Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 44 — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

FOREVER swirling back, tearing the veil of forgetfulness. He stroked the bird hesit- antly. It had been their only pet. When he and Mab had finally left the valley—and he recalled that for some obscure reason they had used the steps instead of leaping the barrier together—Nebu- chadnezzar had hidden and they had gone without him. They had concluded that some mischance had befallen their pet—yet here he was, full of life, and looking wiser and more wicked than ever! “Pretty Polly my foot!” grunted Jud. “‘You’re an old rascal!” , ““Have some nuts!” Nebuchadnezzar. said They explored the tree- choked ruins of the temple together, Mab chattering hap- pily and Jud craving to get away and turn his back on the valley for ever. He peered about him un- easily, fearful that the most innocent action might spring some hidden trap. Certain that he had taken steps to defeat the prospect of ulti- 99 TODAY mate madness, his memory stubbornly refused to reveal the method adopted; and an appeal to Mab would have been useless, for she knew nothing whatsoever about it. Jud cursed his own gulli- bility. Long before leaving the valley to roam the world, he had abandoned the stupid theory. They had both re- tained their mental and physi- cal vigour, their zest for living had been renewed each day, and eternity was merely a word to play with. They had lived in the eternal pres- ent. It was forever today, and today life was very sweet. To his immense relief, Mab agreed to leave the valley before sunset, her only stipu- lation being that they should take the parrot with them. “You shan’t give us the slip this time!’’ she told the bird; and Jud, holding it, tightened his grip on its scaly claws. He was taking no chances, being convinced that Mab would not leave without it. “You're coming with us, my lady,” he said grimly. “Orcpise = = .>."7 comicbooks.conm