Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 54 — page 13: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION didn’t turn back, the whole thing would be just a waste of time and effort. He refused, of course.” “You really think it’s that bad, eh?” said Mayo. Admans hesitated, wonder- ing how to word the suggestion that had been bubbling in his mind for the last ten minutes. *“Look, Charley—there’s no two ways about this thing. We've got to turn back. I can’t go on much longer, carving these horrible mon- sters out of the wretched women. If we can’t stop it— and there seems no way—we must make certain that it never happens again. You can see that, can’t you?’ He paused. “The androids control the ship—they’ll obey your orders without question...” Mayo’s eyes narrowed. “Hold it, Mark. I don’t think I want to hear any more. You don’t realise what you’d be asking me to do. Hell, I’m not worried for myself. But if this thing was handled in the wrong way, it could wreck all the work they’ve been doing at Goldfarb for the past fifty years. Can’t 12 you just see the headlines? ANDROID MUTINY ON STAR SHIP. It’s just the sort of thing the anti groups want.” Admans bit his lower lip. “Tt doesn’t need to be that way. They'll see that it was the only thing we could do, under the circumstances.” “Not the only thing,” said Mayo. “We could go on. So we don’t breed like rabbits? Let’s face up to it—we’ve still got our health and strength, and the Granellas will work for us as long as we live. I’ve had a bellyful of Earth—this way we get a chance to live our own lives the way we want.’ He picked up his glass. “Ill drink to that—a short life and a gay one. After we're dead—so what?” Admans lit a cigarette. His throat felt tight as he drew in the smoke. Sooner or later it would have to be told. “The woman I examined this after- noon... was your wife,” he said, quietly. The liaison officer’s body went rigid. The drunken flush drained from his features and the knuckles of the hand that held his glass showed white. conmicloooks.comn)