Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 65 — page 148: what you’re looking at

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

THE CREEP Max slammed his glass of spirits to the floor, sending up a shower of whiskey and splinters. “Shut up,”’ he or- dered, more sober than he had appeared to be. “‘All I’ve heard tonight is radiation and I want to forget it. I’m trying hard to forget it. Don’t you or Garnet bring the subject up again. It makes no dif- ference even if he is right, - which I know he is because the idea of having the Creep- meters fixed to read low was partly mine. I don’t doubt that we’re dying, but I do wish to forget the fact.” He took another glass, filled it. He placed his big frame in front of Lena. “You could help me forget, m/’girl. If these are our last few hours, let’s enjoy them.”’ He swallowed his drink, set the glass carefully on the counter and put an arm round Lena’s waist. “Kiss me,” he de- manded. The girl glanced over her shoulder to watch Sam’s re- action. Sam couldn’t think why and kept his face still. She turned back to Max. “All right,” she said, and 147 wriggled sinuously close to the giant. Sam sensed that the long embrace was exaggerated for his benefit, yet his stomach still rose in disgust. The em- brace had a different effect on Harry. The glaze of intoxica- tion peeled from his eyes to be replaced by a gleam of another sort. He stepped up to Max Binder and tapped a stubby finger on his back. **Me, too,” he said. The game was over as far as Lena was concerned. She tried to get out of Max’s arms, to get away from Max 'and Harry both. Harry in- terpreted her action wrongly. He thought, in his dazed condition, that she wanted out of Max’s arms and into his. “‘Leave her alone, Binder,” he said. Lena cried: “‘Don’t let him touch me. He’s mad.” And once more Harry’s inference was wrong. “T won’t tell you again,” he warned. Max had his hands full and made no reply. *“You muscle-bound ox,” said Harry, his voice pitching comiclooks.cormn