Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 72 — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION at the shining object she held. “Hello, Katey,” greeted Sommers. “What you got there?’ The object was so obviously metallic and ex- pensive looking that he found it odd that someone had thrown it’ away. “‘Let’s see.” He held out his hand. Katey hugged it protectively to her and glared at him. He tried again and was met with an angry scowl. **°S mine. Pretty box. Want _to keep it.’ Katey made a show of stubborn possessive- ness and edged around him. **°S mine,” she declared em- phatically. Sommers hunkered down. “I’m not going to take it, honey. It’s yours, I’m sure.” He grinned amiably at the child. “Just thought I might get one like that for myself. Where did you find it?” She was coy at first—then quite suddenly relented and pointed along the beach. “Show you. C’m on,” and she trotted ahead. There had been something unfamiliar about that shining metal tube in Katey’s hand. It could be some new brand of cigar case he had not seen before—it was about that size. And yet . . . He was be- coming suspicious of every- thing this evening. “Wait,” he called. Katey took no notice of him and ran on toward the low bank which formed the end of the small curving beach. On this side it was a steep sand dune dotted with stiff grass, but on the other side it fell away abruptly into the cove where they kept the small boats. Sommers hung back until his companion joined him. He was already breathing heavily. Together, they trudged through the soft and clogging sand. By this time the little girl had reached the dune and was clambering up, using the tufts of grass as handholds. “Take it easy, Katey,” Sommers called. “‘Stay on the top.” The two men watched her climb to the top and look back at them. Then she pointed at something they could not see. “Here.’’ She jumped up and down ex- citedly, still pointing. Some strange urgency impelling 144 conmicloooks.c© m p>, |