Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 47 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

s AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTI@N that moment she felt it to be something sane in an insane world. She felt that if she could only get back into it and close the door, it would return her to—— Return her? From where? Where was this place? How could the machine have moved her in such a short time from the night of the river bank to—wherever she was? Abruptly she was pushed aside as Dinton and his com- panion strode past her and approached the strangers. Their faces were as blank as ever. The men in front watched with a calmness that was more frightening to her than any threat or show of violence could have been. “Ted!” The cry was a wail that went unanswered. She felt a stirring in her mind, as though somewhere a conversation was being carried on though she was unable to hear it with her ears. Dinton and his companion came to a pause in front of the two men. The unheard conver- sation ceased to echo in the depths of her mind. Susan tried again to fight down the hysteria which per- 14 sisted in attempting to express itself. Frantically she told her- self there must be an explana- tion for the crazy series of events which had happened from the moment she had awakened. If she was awake. The man who had accom- panied Dinton and herself in the machine held out a small cylindrical object to the nearer of the two men facing them, who took it and turned it over in his: hands curiously as though wondering what it was. For a moment he seemed to hesitate, then he raised his arm and spoke into a tiny disc-shaped instrument which adhered to the back of his wrist, with no sign of strap or other means of attachment. There was a silence. The four men stood like statues, while Susan gazed from one to another, trying to raise enough courage to speak. Then, sud- denly, a man appeared from among the trees which fringed the clearing. In his hand he carried a small metal box. He approached the two men and inclined his head to them. Taking the cylindrical object from the one who was holding it, he opened the box and conmmiclooolkks. com