Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 44 — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

FIRST away was a woman. Would have enlivened the trip.” “I suppose you want to know who I am?” began the. stranger. “I don’t care who you are.” Curry spoke quietly, keeping his anger simmering below the surface of his mind. ‘Oh, sure, you're Steve Something- or-other. One of these con- founded nosy-parkering re- porters who’ve been hanging round the station writing up all about man’s conquest of space.”’. Curry’s voice rose. “What do you know of mass- ratios and exhaust velocities that we don’t spoon feed you? And now you have the damned impertinence to stow away on my ship!” “The reporters have a job to do—we have to ensure that the world knows where its billions are going———” **As far as you’re concerned, the world’s billions will be going down the drain! I nearly had kittens at take-off figuring why I was using extra power to reach speed—it was be- cause you'd decided to stow away and take a trip to the moon. What d’ye think this is—a Sunday school picnic?” “I know what I am doing.” “T doubt it. You probably don’t know that the extra fuel 59 DOWN used on take-off to lug your stinking carcase along will have to be made up somehow. This is the first rocket to the moon, Steve, not a regular Saturday night ferry.” Steve twisted round on the wall, holding ‘on with his left hand. He said: “‘I realise well enough this is the first moon rocket. That’s why I’m on it. I’m going to be the first man on the moon.” Curry sat up against the straps of his chair under the shock of that. Steve crabbed awkwardly round the cabin, making sure he had a firm handhold before letting go with the other hand. Curry snorted contemptuously. “You don’t have to hang on as though you’re going to fall out of the window. Let your body relax. Float where you want to go.” He looked hot-eyed at the reporter, cling- ing tightly to the rail. “And as for your being the first man on the moon—forget it. That’s all been arranged long ago.” ‘Don’t misunderstand me, Curry,’” Steve said deliber- ately. “I’m going to be the first man on the moon.” “Oh, don’t talk rot——” Curry began, and became very quiet and very still as comicloooks.conn