Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 65 — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION vehicle as it hugged the ground, and peered through the eye-slit. The rampart, which had taken his troops fifteen days to build, was broken in three places, and at each place was a cluster of Mhalro machinery, mechani- cal wheels churning in a revolting manner as_ they sought to force their way through, and their mechanical ~ weapons roaring. Vielra breathed a fervent prayer for his brave warriors, and hoped that their electric charges would stay the Mhalro horde for a little longer. If the invader should overrun the defences, and gain access to the path, then the valley below would be helpless, for it had practically no arma- ments. The force under Vielra’s command had been hurriedly despatched from Centre Val- ley. It had soon become obvious to Vielra that more men and more weapons would be needed if the attackers were to be held off for more than a few days. Would Jal never return? Vielra had become worried by a bustle of activity he had detected a few hundred yards 42 down the path. Now some of the giant metal shields were drawn away, and a massive gun mechanism was revealed. It was far beyond the range of even the most powerful electric discharge. Slowly, the monster was dragged forward by straining Mhalro slaves, green bodies glistening. Vielro ordered a dozen of his warriors to focus their weapons on it as soon as possible; but it halted beyond their reach. Ponder- ously, the Mhalro engineers trained the gun upon the rampart. There was an ex- plosion, and fire danced about a multiple muzzle. Vielra heard screams as the wall crumpled in a fourth break. Again, the gun glinted with careful movement. Vielra felt his hopes shatter. A quick scanning of the sky showed no sign of Jal, with his promised fleet of transters, - weapons and men. Vielra sweated. He felt anxious eyes upon him. In the ground now held by the Mhalro he could see the tattered remains of the transters that had fallen in the early part of the battle. For a comiclooks.corn