Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 54 — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE PICTION Harding was pleased. Hard- ing was the captain, the leader, the man in charge. He wore his uniform as if it were a second skin and he had long ago stiffened his bones into metal struts, converted his heart into a stone, and re- placed his emotions with a blank void in which shone only the lambent flame of duty. He smiled as he stared at the horror, frowned at the weak- ness of his computor man, and turned to Carter, his gun officer. “Report.” *“No signs of enemy life, sir.’ Carter tried not to look at the Head. “They must have abandoned ship when we registered our first hit. En- gines are damaged beyond repair or recognition.” “A pity. Earth could have done something with un- damaged engines.” Harding frowned as if the action of the enemy in ruining their vessel was a personal insult. He smiled again as he stared at the Head. “Still, we have this.’ Tes. Sige: “You don’t sound happy about it, Carter.” ““No,. sir.”? Carter forced himself to stare at the Head. “Are you going to kill it, sir?” “Kill it?” Harding didn’t trouble to disguise his im- patience. ““Why should I?” “It would be a mercy, sir. After all, it was a man once, and——”” ““You’re a sentimental fool, Carter. This Head is import- ant to us and you babble about killing it.” Harding stooped and stared into the ravaged features of the thing. “Can you hear me?” -yay...yay...yay...” “Attention! Answer me! Can you understand ?” 4 FAY ee’ VAY 9 3 YE. “Shock, perhaps, sir?” he ter glanced at Longstrom, busy wiping his mouth and making a point of not looking at the Head. “I understand that it would be connected to the outside detectors, and perhaps it has become de- ranged by the explosion.” “Is that possible, Long- strom ?” “Yes, sir. Even normal computor banks would be thrown out of alignment in such a case,” “IT see.’ Harding frowned down at the idiotic features; then, as his eyes drifted over the compact assembly, some- thing dawned deep in his mind. “‘Longstrom! Would it be possible to transfer the Head to our own vessel ?”’ 112 comiclbooks.conn