Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 65 — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION uled for Saturday. Mark got his signature on the contract and went to bed to dream of the expanding bank balance and the various methods of making it smaller again. During the week everything went well enough. Val saw a great deal of the girl, but after his initial attempt to dissuade him from going about with her, Mark had realised that it would probably be good for publicity and had given it no further thought. But on the Saturday night, when the pair stepped into the dressing room and he saw the ring on her finger, his rose-coloured castle fell into a _ million pieces. **Mark,” Valdesco said happily, ‘“‘we’ve got news for you!” He waited, the sweat glisten- ing on his face. ‘“‘Valerie and I are going to be married!” Frantically, he glanced from one to the other. There was no mistaking the radiant look on their faces. A small light began to blink above the door; in ten minutes he would be in front of the cameras. Gripping the chair tightly, as though he 83 was going to fall off, Mark strove to think of something to say. ‘““What’s wrong?’ Valerie asked, her face suddenly stiff. “You can’t marry him!” he blurted, not looking at Val- desco. “Can’t marry him. . ! ‘“Now, wait a minute,” Valdesco exclaimed angrily. “Youcan’trun my lifejust...”’ “Don’t argue,” Mark cut in. “I’m telling you that it’s impossible for you to marry her! Don’t ask me why, just believe what I say and you'll be okay!” “Weil, I don’t believe what you say. If there is a reason I want to hear it now!”’ Mark glanced away, fever- ishly trying to think. Valerie was watching him tensely, anger beginning to tighten her mouth and put blood in her cheeks. They waited. The light above the door changed to red .. . five minutes. ““You can’t marry her be- cause you aren’t a human being . . . you’re a synthetic robot!” The girl gave a gasp and swayed against him. Mark sat watching them sadly, ss comicloookks.com