Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 54 — page 93: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION dives, but I’m not stupid. Look, there’re seven of us in here and there tsn’t room to spit. How long can the air and water and stuff last ?”’ ‘“‘We carry scaled rations to last five people for a period of twenty-five days.’’ He wished that it were light so that he could see her expression. “That answer you?” “And how long will it take for us to be picked up?” “JT don’t know. You heard what the officer said.” “J want the truth, Henley. I’m a big girl now.” “When the ship blew, a signal was broadcast on the emergency band. It will be received and the nearest vessel will head towards us. They will know the flight pattern of the ship, its velocity, the time of the explosion, and from that can work out just where we are. Ali they have to do is search until they pick up our signal.” “How long?” “They’ve probably received the signal already, but the nearest ship could be going away from us and so would pass it on. We'll have to wait until a ship can match velocities and, of course, they will have to get here from wherever they are.’ He hesi- 92 tated. “I don’t know how long it will take.” “Highly unlikely.” ““Weeks ?” ‘‘Perhaps. Perhaps a month. It’s impossible to say.” “T see.’ Against his ear he could hear the hiss of her indrawn breath. “‘Rations for five and we’re carrying seven. Six—the boy doesn’t count. Say a month. Say...” “If you’re trying to work out what I think you are, I can give you the answer. Eighteen days.” “TY make it different.” “Jeff uses a lot of oxygen and he’s going to need a lot of water. He and the boy make two normal adults between them. Eighteen days.” “And you said that we couldn’t be picked up for at least a month.”” Abruptly her fingers were digging into his arm. “Henley! What can we do?” “We? “Sure! Why not? The old guy’s almost dead and the officer’s well on the way. Jeff is dumb. Who have I left ?”’ “T don’t like what you’re saying,’ he said, curtly. “We're all in this together and I’m not going to be a comiclbooks.comn