Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 48 — page 40: what you’re looking at

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

TABARNI DOCUMENT armada forcing a landing on your planet, gaining control of the silos, of the power assemblies, of the plantations once again. What then?” Tabarni hesitated. He tugged at his beard, crossed and uncrossed his long legs on the chair which he dwarfed, and said nothing. “You see?” smiled Takato. “One of the dangers of de- volution or specialisation,” he said with a hint of irony in his voice, “is that Venus has most of the system’s food but none of the system’s arms. In the short run atomisers and space armadas can beat the threat of starvation. And it is through the short run that the revolution will have to sur- vive if it is to reap the benefits of the more distant future.” ‘What do you suggest?” -“ Have you thought of the uses of the Takato neutral- iser? If it can clear a great volume of _ radio-activity, which is a pretty formless thing to tackle, think what it can do to the nuclear drive 39 of a space vehicle. What good is an armada when its motive power—and its weapons—are crippled before it can get within striking distance of a planet? Now, Tabarni, you see the full beauty of my plan. I have given the system a two- edged weapon.” The Venusian slapped his knee hard, threw back his head and laughed. Then he sobered and asked seriously : “How do we set up neutral- isers on Venus’ without attracting the attention of the Fighters ?” “Perhaps you don’t know it, but the rice blight on Venus is caused by radio- activity...” “I know no such thing! The blight has nothing what- ever to do with radio- activity.” “‘Tabarni, you disappoint me. You came here today to discuss that very question.” “Did I?” asked Tabarni. His eyes mirrored dawning comprehension. “Why else? And you urged me to divert a substantial comicloooks.com