Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 46 — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION innocence. He was far from successful. **Patrick, you’ve got dirt on your face and your trousers are torn.”’ She put her hands on her hips and faced him sternly. “Have you been fighting ?”’ Glad to be able to tell the truth, he shook his head vehemently. ““No, Mum.” “Then how did you get yourself into a state like that, and why are you late for tea?” He hung his head. “Been exploring with Harry,” he explained in tones intended to be penitent. **And I suppose you have to do it when you’re wearing your best school clothes and you know tea’s ready ?”’ She shook her head in exasperation. ““Where were you doing this— this exploring ?”’ Patrick said nothing. “In those old _ transport tunnels, [ suppose? Was it?’ He nodded miserably. It wasn’t any use trying to lie when she’d got that sort of expression on her face. She always seemed to be able to catch him out and then things went from bad to worse. “Really!” she said, banging a plasticup down on the table fiercely. ““You know that your father and I have forbidden 24 you to go near those old tunnels. They’re dangerous. And Mrs. Lake doesn’t like Harry going near them, either.” He scowled, then burst out: ‘But she’s not an old grouser about it like you are! She just tells him to be careful and that’s that; she doesn’t keep on at him like you do at me.” He put his hand to his mouth, amazed at his own impetuous- ness and, too, a little ashamed of having said such things. But now he’d started there was no going back. “‘He’s not told off if he’s a few minutes late for tea after school. He’s still up in the tunnel, now, playing, but J had to come home because I knew you'd start on me.’ He was very close to tears. He felt his eyes beginning to smart and he blinked furiously so that she shouldn’t see the tears start. It’s always like this, he thought in angry frustration. And it’s not as if Harry’s older than I am either. At least, he’s not much older. “Don’t you talk to me like that!’ she shrilled at him. “Just because your father’s away you think you can run wild and do as you please. You’d never dare say things like that if he were here. Now go straight upstairs to comiclbooks.corn