Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 66 — page 105: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION “Look, it’s got hands of a sort. We could have our picture taken holding it by the hand.” “They don’t look much like hands to me.” , ““They’re hands, all right. They must be hands, it couldn’t have built the ship without hands.” *““A monkey’s got hands,” pointed out George. “But a monkey ain’t intelligent.” “This is no monkey.” Fred stabbed at the ground again, digging the blade of the knife deep into the soft dirt. A blob followed by a straggling line. Two blobs, followed by the figure 2. Three blobs and the figure 3. George frowned as he watched. *“What’s it this time?” “The basic mathematical symbols.”’ Fred sweated as he gouged at the ground. “I’m showing it that we are aware of the decimal system and mathematics in general. First, I show it our numerology, then simple addition, multi- plication and division. By correct use of numerical groups I can prove to it that we operate on a basis of strict logic.”” He swore as he nearly amputated his thumb. “Interesting,” said George dubiously. “I don’t under- stand it, but it sounds interest- ing. Did you learn that from reading, too?” ““Yes.”?> Fred paused and wiped his forehead. “‘It’s lucky I was with you when you found this thing. It needs an intelligent man to do what I’m doing. Be quiet now and let me concentrate.” An hour later Fred was still concentrating. He had slashed the ground over an area of a hundred square feet and was wringing with sweat. The alien, as calm and as watchful as ever, had done nothing but move slightly to follow his progress. George stared at it with disgust. ‘Hell! We’re just wasting time.” Secretly, Fred agreed with him but tried to defend science against instinct. ““We can’t be sure of that. The thing may be in telepathic communication with its fellows. For all we know we may have passed the test and been accepted.”’ ‘““Accepted for what?” George spat and reached for his knife, testing its edge 104 comiclooks.corn