Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 48 — page 36: what you’re looking at

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

TABARNI RPOCUMENT slapped Takato ironically on the back, and returned ta their work. He had proved the principle, that was all. Marshal Takato’s personal recommendation was needed to persuade the Technical Board to invest in another pilot model. The second pilot was a success. It bore its load well, dispersed the stratum entirely, and produced valu- able data on its own com- ponent materials. The way was open for the prototype. When the day came for the first full-scale test of the pro- totype, Takato stood with a group of other beings on the limpet platform which had been stabbed into the surface of the barren planet, Steroid 32279. He stared at the huge, simple body of the neutraliser anchored above the sharply- curving horizon of the tiny steroid. Then he became aware that the sight-pane of his head globe was blurring over. Cold fumes from the artificial atmosphere in the narrow habitable channel were patterning the pane with 35 ‘ a crazy grid of white lines. He brushed the clearance toggle and wished, momentarily, that Cha Tabarni had come with him. “Fifteen seconds to go,” said the inspector’s voice in the audio-circuit. All eyes were fixed on the twenty tall antennz which projected from the top of the neutral- iser like a crown. They flickered blue and gold in the wisps of radio-attivity which leaked through the roof of the cleared channel. The robot with the record- ing apparatus checked the lenses for the last time and then stood motionless beside the purring mechanism. The Venusian representative of the Technical Board brushed the clearance toggle of his head globe as his sight-pane frosted over. Everyone else was still. Then it happened. A wave of blue fire sprang from the neutraliser and dis- appeared an instant later. So quickly had this single pulse comiclooks.comn