Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 56 — page 30: what you’re looking at

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

STRANGE SUICIDE Mr. Kristofr and two other Sscurity officers. ““Mrs. Ena Jaksn?”’ “That’s right. What can I do for you?” ““My name is Kristofr. I’m an oOver-inspector from Scot- yard. Security Police. I’d like to talk to you about your husband’s death. These are two other men from Scotyard, my colleagues Hendrsen and Wilcox.” She inclined her head, stem- ming the shivers that threat- ened to run through her body and thus give away her ner- vousness. “Do please come in and sit down.” The three men followed her into the lounge and sank into the foam cushions she indicated. Kristofr smiled a hearten- ing, professional smile. “I’m terribly sorry to have to bother you at a time like this, Mrs. Jaksn, but I’m afraid your husband’s death was not a normal one.” She stared at him, turning her head away from _ the window so that the light should not strike directly onto her face and thus show up the 29 dilation of her pupils due to the excessive dosage of kik- sules; so that, in fact, her visitors should not think of her as anything but a normal bereaved widow. ‘““What— what do you mean?” ‘TI mean that Dr. Jaksn did not die from natural causes. He took his own life.’’ i) SE ees “I know. The Detector prevents such an event. No suicides have occurred in the last half century, and suicide, anyway, is an anti-State felony Class One. Yet despite all that, your husband killed himself, Mrs. Jaksn. He in- jected himself with a swift- acting and particularly virulent poison known as GT.66, and also managed to avoid the preventative beam of the Detector.’? He eased himself further into the gentle clasp of the foam cushion and regarded the nervous woman opposite him un- winkingly. ““You know what happens to blood relatives of a suicide?” She looked down. “De- classification and—and loss of financial benefit.” comiclooks.conn