Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 67 — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION vously at lips suddenly. dry. *“What the hell are you?” There was no answer. The silence went on and on, and my thoughts did nothing to fill it. “Lazarus,” I whispered, “are you trying to tell me you’re not human?” Again I received no reply. ““What’s all this about psi faculties ?”’ The darkness, the silence, was shredding my nerves. -I began to shout. “Damn you, answer me!” Lazarus said: “You must wait till you arrive where you are going.” ““Where’s that?” ““A long way.” There was a pause, then: ““Have you never looked at the stars, Mr. Stone, and wondered whether the planets revolving about them are inhabited?” *Sure,”’ I said. ““Where does that get us?” He didn’t answer and the long silence was back. I never met anyone so reluctant to talk as Lazarus. I began to kick the walls again; that seemed the one thing I could do to annoy him. “Suppose, Mr. Stone, that the inhabitants of these other worlds are more advanced than your own race. Suppose that when you develop certain latent faculties you achieve maturity.” ‘All right—suppose it,” I prompted. But that was the end of another conversation. I tried to fit the pieces together... the human race had to rise by its own effort . . . the most Lazarus could do was. remove material barriers. He spoke then, as if aware of my thoughts. “Tam going to raise another barrier...” I heard a metallic click. Then there was blinding light from outside, and a black void studded with stars. The moon seemed very much larger—only it wasn’t the moon. It was blue-green in colour and I clearly recognised the contours of the American continent. comlicibooks.com * we ts ee Ee ee ee oe) oe -