Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, Issue 45 — page 47: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION The tone of the other rocked Carpenter. He took a short step backward, then turned on his heel and went through into the office. He picked up the phone and his mind was already forming the words to call Security when the phone lifted from his hand, gave it- self a little jerk which snapped the cord, and settled itself back snugly into the cradle. The stranger moved slowly into the office and stood staring at Carpenter. “*Telekinesis, huh?’ Car- penter lifted the phone again with a swift, pantherish move- ment and threw it full at the stranger’s head. The handset curved in mid- air, like a frolicking butterfly, jittered, then catapaulted an inch past Carpenter’s ear and crashed against the wall. Car- penter let his breath out in a whooshing sigh. “That’s to tell me I’m at your mercy, is it? Why, you crawling, stinking something! Why did you have to come here? You’re trying to drive me mad. Why? For God’s 46 sake, man, don’t just stand there! Talk, damn you!” “Calm yourself, Carpenter. And get one thing straight. I cannot kill you. So don’t try to kill me.” “Calm myself? I’ve been thinking myself going insane and you say calm myself!” Carpenter doubled up then as the pain shot through his body. He was coughing and gasping and swallowing all together in a chaotic mixture of agony and mental confusion that tore his ravaged body with cruel fangs. He choked and gagged and tears came from his eyes in the violence of his coughing. There were taut bars of steel pressing against the sides of his throat, pulsing outwards and tearing him with claws that would never cease until his lungs were completely gone. Strangely came peace. He ceased coughing, and he could swallow in comfort. The pains disappeared and he brought his wracked body upright and stood moreeasily and naturally than he had done for years. commicloooks.com