Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 51 — page 101: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION please, please—don’t let me guess.” The girl backed away from the mirror, backed until she could retreat no further. Then she called. Andros came. He came smoothly, not hurrying, not hanging back, solid, reassur- ing, an expectant smile light- ing his grave face. Seeing her as she now re- vealed herself he stopped. His smile changed. From a quiet, companionable indication of liking it blazed forth in exaltation at a dream come suddenly true. Aghast at this development, so unexpected, so charged with bitterness, once the im- possibility of its fruition was made known, she denied him frantically. Obediently he halted. “I frightened you, little Jean. I am clumsy. I am a fool.”’ His smile was quieter, more con- trolled. “But, you are so beautiful, the real you that you have been hiding all this time.” She felt herself flaming at this misunderstanding that was making her task more difficult every moment. No- 100 thing, now, could be more sure than that he must despise this fraud that had so cheated him. “You still don’t under- stand, Andros.” **Tell me, then.” Her lips twisted. “You thought I was a man. You thought that all the time?” ““Of course. I am a fool, am I not. I wondered. Yes. How anyone so,” he gestured, “‘so slight could also be so strong as to accomplish this journey. Now it is even more, how shall I say, more of a marvel.” There was intense pride and admiration for her. She writhed. She raged at him. “You thought I was a man. Now you believe I’m a woman. You’re right about one thing, Andros. You are a fool. I’m not a man. I was a man. Once. Until I began to change. That’s why I ran away. ‘Because I wasn’t anything any more. I’m just nothing.” Gone was the easy leave- taking, the gay, light-hearted farewell. All because the big, blundering idiot was—was a fool! Because he persisted in doing something that was going to hurt him more than he could ever deserve to be comicloooks.com *