The Ersatz Wine by Christopher Priest (New Worlds #171, March 1967) opens with a man fleeing his pursuers and hiding from them in a building. Inside he sees a girl sitting at the bottom of a flight of stairs. She holds out her hand and takes him up to a room where they have sex. He leaves in the morning. His pursuers find him later, leaning against a pile of crates: they wonder how they can keep his batteries charged.
Inserted into this brief story are seemingly random passages:
“Two fat ladies: eighty-eight,” said the Bingo-caller.
“Three and seven: thirty-seven. Key of the door: twenty-one. On its own: number six. . . .” p. 117
“My work,” said the Artist, “is a total expression of my soul. It relates in terms of colour and image the visual interpretation of consciousness.” His audience nodded and smiled, staring in serious awe at the canvas behind the Artist. It was daubed with shredded inner-tubes and random streaks of motor-oil. p. 117
Some of these may have an oblique connection to the story:
“What right have we to keep this man alive?” demanded the Surgeon. “Transistors and batteries are bastardising God’s work!” p. 118
“My life,” said the Actor, “is a constant lie.” p. 118
A taste of what was to come in the pages of the large format New Worlds.
– (Poor). 1,650 words. Story link.