Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 67 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAN IN BETWEEN expensive, and all very vulnerable. A few thermite bombs set off at the right places would slow down production. A few more would wreck essential equipment and necessitate ex- pensive replacements. Big as it was, Consolidated operated on a relatively small margin of profit. In other words, they were sitting ducks for the protection racket. ? And they were beginning to get worried. “It’s the taste of money,” | I said. “‘At first the smart boys were content to gyp small-time prospectors like me. Then they got bigger, or wiser, or maybe bought more protection. Perhaps they got recruits from the Inner Worlds. Perhaps anything, but they’ve taken a look round and seen that the Company can’t afford sabotage. How much are they asking, Harry?” “Too much,” hesaid quietly. *No matter how little it is, it’s still too much. You can’t buy off a blackmailer, and that’s all they are. Once we 28 pay then we'll have to keep on paying.” I laughed. Harry wasn’t annoyed or ashamed, or anything like that. Instead, he went and got a couple of coffee bulbs and, when Id finished my laughter, he handed me one. [ took it and stuck the nipple in my mouth. It was good coffee, laced with real brandy and sweetened with real sugar. I enjoyed it. “I’m not going to talk to you about ideals,” said Harry patiently. “I’m not even going to say anything about loyalty or decency, or building for the future. I’m just going to talk about money.” He sucked at his coffee and licked his lips. “If Consolidated is held to ransom, you, and those like you, are going to suffer. The company is out to make money, never forget that, and if it doesn’t make a profit it goes into liquidation. So any tribute we pay must be found without cutting our profit margin ‘to a suicidal point. comiclooks.com