Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 65 — page 143: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION doesn’t stop enough radiation to skin a baby’s nose.” Harry asked Max a question with his eyes. Max said, confidently: ‘“The men at the works told me it isn’t a neutron acceptor, and it does stop radiations.” Sam felt he had telepathed the next question when Harry said: ““Yes, but how thick does it have to be?” The girl, Lena, told him. *“A lot thicker than nylon- aluminium yarn. I’m not the dumb blonde Garnet takes me for; I’ve read plenty. I know he’s telling it straight about the suit, Max. None of my own stuff is pseudo- protective. But he’s lying about the radiation level. He’s trying to scare us into some situation where he can devise a quick exit.” Sam denied this with a shake of his head. “I’m in no hurry to leave. Not now. I’d rather stay and watch you die, and see the torture in your rotten eyes when you realise that I haven’t been lying.” “I don’t see you worrying,” accused Lena. 142 “T’m immune. I’m so full of alcohol the gammas can’t hurt me. However, I’ll accept the offer of armistice, if it still stands. Pour me a drink, Harry.” The bartender made no move to comply with Sam’s request. The broken Creep- meter had his whole attention. “Stop gaping at that thing,” said Lena, sweeping it to the floor. She poured a drink for Sam, thumped the glass in front of him. “You may scare them, Garnet, but not me. You did all the scaring I can take this morning. Now drink up and shut up. Harry, don’t let him needle you. The meter only read the outside radiation. What ever the needle says now needn’t bother us.” “I don’t know,” said Harry. “TI don’t know. If that was an atomic bomb the lead walls might as well be paper. If it was just a big H.E. the outside radiation that was already there could be creep- ing in through the cracks as he said.” Sam dropped another pebble. “‘Better take out your teeth, Harry. The steel, you comicloooks.comn