Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 47 — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

THE BRIDGE lodger. Her smile was as mean as an east wind. “Late again, Mr. Trinter?”’ He dabbed his mouth. Folded his serviette. Lit a cigarette. ““One of these days,” he thought, “Ill crown the old gorgon.”’ When late, he generally apologised; but this morning she’d got his back up and he wasn’t going to. He’d be hanged first. His eyes strayed through dingy Not- tingham lace. He saw walled garden. Flooding summer sun- shine. Azure sky. He stared at his landlady. “Nice day .. .” “The B.B.C. forecasts thun- der.” Mrs. Skipson sniffed. “But that’s beside the point. You’re wanted on the phone.” Mr. Trinter drove west- wards towards mountains in- stead of down to the familiar southern plains. “This,” he groused, “is just dandy! Thirty years’ faith- ful service, man and boy. Then they do this on me.” He ignored blazing sun, green hedges, lush meadows, goldening corn. His week had been nicely planned. In the back of the car, the autumn 119 styles, numbered, orderly. Finest range ever. Sell them- selves. So go down south, along the coast, back a dif- ferent way. Circular tour. Seventy—eighty calls. All good customers. Prospectively, a bumper week. Then—that ’phone call. ““Ah, Trinter .. .” Breezy accents identified the tycoon —Cyril Quant, Managing Di- rector of Quant and Quilp (Knitwear) Limited. “Gilad I caught you. Nasty accident. Poor Wallis!” “Oh T° “Lost an argument with a *bus. He was on a special job. I want you to take over. Yes— today. Here’s Miss Peabody. She’ll give you the gen. Goodbye—and good luck.” Mr. Trinter’s knuckles whitened. The old buzzard! Kicks you in the teeth and expects you to like it. But he had not protested to Miss — Peabody. If you held your — tongue, you held your job. So now he was heading into the wild—and, to him, un-— explored—heart of Wales.” Moment’s-notice mountain- eering. All because he’d been late for breakfast. comicoooks.comn am a z "vy Mp — re a ih See . Se Sens ee