Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 52 — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION feet so abruptly that the chair skittered across the floor and fell against the wall. For a long moment the two men stared at each other. Gerald, red-faced with heat and anger, his uniform crumpled and _ unbuttoned, his hands trembling from the anger boiling within him. Williams, tall and rigid, young and immaculate in his trim uniform, very calm and even a little contemptuous. “You forget yourself, Gerald. I had intended to ignore your past lapses, but now I see that I have no alternative than to report you for insubordination and lack of co-operation.”’ “Report and be damned!” Gerald didn’t look back as he walked away from the commander. THE RIVER WAS A RIPPLING stream of clear, blue-green water running between high banks and shaded by the tall trees, spilling over a low »waterfall as it tumbled down to meet the placid waters of 28 the lake. Gerald lounged against the soft grass, enjoy- ing the feel of sunlight and warm air on his bare skin, and idly watched the bobbing float attached to a crude fishing rod stuck at an angle in the dirt of the bank. | “TI think you’ve got a bite,”’ said Hermitage. The doctor pointed with a stalk of grass and raised himself up on one elbow as the ecologist began to haul in the line. “‘Another false alarm ?”’ “Not this time.’ Gerald grinned as a shiny body broke the surface and wriggled as he swung it through the air towards him. “‘Look at it!” “Careful.” Hermitage moved away as the strange creature flopped on the grass. “It might be dangerous.” Together they examined the alien fish. It was roughly the same size as a trout, with gaudy colouring and a crest of spines running along the back. The eyes were promi- nent, the mouth set low on the body, and the fins | quivered like the wings of comicloooks.com