Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 67 — page 77: what you’re looking at

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

AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION *‘ Perhaps,”’ admitted Stanley cautiously, ““but we can’t be certain.”’ He gestured for the others to clear the floor and began setting out the prints. *““These were taken over the north polar area. Using infra- red film we discovered mark- ings unnoticed with the normal film, and it does seem that certain markings are due more to artificial construction than to natural means.” He selected more photographs. ““These are enlargements of the same area. Notice the roughly circular patch of what appears to be an artificial structure.’ His fin- gers tapped the glossy surface of the print. ““And see? Those radiating lines fading towards the circumference of the globe. In a way, the markings are similar to those found on Mars, the canali.” He shrugged. ““Those were found to be natural fissures caused by the contraction of the upper crust.” : “Those aren’t natural,” stated Klien positively, and now, he was all scientist. ““They aren’t open fissures, there’s no erosion, and there doesn’t seem to be the slightest deviation from the straight 76 line.”” He stared at the prints. *“They remind me of tunnels,” he said slowly. “Subterranean tunnels, originally buried deep beneath the surface and now partly exposed. There must be a_ temperature-difference for them to have shown so clearly-on the infra-red.” “But the size,” protested Hemridge. “‘Don’t forget the scale of those photographs. Who would build tunnels so big?” “And that building,’ mur- mured Klien. “‘It’s titanic!” ““Any race which could build that big must be far in advance of our own.” Leman seemed shaken by the discovery. ““This thing is big! I wonder what else they built ?”’ “The planet is old,” re- minded Klien. “‘Not as old as Mars, but far older than Earth. It is logical to suppose that a civilisation could have risen,. built, then vanished. We have an analogy in the Pyramids of Egypt and Mexico.”’ He stared thought- fully at the photographs. “‘I wonder what happened to them ?” “Why assume that they aren’t still there ?”’ said Leman. comiclooks.com