Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, Issue 45 — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION “Listen to me, both of you. I know that by using your superscience, Molinarian, you could see to it that all kinds of awkward things happened to me. I’ve had some, and am fully prepared for more. But when you change yourself into a semblance of me, threaten to call my assistant, Armstrong, in and give him wrong orders, then I can see the red light. What might you do to Louise?” “I was hoping you would not compel me to that.” “You know, if you tried anything, that I’d shoot you without compunction ?” “That I know.” The Moli- narian’s face that was Car- penter’s own, creased into a weary smile. “That is why I did not try that gambit at the beginning.” “Well, don’t start now. I can see what might be the pattern of the future. Life twisted and defiled. But, get this straight— you personally won’t live to get back to your own time if you try anything clever with Louise.” 62 The buzz of the exterior *phone shocked into the tense- ness of the room like a ribald shout in a cathedral. Louise answered, auto- matically competent. “Earth? Yes. through.”’ The recorder attached to the *phone purred into action and Carpenter knew that the message that had been beamed from Earth was now being recorded here in the office. It saved the annoying time- lag. Louise put the *phone down beside the interoffice *phone cradle and glanced at the smashed handset on the floor. Bending down, she released the spool and clipped it back into the recorder replay. The voice that came out was mechanical and official. “Message for Doctor Car- penter from Senator Char- rington. Cancel previous re- quest for more information and put new instructions on record. Full pressure will be brought to bear at investiga- tion committee meeting for Run it comicloooks.com