Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 65 — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

DUET FOR TWO refusing to let her see that. “Come to think of it, I’ve never thought about my past for a long time.” “Your mother and father, when did you see them last?” “T’m not sure, [I don’t think they’re alive . . .”’ He scratched his head and thought hard. **This is serious, Val,’ she said quickly. “It looks as though you’ve lost your _ Memory.” “T don’t know. Still,’ he pushed the thought away. **you’ve asked your questions: now let me ask the same ones of you.” They forgot the incident as they talked and laughed, and looked at each other whilst the clock on the mantelpiece chimed away the hours. It was one o'clock in the morn- ing when she finally forced herself to leave, giving her promise to meet him the following night, and only remembering her unfinished story when she was half way home. During the -next few days Valdesco came to know the girl very well; he came to understand the wide brown eyes and laughing voice. The first time Mark met her as she waited backstage he had en- deavoured to talk him out of getting mixed up with a girl, but he knew it was already too late for him to turn away and forget. He took her home each night, and when she could manage it, they had lunch together at a small cafe near the theatre, but Friday came, and his big chance at the “‘Corinthium.”’ It was a charity benefit, the bill holding most of the big names in show business, with Valdesco finding himself in small print near the bottom. Although his success at the variety palace in London’s suburbs was assured, the step up to the-““Corinthium” was a great one and he realised that Mark had practically held a gun on the producer to get him into the show. However, Mark seemed confident enough, so he feit no qualms; only Valerie showed any nerves as she waited with him in the wings of the, vast stage, . -with its hidden microphones 85 and blazing lights. Mark came rushing up as comicloooks.com