Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 66 — page 126: what you’re looking at

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

THE CREEP boots; not nearly so big as he looked with the pneumatic suit. The appearance of the suit started a train of thought in Sam’s mind. He flicked his eyes to the long curve of the sunlight on the floor, then to the doorway. With quick decisive steps he went outside to confirm his sudden sus- picion. Lena had looked round the wrong side of the opening and had missed it. How she could possibly have missed it an- noyed her when she answered Sam’s sudden call and fol- lowed him into the daylight. No bomb had blasted Harry’s bar. The building had collapsed beneath the weight of an immense metallic globe, which, if it had landed squarely on the bar, would have flattened it completely. The buildings at the opposite side of the street had taken the full weight of the globe. From high above the doorway, where the side of the sphere had hit the bar, the curving metal convexed downwards to meet the ground at the other 125 side of the street. Looking down the road into the sun, the whole area seemed to be filled with the dull, glinting bulk of the metal monster. “It’s one of the things from the sky,” said Lena superfluously. And as_ she thought of the implications, she added: “‘We’ve been in- vaded.” Sam agreed. “‘I named the wrong enemy.” “You did say they were space-buzzards.”’ “I know, but I didn’t expect them to come down so soon. D’you realise what this means ? There weren’t enough spheres to launch a winning attack while our armies were still alive. The world must be helpless, stripped of its resist- ance by the Creep.” Lena was doubtful. “It doesn’t seem possible. We two aren’t dead. I don’t feel even the slightest twinge of sickness. And it’s so peaceful, such a lovely morning—yjust like a Sunday. The sky’s blue, the sun’s bright and coniicloooks.com