Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 71 — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION everything was to hand. Clothes, shoes, instruments of torture. A place where screams and movement wouldn’t be suspect. Somewhere local where a man wouldn’t im- mediately be missed.” “‘A hospital.” Stanley was disillusioned, but he was a long way from being stupid. He thought about it and then shook his head. “It doesn’t make sense.”’ “We'll see.’ Mark riffled the report. “Get a check on this clothing, see if it matches with that given out in the charity wards. Check to see if any of the staff or if any patient is missing. Send the boys round to check the dentists; you know what to do.” “IT know,” said Stanley. He grunted as he rose to his feet. **But I think the idea’s crazy. Only a maniac would have done a thing like that to a man.” “Yes,” said Mark softly. “T’ve thought of that, too.” last of the files before him, stretched, reached for and lit a cigarette. His head ached a little from a long, hard day, and he thought of a hot bath, bed, and twelve hours uninterrupted sleep. He knew he would be lucky to get six. The door opened and John, seeming to be thinner and more gaunt than ever, entered the office. He closed the door behind him and leaned against it. “Ready ?” “I’m ready.” Sam glanced at his watch, rose, crushed out his cigarette. “Everything under control?” ‘“Hammond was in the lab today.’ John opened the door and led the way outside. ““He had some old crow with him; after her money I expect, and he had me make an electro- -encephalogram of her.” “So?” “So he was suspicious. Hammond’s no fool, and he knows what an electroen- cephalograph should look like. Sam Conway filled in the I saw him studying the ad- 104 | conmiclsooks.conn