Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 72 — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

THE GIVE-AWAY WORLDS “If you want that thing shifted, then do it yourself.” Frank pushed past the man, headed towards the building, then halted as two things happened at once. The man grabbed at his arm and the buzzer sounded for resump- tion of work. In such cir- cumstances there was only one thing left to give satisfac- tion. The smack of Frank’s fist as it met the jaw of the man who had cost him his job echoed over the entire re- stricted area. Mark had often thought that, in an earlier age, Com- mander Jelks would have made a good buccaneer. He had the bluff, outward manner, the big red face and shrewd eyes. He also had a shrewd respect for his own welfare and wouldn’t hesitate to throw anyone to the sharks if it would serve his purpose. Pri- marily he was a politician and was in command of ColTerm only through influence and the accident of having once attended the Space Academy at White Sands. Captain Mur- bash, on the other hand, was 17 just what he appeared to be, the modern equivalent of a sailor. He had the same calm- ness, the same long-view ex- pression in his eyes, the same talent for weathering storms. From Jelks’ expression Mark guessed that the recent storm must have been pretty hectic. He glanced round the office, saw that, aside from the two men, it was empty, and closed the door. “The Senator gone?” “Left an hour ago.” Jelks took a cigar from a box on his desk, tore off the end with his teeth, lit it and glowered through a billowing cloud of smoke. “‘He wasn’t happy, Mark. He wasn’t a bit happy.” ‘‘About the project ?”” Mark took a chair, lit one of his own cigarettes and waited for the commander to speak. “What else?’ Jelks took the cigar from his mouth, examined the glowing end, held it an inch from his. mouth. It was a familiar gesture, a typical politician’s trick designed to divert atten- tion from the face of the man speaking. “Congress isn’t comicloooks.com