Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 66 — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION Sam sighed as he watched his wife escort their son from the room and upstairs to his bed. Soon the little mind would be at rest; the deep, peaceful, utterly absorbing sleep of healthy youth would enfold the boy and he would awake tomorrow full of ad- venture and bright illusion. Sam almost envied his son. Madge came down after a while and sat beside him, not speaking, not doing anything, but fill a gap with her body and presence. For a while they sat there, each busy with their own thoughts; then, rising, she made coffee and handed him a steaming cup. “Hard day, Sam?” “Routine.” He spooned sugar and sipped at the scalding brew. “Missing hus- band case.”’ ““The usual?” “Not this time.” He pulled a sour face. “‘No secret vices, no hidden women friends, no sticky fingers. Just a man walking out into the great wide world and dodging out of sight. Completely. Just as if 56 he’d dug a hole and pulled the edges in after him.’’ He shook his head. “It’s weird.” “Perhaps he lost his mem- ory? Madge leaned across and took his empty cup. “An accident, amnesia, anything? You'll find him.” *“‘Perhaps.” “Yes you will. You’re a good detective.” “Am [?” he shrugged. “TI can shadow a cheating wife or playboy husband, and I’m good at taking photographs through bedroom windows. I can even check a set of books and put a finger on the office boy who’s been helping him- self to the stamp money. Sometimes I’m lucky and can even find a man who doesn’t really give a damn whether he’s found or not. But this case has me beat.”’ “Why, Sam?” “It doesn’t make sense, that’s why.” Irritably, he lit a cigarette, dragging deep at the smoke and letting it plume in twin streams through his nostrils. ““Look at it. A man vanishes. Just like that. comiclooks.com