Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 66 — page 149: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION The alien, who had given his name as Blon, locked grave. ““You were responsible for the way I landed. Yet I will apologise. I’m sorry that I couldn’t prevent the crash and the damage done.” “We were responsible!” Sam was sceptical and angry. Blon elaborated. ‘‘Our de- tectors picked up an unusual radiation from your planet. Pending our analysis of the radiation, we circled your world several times. The rays activated our motors as cosmic rays do, and we had to use maximum shielding to prevent being dragged into your grav- ity. I decided to make a low-level survey of the planet. You can guess what hap- pened. I lost eight men, my entire crew, in the crash. I was lucky not to be killed myself.”” ‘This radiation,” said Sam. “The one that made you crash—what does your ship do that neutralises the radia- Bon 77), “‘What he means,” Lena explained to the alien, “‘is that the radiation is lethal. We would like to know if your ship is responsible for the radiation-free zone around it. And, if so, can you use your other ships to clear the entire Earth?” “Was the radiation intended to destroy our ships ?”’ Lena shook her tow- coloured curls. ““To destroy ourselves,” she said con- temptuously. “‘Watch your tongue,’ Sam warned, in English. “It’s got to be the truth,” she said. “‘“Nothing else will do. Oh, I know I sneered when you said you had told the truth in your broadcast yes- terday, but this is different. I’m pleading for our only chance of survival. Any time I did wrong when I was a kid, I always found it best to go and admit the fact to my parents before they found out in their own way.” She laid the plight of terrestrial humanity before the alien. She kept back noth- ing. She told the whole story of men’s greed for profit, 148 comicloooks.com