Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 65 — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

THE CREEP it best not to mention. One - was the possibility that the enemy had begun, won and ended the war in one mass raid. That, too, would account for the silence—until the sound of men in the new armour broke it. Lena brought up the second alternative herself. “‘It can’t just be the end of everything! Surely life couldn’t just be wiped out in a day. Somebody or something would stop it. Somebody would—the spheres, Sam! That’s what they’ve been hanging around for. They’ve come to save us from ourselves.” . “Liketheangels?’’ remarked Sam. “If they had wanted to prevent mankind committing suicide they could have done it long ago without waiting until the knife was drawing blood. No, Lena, they’re vul- tures as I said before. They’ve come from who-knows-where, and for reasons of their own they want the earth. I hope they make better use of it than we did.” The girl stood up abruptly. ““You don’t leave people any- thing to cling to, do you?” she spat. ‘““Well, you can sit 145 there and contemplate in your own cheery way. I’m going back to Max and Harry. And I’m going to get stinko!” Sam took one of her hands, pulled her towards him. “‘’m sorry, Lena. [I suppose I could’ve made it sound better. But I thought you should know how things are. Then, if you resign yourself, the end won’t be so bad or so much of a shock.” She hesitated. ‘‘That’s what you said in your broadcast.” Without anger, she withdrew her hand from his grasp. “You're still wrong, Sam. I prefer it my way.” Sam watched her join the others. Max and Harry were already well on their way to getting “‘stinko.” They had lost all identity in the process. Class distinction is soluble in alcohol. The financier and sworn enemy of financiers were brothers in wine. Sam envied their condition. He rose, picked a bottle off the bar and tossed a note at Harry. Left alone with his thoughts, he chewed them over and La . ie 5 it See ~~ comicloooks.conm