Authentic Science Fiction, December 1951 — page 45: what you’re looking at

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

THE MOON IS HEAVEN 43 “Okay, you two,’’ Atah says. ‘‘ Up you get. Heck!” He sounds quite a bit put out and you wonder why. But as soon as you turn round to face the dome, you see why. On the harsh white surface of the plain there are several black and gleaming objects that weren’t there before. ““ What’s happened?’’ Reina wants to know. ‘‘ What was that shudder?’’ You point to the bits and pieces. ‘‘ Another trailer. Only this one didn’t land the way it should. Looks like its load of equipment has gone under. Hope it wasn’t essential.’’ But even as you say it, you know that it must have been essential. Atah Kark would not load up a trailer with stuff that wasn’t really needed. It’s just a question of the degree of necessity. “« Suppose it was the mining plant?’’ Reina asks in a low voice. You won’t suppose that. You won’t suppose that until it’s no time for supposing any more. That mining plant is the key to return fuel. Without it No. . No, you’re not supposing that. ““Let’s get this equipment back,’ you say abruptly. ““ We'll find out soon enough what’s gone.” Stuff that would be unliftable on Earth is quite light as you both return with armfuls of it to the dome. You are carrying the nuclear reactor; Reina has the rest of the apparatus, Pretty important apparatus, too. It’s going to supply you all with air by the electrolysis of snow or water. That’s.if Clavier does his stuff properly—and he’d better. Atah and Leeson are poking about in the wreckage of the second trailer as you pass them on the way to the dome. You call out to them, forgetting for the moment that your voice will go over the radio. ‘* What’s the score? Anything serious?’’ Atah doesn’t look up. He is scrabbling intently among the bits and pieces, picking up odds and ends. Leeson looks over at you and shakes his head inside his helmet. ‘* All depends on your viewpoint. It’s not survival stuff comicbooks.com