Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, Issue 45 — page 80: what you’re looking at

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

DEATH DEFERRED “Hurts?” Jeff gulped and reached for a slim volume. ““Have you any inflammation of mouth and throat? Fever? General sickness ?”’ **NiO.”* “Are you sure?” “Stop worrying her, Jeff,” said George, tiredly. “If we’ve had an overdose we'll know it soon enough, but if we had we'd have known it by now. How about this food ?”’ “You heard what I said.”’ ‘‘Hearing it and liking it are two different things,’ said George, quietly. ““How long are we supposed to eat starva- tion rations when the shelter is stocked with crates of canned food ?” “It’s my food.” “And Lorna is your wife and, in case you've forgotten, my sister.” “‘That’s my affair,” said Jeff, coldly. “You forget that if it hadn’t been for my foresight you’d both be dead now in- stead of sitting in safety. I didn’t invite you here, George, and to be frank I didn’t want you here, but you may as well get one thing straight. This is my shelter and don’t you forget it.” 79 “I won’t forget it, but need we talk about it?” “Why not?’ Jeff glared at the thin man and felt the warm glow of righteous anger. “‘It cost me more than ten thou- sand to have this shelter built, and I had to put up with a lot of ridicule from fools who thought I was wasting my money.” He smiled as he thought of them. “‘They’re dead now, all of them, but I’m alive, and by God I intend staying that way!” “Why 7 “What!” Jeff stared help- lessly at Lorna. “Is _ this brother of yours insane?” He looked at the younger man. “Because I’ve got brains and foresight, that’s why. Because I had the sense to see what was coming and do something about it.” “You had money,” re- minded George. “How many people could afford ten thou- sand pounds to build a private shelter ?”” *“‘What does that matter? I had the money and [ spent it. Others could have done the same. Everyone could have done something, but how many did? Am I to be conniclooks.conn