Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 71 — page 94: what you’re looking at

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

~ WISHFUL THINKING His face was lined and seamed with dirt, his watering eyes reflected the stagnant water, his clothes had obviously been salvaged from the heaps of rags surrounding his hut. He wiped his mouth on the back of his hand and stared apprehensively at the captain. *“You found the body ?” **That’s right.” Joe scuffed one broken shoe on the dirt. “I was taking my usual walk and spotted a shoe. I went down and tried to collect it. When I found that there was a foot in it I near collapsed.” He pressed one dirty hand to his chest. “I ain’t as strong as Iused to be and. . .” “Skip it.” Mark’ stared around him. “‘You live in the shack ?” “That’s right. The city hire me as watchman and I live on the job.” “What are your duties?” “T tell the drivers where to tip their loads and sign their papers if they have any. Mostly they haven’t; it’s a free tip. Then I try to keep the kids away from the water. 93 Then, when Lem’s here, I help him out.” “Lem?” “The driver of the bull- dozer,” said Stanley. “He comes down twice a week and levels off the dump. The drivers can’t tip directly into the water for fear of getting bogged down.” Mark nodded. He had already grasped the picture. The old man, more scavenger than anything else, making a place for himself on the dump. His wages would be nominal, his presence enabling the city authorities to obey a local ordinance, and he prob- ably spent more time in salvaging rubbish for his own benefit than carrying out his duties. “So you found the body while taking your usual walk,” said Mark. “Was it there yesterday?” The framing of the question was deliberate, — the reaction as expected. “All right,”” said Mark. “‘Let’s put it this way. Could it have been there yesterday ?” “No.” conmiclsoo ks. conn