Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 52 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

STAR HAVEN tion increase what it is we’ve got to find external sources of food and raw materials or face literal starvation. That’s why we are founding these colonies. Not for population expansion, though we can use them for that too, but to grow and supply essential food for the home world. You can’t just write off this planet because the colony doesn’t answer.” *‘What do you want me to do?” Barker forced himself to remember that the com- mander was young, impetuous, and with a high personal stake in his decision. ‘‘Land and carry a virulent plague back to Earth? You know the dangers of that as well as I do. That is why this ship never lands, but uses the auxiliaries for ship to planet communica- tion. And even if I did land, what then? I’ve a schedule to maintain and I can’t waste time here even if I was equipped for it, which I’m not. This isn’t an exploration vessel, Williams; this is only a transport, and, as such, is needed back on Earth for more important things than just worrying about one world.”’ He glanced at the screen and the deserted clear- ing. “Sorry, but there it is.” “Wait!” Williams swal- lowed as he looked at the screen. ““There’s one thing you can do.” veer’ *““You can land me and my people.”’ “Are you crazy?’ Barker shook his head and reached for the controls. ““You don’t know what’s down there and you might die within a day.” He rested his finger on the alarm button. “‘No sense in talking about it. You know the rules.”’ “If you press that button,” said Williams coldly, “Til | have you broken for cowardice.” **You’ll what?” “You heard what I said. You’re an old man, Barker, and you’ve started to think like one. Space isn’t for the old, and the Bureau 1s begin- comicloooks.com