Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 52 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION yawned and sagged even deeper in his chair. “Don’t talk about work; the very thought of it makes me tired.” “Then you’re going to be very tired,” promised Williams curtly. He glanced down at his papers. ‘‘We’ve been here three days now and it’s time wecorrelated our information. I’ve collected every scrap of written material in the settle- ment; there is surprisingly little of it, and none of it helpful.” “T wouldn’t say that,’’ pro- tested Hermitage. ‘‘We know the analysis of the air, water _and soil. We know the seasonal changes and other astronomical data. We know that nothing harmful to man was found in the first tests, Bnd wig) “Please, doctor.’’ Williams didn’t look at Hermitage. ““By ‘help’ I meant of course our main problem. You will naturally retest the water and air and other things you mention.” “Retest ? Why ?” 14 “‘We cannot afford to take anything for granted. The first tests obviously were at fault and it is up to us to discover in just what way.” “T don’t see that.” “No? You surprise me, doctor. If everything is well here then where are the people?” “How do I know?” Irrita- tion swelled the doctor’s neck. “I know where they aren’t. They aren’t dead and buried, that’s for sure. There isn’t anywhere near that amount of graves in the vicinity.” “There are some though?”’ “Yes,” admitted Hermitage reluctantly. “About fifty.” “About? Aren’t you certain ?”’ “Fifty-two then, to be pre- cise. All men. I dug them up to make sure. Does that satisfy you?” “It checks with the official record,” said the young com- mander quietly. “But was it wise to disinter them?” “The graves were shallow and there was no danger. I comicloooks.con