Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, Issue 45 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION It was standing now silently against the side wall beside the filing cabinet. Carpenter pushed himself to his feet and stood swaying slightly, his head moving from side to side like an inane dummy. He put his hands flat on the desk top and took a deep breath, staring at the chair. He was still standing like that when Louise came into the room. She gave him one quick look. ‘‘What’s the matter, Doc- tor? Are you ill?” *“No. No, Louise.’ He wet his lips. “I’m all right. Noth- ing. Nothing at all.”’ “You look as though you’ve seen——”’ “Well, I haven’t. Not on Mars, anyway.” He laughed then, suddenly and painfully and wiped away the smear of blood that made his chin hideous. The paper towel in his hands ripped and tore apart and he saw that his hands were shaking un- controllably. He came round from the 12 desk and stood leaning against it, trying to smile, to take the lines of strain away from his face. Louise was white faced, puzzlement and a hurt look of frustration making him ache for her. “It’s all right, Louise, really. Just coughing.” “You ought to see Doctor Hamlin.” “Tt’s not time for a check-up yet.” “All the same—I’ll ring him for you, if you like.”’ *“No, don’t bother, Louise. I haven’t time to see Hamlin now. Not with the final stages of the work so close.” ‘Well, all right.’’ Louise came further into the office from where her first shocked reaction had stopped her. ‘*‘What’s your chair doing over there ? I don’t know. Efficiency around here is lax.” She began to walk towards the chair, silent and normal against the wall, her manner telling Carpenter just how much effort she was putting into acting in a natural way. conicloooks.com