Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 43 — page 135: what you’re looking at

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

Suppose no one had split the atem. What would we do when coal and oil ran out? The Lava Seas Tunnel by F. G. Rayer and E. R. James “Sit over there!’ Steve. Martel snapped. He twisted round in his seat and im- patiently grasped the last switch on the panel. His eyes narrowed as he looked back over his shoulder. “If you want to climb back to the surface [ll give you five minutes. If not, sit by the communications panel. You can’t stand, and you’ve made us late enough!”’ The latecomer looked hurt. He hesitated, then stepped down to the insulated floor of the circular control room. Steve Martel flicked down the switch and the great, curved hatches swung together. He examined the fuel gauges, now standing at maximum, and the radax scanner, which revealed the rock strata below the machine. When he sig- nalled, they would commence 134 to bore down through those pictured layers—down through the Earth’s crust, until the deepest mines were like mere pin-pricks when compared with the depth of their shaft. Millions of tons of solid rock would be above them »4': He refused to think of it, but his throat felt dry as he switched on theinternal phone connected with the engine room. “McGilligan, prepare motors!”’ | “Yes, sir—— A low sound began, mount- ing to a growling rumble. Steve Martel turned in his seat to the officer who had taken his position at the communications panel. The officer nodded. Martel switched his ’phone to his 9 observation engineer, Hedg- conmicloooks.comn