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

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION Johnson shrugged. ‘*As you please.” He forced a smile. “‘Have a good time on Earth, captain—enjoy your leave!” Ward signed for his pay cheque and hurried out of Control. Enjoy your leave! The mockery of it. Earth held no pleasures for him. Leave was something he liked to get over quickly, to return to his ship. Only out there, among the black silence and the stars, did he feel a whole man again. He hired a heli and gave Eve Burke’s address. The tiny plane shot upwards, whirring over the lighted city. Below, a blaze of neons advertised a dozen remedies for nervous disorders. In the cabin of the heli, a panel lit up and a peroxide blonde sang at him: ‘Love is the only theme Love is the sacred dream Love is——”’ The palpitating voice was briskly cut across: *‘Love is XOTIC GLANDULAR CREAM. Men! Have you. tried xoOTIC, the glandular cream recommended by a thousand-and-one tele- stars? Only xOTIC guaran- 64 tees you a full love-life! xOTIC will make you irresis- tible—and it is ABSOLUTELY SAFE. XOTIC comes in three handy packages to suit your personality—-RUGGED, MOTHER’S BOY, and DEBON- AIR. Make yourself xOTIC —Now!”’ Jerry Ward writhed and felt for the cut-out switch. Not finding it immediately, he called to the pilot: ““How do! stop this thing ?”’ “You can't’ This “18 *-a commercial heli—tele is com- pulsory.”’ Shuddering, Ward opened his wallet and thrust a bill at the pilot. “Set me down, quick,” he said. ““Anywhere.’’ Hechanged his mind. ‘“‘Find a bar, one that serves whisky.” ‘““Not so easy,” the pilot told him. ‘‘Whisky’s old- fashioned. Mescalin’s the stuff now.” *‘Just set me down,” Ward begged. The peroxide blonde was singing again. He shut his eyes but her voice went on. The heli landed. ‘“‘Have a good time,” the pilot called after him. comiclooks.corn