Authentic Science Fiction Monthly, No. 67 — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

THE LONG JOURNEY **Admittedly, they could be decadent, but there is no reason to suppose that they have just vanished. That world is still capable of supporting life.” “Our life,’ said Thorne dryly. ““Theirs ?”’ “Why not? They could have adapted, couldn’t they ?”’ “So could the dinosaurs— but they didn’t.” “Dinosaurs didn’t build,” snapped Leman peevishly. “These people did, and any- one with intelligence to build like that could have moulded their environment to suit themselves.” “Perhaps.” Stanley sounded very patient. ““We still aren’t certain that these markings are signs of artificial structures or that there ever was an intelligent race here. As scien- tists, you should know better than to argue on the basis of unsubstantiated assumptions.”’ He hesitated. ““Anyway, we’re not equipped for a proper investigation. Later expedi- tions can bring excavating machines, labour, experts...” “We're landing,” inter- rupted Leman, and the way he said it made it a statement and not a question. “We're not landing,” Thorne flatly. Stanley sighed. It was an old problem renewed each time they sur- veyed a new world. Instinct and emotion said to land, to see and touch and feel. To breathe fresh air instead of tasteless gases, to walk on solid ground, to feel real dirt and to smell the scent of growing things. Logic said to orbit, to stay above the atmosphere; to remain sterile and safe from any contamina- tion. Cold reason said the same, but whenever has cold reason been stronger than emotion? “If we land,” said Stanley slowly, “‘we’ll be taking a risk. You know that we can’t safeguard ourselves properly, and if there’s a disease down there we’re going to get it.” He paused. “On the other hand we’re going to be in six- month quarantine on the journey back to Earth.” He looked at them. “I leave it to you. It’s your necks you’re said 77 comiclooks.cormn