Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 50 — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

HIDDEN TREASURE OF KALIN “Do the Books says that?” eS. ‘And what does it mean?” “It means what it says. They are the words and they will restore the soil so that Jon will fear no more for his crops.” “T have heard you speak,” snapped Kalin angrily. “I have listened to the words, but words will not do as you claim. What do they mean? What must we do?” ‘“‘Humus,” said the Reader sickly. “Nitrogen compounds. Bacteria. With those things we can restore the soil.” “But what are they?” Kalin frowned. ‘“Humus, what is humus?” The old man shrugged. What are they?” “Nitrogen? “I know not. But they are the words in the Books and they are the things we need.” “So.” Kalin rose from his chair and gestured for dismis- sal. “It seems that the promise of the Books is no more than the promise of the wind. I must see into this. Bacteria? 77 tm. Until I assemble you again continue on your ways.” He jerked his head towards a couple of his warriors. “Follow me.” Grimly he strode towards the room which held the treasure of Kalin. The guards saluted as he passed, and inside the small, dim-lit room his nose wrinkled as he smelt the stale air. Harshly he ordered more torches and in their flaring light stared coldly at the precious books. “You,” he pointed shared the Pupil. “Read me this.” He picked up a book and thrust it into the other’s hands. ‘‘Quickly now.” The Pupil swallowed as he opened the volume, bringing it close to his eyes as he stared at the small, blurred print. “Electricity is a force which is generated by a conductive metal cutting through a mag- netic field.” He read slowly and painfully, slurring the words and running them together into incomprehen- comiclbooks.com