Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 50 — page 37: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION silence Foster’s low groan of anguish sounded clear and distinct, like a graveyard elm groaning in the wind. Claire rounded on _ the older man. “What is the matter, Foss? You look dreadful.” Foster waved her words away and stared at Jarril. “You were talking about wars, son,” he said slowly. “And you mention the Sok- kaths.” He groped for a chair and sat limply, shrunken. He spoke again, in a whisper that Jarril had to strain to catch. “Will they never learn?” Foster said. “Why are the fools so blind?” ‘Foss !”’ Claire’s voice was sharp and tinged with that elemental fear of the un- known. “Foss! Tell me— what is the matter?” She shot Jarril a hot glance of con- tempt and hate. “It’s all right, Claire, dear,’ Foster said at last, taking one of the girl’s hands and stroking it absently. “Just that we are being caught up at last in the great, bloody, grinding wheels of the Galaxy. Well,” he sighed and shook his head, “it had 316 to come, I suppose. But I wish it hadn’t come in the shape of a young whipper- snapper who worships a black uniform and a weapon of destruction.” “If you are referring to me,’ Jarril said icily, un- _ moved by the spectacle of the old man’s shattered confi- dence, “I would like to remind you that I am a Terran Space Guardsman “You’ve said that al- ready !”’ Claire flared out. “If I were you I’d get out of here before the men get back from | hunting. You and your Sok- kaths both!” “Just a minute!” Jarril almost shouted, distracted, feeling his head reeling under the impact of that damnable singing that had increased during the last bitter ex- changes and now buzzed in his head like an unleashed neucleonic-converter. “Just a minute! Am I to understand that you do not know who the Sokkaths are or that Earth is engaged in a life-or- death struggle with the hated aliens? Answer me that, at once!” comiclbooks.conn