Authentic Science Fiction, December 1951 — page 72: what you’re looking at

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

70 THE MOON IS HEAVEN too.’’ He sends a glance to Reina and you. You both nod. Heck, you don’t want any wars going on! ‘““ What d’you say then, Schnabel?’’ Atah concludes. But the technologist just stares at the roof and remains silent. His face is beginning to swell. His muscles must feel like toasted fish roes. In a way, you can imagine he finds it difficult to forget. “ All right,’’ Atah says. He has no mercy for the techno- logist now, ‘‘ You remember the agreement you signed before the trip, Schnabel? You remember the clauses in it? That wasn’t a Civil Agreement, Schnabel—remember? There was too much State backing for this trip to run the risk of having men turn out like you. But you seem to have for- gotten the penalties. When you get back to Earth, Schnabel, you will be hanged. That is the penalty for deliberately endangering the lives of this party. And you are going to pay that penalty if I have to carry you back to Earth in my -arms.”’ Atah’s voice is quiet and undramatic. For all that, the dreadful irrevocability of it strikes through all of you. You can see that on their faces. But Schnabel’s face is in no con- dition for the niceties of expression. It’s almost as though: he hasn’t heard. But he must have done. He must have heard the words, the sentence. Because it was a sentence, really Schnabel is as good as dead now. Atah turns away from the man and faces you all. ‘‘ Well, now. What about some more tea, Reina?’’ Just like that, And you can see he’s right. There’s no sense in making a great issue of it—especially when you all have to stay in the same dome with the condemned man. Best thing is to forget all about.it until you get back to Earth. Or at least, to ¢vy and forget all about it. “Okay,” Reina says, catching on as quickly as ‘usual. “Tt’ll be ready in a moment.’ Nobody asks her what Schnabel did, and she doesn’t try to ieli you, But you’re going to find out sometime, you comicbooks.com