Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 48 — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION advice of that clerk on Mars : “Look at the medical section of your emergency manual and follow instructions.” He decided to obey _ before attempting to get rid of the body. The emergency manual was simply a permapaper sheet fastened above the pilot’s chair, listing the index of instruction tapes. Moore was still slumped in the chair. Nielson walked resolutely toward the body. He’d have to move it eventually, why not now? His knees began to weaken when he was four feet from the body. Nielson hesitated, deliberately forced himself to begin another step, then spun crazily and wildy backward. The motion threw him to his knees. He crouched and whimpered strangely from fright. In the nick of time, he had realised that the radiation was still pouring toward that chair. He had almost walked into its fatal path. 72 Shakily, Nielson went into the power unit housing and did what was necessary to the screens. The physical exer- tion that cut the radiation and confined it to its proper place restored his self-confi- dence. As if it were a daily task in space, Nielson then pulled the body from the chair and rolled it out of the way. Seated where Moore should sit, Nielson studied the manual a moment, then punched three buttons on the panel beneath it. The library ground into action, with splutters and crackling at first, quieting as the proper section of tape rolled into place. “In the event of death,” the recording said, “it is essential to dispose of the body as soon as possible. This will prevent any danger of an overload on the spaceship’s capabilities. It will also reduce the psychological bur- den on the survivor. ** Pull the red handle which comiclooks.corn