Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 72 — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

a AUTHENTIC SCIENCE FICTION interested. ‘“‘Let me see if I have this right. You set down enough people and equipment to start a settlement and then leave them to it. Right?” *“‘That’s about it.” “How about communica- tion?” “Ships call at regular inter- vals,’ said Mark. ““They carry mail, tools, needed supplies, fuel for the atomic piles, things like that.’’ He leaned forward across the desk. “Don’t think that we just take you, dump you on a planet and then forget you. It isn’t like that at all.” “I'd heard differently,” said Sam. “Rumours,” said Mark quickly. ‘“‘Discount them.” ‘“About the living con- ditions,” said Julia. “I sup- pose that we'll have prefabs and the usual utilities? Run- ning water, electric light, video, things like that?” *““Eventually, yes.” “Why eventually?’ Sam stared hard at Mark. “If you want people to colonize these worlds for you, then the least you can do is give them a decent standard of living.” 10 ““Mr. Conway,” said Mark tensely. “Just what do you think a colony is? Do you think it a place like a small town? Or a village? Or even a small nation? Surely you read the folders and other explanatory matter?” *“Naturally.”” Sam dismissed the question with a shrug. “But, seriously, do you expect men and women to live like animals ?” “Certainly not.” “‘Then the utilities are essen- tial.’ Righteous indignation entered his voice. ““Personally, I wouldn’t dream of taking Julia to a place without them. How would she fill in her time without video? What would there be to do after the chores were done ?”’ ““Mark!”’ Susan had seen the mounting storm signals on his face. “‘Shall I finish this?” Mark hesitated, his hand halfway towards the rejection stamp, then shrugged. Susan took over before he could do more damage. Five hundred feet above the city, Frank Durward stood comiclooks.corn