Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 53 — page 72: what you’re looking at

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

direction of the trees. At least this was a more friendly reception than the mining colony had accorded me. There was a well-worn path leading through the trees and this we followed till we came to a clearing in the woods. This was occupied by a cluster of buildings, half-wood, half-stone, and all built on one storey, There were no windows, but as we approached I could see a gap of perhaps three feet between the top of the walls and the roof, which was supported at inter- vals by heavy wooden beams. We made for the largest of these dwellings and passed into it through an open doorway. I found myself in a high- roofed room smelling cleanly of wood smoke, It was sufficiently, though not well, lit by the gap in the top of the walls. From it doors led off to other parts of the house. “‘My living room,” said Smythe-Cooper-Smythe. He called off through one of the doorways: “*“Eve. We have a guest for dinner.” Then he turned to me. ““We don’t bother to dress.’ ““That,’’ I thought, “is obvious.” The room contained some comfort- able, well-upholstered armchairs. He told me to sit down and make myself at home, which I did most willingly. Suddenly one of the doors opened. We rose to our feet. ““This is my wife, Eve,” said Smythe-Cooper-Smythe. *“How do you do?’ I said. ““How do you do?’ she replied, in accents straight from Mayfair. I was goggle- eyed. She came towards us with a tray holding two glasses, but it was not at this I was looking or trying not to look. She was dressed exactly as her husband, except that she had forgotten the tie. I’m no prude, but... well, I was taken a bit off guard. She handed us a glass each and disappeared to finish preparing the dinner. For a moment I was speechless. “Pretty gal, isn’t she?’ said Smythe- Cooper-Smythe. ““Wouldn’t find many like her back on Earth.” It struck me that she might have caused quite a disturbance on Earth, but I didn’t say so, “‘Isn't she.-.). 2". E.. began. “No. Pure Homobarian,” he said. ““They’re remarkably like us, as you no doubt noticed.” It was not long before Eve called to us from the next room to tell us that dinner was ready. I followed my host into a great barn of a room that might have been the copy of an old English baronial hall. A great wooden table ran the length of the floor and four places were laid at it. The fourth place was for Eve’s sister, a really charming girl of even greater beauty than my hostess. She, also, had omitted to dress for dinner. What with one thing and another I was hard put to it to do justice to the excellent meal put before me. After dinner Smythe-Cooper-Smythe and I retired once more to the living room, where we were soon joined by Eve. Her sister, whom my host had re- christened Sandra, her native name be- ing almost unpronounceable, brought us a drink that bore a faint resemblance to coffee. They were eager to hear of the doings beyond their world, and after my first shyness had worn off I con- versed freely and easily with them. It was not long before I began to feel that it was my clothing that was anomalous. On my part I was equally anxious t hear of the world I had chanced on, and it was well into the night when I announced my intention of retiring to my rocket to sleep. My host and hostess would have none of it and insisted on my staying with them, assuring me that it was no trouble and that they were only too delighted to have me. As Eve and Sandra bade me goodnight I was sure that I spotted a look in the latter’s eyes that bespoke more than ordinary interest. I think it was then that I decided to make Homobar my home. Once more Smythe-Cooper-Smythe and I were left alone and it was then that I put the question that had been bothering me all evening. “Why?” I asked, “do you still keep the tie?” He lifted it from the hair on his chest SEVEN. Ccomicbooks. conn