Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 52 — page 88: what you’re looking at

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

CLEANSING FIRES . A tall Manyhian with a withered right arm looked down at him eagerly. “Are you the magician who cured Sonliq? Give me back the use of my arm, I beg of you. I will give anything.” “Time—give me time, _ brother,’ said Munson with a smile. These people were so childlike in their simplicity, despite their barbaric culture. “I want nothing from you but your friendship.’ He ran his hands lightly over the arm, feeling the stiffened joints and wizened muscles. “Lift your arm above your head!” he commanded, sharply. The limb moved a fraction of an inch upward. The tall man’s face was tense as he fought to make it obey his will. “Good! Yousee ?Itmoved,”’ said Munson. “But you try too hard. Have confidence and you will be whole again, I promise you. Tomorrow you will be able to raise it higher and the day after higher still. Just believe, brother.” The man looked down at his arm, a grin on his ugly features. “I shall be whole again,” he repeated, trium- phantly. Munson turned and ad- dressed the watching crowd. “*All of you can be cured, my 7 brothers, if you will only have faith. All men are born equal with the key to destiny in their own minds. Help your- selves and help others; this is the secret of life . . .” His early training in semantics and rhetoric stood Munson in good stead as he poured new, exciting suggestions into the receptive minds of the Manyhians. As with all humanoids, at least fifty per cent. of their ills must be psychosomatic in origin and would respond to auto suggestion. Later he would treat individual cases, as he had Sonliq, but now the methods of Coué and the other ancient masters would provide him with the mass effect he required. From that day onward a growing crowd of Manyhians gathered each afternoon to . hear the healing speeches of the brother of man. Those who had been cured stayed with him long into the night, listening in rapt attention as he spoke about the wonderful new concept of democracy. The barbaric customs that had shackled them in the past became increasingly ab- horrent. Munson became more and more obsessed with his mis- sion to free the Manyhian comiclooks.conm