Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 67 — page 114: what you’re looking at

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

THE EARTH NEVER SETS back pay if the man swopped places with him on the Leave Roster. Money was of little importance to Chambers at this moment, his mind ob- sessed with the desire to get back to Earth at any price. And Wilson—the little spring that made him tick used greed as its motive power. The extra six months’ wait meant nothing to him, if there was a bigger and better debauch at the end of it. Chambers entered towards the end of this recital. His pale face was oily with sweat and his movements jerky. The Old Man looked at him. ‘“Well, Chambers, what have you to add to this piece of snivelling conspiracy ?”’ “T’ve got to get back, sir!” Chambers’ voice was like the sound of a dry-running bear- ing near the point of dis- integration. “You are under my orders here, remember that,’’ said the Old Man. “‘No man with an ounce of respect for dis- cipline would contemplate such a transaction as this. The Leave Roster stands as it was drawn up, and there will be no alteration under any circumstances, understand?” Chambers moved forward, placing his hands on the Old 113 Man’s desk, pleading. ““You’ve got to listen to me, sir. These last three years have done something to me; there are things happening inside my mind, frightening things. If you make me stay here any longer I shall go mad, I know it.” The Old Man rose to his feet. He had no time for weaklings. “Get out of my sight, you self-pitying coward. Do you imagine that you are the only one who wants to go back to Earth?” Chambers was still for a moment, then his head drooped on his chest, beaten down by the ice-blue rage in the Old Man’s eyes. He turned and walked out of the room, followed by Wilson. As the door closed behind them the Old Man turned and looked across at me. His face was drawn and haggard. “I expect you think I’m a hard- hearted swine,”’ he said quietly. I made myself busy with the ventilator. What sort of an answer could an engineer’s lieutenant make to such a question ? “Do you think it was easy for me to make out that Leave Roster ?’’ he continued. “I’ve a wife and kids waiting for me at home. It would have comiclooks.com