Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 65 — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION Bill felt as though he were floating in space—among the twinkling stars of the Milky Way. It was pleasant—as though he were floating in a radiant bath. He looked about him once more. Queer, he thought —the couch has disappeared, yet I still float, I’m horizontal. Rainbows appeared, stretch- ing out in all directions and mingling with a distant array of golden beams. Slowly, Bill sat up. Then he tried stand- ing, and found that he could walk on top of a mist-like * surface which reminded him of glittering cotton-wool at Christmas time. It pulsated, as though with a life of its own. A surge of energy shot up his legs. Laughter bubbled inside him as he stretched out his arms. This was great, simply great! Bill Simmons had never felt better in his life. Explore! he told himself. Move forward towards the golden star-beams or whatever they are. He asked himself all manner of things. What did this add up to? Suppose he had been a patient—how could this help 104 him—how would he sort him- self out? Abruptly, the brilliance died away. He saw the twinkling stars return. The bed pushed at his shoulders and he be- came aware of his head throbbing as_ consciousness took hold with the familiar everyday pattern. The lights glowed in the room. He heard the voice of Doc Phillman: “Mr. Sim- mons, Bill Simmons, please wake up I say. Wake up! It’s all right. You must wake up— it’s urgent.” Soon Bill was sufficiently down to earth to recognise the Psycho and to answer him in arational manner. ““What’s the matter?” he asked. “It’s Dudley Bernard; he’s got his lawyer to contact the City Welfare Committee— they’ve closed me down pend- ing an investigation. What can I do? Pll be ruined if I can’t practise—all my money is in {his thine 5. 1.6: Bill interrupted the doctor’s excited flow. ““Take it easy, doc. First of all, this treatment. I don’t know what to make of it. Those colours and... comicbooks.conm —