Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 50 — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION ‘These other things? What are they like?” “Like a long, thin pipe, open at one end and closed the other.’ The man hesi- tated. “We could use them as clubs, perhaps, but they are not light.” ) “Leave them,” snapped the king. “Collect all you can of these. Subdue the rat-eaters and weigh them with bur- dens. Hurry!” His teeth flashed as he smiled at the old man. ‘There is our treasure, Reader. Blades for the war- riors and the workers, knives for the farmers and those who build our houses. Now we no longer need to hammer scraps of iron.” Outside, men shrieked as they died beneath the thrum- ming bows of the warriors, and, like the rats they ate, fought and ran with frenzied desperation. ‘The women, cow-like in their docility, filed into the store and were loaded with the salvaged bayonets. Kalin stood and snapped terse orders in the language he and the warriors understood, load- 88 ing both prisoners and horses with loot from the store. Finally he turned to the old man, “We have finished here, Reader. We must go now before the rat-eaters gather and attack. Come now.” ‘But the Books?” The old man blinked in the light of the torch he had stuck be- tween two shelves. ‘Look. Here is one with pictures and another with simple words. Here is one with strange marks of houses lying in ruin and another with things I can readily understand. Take the Books, Kalin. Take the Books !” “We cannot. The horses are loaded and we have no room to spare.” He tensed as a whistle sounded from above. “Come.” “The Books...” The old man tripped as he followed the young king. “Save the Books.” Night had fallen, and the file of men and horses, war- riors and loaded prisoners, crept forward through the comiclooks.conn