Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 51 — page 97: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION long solitude. Except for a little longer, until he had learned their language. Smiling, the big man took both his hands. “‘Our spoken language, certainly. But we need not be limited to that, need we?” “No, This was terrible; a world where one’s private thoughts were not private. ““Everyone here is like this ?” He waited anxiously. “Certainly. You will have no difficulty here.’ The big man did not seem to realise how disquieting his claim was. He threw out his arm. “You did not realise it at the time, but we have been in touch with you ever since your ship approached.” He beamed. “‘It was not so difficult, was it? To land. But we thought your courage was admirable.” He turned. ‘“‘Shall we walk to the town? It is not far.”’ Indifferently Jean Leslie moved with him. This was worse than Earth could ever be. “T see you did not change.” Jean halted. “What was that?” “Your clothes. You were not sure about whether you should change. As I told you, there was no need.”’ His hand touched Jean’s sleeve. ‘“That is a very nice fabric.”’ There was something wrong. If they could read minds, how had this man slipped up? “I did change,” he insisted. “Did you?’ The big man looked surprised, then uncom- fortable. “I must apologise. I did not realise that you did not want that known.” They stared at each other, examining each other doubt- fully. “Tell me,” Jean queried with new hope, “if I were thinking something, some- thing I wanted kept private, couldn’t anyone get it?” “No, my friend. You would not even have to guard it. If, subconsciously, you would prefer it to remain a secret, it would be secret.’ He put out his hand. ‘‘Will you over- look my fault ?”’ There was now no hesita- tion about the. newcomer’s response. “‘There is nothing to forgive.” He laughed, shaking back his mane of hair. ‘‘Tell me everything, comiclooks.comn