Authentic Science Fiction, December 1951 — page 109: what you’re looking at

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

THE MOON IS HEAVEN 107 then gone into free-fall while you woke up. You can see that Atah has been working at the course. “A five second burst on number three jet ought to do it,’’ he says. “* Five seconds!’’ Leeson exclaims, ‘‘ D’you really mean that?’’ “‘’Fraid so. We came up at a terrific angle you know. We’re many thousands of miles out now.” “ Well, with a five second burst, all I can say is that it’s just as well we left Schnabel back there,’’ Leeson says. ““ You're telling me,’’ Atah returns. ‘‘ I’m: damned glad you people talked me into it. I don’t think we’d have got back otherwise.” “All right, then. Back in your mattresses, you folks. This won’t hurt, but we’d better not take chances.”’ So you all do that. Except Clavier, He hasn’t even got up. He’s still lying there with his eyes closed peacefully. You reckon he just can’t be bothered to do anything untit the ship lands. He’s been working hard enough for ten men. Leeson gives one look round to see that you're all clamped down and then reaches out for the fire control buttons. Looking along the top of your nose, you can see him depress one, his eyes on the chronometer. A jerk pushes you down into the mattress, but it’s a very gentle one. Then you see Leeson’s finger come away and you know it’s all over. Immediately, Atah starts to work on his calculations again. Within a few minutes he looks up and beams. ‘‘ We should come down within five miles of where we started from,’’ he says. “‘ That'll be slap in the middle of a sandy plain, then,’’ Reina laughs. ‘“‘ Just like home.” You get out of your clamps and gingerly swing your legs round so that you at least have the semblance of sitting, even though you are several inches above the mattress. You feel better that way. Looking round the room, you see that Clavier still hasn’t got up. Hasn’t even undone the clasps on his wrists. Then comicbooks.com