Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 65 — page 88: what you’re looking at

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

DUET FOR TWO at the rear oi the theatre and the noise of the audience was barely audible there. Henshaw leaned on the desk, im- maculate in evening dress and his close-set eyes gazing morosely at the thin, wiry figure of Mark. “Well, don’t look as though we're in the undertaking business,’’ Mark said shortly. “*We’ll be in the big money by Monday, and this boy isn’t greedy like you and I. He won’t quibble at our cut!” “It’s too easy,’ Henshaw argued. “I started this as an experiment, and you per- suaded me to make it a commercial venture. Now we’re in up to our necks, and if anyone ever finds out I’m through.”’. *““Look,” Mark said pa- tiently, “‘you don’t seem to realise that Val is going to earn us enough money to make that job of yours unimportant.” “I happen to like Robotics,” Henshaw growled. “‘And as director of the biggest com- pany in the country, money isn’t very important to me.” “Okay, so you make enough in the next few months to build your own company. 87 Does that suit you?’ Henshaw glanced up, shrugged and gave a wintry smile. “Sorry, Mark, I’m being a little stupid. After all, we've gone too far to turn back now.” “That’s right.” Mark paused, his expression serious. “‘I wish you could have told him though.” “‘l’ve explained before that it was impossible,’’ Henshaw snapped, irritable again. ““To sing the way he does he must ‘believe’ in the words. How could he do that if he knew?’’ Mark nodded his _ head, sighed, forgot and began to talk enthusiastically of the contracts they would get. By Monday Valdesco was big business. Mark worked through two nights and tried to keep his head at the immense sums of money in- volved. A dozen television contracts offered varying at- tractions, a number of world tours were suggested, theatres made frantic requests. He settled on a top bill spot in a television show which had a world-wide hookup, with an audience of over a hundred million. The show was sched- comiclooks.corn