Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 54 — page 88: what you’re looking at

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

NONENTITY one stranger in the com- partment. The boy could have been no more than twelve, a pale, huge-eyed youth with the thin features and wasted ap- pearance of those born in space. He huddled in a corner, one thin hand gripping a stanchion to hold him in position, and, staring at him, Henley wondered just who and what he was. An orphan probably, almost certainly now if not before, a waif, up- rooted by war and flung among strangers. Idly he won- dered how the boy came to be in the shell—the rest had all belonged to the same section— then forgot the boy as Lorna drifted towards him. ‘Think he’ll live ?”’ It didn’t take the jerk of the head to know whom she meant. ‘““Why not? We’re in free fall and a man can live a long time with serious injuries. Worried ?” “You kidding?” She licked her lips with a quick, almost feral gesture, and stared di- rectly into his eyes. ““We’re in trouble, buster, and don’t you make any mistake about it. If pretty boy dies who’s going to call for help?” **Automatic radio call,’ he said, mildly. ““We don’t really need him.”’ He kept his face 87 blank at her expression of relief. ““Who’s the boy?” “That kid ?’’ She shrugged. ‘“‘How should I know? Some poor devil separated from his people in the rush.” She shuddered at the memory of the past few hours. “God! Who’d have thought people could act like that?” “Panic,” he explained. “Someone loses their head, fear gets out of control, it spreads and before you know it you’ve a mob on your hands.”’ He looked up as a big man glided towards them. “Jeff! How’s your face?’ “Tl live.’ The big man touched his slashed cheek. “That wildcat nearly ripped out an eye. Damn crazy dame, why didn’t she go to her own shell ?”” “She didn’t get in this one, anyway,” said Henley, drily. ““You pack quite a right, Jeff. My. guess is that you broke her jaw.” *“So what? When the chips are down only the strong can survive.’ The big man dis- missed the incident with a scowl. ‘‘What’s the matter with the old guy?” “Prentice?” Henley stared up to where the third civilian drifted close to the small, round, star-shot port. He was old and he was comicloooks.comn