Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 41 — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION She crossed the room to the long, rectangular window, and looked down on the triple highway three thousand feet below, cutting across Nyok City like a broad, white ribbon, dotted with minute vehicles crawling or speeding in the different velocity lanes. The view seemed to absorb her for a few seconds, then she turned to the young man. “‘Nothing serious, darling. I’ve got a surprise for you.” “What is it?” *‘All in good time. First, tell me—how is matrix 24 progressing?” “It’s finished. Do you want to hear it?” ““No—not now. I'll hear it tomorrow on the Rainbow Net—it is tomorrow...?” “That’s right, honey. Twenty hundred. Matrix 24 will be the first work to be per- formed in the concert.” Zora smiled. “Good. Has it been approved by the Culture Board ?” “You bet,’ Bax replied, grinning. “I’m not taking any chances after the matrix 22 panic. I nearly got myself filed in the Reversionist Index 64 —and you know what that means.” She came closer to him, warmer and more yielding this time. He whispered: “‘It’s been a long time, Zora. I’ve missed you.”’ '“Only two weeks, darling. You’re too impatient. While I was up country I picked up something. It should interest you.” “We i i- “It’s music.” “Music? You mean a matrix ?”’ “Of a kind. [ll show you soon. I want you to change matrix 24.” He stood back and eyed her in astonisument. “I can’t do that, Zora. For one thing, it has the Culture Board’s okay —and I daren’t change any part of it. And apart from that, it’s the most closely integrated thing I’ve ever done. I can’t change it. Here—I’ll show you...” He crossed to a recess in a wall ofthe room, and withdrew a small, flat plate of metal. This he placed carefully on the round table in the centre of the floor, and with a long stylus indicated the complex conmicloooks.comn