Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 51 — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

THE ENVIED formal report to his Depart- mental Director for forward- ing to the Grey authorities, all without needing to apply more than half his mind. The other half rehearsed argu- ments—imaginary arguments with influential Greys, imag- - Inary speeches to a populace ripe for revolution. But today he did not want to think. He wanted the time to pass quickly so that he could be with Judith again. Resolutely he put specula- tions out of his mind, and worked hard: so hard that he had done two or three days’ work in the space of his four-hour working day. The time had passed quickly enough. He could relax now and let himself wonder about the coming interview. A faint twitch of dread plucked at his heart. The hospital was, for all its space and _ lightness, a frightening place. One of his friends passed him on the way out. “ Going flying this afternoon, Warren ?” a7 “Not this afternoon.” “You don’t get enough exercise. Grab yourself a nice wench, take her to Stellar Park, and begin to live, son!” Voices chattered about him. A girl came to meet one of the men from the office, and they kissed. Another couple went past arm-in-arm. Somebody laughed, and he heard an arch voice saying : “ It’s a great world.” A great world. Only if you didn’t think. Only if you had no standards, no values, no essential seriousness of tem- perament. Warren scowled at the crowds that came surging out on to the paveways. Many of them were heading for the restaurants in the centre of the city, and after that they would be going on to Stellar Park or the outskirts, where you could fly or go dancing in the floating halls. He couldn’t endure a crowd today. He wanted to get to the hospital quickly. He flagged a helicar. comicloooks.com