Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 72 — page 110: what you’re looking at

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

REWARD FOR VALOUR I need to get to Marsport. Mines can blow up and the world come to an end, but the government wants its pretty reports made out on time.”’ I was using it as an excuse. Suddenly I couldn’t stay around the reporter any longer. “‘Don’t you want to be a hero?’ MacNab asked, witha speculative look in his eyes. **Hell!”’ I exclaimed in dis- gust. I looked at the reporter and my lip curled at him. I had forgotten to be polite. He caught the sneer, it even penetrated his thick hide. He started to make a rush at me, to carry his bravado to its limit. He thought better of it. I was standing, ready to find out if that jutting jaw was glass. “Why, you cheap little stooge,” he shouted. “I'll fix you, too. Hero, huh? Why I'll show you up as the black- est little tinhorn chiseller that ever took a bribe!” “*Let’s go,” MacNab said to me in a tone of respect. We started walking through the rubble toward the beat-up old shuttle. 109 I suppose, grandfather, that each of us, at one time or. another, would like to feel he has done something significant —that the world recognises a thing we have done—a special thing—a thing of valour. I suppose we consider recogni- tion as the reward for valour. But now it has been brought home to me how cheap recogni- tion can be—how often it serves only some ego-maniac’s desire to build himself through re- flected glory. This is no reward for valour, grandfather. I would not have such a reward. MacNab opened the door of the ship, and we went inside. My head was splitting with pain, and I sank down into my seat with thankfulness. Without a word, MacNab went up into the driver’s seat and touched the starter button. The shuttle took off in a roar. We began to climb. We climbed farther. It was not necessary to climb so high. Eons before, the mountain Tanges on Mars had been worn down to rolling hills. Wearily, I turned my eyes from the scene below, and comiclooks.corn