Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 66 — page 17: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION “You see,” Jorgen, the mayor, said, ““Mizrab IV has a four-season year, all right, only they last about one month Earth-time. That means we can grow tremendous amounts of food, which is of a high quality, although some critics call it coarse, which I assure you, gentlemen, is a_ downright lie and a slander on our planet. We can de- hydrate and concentrate the food and ship it to various planets who have a food problem. We plant the seeds in the autumn, let them lie all winter and then start harvesting in early summer. It’s a nice set-up.” His fat face clouded. ““Or was, until this damned weed sprang up.” “‘Have you any specimens of the weed you can show us?” Vaun asked. “What? Of course not! We burn every single bit of the muck we lay hands on.” Jorgen quivered at the thought. “ButI canshow you films——”’ “Okay. We’ve seen tri-dis of the stuff. Right you are, Mister Jorgen. Thank you 16 for being so helpful. We'll contact you later on.” “Very well, then,” Jorgen said, uncertainly. He was obviously surprised at Vaun and Calshot’s abruptness. But then, he had had no dealings with them before. Back aboard their ship, they poured a glass of beer for Calshot and’ an orange squash for Vaun. “Well, what do you make of. it?’ Vaun asked. “We ought to go home. These people plant seeds, leave them through the winter, then when they come to har- vest them next summer, find a mysterious blue-flowered weed all mixed up with the crop. There’s no method of getting the seeds into the ground by natural disemination, because they’re all destroyed by the previous agencies. But the weeds still grow.” ‘““What about a spaceship, sweeping low and sowing seeds broadcast?’ ‘“No one has ever seen or heard a ship doing that. They thought of the idea and set watches. Think again.” comiclooks.corn