Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 43 — page 91: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION only a little sooner, and with even more agony.” Lewes felt compassion. He framed the question in his ‘mind: “There is no hope of cure ?”’ “None. Neither in our world nor in yours. I have searched your mind. In your memory is knowledge of all the elements and organic matter composing your world. It is less rich than ours is beneath our seas. No com- bination of them could affect this virus. No, there is no hope. Be merciful. Grant us surcease.”” So he was not the judged— he had become the judge. “You killed my friends, who did not wish to die.” “IT did not intend to kill that man who was flying. He was in the machine and I did not realise he was not part of it. I had not seen man before. I brought the machine closer to examine it, and he jumped out and died in the river almost instantly. I am very sorry. As for the other man, his death also was 90 accidental. My young were trying to take the killing weapon from him. You must remember that he killed one of them, and all of you had killed another. That was a boon to me, but to them, in their ignorance . You understand ?”’ “Yes. I understand. But still I cannot help you. To take off, my ship needs to be vertical " Lewes didn’t finish that thought, because his limbs suddenly became free, and in the same instant the minnow was lifted a dozen feet off the ground, all ninety tons of it, and set down carefully, twenty yards in from the edge of the bank. There was no need to comment, no need to linger. He cast a parting glance at the great beast lying out in the river, still as a rock, despite its suffering, and strode across to the ship. “You promise to return?” — The mouthless voice spoke in his mind for the last time, pleadingly. comicloooks.conm