”’ said Rodell. Munson’s thoughts drifted back to the Earth he had left two months before—a city 75 world, where all men were equal. Despite his training he had found it difficult to imagine a society in which the levelling democratic principle did not exist. **How can the people toler- ate such living conditions in the face of this?’ His brown eyes were wide. Rodell’s lean face broke into a wolfish grin. ““Tolerate? You’ve got the wrong idea, son.’ He waved an arm in the direction of the palace. “‘This is the way of life on Manyh. There you have the rulers—the lords who live on the fat of the land, and behind us the people who are less than the dust. The many work to provide for the few in accordance with age-old customs. Should a worker question the fairness of the system his own companions would tear him limb from limb for uttering such blasphemy. *‘Way back in the mists of time the Khurus were the keepers of the communal food store—a type of village quar- termaster. Over the centuries the post became magnified in importance and surrounded by a carefully nurtured brand of religious mysticism whose purpose was to perpetuate the rule of the Khurus. It achieves this by the worship of custom comiclbooks.conrn