Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 50 — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION people had not searched. Yes, he would guide them to it now.” He seemed pleased at their desire to move at once and watching him, the old Reader remembered _ the words of his king and shivered. They lit torches they had brought with them, thick branches wrapped with fat- soaked wool, and in the smouldering light they fol- lowed their guide. He led them _ through sagging buildings and over heaped rubble to where an opening gaped in a mound of brick. He led them through the opening, wriggling past balanced columns and into a great hall, still intact, pro- tected by a freak of chance and interlocking beams which supported the weight above. Shelves lined the great room, and on these shelves... . The Reader whimpered as he saw them, a whimper of sheer disbelief, and his thin hands ran over the backs of countless books. “Well?” Kalin stood in the 86 light of a flaring torch and stared at the great library. “Ts this what you sought?” “Yes,” whispered the old man. “All this treasure! These many, many Books.” He almost drooled. ““We must take them back to Kalin.” “Take what you need,” snapped the king. “Those which deal with the treating of wounds and others you think are important. Hurry.” “But there are too many here for me to read in one lifetime,” protested the old man. He took down a book and blew the dust from its mouldering pages. “Perhaps this one?” He flipped the pages and stared at the un- familiar words. “No?” “No.” The Reader dropped it and ran to another. “This, perhaps?” He swallowed as he squinted in the flaring light. “Once upon a time there were three bears who lived in a forest...” “Yes?” “I’m not sure,” stammered the old man. “There are so comiclooks.conn