ut this morning. He gave Epsilon a clean
bill of health and the Senator thanked God. "The first starship will
leave tonight," the Senator said. "Right on schedule, with ten thousand
colonists aboard. You're world heroes!"

Max and I played chess the rest of the day. Max won consistently. He
utilizes a fianchetto that is utterly impregnable. If he wins tomorrow,
I shall have to kill him.

* * * * *

MAX

_March 13_

It was, of course, necessary for me to destroy Armitage and Bishop. They
won far too often. But I am sorry about Greta. Yet I had to strangle
her.

If she hadn't started that infernal queen's pawn opening it would have
been different. She beat me six times running, and on the last game I
pulled a superb orang-outang, but it was too late. She saw mate in four
and gave me that serpent smirk I know so well.

How could I have ever been in love with her?

* * * * *

_March 14_

Frightfully boring to be alone. I have a thought. Chess. Right hand
against left. White and black. Jolly good.

* * * * *

_March 16_

I haven't much time.

Left was black this morning and I beat him, four out of five. We're in
the lab now. He's watching me scribble this. His thumb and forefinger
are twitching in fury. He looks like some great white spider about to
spring.

He sees the scalpel, by the microscope. Now his fingers are inching
toward it. Treacherous beast. I'm stronger. If he tries to amputate ...

--JAMES CAUSEY

Transcriber's Note:

This etext was produced from _Galaxy Science Fiction_ May 1955.
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 Competition, by James Causey

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