Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 54 — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

DEATH WISH “Tt makes no difference. Radar impulses are the same; they have to be, or they wouldn’t be radar. Electronic circuits are basically similar, and velocity and range are pure definitions, not arbitrary. There could be subtle dif- ferences, of course, mosily due to different methods of connecting.’ He stared at the captain. “If you want to know whether or not this thing could | run our ship, the answer is yes.” “You can’t do it!’ Carter stepped forward, his hands subconsciously tightening into fists. ““You can’t keep a thing like that alive.” *“No?” Harding stared at the psychologist; then, his eyes twin points of frozen ice, glanced at the officer’s clenched hands. He nodded as Carter flushed and spread his fingers. *““That’s better. For a moment I thought that I should have had to order your arrest. You know the penalty for striking a superior, Carter?” “IT had no intention of striking you,” “You know the penalty for insubordination?” ~~ “] had no intention of striking you—-sir.”’ “I’m sure you hadn’t, but I’m equally sure that if you continue opposing me you will live to regret it. This is war, 117 Mr. Carter, and junior officers are expected to remember that.” “I’m sorry, sir, but what you suggest is too horrible. The MER Co whie, ‘I have already given you my opinion on the men.” Harding stared at the instru- ment-littered room. “At the moment I am only interested in efficiency—and in killing aliens. Once we clear this stuff away, dump it into space, we can go hunting. Once we have shown that we can destroy the enemy there will be no ques- tion of reprimand for what I have done. On the contrary, I will probably receive a medal.” He glanced at Longstrom. “Begin the transfer.” ‘No!’ Carter stepped for- ward and pushed the com- putor man back into his seat. “You can’t do it!” “Can't?” Harding didn’t raise his voice, but something in his eyes told Longstrom that the psychologist was going too far. “We're not certain that it will work,”’ he said, hastily. “If the enemy discover us with our computors dis- mantled———”’ “They mustn’t, and it is up to you to see that they don’t.” “There may be unforeseen snags. The Head may not connicbooks.conn ©