Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 51 — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION pleading in her eyes. Forman felt uncomfortable, “Get up,” he said. ‘No one is going to hurt you.” Men came tramping from thewood. Men in dark clothes, wearing frock coats and gaiters © and tall, conical hats. Some carried pitchforks, one a fowl- ing piece. *“Hold the witch, stranger,” shouted their leader, a power- ful man with a ruddy face. “Hold the witch and deliver her to us.” Peters and Forman looked blankly at each other, then at the girl, who cried: “By my Lady, I am no witch, I swear 1 A ie She rose to her feet and ducked behind Peters and Forman. The men formed a menacing half-circle, closing in. Their leader carried a Bible and a silver cross, which he lifted in the air. Peters said, gruffly: ““What in hell is this? You’ve got the poor kid scared out of her wits.” “Tt is the truth you speak,” answered the man. “She is of 72 Hell and must burn at the stake. Gather brushwood, my friends.” His gaze fell on the space- ship and, for the first time, his voice faltered. ‘“‘What manner of thing is this?”? Then, staring sus- piciously: “Who are you, strangers? Explain your pre- sence here.” Peters snapped: “What does it look like? It’s a space- ship, of course, and we’ve just been round the moon. If you-——”’ The man stepped back, crossing himself. “‘Evil is upon us, my friends! The witch has sought refuge with others of her ilk. Fire, fire to cleanse our land—fire to destroy their bodies and release their tor- tured souls! Fire!’ Forman said, uneasily: “I don’t like this.”’ Peters turned to speak to the girl, but she was no longer there. The last he saw of her was a Slim figure racing across country... “Back inside the ship, Larry,” he shouted. comiclooks.cormn