Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 65 — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION Then . . . with a rush, both hurtled head-long down a deep pit. They were caught in the simplest of traps. For some time nothing more occurred. Screeches were still heard from above, and occasionally a distorted face would peer down at them. As they sat waiting a move- ment was heard behind. A part of the pit had opened into an underground passage. Many hands, or what served as hands, grabbed them securely. Into the inky darkness of a subterranean den they went. Bill was filled with despair. Duvane, separated from him, called out: “‘Don’t worry, Bill, things will change soon.” But they did not change for Some time, and then only to indicate that they had stopped moving and were inside a cavern which was as loath- some and dismal as the other passages. They were dropped heavily to the ground and left. Bill found damp cold rocks behind his arms. He found Duvane, too; they were both badly bruised, and comforted each other with gentle em- braces. For a moment he did not speak, being too busy imagin- ing what might happen to the Princess, who had ceased to be distant Royalty in his mind, but a desirable and courageous woman. Those blasted demons shouldn’t touch her again if he had his way, but he said nothing to her just then. He held her more tightly and tried to comfort her in the way of Earth and the Prin- cess did not object. After a long period the demons returned and dragged them to another and larger section of their village. Here there was a little light and they could see a large crowd of evil-looking characters. . Excited gibberish greeted them. ““Why can’t we under- stand ?” Bill asked. “The language barrier ex- ists here,’ she told him. ‘““We continue to understand each other as higher-grade en- tities, having already created the language bond in Marnia.”’ They were dragged in front of one uncouth creature with long fangs and drooling jaws thrusting out beneath a huge bulbous head. He grimaced at them and started prodding at Duvane. Bill, rattled and 112 comiclooks.corn