Authentic Science Fiction, December 1951 — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

THE MOON IS HEAVEN 109 But life hag to go on, The ship still has to be piloted. Calculation still has to be made so that the ship won’t wander off course. And Reina has to be cheered up. Sorrowing won’t do anybody any good. Least of all Clavier. So you sit with Reina and talk about the future of the Moon, Atah and Leeson catch on too and interpolate odd remarks to keep things going. ‘‘ The next generation will think this was a pretty clumsy business,’ you say. And Reina knows who you mean by the next generation. ‘‘ They’ll think we took a heck of a long time about doing very little. I can imagine that the first men on Mars will have a much easier time of it, using our experience.”’ ‘They will too,” says Leeson. . ‘‘ But they won’t have the distinction we’ve got. We're the first men to enter space!’’ “‘ And I’m the first woman,’’ says Reina proudly. “I'll mever forget you for letting me come, Atah.”’ ‘ That’s nice,’’ ‘he replies. It’s pretty hard to keep talking when you’re all so tired. In fact, you very nearly fall asleep while somebody’s talking. Then, after a while, you do fall asleep. With your arm round Reina. : Leeson’s voice calls you back to consciousness. ‘“‘ Back to your mattresses all of you. We’re landing!’ Oh, God, you think. That again! But it’s not so bad as it might be. And there’s plenty of fuel so there’s no risk being run. You just lie back on the mattress and imagine what’s going to happen down below. One thing that’s pretty certain is that.you won’t like the reception. No bands and flags for you. You reckon you must be about the only man who’s pro- posed to a girl without kissing her first. And she’s probably the first girl to marry a man under the same conditions. All in all, you're a pretty unique pair! The deceleration starts to grab at you, but you don’t mind. comicbooks.com