Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 51 — page 69: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION had happened, it was out theres"... “The. ship’s working fine,”’ Peters reported. “But the instruments aren’t registering at all.” They looked at each other, wondering, afraid. This wasn’t how it should be. The scien- tists had explained it all to them; maths and laboratory research and the laws of probability made the flight a matter of routine—everything planned in advance and no chance of the unexpected. In theory. In practice... “It’s dark out there,’’ Geoff Peters said. ‘“‘We’ve been cheated—no wonders of space to look at. Nothing. What the hell do you suppose happened ?” Forman didn’t have any ideas on it. He flipped the switch of the radio transmitter and spoke into the micro- phone. “‘Moonship calling base. Come in, Earth.” No answer, The silence 68 mounted and became un- endurable. “So there’s just the two of us now,” Peters said. “‘No Earth, no moon. Just this ship in the darkness. Hell, I. wish you were blonde, seven- teen, with curves where it matters most.” “Shut up!”’ “Take it easy, Larry.” He gulped back the fear that rose in him and checked the radio circuits, made a routine inspection of the ship’s instruments. Everything ap- peared to be in order. Peters quizzed him. “Any ideas? After all, you’re the scientist on this trip.” **Technician,’’ Forman cor- rected. “I can handle the equipment we have aboard, because I’ve been trained for that job. I’m no scientist; what’s happened out there is beyond my understanding.” He sat down, staring at the porthole and the darkness outside. “Can you turn the ship, Geoff?” Peters—he was officially pilot—grunted. comiclooks.cormn