Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 71 — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

EXPLOITER’S END Her fine brows knitted. “Why, he went—oh, Jake, surely you don’t think——?” “‘Went where?” “Down the hall. Towards Personnel.” “Towards the conference hall, you mean. He never even examined Harvey!” “It wasn’t necessary,” she said uncomfortably. “Don just wanted to verify his stability index.” “Sure! So he stood outside the conference hall and put a whammy on me——” Fern was smiling. I scowled. “Tt fits. It has to be him.” “Or Tichnat,’ she said. “Or Starza. Or me.’ I stared at her. “You'd do.”” My voice shook. “You were gone three months. They could have got to you.” Her rich, warm laughter sifted through the twilight, and I wanted to hit her. ““They did,” she gurgled, “‘but I’ve decided to relent, Jake. Ill spare the plant on one con- dition—that you take me to the Term festival tomorrow night.” 61 I grunted. ““Carmody work- ing overtime, I suppose?” “Ifthe plant’sstillstanding.”’ I changed the subject. Two hours later Starza called a council of war. The conference room was crammed with quivering executives. Starza carefully let the tension build to a shrill crescendo before he said: “One of you gentlemen is a Guild mindless-controlled.”’ Ragged silence. Starza’s smile was very faint. “You gave us an ultimatum. But destroying this plant is an admission of failure you're not willing to make—yet. You'll try another tack. You’re just beginning to discover that this environment we've cre- ated for the Terms is superior to the primitive jungle. Tich- nat!” 7 Tichnat stepped forward. His antenne were a proud, brilliant gold. ‘“‘Doyouwantashutdown?” Starza asked softly. “Are we fools?’ Tichnat clicked. ““To lose what we’ve conmiclsooks.conn