Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 48 — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

TABARN!I DOCUMENT Have a good time in those old Terrist museums and come back rested and refreshed. Takato, old chum, you can’t be too careful.” TAKATO was beginning to get annoyed with the Terrist inspector who stood at the bottom of the space ship’s escalator. Takato was getting soaked in the downpour. Rain popped off the inspector’s cap and dripped from the end of his nose, but he continued making his laborious record of all the details connected with Takato’s arrival on Earth. ‘“T’ve told you I represent the Instrument Division already,” ‘Takato protested. ““Haven’t you anything better to do than keep me standing here? Isn’t movement on this planet sluggish enough with- out the authorities providing further delays? And in this rain, too.” “Tm only doing my duty, young man,” growled the Terrist. “‘ Now, you say you have certificates of vaccina- 23 tion against diphtheria, small- pox, tuberculosis, cancer and several psychological dis- orders? And an extra-Terres- trial transit certificate? I should like you to produce them, please. Thank you.” Takato fretted, shifting the burden of his body from one aching foot to the other. Then he realised that he was being addressed by an elderly man with a pointed beard. As he turned to give him his full attention, Takato was enve- loped in the man’s nimbus, for the Terrist wore a water- repelling cloak with created its own shimmering mist. “Your name is Takato?” asked the elderly man. “Yes. I have just arrived from the Moon. This man,” the Constructor gestured brusquely towards the in- spector, “has decided to devote the next few hours of both our lives to the examina- tion of my credentials.” b “Leave this to me,” said the man with the beard. “I really should have sought you comiclooks.corn