Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 44 — page 14: what you’re looking at

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

THE LEVER AND THE FULCRUM ing in the same recess from a hook was my ordinary sword. These two facts are important: James switched off and my sword hanging just beside him. The two men were pro- fessional burglars. They un- sealed the main door with some sort of magnetic gadget, and were inside the suite before they were heard. Not that I heard them, for, by that time of night I was more than a little drunk, but Clare did. *““Nik,”’ she said, urgently, “‘there’s someone in the outer room.”’ “What’s that?’ I asked, - not understanding in the least. “Pull yourself together, Nik,” she urged. “I’m sure there’s someone in the next room.”’ “Don’t be silly, Clare,” I told her. “‘Give me ’nother little drink—have one y’self.”’ “Do pay attention, Nik,” she pleaded. “There is some- one moving about in the outer room.” *“Doesn’t matter,” I as- sured her. ‘“‘Nothing worth stealing—what you doing?” “Calling the police,” she told me. I sat up from the settee, dizzily. She pressed the but- 13 ton. Nothing happened. The screen did not light up. Clare switched off, whirled the poin- ter to Private Call, and pressed again. Still no response. I saw her face then. She was frightened. “This is not just a burglary,” she said, half to herself. I got to my feet. “You’re right,’ I told her, suddenly feeling sober. “‘This is some- thing arranged by Tomos. Listen, Clare, this need not be your funeral. Get in the cupboard there and keep quiet.” “‘They must know I’m here, Nik, and they won’t want any witness left alive. Have you any weapon?” . I crossed the room quickly and pulled open a desk drawer —my hand gun was no longer in its usual position. Just as I realised this, the room lights faded and died. Simultaneously the door to the outer room, the room where the intruder must be, swung silently open. Light poured across the threshold into my dark sitting room, and lay in an oblong over the floor. I saw that my death had been carefully considered and artistically planned. I was comiclooks.conn