Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 72 — page 130: what you’re looking at

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

REPLY DEFERRED impulse triggered off his per- sonal code signal. The plate shook, lifted slowly, tilted backward and slid up along the ceiling. Algo moved quietly forward into the berth looking for the power point. That the plate slid back into place when he brushed against a knob on the wall only caused a score of micro circuits to pulse momentarily as the data was recorded and stored away. At the far end of the berth there was a detectable shimmer of electrons. It suggested power. Algo approached. His antenne delicately explored the work bench. There were small tools, pots of paint, unidentifiable junk—all sur- prisingly primitive he decided. Then he turned his attention to the slender metallic tube along the wall. A closer in- spection confirmed the worst. Only a feeble field, not worth bothering about. But he was in great need of simple elec- tricity to scrub the static off his more subtle circuits. A rod protruded and tenta- tively touched the pipe with its tip. The metal glowed briefly and a blob struck the bench with a hiss. For an infinitesimal instant energy flowed into him as the capaci- tors sucked off their charges. Simultaneously, a small black box high on the wall burst into flames. Algo snuffed it out with one brief squirt of gas. Unexpectedly, it told him that behind it lay the source of energy he desired. It was a guardian, he decided, and promptly destroyed it. The power cables jutted naked in the gaping hole and Algo made connection, drinking greedily. The traffic signals changed and the gleaming convertible surged forward. Chester Schultz beamed expansively and glanced at his wife. There was an expression on her long, determined face which told him she was a good deal more pleased than she would have admitted. For the first time in years she was literally purring. It did him good to observe the pride of possession it gave her. More, the sense of super- iority she already exuded as they rolled effortlessly toward their Long Beach home. 129 econmiclooolkks.com