Authentic Science Fiction, December 1951 — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

46 THER MOON IS HEAVEN time its over. Anyway, the Moon is at least devoid of para- sitic fauna! You all sit round on the bunks, sipping tea. Atah out- lines. the routine. ‘We'll work by Earth time, of course. It’s the only sensible thing to do. That London Circle chronometer will keep accurate if it’s wound up regularly. Quite an anachronism, really! You'll see to the winding, Reina, will you?”’ Everyone laughs about the anachronism. Reina nods. “Sure. I’ll mark off the days, too. Earth days and lunar days.”’ “ Good,’’ Atah nods. ‘‘ The next thing is to get the elec- trolysis working. What d’you need there, Clavier?’’ Clavier raises his eyebrows and spreads his hands, coming perilously near to spilling the tea. ‘‘ Help,” he says. ‘’ Lots of help for moving the snow. I shall need a great deal of snow and the—the deposit I have found will not last very long.’’ “You want us to dig for water?’’ Atah asks. ‘‘ That would be marvellous. If we can find a reservoir, our troubles will be greatly simplified, but greatly !”’ Atah glances across at Schnabel. ‘‘ What about that? When can you start, Schnabel?”’ The technologist shrugs. ‘‘ Straight away, if you wish. But there is the air-lock. I cannot do both. We cannot leave here until the air-lock is repaired. Suit yourself.” Atah frowns a little, then chases it away with an effort. ‘‘ How about showing Leeson and Mike how to use the drill? Then you can work mainly on the air-lock and just supervise the mining. Would that be all right?’’ Schnabel grunts. ‘‘ If they can learn, I can teach.”’ ‘. Take it as read, then. Now, Clavier, you know you've got to collect the hydrogen from the electrolysis. It’s got to be compressed and liquified. Can you handle that?”’ “Oh, yes,’ Clavier responds. “* I have a compressor on comicbooks.com