Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 66 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

THE OLD FIRM bond was strong between them. Each knew the other’s _ Strengths and weaknesses. Now Calshot allowed Vaun to carry on speaking. “What problem do you - have to face on your planet?” Vaun had switched on the second tape recorder ex- pectantly. The little man smiled. He put the brief case down on the chair Calshot had produced from the floor. Then he wet his lips, shrugged his shoul- _ ders and said: ‘“‘Pardon me whilst I bring in some further exhibits.” Before either partner could speak the little man had turned and fought his way through the plastic door. Vaun and Calshot were left looking at the brief case on the chair. “Well, Cal,” Vaun asked. “And what's all this?” ““He’s not the guy from Mizrab_ IV,” slowly. “And he didn’t say who he was.” - “Ask him when he comes back.” Vaun’s voice rose. Calshot said 9 “Hey, Cal. You can’t go looking inside his brief case!” “But I am,”’ Calshot said. The matter was settled so far as he was concerned. He opened the flap, took one look, then dashed madly to the window. The electronic guardian opened it promptly, and with a muscular heave of one short arm he hurled the brief case into thin air. Vaun rushed to his side. They stood watching the brief case dwindle in. size as it fell the two hundred storeys to the gardens below. From the opening, caught and ripped back by the wind of the descent, a thick purple vapour poured. The gas thinned and dissipated, and before the brief case was lost to their sight had ceased to pollute the atmosphere. “He tried to gas us!’ Vaun was indignant. His thinning hair yielded more ground to his raking fingers. ‘Surprising,’ Calshot said, in a voice like a squashed jellyfish. ““Now suppose you organise something for our comiclooks.corn