Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 46 — page 119: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION into small pieces, littering the floor. “To return, then, to our apparatus. I have explained that the portion on the right is devoted to the supply of power to the plates, between which there is formed an electrical field. On the left, you will see three small para- bolic reflectors, all of which are focused on the same spot, about three feet from floor level and in the field between the plates. I will not bore you with the details of the con- struction of the apparatus which feeds energy to these reflectors. It is enough to say that, when they are all focused on this spot, the combined effect of the electrical field forces and the output from the reflectors is so to re- arrange the lines of stress within the region as to render the space it contains in- finitely curved in a negative sense. The implications of this I have already explained to you. Are there any ques- tions so far?” The earnest student rose. “Do you mean to say, then, Sir, that you propose to create an apparently small region whose real volume is in fact infinite ?”’ “You grasp my meaning admirably.” 118 **T don’t believe it.” “Naturally, my young friend, you don’t believe it. Nevertheless, I hope to prove . to you that it is true.” “Get on with it, then,” said an unidentifiable voice from the back of the hall. This was followed by a certain amount of stamping of feet and bang- ing of books on benches. The Professor switched on the right hand collection of apparatus. Carefully avoiding the copper plate in the floor, he crossed to the other side of the room and adjusted a number of dials, then turned to face the audience. *“‘Are we ready, then?” Opinion in the room was divided. Hardly anyone thought that the Professor was actually going to get the result he claimed. Some, how- ever, couldn’t see why he should bother to give a demonstration if he thought he wasn’t going to get it. A few had a mental picture of his pouring a never-ending stream of light ale into or out of a region in space. Most were slightly apprehensive. The Professor depressed three switches in rapid suc- cession. Nothing whatever happened. After about ten seconds, Comicbooks.cOm -