Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 53 — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

‘AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION leasing the red proboscis, it turned slowly and with a deliberation born of repletion discharged into the wound the excrement of its embryonic life. Then, puffed and langor- ous, it half crawled, half fell from the sleeping body. Saturday. 15.00 hours, G.M.T. I keep on getting bitten. But tonight we are OFF! An irritation, and then a paroxysm. A calvary of pangs, a wrestling with the stuff of its own fabric. And suddenly its husk was empty, and beside the dead epidermis of its baby- hood a new being lay ex- hausted. The larva had be- come a nymph. SPACESHIP MARTIAN, Bulwyn K. Maggurt, Com- manding. Date: 20th January, 1993. Time: 2200 hours. Com- putor indicates take off 2200 hours 15 mins. 20 secs./safety lap 90 secs. Repeat we are resting on shocklegs in position occupied since landing (ap- prox centre Mare Erythreum). Have no casualties. P.S. Except biologist (Brit- ten) who complains insect bites, also navigator (Sludd), mineralogist (Stratton). Blood tests negative. 86 P.P.S. Can't find insects aboard, except boxed speci- mens, WHICH HAVEN’T GOT OUT! The ship’s vibrations, always intermittent, took on a deep and constant note. His nest shook—he could feel the strain on his claws. Then something smashed the roof off his world and the sense from his universe. Light pounced as he froze himself to the wood, drunk with dazzle. Another shock went through him. He lumbered from his squatting place, neck- less head turned from the light, and walked into warm matter. It was a female, split open. A lake of black blood came from her. Even in his fear he. found it impossible to resist the food; well-being flowed back as the blood tightened his belly. But the instant of his satisfaction was followed by queerness. He found it hard to stay near solidity; found himself slip- ping into the gulf of the air, weightless, yet falling .. . MARS CONQUERED! SHIP DOWN—ALL WELL! ONLY PLANTS AND INSECTS— SKIPPER. FROM Chesney Bonard, connicloooks.com