Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 66 — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

FIRST IMPRESSION carefully with the ball of his thumb. “‘We’ll never get rich this way. There’s only one thing we can do.” *‘What’s that?” ““What we should have done at first. Go and get a couple of clubs, knock its head off and help ourselves to what’s inside.” “Are you serious?” Fred stared at his companion in horror. ““To wantonly destroy a visitor from space, to kill it for the sake of material gain? And how could we get away with it, anyway ?” “Simple. We creep up on it, either side. No need for clubs even; as it grabs at you, I'll let it have it.”” George tested his knife again. “It ain’t - human, so it wouldn’t be murder. We’ll probably get a medal for doing it. Ready?” Without waiting for an answer, he began to creep forward, his body tense, his knife gripped in the fighter’s stance. Fred didn’t doubt but that George could do as he said. He had seen him in too many brawls to doubt the big man, and it did seem the only way. “Don’t kill it,” he insisted. 105 “Just divert it. We can duck inside and slam the door. It will have to communicate with us then.” George nodded, not answer- ing. Together, the two men crept forward. It was as if the sky had come down and slapped them in the face. One second they were creeping forward, the next they were flat on their backs. George yelled as the knife was knocked from his hand, and Fred, after blinking away a host of stars, found his feet beneath him and his legs carrying him away from saucer and alien both. He skidded to a halt as he saw someone walking towards him from the edge of the surrounding wood. “Good afternoon, gentle- men,”’ he said. ““No damage, I hope?” “Got a gun?’ George came panting up beside them. “‘That thing’s dangerous.” “Surely not.” The stranger didn’t smile, but his voice held subtle amusement. “‘Did it harm you?” **“No,”’ admitted Fred. “But it sure scared us.’’ He looked comiclooks.corn