Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, Issue 45 — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION “It’s a quarter to one. And I’ve had enough today to last me a week.”’ “Oh?” “Sure. Those two guys from Earth,”’ Carpenter said, sud- denly wary. He couldn’t say too much, not even to Doc. Hamlin. After all, if he was to be certified, then this was the very man who would sign the _ documents. | The other man, who had been sitting lazily in a cane- bottomed chair, rose and came towards them. His wide lips and mobile smile matched the firm grip of his brown hand. “Doctor Carpenter, this is Doctor Wheeker. He’s és “I know.”’ Carpenter smiled and took the drink Wheeker proffered. ‘Thanks. I’ve just been warned in the most solemn terms to forget all about interstellar travel. It’s not healthy, so I’m toid.”’ Wheeker laughed, his voice the first rich true sound Car- penter had heard ail that miserable day. He said: “I know about your work, Doc- tor Carpenter. As it dovetails 30 into mine, I see no reason why you, of all people, shouldn’t know about my project. [know that Jack here has told me of - your experiments, so I guess he’s told you about mine.”’ “Casually. I know that it won’t be long before we are hitting the trail to the stars, as they say.’ Carpenter won- dered what was the matter with himself. He was never so cynical about the dream of mankind, the vision of reach- ing the stars. After all, even though his own work might be curtailed, Wheeker’s would go on successfully. Wheeker looked at him then raised his glass. “‘Here’s to the stars, Carpenter.” “The stars.”’ He said it, meaning every word. Let this guy shoot his ships to the stars. The fact that the crews wouldn’t be men descended from those experiments orig- inated in the Carpenter Eu- genics Research Station shouldn’t mean a single damn thing. | Only it did. And it hurt. It hurt like the devil. comicloooks.com