Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 43 — page 143: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION this time he would not admit failure. If he did, there could never be another attempt. “If we can get the machine working, we go down,” he stated at last. Hedgerley looked at him in amazement. “It’s crazy!” Dave appeared to have re- covered, and shook his head. “It’s not crazy if dad says it’s not!” Steve Martel felt proud, but did not look at his son. ““We need the power,” he said. “We need to make this a success. We always knew stocks of coal and oil wouldn’t last for ever.” They were silent. Hedgerley seemed to be fighting an internal battle, then his lips compressed. “Very well, I’m with you,” he said. An hour later the machine had begun its descent again. Martel wondered whether the patched-up equipment would stand the strain. The minutes lengthened into hours, and ‘they sank lower and lower, 142 every steel plate vibrating with the roar of the burning jets. It was almost unen- durably hot, and at length he ordered a halt. Dave had just taken over his watch, and his tired eyes shone. Both knew that they were very near to success. ““We’d better wait for some of the heat to dissipate,” Martel said. After resting, they burned their way downwards for another hour. Martel switched off the power, rising stiffly. Dave was huddled in his chair asleep. Martel realised that he himself was the only one who had not slept for twenty hours, and he returned to his chair, to settle down to sleep. He awoke with an odd feeling of being unable to move. His wrists and ankles were bound to the chair, and he raised his gaze to meet Hedgerley’s eyes. *““You’ve made a mistake,” Hedgerley said, thinly. “A big mistake. I draw two pay packets—one from your firm, connicloookks.comn) °