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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30353 ***
+
+ _Have you ever written science fiction?
+ Have your stories been rejected? Herein
+ may lie the reason._
+
+
+The Smiler
+
+By Albert Hernhunter
+
+
+"Your name?"
+
+"Cole. Martin Cole."
+
+"Your profession?"
+
+"A very important one. I am a literary agent specializing in science
+fiction. I sell the work of various authors to magazine and book
+publishers."
+
+The Coroner paused to study Cole; to ponder the thin, mirthless smile.
+The Coroner said, "Mr. Cole, this inquest has been called to look into
+the death of one Sanford Smith, who was found near your home with a gun
+in his hand and a bullet in his brain. The theory of suicide has been--"
+
+"--rather hard to rationalize?"
+
+The Coroner blinked. "You could put it that way."
+
+"I would put it even stronger. The theory is obviously ridiculous. It
+was a weak cover-up. The best I could do under the circumstances."
+
+"You are saying that you killed Sanford Smith?"
+
+"Of course."
+
+The Coroner glanced at his six-man jury, at the two police officers, at
+the scattering of spectators. They all seemed stunned. Even the reporter
+sent to cover the hearing made no move toward the telephone. The Coroner
+could think of only the obvious question: "Why did you kill him?"
+
+"He was dangerous to us."
+
+"Whom do you mean by _us_?"
+
+"We Martians, who plan to take over your world."
+
+The Coroner was disappointed. A lunatic. But a lunatic can murder. Best
+to proceed, the Coroner thought. "I was not aware that we have Martians
+to contend with."
+
+"If I'd had the right weapon to use on Smith, you wouldn't be aware of
+it now. We still exercise caution."
+
+The Coroner felt a certain pity. "Why did you kill Smith?"
+
+"We Martians have found science-fiction writers to be our greatest
+danger. Through the medium of imaginative fiction, such writers have
+more than once revealed our plans. If the public suddenly realized
+that--"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The Coroner broke in. "You killed Smith because he revealed something in
+his writings?"
+
+"Yes. He refused to take my word that it was unsalable. He threatened to
+submit it direct. It was vital material."
+
+"But there are many other such writers. You can't control--"
+
+"We control ninety percent of the output. We have concentrated on the
+field and all of the science-fiction agencies are in our hands. This
+control was imperative."
+
+"I see." The Coroner spoke in the gentle tones one uses with the insane.
+"Any writing dangerous to your cause is deleted or changed by the
+agents."
+
+"Not exactly. The agent usually persuades the writer to make any such
+changes, as the agent is considered an authority on what will or will
+not sell."
+
+"The writers always agree?"
+
+"Not always. If stubbornness is encountered, the agent merely shelves
+the manuscript and tells the writer it has been repeatedly rejected."
+
+The Coroner glanced at the two policemen. Both were obviously puzzled.
+They returned the Coroner's look, apparently ready to move on his order.
+
+The thin, mirthless smile was still on Cole's lips. Maniacal violence
+could lie just behind it. Possibly Cole was armed. Better to play for
+time--try to quiet the madness within. The Coroner continued speaking.
+"You Martians have infiltrated other fields also?"
+
+"Oh, yes. We are in government, industry, education. We are everywhere.
+We have, of course, concentrated mainly upon the ranks of labor and in
+the masses of ordinary, everyday people. It is from these sources that
+we will draw our shock troops when the time comes."
+
+"That time will be--?"
+
+"Soon, very soon."
+
+The Coroner could not forebear a smile. "You find the science-fiction
+writers more dangerous than the true scientists?"
+
+"Oh, yes. The scientific mind tends to reject anything science
+disproves." There was now a mocking edge to Cole's voice. "Science can
+easily prove we do not exist."
+
+"But the science-fiction writer?"
+
+"The danger from the imaginative mind cannot be overestimated."
+
+The Coroner knew he must soon order the officers to lay hands upon this
+madman. He regretted his own lack of experience with such situations. He
+tried to put a soothing, confidential note into his voice. "You said a
+moment ago that if you'd had the right kind of weapon to use on Smith--"
+
+Cole reached into his pocket and brought out what appeared to be a
+fountain pen. "This. It kills instantly and leaves no mark whatever.
+Heart failure is invariably stated as the cause of death."
+
+The Coroner felt better. Obviously, Cole was not armed. As the Coroner
+raised a hand to signal the officers, Cole said, "You understand, of
+course, that I can't let you live."
+
+"Take this man into custody."
+
+The police officers did not move. The Coroner turned on them sharply.
+They were smiling. Cole pointed the fountain pen. The Coroner felt a
+sharp chill on his flesh. He looked at the jury, at the newspaperman,
+the spectators. They were all smiling cold, thin, terrible smiles....
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+A short time later, the newspaperman phoned in his story. The afternoon
+editions carried it:
+
+                     CORONER BELL DIES OF HEART ATTACK
+
+    Shortly after this morning's inquest, which resulted in a jury
+    verdict of suicide in the case of Sanford Smith, Coroner James Bell
+    dropped dead of heart failure in the hearing room of the County
+    building. Mr. Bell leaves a wife and--
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+Transcriber's Note:
+
+    This etext was produced from _If Worlds of Science Fiction_ July
+    1952. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S.
+    copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and
+    typographical errors have been corrected without note.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Smiler, by Albert Hernhunter
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 30353 ***