Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 51 — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

THE BLACKDOWN MIRACLE ing near him with stealthy little noises. A clump of tall grass just across the path rustled and waved slightly. Michael felt relieved—whatever it was couldn’t be very big to hide in a clump of grass. He rose, crossed the path quietly and, kneeling, parted the long stems. Then he sat sharply back on his heels with eyes dilated and mouth forming an O of sheer disbelief. GEOFFREY TOLLEN CLIMBED wearily out of his car and surveyed the I.E.R. building. He smiled a little cynically— “T.E.R.” stood for Inter- national Emergency Research Bureau. He wondered why it was that mankind had to wait until the Apocalypse was upon him before he began to co-operate and launch an all- out war upon the oldest enemy—disease. There hadn’t been the time and money to spare before, maybe, every- one was too busy playing with nuclear explosions and hyper- sonic killing rays. Much too damn busy te worry about the cure for a little boy’s leg, crippied with paralysis. If he could land a job that paid more money—a lot more—he might be able to do something about that leg of Mike’s. Hell take any system where a man must stand by and watch his son dragging around a dead limb, while other kids ran past him! Just stand and watch and do nothing. Oh, to see Mike run! Geoffrey Tollen slammed the car door and turned his attention to the I.E.R. build- ing again. That brought him back to earth. Did crippled arms and legs matter now? It looked as if the human race was facing extinction in spite of the frantic mouthings of politicians and statesmen. He shrugged, fished out his press card and headed for the entrance. The press conference was an unusual one—twenty-two hardened reporters sat fidget- ing in the semi-darkness and watched a series of what was to them unrecognisable shapes appearing on a small cine- screen. The lecturer’s voice shar- pened dramatically. His poin- ter indicated a fresh outline. 111 comiclooks.corn