Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 52 — page 83: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION the crowd in Manyhian. ““Go about your business, in the name of the Khuru!” The crowd hesitated for a moment, then melted away like summer snow. This was the treatment they understood. Chonprey the butcher gazed curiously at the backs of the departing noblemen. The knife fell to the cobblestones with a ringing crash. “Thanks for getting me out of a ticklish situation,” said Munson, as they walked through the gate and back into the quiet of the palace grounds. Rodell glanced at him thinly. “You don’t imagine I did it out of any concern for your lily- white hide, do you? I knew you wouldn’t have the guts to kill that man, and if you hadn’t I. would have been in big trouble, too. You’re supposed to bemy kinsman, remember ?” “I had to talk to one of the workers,” said Munson. His face was pale. “‘And a fine darned mess you made of it!” exploded Rodell. “In case you’ve for- gotten, I’m still the agent in charge on Manyh. After I leave you can get yourself into all the trouble you like, but until then you’re under my orders.” Munson stopped, his round face working with anger. 82 “I realised what your feel- ings might be before I landed. Nobody likes to give up something he has worked for for twenty-five years, but you've gone out of your way to make my position difficult. I’ve tried to co-operate with you, Rodell, even though any competent observer could see at first glance that you have been working the wrong way here.” Rodell stared at the younger man, his leathery features twisted into an expres- sion of humorous incredulity. “Why, thank you, sonny,” he said, softly. ““Maybe you could have done better. Any- way you'll get your chance soon enough.” “TI can’t wait that long,” said Munson, carried along on the tide of his fury. “‘Call up H.Q. on the sub-etheric and we'll settle this thing right now. Regulations provide for such situations. We can each put in a full report and let them decide who shall be in charge.”’ “Don’t quote regulations at me, you sanctimonious little clown,” said Rodell, contemp- tuously. ““What makes you think you can right the wrongs of the universe in ten minutes ? When I hand over the com- municator you can send in comiclbooks.corn