Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 54 — page 19: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION **Hell, Mark, I’m all mixed up—lI just don’t know any more. Lay off, for God’s sake!”’ The liaison officer’s thin shoulders heaved with dry retching sobs. Admans turned to the or- derly. “‘Fetch a stretcher along and get that out of here,” he said, softly. He walked over and took Mayo by the arm. “Take it easy, feller. Don’t blame yourself—these things happen. A woman in her condition is not always nor- mal in her mental reactions. The fear of this mutation business must have preyed on her mind.”’ He steered the man towards the door. “Come along to my cabin. I'll give you a shot of something to straighten you out a bit.” ““Why should she do a thing like that?” said Mayo, dully. Admans ignored the ques- tion. He was searching him- self for some deficiency in his manner that could have led the woman to suspect the truth. He dismissed the idea. The woman had obviously been unstable—listening to the rumours that bred and increased in magnitude in the 18 closed circuit society of the starship had pushed her over the brink of madness. Mayo was like a man in a trance. He allowed Admans to guide him into the small sick bay and lay on the bunk without protest. The medic picked up a hypodermic and charged it carefully. He bared the liaison officers arm—the man scarcely seemed to notice the jab as the needle thrust home. “Right, feller. Just you lie there and take it easy,” Admans said. “If you want anything, my bunk is right through that door. O.K.?” Mayo’s eyes were already closing under the influence of the sedative as he left the room. Admans removed his outer clothing and lay down on the bunk in his own room. With a determined effort, he dis- missed the problems that presented themselves and composed himself for sleep. Admans awoke—the stench of foul air clutching at his throat. He lay for a moment, fighting a spasm of nausea that conmmicloooks.comn