Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 41 — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION It was the thought of what might happen in the next few hours that made her feel sick. Security Division was a squat, square building set to the rear of the rectangle of government blocks that com- prised the Citadel, located in the west suburban district of Nyok. It was no more than twenty-five storeys high, and was overshadowed by adjoin- ing skyscrapers, but there was an appearance of grim im- pregnability. It resembled a fortress. One section of the building was Officially called the Interro- gation Centre, and the pro- cedure for handling arrested citizens had long ago been reduced toa ruthlessly efficient routine. Zora was searched physically and by X-ray, then underwent preliminary ques- tioning—a stereotyped quiz on identity, address, relatives, and similar personal data. She remained stubbornly uncom- municative, not hesitating to lie whenever possible in order to cause confusion. But it was a forlorn hope. Then followed a thorough “medical examination. Inevit- 72 ably the blood test revealed the presence of synapsin, and after she had left the clinic, the medical officer immediately switched on the internal video- phone, pressing the switch labelled “cpr.” In a few seconds he was talking to a flabby, dark-eyed face on the screen—the face of Com- mander Kratt, Chief of Secur- ity Division and Administra- tive Head of the Security Police. “T’ve just examined Intake 3357,” said the doctor. “Zora Varney—age about 27. I. found a large amount of synapsin in the blood.” Kratt frowned. “That means she’s a Reversionist. No or- dinary citizen can get hold of synapsin. Right.” The screen went blank as Kratt switched off. He heaved his sagging bulk from the steel and plastic chair behind the large black desk, and went into an adjoining office. A uniformed man sprang to attention. “Get Major Rondo,” Kratt snapped. “Then go down to room fourteen, andtakecharge © of Intake 3357. She’s.a synap- comiclooks.conrn