Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 65 — page 150: what you’re looking at

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

THE CREEP now.’ He weaved towards Sam. Behind him, Sam _ heard Lena putting herself at a safe distance. He stood stock still, ignoring the stained knife and watching the bar- man’s eyes instead. He had Jearned long ago where to look for the first warning of an attacking move. But Harry had learned a few tricks, too. He had been specially trained for the day when he would have to defend himself. He crouched lower, waited while the tension built up in Sam, then tele- graphed a leap with his eyes. Sam was fooled. He ex- pected Harry to stab at his belly and threw himself for- ward to grasp the knife-hand. At the last minute, too late, he realised that Harry wasn’t there. The barman had jerked | himself erect and Sam was diving at empty space with his back exposed to Harry’s weapon. Despairingly, Sam twisted his body to one side. The ivory blade bit deep into his biceps, and rendered his shoulder and arm useless. In the moment it took Harry 149 to pull the blade free, Sam managed to manceuvre his good arm out from under him and grasped the edge of the bar counter. Harry was stab- bing for the kill when Sam prayed for strength and pulled himself out of the path of the descending knife. Now the barman was off balance, and Sam kicked viciously with his legs in an attempt to trip the other man. He mis-timed and Harry jumped over his legs, turning like an obese cat, ready to face Sam’s next move. Sam didn’t have any more moves. Delayed pain fused across his shoulder, up into his head and washed his brain with nausea. He Knew Harry was coming at him, but there was nothing he could do to stop him. He had a vague memory that there was someone else in the bar besides himself and Harry, and a vaguer hope that help might come from that some- one. “Lena,” he whispered as he buckled at the knees. Far away, he heard Harry’s voice snarling, strangely comicloooks.com