Authentic Science Fiction Monthly No. 72 — page 76: what you’re looking at

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

THE WAY | AM He’s offering two thousand credits apiece. A trip like this needs a man of your ability and experience. I’ve never handled a Lindstrom. What do you say we take his money?’ He grinned. Per- haps he was big enough, mentally and morally, to keep things running smoothly for the full nine months. Without him I could not have landed even this kind of job, and two ' thousand credits would give me a good stake, enough to try a bit of angling in the right quarters with a view to getting my ticket back. “All right, Bushman. We'll take it,’ I said. The folds of flesh round his mouth moved again in the grimace that was meant to be a smile. “So kind of you, Molson. Now, will you be so good as to get your stinking hide out of my _ presence. Grant knows the details, and where the ship is. You blast off tomorrow morning. Sober,” he added. Two thousands credits or not, I would have dearly loved to sink my fingers into that fat neck, but Grant took me gently by the arm and steered 75 me out of the room. He seemed to be a useful person to have around, able to keep even me out of trouble. “Right, [ll see you in the morning,” I said, as we walked into the main corridor. There was a parched dryness at the back of my throat, and drink- ing is a private business with me when [I feel that way. He still had hold of my arm. “‘Are you sure you'll be all right? Is there anything you need ?”’ “Pll manage.”’ I tugged my- self free. ““What time and where do I see you?’ *‘Nine hundred hours at Lock Fourteen. She’s loaded and all ready to go.” I could see that he was reluctant to lose sight of me, worried that I might go on another bender. I'd earned myself something of a reputation during the past year. He was more than right. There was some sort of elation at getting the job, coupled with disgust at my- self for taking it, that de- manded the old liquid solu- tion. I woke up the next morning lying flat on the comicloooks.conrn