Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 65 — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION As the day dragged on, he could—almost—feel a flicker of sympathy for them. How would you feel, he asked himself, with thousands of telepathic kids all howling their way into your brain— and while they shouted for pop and ice cream, all curi- ously, callously, waiting for you to die? There was a rush of feet, an onslaught of thoughts that almost knocked him off his chair. ““‘We saw them!”’ “We knocked ’em cold! Pop! They went all queer and collapsed!” “They did?” “Sure! Say, Pop! How come nobody knew till yester- day our air was killing them? How come they didn’t, huh?” *“Because, Gary——’”’ He was very proud of the calm- ness of his mind. ‘““Because— it wasn’t.” “But Pop——! kids said - “I know. Just a little rumour I started...” They gaped at him. For a moment even their thoughts were still. Then—‘‘Pop .. !” All the 30 The next day the papers carried the story’s end. The aliens had pulled themselves together long enough to send off messages about all dying, atmosphere of Earth poison- ous ... abandon plan... Then they had collapsed. Emily looked up from the paper at Sam. “And you planned it all!” “Of course, darling.”’ Who could blame his thoughts for being a little smug? “I knew they hadn’t a chance if Earth- kids once had a go at them! The idea that the atmosphere was poisonous was just a little extra dividend.” He stretched luxuriously. “‘And just think! The kids won’t need the senders any more! Wonder how soon the clinics will get them all off?” But a thought cut across Emily’s. “Oh, no, Pop——” Gary was grinning at him ~- from the doorway. “‘We helped save Earth, remember? You couldn’t ever take ’em away from us now!” And Sam, gasping like a drowning man, knew that his son’s thought was horribly, inevitably—true. connicbooks.conn