Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 44 — page 145: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION books I wanted. I must have read hundreds of them. I re- member [loved them... then.” He searched his memory. “‘T remember a certain pro- fessor I had. He had a funny name, not like our modern ones—S...S... Stein! That was it, Stein. There was some- thing peculiar about him. He gave me books. Hundreds of books. They were on mathe- matics—numbers, mostly. Then we would go for long walks in the woods. He would ask me questions from the books and I would try to an- swer. Questions about mathe- matics. “Sometimes he would bring paper and I would work out puzzles and games. Sometimes they would take days to work. But he would help me and finally I would solve them.” His eyes were blank. But he broke the spell cast by the strange new wealth of memor- ies and smiled foolishly. “There was a girl. I haven’t thought of her for a long, long time. She was also Stein’s pupil. Sometimes she and I would both go with Professor Stein.” “Please go on,” said the other man. ““Well, there was a lot else _ thatI don’t remember too well. We had classes in history and social conformity and...” “Ves igs “Well,” continued George Three. “Sometimes Professor Stein would take me into a dark room—I had almost for- gotten that—and talk to mein a low voice. I remember his watch—it would shine in my eyes. I think I would go to sleep. I don’t remember it too well, but he didn’t talk about numbers, but what it was I’m not sure. I think I would always go to sleep. And when I would wake up he would say, ‘Some- day you will be a great mathematician’,”’ “And then?’ urged the other man. “Then one day they took Professor Stein away. I re- member it now. He didn’t want to go. But they grabbed his arm and led him to a car. I remember I called to him, said goodbye. That’s about all I remember, except that soon after that they sent me to the City.” “Very good,” said the other 144 conmicloooks.comnn)