Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 65 — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

DUET FOR TWO realising that he was the cause of the pain which was cutting deeply into their faces. “So that’s it,’ Valdesco said hollowly. “‘I knew there was something wrong. Those memories, they aren’t clear enough. All those little things which have puzzled me, and then suddenly vanished to leave me thinking of some- thing else. I’ve often wondered.” “You were built to feel all the emotions of a human being, but there are circuits which automatically cut out thoughts which might lead you to discover your true identity. ’'m... 1m sorry!” Mark sat watching him miser- ably. “Built!” he spat the word out. ,There was silence in the room. Valerie slowly drew away from him with frozen, horrified eyes. Gradually, Val- desco’s face began to change, his eyes burned in their sockets and his cheeks grew taut, drawing back his lips. ““What right had you to do this thing?’ he demanded. ‘‘Who do you think you are, God?” 89 “The man who made you was conducting an experi- ment,” Mark tried to explain. ‘He never meant these things to happen. I was the one who persuaded him to let me put you on the stage.” “To get you money!” He was staring at the agent with a fierce hatred. “You used me to make money, not caring about the consequences. My God, but I hate you! I hate the whole human race!”’ ““Now, Val, we can... Mark stopped, suddenly afraid. “Don’t call me Val! Vil tell you something. Those cir- cuits which were supposed to control me are gone. I know I’m a robot, I feel like one. I hate you all and [’m going to destroy you. I’m going to destroy the whole blasted world!” Mark half raised his hand, a cold ball of fear in his stomach. He knew nothing about his powers; in fact, he had never thought of him as a robot, but now he saw the damage he had done. Valerie was pressing herself against the wall. Her face was white ’> comiclooks.conn