Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 41 — page 131: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION the creaking wooden steps and opened the front door. His father stirred in the big chair under the floor lamp and regarded him sleepily. “Oh, hello, son. Must have been dozing.” . “Hello, dad. I’m late getting home...” | “Your mother went off to bed. I stayed up to read your book. I’m afraid I dozed off in the middle of it.”’ The book lay, half-open, on the floor. It was the Jeans book on the universe. The boy-moved across the room and stood over the furnace grate, letting the ebb- ing warmth rise under his jacket. He noticed that his shoes had picked up traces of white from the gravel and that he had cut several threads at the elbow of his jacket. He looked away from them quickly, to find his father regarding him with a very faint trace of concern. For a moment there was silence between them. Phil knew that some kind of ex- planation was expected of him. He searched his brain for some innocuous remark. 130 “Getting colder out, Phil?” asked the father, yawning. “Yes, sir—uh, did you like the book, the Jeans?” The man retrieved the book from the floor, then smiled at - his son. “Very interesting— you haven’t taken up astron- omy in school yet, have you?” “I’ve read some books...” The man reached into his trouser pockets and produced a package of cigarettes. Light- ing one, he said, casually: “Those boys you meet occas- ionally—they’re interested in astronomy too, aren’t they ?”’ The boy stiffened. A cool feeling grew suddenly in his stomach. “Yes,” he said. “Tl remember you said they were considering building a small reflector.” “Yes.” The boy’s thoughts raced. The father grinned. “‘Well, I was talking to Bill Simpson today, down in the shop. You know his son, Gregory, don’t you? Bill and Gregory made a little six inch scope some time ago. What I was think- ing is that—maybe I could draw up plans and Bill could help with the lathe work... I mean...” eonniiclooks.: cont