Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 52 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

STAR HAVEN specifically orders that such a watch be maintained. There can be no excuse for failure to comply with the instruc- tions.””» He frowned at the screen. ““Another thing. The . settlement was based at the edge of that lake, wasn’t it? Where the river runs through that forest?” “Was it?’ Barker stared thoughtfully at the mottled ball. ““Could be.” “Don’t you know?” “T could find out,’’ snapped Barker, annoyed at the other’s tone. “But if you think I can memorise the exact where- abouts of a hundred different settlements on a _ hundred different planets then you want to think again. That’s what files are for.”’ “Never mind the files.” Williams reached for the adjustment controls on the screen. “I’ve studied up on this planet, and that’s where they should be.’ Abruptly the image expanded, seeming to flow away from the centre as details became clearer, and they stared at the image of a lake edge, a river bank and a tiny, obviously man-made clearing. “‘There!’’ Williams rested his finger on the smooth surface. ““That clearing, that’s where they are.” “Are they?” Barker nar- rowed his eyes and made a final adjustment, steadying the image against the distor- tion of atmospheric heat cur- rents. “Looks deserted to me.” -Impatiently he glared towards the radio-man.. “Got them yet ?” “‘No, sir. The ether’s dead; nothing but sun-static.”’ “Try a flare.’ Barker looked at the young commander. “Maybe their radio’s broken or something. We'll see if any of them attempt visual signalling in answer to our flare.” He squinted as a gush of brilliant orange limned the edge of the screen and pointed to a small, spinning shape falling towards the lake. “That should rouse them. Pyrotechnic sound-and-sight attention catcher.’ He smiled as the spinning shape suddenly expanded into a series of comiclbooks.conm