Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 56 — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION Kristofr nodded. “Exactly,” he said. He paused a moment, letting the thought take its time in sinking in, while he himself thought over the ur- gent message he had received from the General just before setting out to visit Jaksn’s widow: the message that had told him to use bribery before force, tact before bluntness, discretion before precipitous- ness. SiAcon still wanted the whole thing kept dark and, as a consequence, had author- ised the Security forces to use any and every means at their disposal to ensure that the darkness was such a complete and utter gloom that even the searching eye of the most intelligent observer not directly involved in the busi- ness might not pierce it. Kristofr had laid his plans accordingly. He cared little whether General Lee kept or lost his position as head of Scotyard Security Police. He considered that the man’s vigorous praise of the selec- tive breeding system was a second-level—possibly even first-level—subconscious Ego- affirmation, since, despite the fact that the man himself 30 had been born of two Class A rectorz, he was a genuine throwback: one of the un- predictables that were bound to crop up every so often. General Lee, Kristofr knew, was a man with a mentality of scarcely higher grade than a B ManUI, and quite in- capable of coping even adequately with a major ad- ministrative position. But for his ability in the art of foisting hard work and responsibility onto his subordinates he would never have remained in office for so long. No, it was not thoughtful- ness for others that had prompted Kristofr to put all his energics into this particu- lar case. It was the knowledge that, providing he solved the problems with which he was presented and satisfied StAcon as to his integrity and value to the State, he could jump- grade from Drector C to Drector A, and probably oust the general from his post as Head of Security at the same time. It would be very pleasant, thought Kristofr, to be Class A and Head of Security. Jumpgrading didn’t happen conmicloooks.com