Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 67 — page 75: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION closer. “Do we orbit and photograph, or land and ex- plore? How much time have we got, Cap?” ““Not too much. We had a long trip out and we’ve got just as long a trip back. If we want to keep eating we'll have to watch the stores.’’ Stanley pushed away the data sheets and relaxed in his chair. “‘As against that we’ve only the one planet to look at. What co you suggest, Thorne?’ “Orbit,” said the doctor quickly. ‘““Normal procedure. We can take our time and use the scanners to get really good pictures. We can even send down trace-bombs so as to get accurate spectrographs of the air and soil. There’s no real need for us to land at all.” “T don’t agree with that,” said Klien impatiently. “Hell, what have we got to be afraid of? With the emergency arms we could beat off any attack. If there’s intelligent life down there we want to know about it, and if there isn’t then why stay up here, anyway ?”’ *“Let us remind you that this is an exploratory vessel,” said Stanley quietly. “Our job is to find Earth-type panets suitable for later colonisation. We do not have to land to do that. As long as a world has breathable air, drinkable water, a_ livable climate and a bearable gravity, then we can mark it down as suitable. That’s all we’re sup- posed to do. You know why that is.”’ “That old bogey?’ Leman didn’t sneer, but it sounded as though he wanted to. “I thought that one had been written off long ago. But never mind that, what about us? We’ve been cooped up in this tin can for six months now and itll be at least as long before we get back. Id like the chance to stretch my legs for a change.” He looked hopefully at the captain. ““We can take precautions, sure, but we’re not children. We know what we’re doing.”’ *“Hemridge ?”’ “I agree with Leman,” said the astrogator. “I’d like to land, too.”’ “They’re crazy,” said the doctor furiously. “‘Damn it, Stanley, they know as well as I do why we shouldn’t land. 74 comicloooks.com