Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 71 — page 112: what you’re looking at

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

WISHFUL THINKING That is why I doubt if this with the death-wish and, un- der the influence of the machine, that buried desire to escape from worry and esponsibility will take over. It would be safe to say that, in its present form, the ma- chine would decimate the population overnight.” He glanced at Mark. “Ready?” *“What do I have to do?’’ “Just relax. Then think of something, anything, and your thoughts will become real to you. After a while you'll find that you no longer have conscious choice of what you experience. That will be when the subconscious takes over. You can, naturally, exercise some initial control, and that control may last for a little while. But eventually you will, consciously, take a back seat.” Sam chuckled. “It’s surprising how many people have the buried desire to hurt themselves. Most of us suffer from one form of guilt or another and, sub- consciously, we are always trying to punish ourselves. machine will ever be a com- mercial proposition. It strips the veneer from a man, and most people do everything they can to retain that veneer.” He watched as John adjusted the chair, attached the electrodes and lowered the helmet. A switch clicked, Mark tensed, relaxed, tensed again. Hammond looked 4o- wards Sam and John then glanced at Stanley. He was worried. The machine over- rode every other considera- tion. Sam and John were guilty of attempting to hide a death and misuse of equip- ment, but all that could be forgotten if only they could prove their point. But they had to prove that Carl had died by accident. The minutes passed, slow, dragging, then Stanley leaned forward, his face white. “Turn it off!’ he ordered. “Turn it off!” Mark had received his proof. He was a masochist, too. Lil conmiclsooks.conn