Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 65 — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

THE RELUCTANT DEATH Earth is all there is. Well, where did the Mhalro come from, then ?”’’ But all he received in reply was a kick in the shin. A few days later they left the oasis—also a weapon depot. Three of the gondola- like vehicles were laden with what appeared to be electrical equipment, and the whole fleet floated taking Jal and Mailston with it. The transters apparently functioned by some electro- magnetic means. In fact, Jal’s people seemed to do every- thing by electricity. Even the controls, Mailston noticed, used no levers or switches, but a series of electro-magnets whose strength was varied by contact with the hands of the operator. “But electric currents move,” he maintained. To his surprise, he was not kicked or beaten, for by this time his persecutors were thoroughly perplexed. In an almost kindiy tone they asked what he meant by “current,” and explained that electricity 45 into the air,. and magnetism were not flows of any kind, but twin states of being—states, moreover, blessed by the Seven Gods and reserved for human use. The vile Mhalro were unable to use these divine existences, and were forced to call on the devils to provide them with their sacrilegious mechanisms. Power by movement, they said in educative tones, were ungodly. Mailston retorted tearfully that he knew all about sub- atomics, and electricity was movement, by God. And give him the instruments and he would prove it. They gave him the instru- ments, and all he succeeded in doing was to give himself proof to the contrary. He stared stupefied at the dials— which he found difficult to read—and once or twice he began to weep. By no means could he locate an electron flow, no entropy disturbance. He found all his values useless, his knowledge thrown in his face. But, desperately groping, he found evidence ofashadowy something, a something be- yond his experience, beyond his understanding. He found comiclooks.cormn