Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 54 — page 8: what you’re looking at

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

THE LESSER BREED as authoritative and work accordingly. The physicists are unable to construct effi- cient shielding against a radia- tion which they cannot detect, that is patently obvious. They tell me, however, that we should pass out of the field eventually. Until that time, we must do our best to main- tain the morale of the colonists. “These people knew full well that they were venturing into the unknown. They were warned that the project would be dangerous when they volunteered. They must be conditioned to regard this as one of the normal hazards of space. You make too much of these things, Admans— when we pass out of range of the radiation the whole thing will be forgotten.” Admans clenched his fists. Tutin seemed to forget that the colonists were just or- dinary civilians, not drilled and disciplined front line soldiers. “It’s not as simple as that. This effect may already be deep down in the chromosome structure of every human being aboard this ship. A 7 permanent modification of the genes—a seed of destruction that will allow them to breed nothing but non-viable mutations.” “Can you prove that?” Tutin asked, wearily. “Of course not, man! I’m just giving you my honest opinion as a physician.” The frustration behind the words was apparent. “‘Many years ago, when Goldfarb started work on his Android project, he covered the field of human genetics exhaustively. In the end he was forced to abandon his work in that direction and synthesise a simplified cellular structure—he just had no instruments that were capable of examining the structure and defining the properties of human genes with a sufficient degree of accuracy.” Tutin leaned forward. “Sup- pose you are right—what do you suggest we should do?” he said, quietly. “Turn back to Earth and warn them of the radiation field before other ships follow. They could then send out a specially equipped expedition comicloooks.conn