Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 56 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

* AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION the general. “It was clutched in his other hand.” It was a suicide note. It said: My reasons for taking my own life are my own and no one else’s. For that reason IT have refused to apply to the State for Uthanasia, knowing the number of forms I should have to fill in, the number of interviews I should have to be given. I have killed myself with a swift-acting poison known as GT.66 and I have avoided detection in this anti-Siate act by means that you will fail, I think, to discover. “You have tested this for fingerprints?” the general asked, sharply. Kristofr nodded. ‘“‘None but his own. The same applies to the hypodermic and the bottle. And if you’re thinking of murder, sir, you’ve got much the same problem on your hands: how would the Detector miss the vibrations of a potential murderer any more easily than those of a potential suicide?” The general stared down at the plump, middle-aged man 12 on the foam couch; the man who was so very dead and who presented the Security Police with a problem the like of which had not been known for many decades. ““Have you contacted the Detector staff?” “Not yet, sir. I thought it best to wait for you befcre doing so.” General Lee nodded. “‘Quite right. If there’d been any major breakdown there [d have heard before now any- way. But if the detection beams are failing on a few waves only the staff might not have discovered the fact yet.”’ Kristofr grunted. “Shall I get through to them now?” “In a minute.’ General Lee turned to the policemen. “This matter goes no further, you understand? A man died here of natural causes. No suicide. If one word of this leaks out you'll be demoted to Class E Manuiz.”’ He pointed a lean finger at the secretary. “You, miss, will have to be given a psychoblok. Nothing to be frightened about. Couple of hours at Scotyard psycho- conmcloooks.conm