Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 48 — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

TABARNI DOCUMENT donned the globe and made his way to the inner port. The Constructors flanked the port, covering it with their hand weapons. Takato nodded to Lubkov, who pulled down a lever on the emergency panel. The inner port slowly slid open. Stooping, Takato passed through. His blue gown was whipped about his lithe body as the air inside the cupola whistled harshly through the aperture. He nodded a second time to Lubkov, and the inner port was partly closed. The air spurted about him with a shrill scream and a faint mist dimmed his view. Then the outer port was slowly opened. Takato stood at _ the threshold of the outer port, his gown billowing about him. He no longer had any pro- tection from gas blasts. Inside the breathing globe his small blunt head turned from side to side. He was trying to catch a glimpse of the hidden Fighters. “ Fighters !”’ he called into 59 his audio-circuit. “ Fighters, your last mission has failed. You came to seek vengeance. We offer you food. You need fight no longer. We have won. Come to the cupola, Fighters, and get nourish- ment. Come unarmed—as I am.” The Constructors inside the cupola stirred uneasily and fingered their hand weapons. The Director was a very vul- nerable figure, and_ the Fighters still lurked behind cover. The debris-strewn plain was as silent as ever. After some confused move- ment and struggling, a squad of Martians, their arms raised and palms extended, moved quickly towards the cupola. They glanced anxiously be- hind them, but they were not fired upon. In ones and twos, then in dozens, other Fighters began to scurry to the wel- coming dome. Takato peered at each face as the beings squeezed through the outer port. He stopped a major, a man with a pale strained face. comicloooks.com