Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 51 — page 118: what you’re looking at

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

THE BLACKDOWN MIRACLE ““Where did you find it, Mr. Tollen?’ His voice sounded strained. “I didn’t. Mike here did, in Blackdown wood.”’ The scientist whistled a deep breath through his teeth and said: ““This thing gets crazier as we go along. The American Research Department in Washington blew the roof-off six hours ago, proclaiming to the ‘world that they had definitely saved a myxomato- sis-infected rabbit with some new drugs they have evolved. That’s incredible enough, but this is plain impossible. You see, I am prepared to swear that this one once had myxo- matosis, too. If that is so, then there is only one conclusion to draw. It must have recovered naturally, quite unaided, an occurrence which is—well, scientifically impossible. Now —let’s hear your story.” Geoffrey shook his head. “*There isn’t much to tell. My little boy apparently got an urge to explore the woods alone this afternoon. He got lost—it’s a big wood. When Mary phoned me I raced home, collected some help, 117 and started a search. About midnight we found him, curled up under a tree, hugging this baby rabbit.” Geoffrey paused and added softly: “He wouldn’t go to sleep again without it.” The doctor smoothed the rabbit’s fur carressingly. Then, almost to himself: “Suppose it isn’t fantastic after all.? Suppose it’s just—natural? The same thing happened once before.” He looked up at Geoffrey. “Nature was confronted with extermination of her rabbit species thousands of years ago when the old A.P. was deadly. She found a way round the problem then by evolving a rabbit capable of immunity. I think she has done it again!”’ “You mean nature has produced a rabbit which can just take our myxomatosis in its stride?” “That’s what I think has happened. We’ll soon know— blood tests should answer that. And tomorrow, I'll have Blackdown Wood turned in- side out. It could be that this one has relatives there. Even if she hasn’t—this is a young comiclooks.corn