Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 50 — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION almost bumped his nose when it refused to open. Irritated, he knocked. Not again, Jarril almost moaned aloud, not another damned interruption. He looked around. Here the town was thinning out, the domes were farther apart, and through the gaps he could see the ring of green fields en- circling the encampment, barring it off, as it were, from the hungry tide of ochre desert beyond. One or two people were crossing the small open space, and Jarril called perfunctorily to one of them, a young man in a pair of shorts. ” eaey. Jikko?” The youth did not stop. He looked back over his shoulder and said: “Gone hunting.” _ Then he vanished behind a metal hut. Where’s you ! Jarril stood for a moment, not really believing what had happened. Some filthy little civilian being downright rude to a Space guardsman! Jfarril ran quickly round the metal hut, caught the youth by one arm and whirled him round. 28 He glared into the other’s face. “When I ask you a ques- tion I expect a civil answer! Now, quick, if Jikko’s not here who else can open up the store ?”’ The young man_ looked down at Jarril’s arm. Jfarril released him and_= stepped back, and then, as an after- thought, dropped his hand lightly onto the butt of his n. “Well, I’m waiting!” “If you’d asked me that before I’d have told. you. Jikko’s nephew can open up.” “Well, where is he?” Jarril breathed deeply. ‘So help me, if you say he’s gone hunt- ing, too, P1——” “As a matter of fact he’s just coming to the store now.” Jarril looked back and saw a short, stocky man with a curiously wide face and small, oddly-shaped ears, about to enter the store. Without a “Thank you” Jarril left his informant and sprinted across to the store. The short man looked up at the sound of Jarril’s run- ning footfalls. comicloooks.com