Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 65 — page 123: what you’re looking at

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

Opening Instalment of a two-part serial by ROBERT PRESSLIE Liner WAS ONLY A handful of people in Harry’s Bar when the roof fell in. To be precise, there were four men, including the bartender, and one woman. Harry’s Bar wasn’t too popu- lar these days. If you wanted company or a good night out, you went to one of the new underground places. If you wanted to get drunk, or if you just didn’t care much about anything, you went to a place like Harry’s. Sam Garnet had been there since opening time. Around eight-thirty there were more empty glasses on his table than there was empty space. He was rolling a cigarette stub into a pool of slopped beer, watching the ember drown, and trying to make up his mind whether he was one of the types who didn’t 122 care much about anything or whether he cared too much. For one reason or the other he had started to get drunk. He couldn’t decide which, but he knew he wasn’t suc- ceeding very well. “‘Harry,”’ he called. The barman took his cue, brought another whiskey and another beer. “That girl,” said Harry, “‘she’s been watch- ing you. She wants to know if you’re you.” ““What’d you tell her?’ ‘“‘Behind a bar you hear a lot of talk, get asked a lot of questions. You only hear the ones you want to.” Garnet downed his whiskey. “Know her?” he asked. “New to my place.” “Send her over,’’ Sam said. **And bring me another Scotch —and clean up this table a bit. She might be a lady.” 4 se } eo. ., The Creep comiclbooks.corn