Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 66 — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

THE CREEP **There’s no difference I can see,’ Sam answered, after a moment’s consideration. “What is it?” “That’s it. Nothing! If we had walked into this room right now, if we hadn’t seen him opened up, we couldn’t tell he wasn’t as human as we are.” “So?” “Don’t you see, Sam? He’s alien, yet he’s human. As human as we are. But have we got spaceflight ? We haven’t had a successful moonflight yet. And he’s come from another galaxy! Physically, he is almost at the same stage of development as Terrans are, maybe a little ahead, but not enough to make him too —well, too alien. His mind should be on a par with his body.” Sam whistled. ““You mean a high I.Q. specimen? Quick on the uptake and able to learn English in five minutes? Could be. But which of us is able to keep pace with the teaching?” “Me,” said Lena. “‘There 145 was a time, before I became a model among other things, when I taught school. Don’t look so sceptical, it’s true. I’ve educated infants. He should be easy. I can at least try.” “It would take years, which we haven’t got.” “Not if he’s super-intelli- gent. [ll begin with onomato- poetic words. All language is based on imitative sounds.” She picked up a spoon and a drinking glass. Holding them in front of the alien, she tapped the glass with the spoon and said: ‘‘Ting!”’ The alien smiled, held out his empty cup and said: “Milk.” Lena looked at Sam triumphantly. Sam didn’t commit himself. “Milk,” repeated the alien, and while Lena fetched an- other bottle he tapped the glass with the spoon and smiled at some secret joke. When Lena returned; he pointed to the glass and said: “Cup?” “Glass,” Lena corrected. “This is a cup. That’s a glass. comiclooks.com