Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 52 — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION blaming nobody, but if they had set guards this wouldn’t have happened. Another thing, if Williams hadn’t arrived with the projector there would have been more than just one man killed.” “Defending him again? Why don’t you go and lick his boots ?”’ “Why should I? He doesn’t like you and you don’t like him. Must I hate you because he does? Must I hate him because you don’t like him? You’re acting like a child, Gerald. A man has the right to pick his own friends and I’m damned if I’m going to share your illogical dislike of the commander just because we are friends. Now, let’s get to work.” *“Yes.”’ Gerald hesitated a moment, then held out his hand. “Sorry, Doc. I don’t know why it is but I just can’t stand uniformed authority. I get a perverse satisfaction out of being deliberately rude, of annoying them, of watching them squirm. They always seem so stupid to me, so 40 ‘\ illogical, more like machines than men.”’ He shrugged. “I know. If I feel like that then why did I join the Service? That’s something else I don’t know. Maybe I should have my head examined.” “Or your motivations vetted by a psychiatrist ?”” Hermitage smiled at the other’s expres- sion. “When I get time I'll have to straighten you two out, but in the meantime let’s get to work.” It was dusk before they had completed their examina- tion of the huge beast, and the combination of hot sun, fish smell and reeking juices made them glad to leave the hulking shape. Gerald stripped and plunged into the lake to cleanse himself of blood and slime, Hermitage standing watch; then they reversed positions while the doctor washed himself. Then, tiredly, they made their way back to the settlement. Gerald paused at the edge of the clearing. “Look!” He pointed up to- wards the stars. “I wonder which one is Earth?”’ comicloooks.com