Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 71 — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION *“‘What do you know about the Guild?” “Tmpractical visionaries,” Tichnat clicked. “‘Lovers of statis, well-meaning fools. They approached me yester- day.” A vein throbbed purple in Starza’s forehead. Yet he Kept his voice soft. “‘And you didn’t report it?” ‘And precipitate a crisis?” Tichnat sounded amused. “I was asked if my people were being persecuted. Had I an- swered in the affirmative there might have been repercus- sions, perhaps a sequel to Proycon. Oh, yes, we know of Proycon. Your foremen are sometimes indiscreet.”’ “Who was the agent?” Starza breathed. “Should I tell you, and disrupt the status quo? You would destroy the agent. In retaliation, the Guild might destroy this plant.” “Impossible! Guild agents have no such authority——” ‘““A chance I cannot afford to take.”’ Tichnat was ada- mant. 56 “Amalgamated,” Starza prodded, “‘offers a standing reward of one hundred thous- and solar credits for apprehen- sion of any Guild agent. Your village could use those credits. You could equip an atomic lab. You could main- tain your own research staff——”’ “Stop it.” The antenne throbbed brilliantly. “We are your friends, Tich- nat.” “Symbiosis, I believe is the word,” Tichnat clicked dryly. “You need us. We need your science. We need your terrify- ing concept of individuality. We need to lose our old ways. The dance of harvest time. The Queen-Mother. One by one the rituals drop away. The old life, the good tribal life, is dying. You sift out us misfits who chafe at tribal oneness, you offer us the planets!” The antenne flashed an angry scarlet. ““You think to keep us chained a millennium. A hundred years will suffice. We will leave you. We exiles conmiclsooks.conn