Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 67 — page 150: what you’re looking at

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

WAIF ASTRAY There was a smaller heading: ‘No crazy threats for two days; F.B.I. still seeking.” **Maybe that has something to do with it.” Maybe it had, thought Billy, maybe it had. But he said: ‘““Sam and me, we never hurt anybody.” “They ll know,” “‘won’t they, Al?” “Sure,” said Al. “Now suppose we relax, huh?’’ He closed his eyes and Joe fol- lowed suit. Billy’s eyes sought Sam’s, and found there no hope, and then his gaze roved hungrily up and down said Joe, the half-filled car. After a ~ while, he closed his eyes, He did not know how long he slept; he did not know if he slept at all, for he had been talking again to Mr. Dirim, and he had reproached the little man, who, in his turn, had reproached Billy. “But ain’t we going to prove we are innocent?” Billy had asked his dream man. “No, of course not!’’ The little fellow had hitched his bag on’ his back and said: “Why bother? You will join us soon...” And then Billy had woken up. He glanced dully across at where the man who had been reading the paper was 149 asleep, and then over to the newspaper being read by someone opposite. A strange—a very strange newspaper! The script was strange— the language was—foreign— the pictures . . . he found himself reading it! “Today is the DAY!” cried the headlines. “TERRA WILL FIND OUT!”’ He leaned across, trembling, fearful of what he might learn, but knowing that he must learn. He strained at the handcuffs like a pup on a leash. “The plain intimations of the Dirimi to the President of the United States,’ it went on “seem to have been ig- nored. Therefore, Dirim has decided that the laying waste of New York might be suf- ficient inducement for the United States and the rest of Terra to want to talk surrender. The long-awaited plan, which began nearly twelve years ago with the planting of the Jellingsville baby, is now materialising, for the Earthly shape of the young half-Dirim is now a zif bomb going to New York, where he will pass the centre of the city, where the Terran leaders are fortuitously gath- ered together,’ heedless of our comicloooks.com