Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 44 — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

FOREVER TODAY Mab pointed to the crude stone steps. ‘Remember them, Jud? We always used them, going in. But coming out, we jumped——”’ In a fever of recollection she swung round. “Ah! See that big smooth stone? We used to jump hand in hand and see if we could land on it. And we generally did.” Jud nodded absently. He stared into the trees crowding the valley, wondering why tremors of fright kept slither- ing along his spine. He blanched as a scream rang out. ““‘W-what was that?” “Listen!” Mab held up a peremptory finger. Head cocked, she waited, smiling incredulously. The scream was repeated. She clapped her hands. “Nebuchadnezzar!” she ex- claimed joyously. Before Jud could stop her, she was over the ridge and racing towards the trees. ““Hey, Mab!’ he yelled. “Wait for me!” “Nebuchadnezzar!” she was calling. ““Nebby darling! Where are you?” Shaking with fright, Jud scrambled after her. He 97 shouted hoarsely, command- ing her to wait; but as he plunged under the canopy of branches, he knew that if they lived a thousand years she would never wait for anyone. An hour later, lost and dejected, he almost fell through a riot of briar and bramble into the marble bath. With a strange constriction in his chest, he traced its decayed outline, then sank down on a tree trunk, letting his thoughts wander. Presently he became aware that the outline of the past was shaping in his mind. Suddenly he remembered the little temple. It was nearby. Shortly he would go to it. Mab would be there, waiting for him. But first... He dug down in his mind, anxious to identify the fear which clothed him now like a skin. A nostalgic memory- whiff paid tribute to remote honeymoon delights and was crowded out by a vivid recol- lection of their return to the city, the discovery that the atom bomb had done its worst and that, henceforward, comicloooks.corn