Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 72 — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION at Lisa and I would slay it. But the Zarl moved fast, fast. Lisa screamed again as it came at her in a feral rush. I dropped to the centre ring, moving to intercept its anti- cipated charge towards Paul, then the sick agony as I understood, too late. It was after Lisa. It was a nightmare in slow motion. Lisa trying to run, stumbling. Falling. The Zarl caught her. She stopped screaming. For ever. The Zarl lifted its muzzle and grinned at me. I killed that Zarl with my bare hands, Through the grief and horror I realised someone was singing. Singing the Vesti in a cracked horrible voice as the curtain came down. My voice. The grand finale. The lights were on, blind- ingly. Paul was sobbing. The stage hands were carrying Lisa’s body away. Someone was shaking me. It was Latham. His face was wet with tears. “You’ve done it,” he breathed. “‘Magnificent! What a trouper Lisa was. When the Zarl told me this afternoon 62 I couldn’t believe it. What sacrifice!” “The Zarl told you,” I said. I could not understand. He kept talking and I did not understand. “It was the missing touch, Lisa’s death at the end, the final tragedy.”” Latham wiped tears from his eyes. ‘‘Sheer genius, Midge! Look at those Reaction Banks!’ The Reaction indicators flared a deep ruby, washing the stage in bloody light. Latham kept talking, huskily. “The council just called. We’ve got a smash hit. Within a week the hate bars will be condemned. The good fight is won, Midge! Meet Lisa II, fresh from the vats.” I looked at Lisa II. I understood. *“Oh God,” Paul whispered. Lisa II was lovely. She said, with a shy smile: “I do hope we have a good rehearsal to- morrow. I won’t be as good as Lisa I, but I’ll certainly try.” “*Rehearsal,”’ I said numbly. Rehearsal for her death. Tomorrow night, the next night, all the nights, forever watching Lisa die. The show must go on. comiclooks.cormn