Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 71 — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION self, with what they had not said. Black had not thought about it, Winter guessed; but he had contributed by letting Shaw imagine he had. “Pretty,” said Winter harshly. They were all in the lounge by now, everyone on the ship. He was hurting them all except the Crispins, Mar- jory most of all. He meant to do it. ““Now you’ve got him out of the way, who’s next? Is Souness the next scapegoat, or me?”’ “Don’t, please,” said Mar- jory unsteadily. “I didn’t know. . .” “The excuse of all history,” retorted Winter bitterly. “ ‘I didn’t know. I never thought.’ Why didn’t you think? Leave him where he is. It won’t be long enough to matter.” ““No, not that!’ Marjory screamed. ““Do you want me to shoot myself, too ?”’ “Has it sunk in?’ Winter asked brutally. “Do you know what you did? Or are you just sorry he gave up his last few hours, but quite sure you didn’t murder him?” Marjory broke down com- pletely. With a shrug, Winter took the body by the shoul- ders and Smith moved forward to take its feet. They bore it off to the airlock. When they returned Marjory was dry- eyed and startlingly sane. She had found an escape from responsibility. ‘“‘That’s the best way,” she said wonderingly. ““Why don’t we all die? They guard prison- ers condemned to death, to make sure they don’t kill themselves. That’s because it’s crueller to make them wait. But there’s no one to guard us. And here I am sorry because Shaw killed himself. He was wiser than any of us.” Winter glanced round the others. “I’m going back to 'my cabin,” he said. “Shoot yourselves if you like. It isn’t my problem any more.” “Don’t say you’re going to break, after all,” said Mary quietly. “Do I look as if I’m break- ing?” . “Y 6.- He laughed, and the sound was healthy and sane. “‘Maybe I’ve seen too many people die,” he retorted. “Certainly too many to break because of a few more, including me.” He paused at the door. ““Does conmiclsooks.conn