Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 54 — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

NONENTITY The officer winced as pain stabbed from his smashed bones. ““Damn fools! If they had only kept their heads we could have abandoned ship in good order. As it was, I had to fight my way to the shell and collected a few broken bones on the way.” He swore then, bitterly, savagely, more at the human animals who had reverted to the beast than at the saboteur. “What happened to the Numan ?”’ | *“Dead, I suppose. Those fanatics consider a life well spent if they can take some of us with them, and this par- ticular specimen really went to town. A ship and two hundred people, not to count the stores and equipment for the Mars base. We’re lucky to be alive.” “Are we?’’ Henley glanced at the terror-stricken figure of the old man. “What are our chances ?”’ “‘No better and no worse than any other lifeshell ever blown adrift. If a ship picks up our call in time we'll be rescued.” “And if it doesn’t?’ The girl thrust herself forward and Henley realised that everyone in the compartment had heard what the officer had said. ““How long must we 89 wait to be picked up? That’s what I want to know. How long?” “Yeah.” Jeff joined the girl, one arm slipping posses- sively around her waist. “‘When are we going to get out of this mess ?”’ _*A few days, perhaps. May- be a week or two. It depends.” ““And what if a ship doesn’t arrive in time? What then?” “Please!”.aT be: affiveer frowned at the girl and glanced towards the boy. “‘There’s no need to make things seem worse than what they are. Remember the child.” “That’s right.” Henley smiled towards the boy. ““What’s your name, son?” “Tommy, sir.” “Well, Tommy, we’re in a little trouble, but you mustn’t worry about it. We’re all going to be all right. Now you just do as you’re told and you'll be home before you know it.” “Yes, sir.” The boy hesi- tated. “Sir?” , “Yes, son ?”’ “What about the others? My dad got left behind. Will he be home soon, too ?”’ “Of course.’’ Henley forced a false conviction into his tones as he patted the stringy black hair. “Don’t worry about it, Tommy, everything comicloooks.com