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           CaptainvanTromptellingofhisexperiences-afteranight’srestofcourse,Captain."

           Theministershookhishead.

           "Nogood,Jock?"

           "ThepublicexpectedtheexpeditiontobringbackatleastonerealliveMartianforthemtogawkat.Sincetheydidn’t,weneedSmithandneedhimbadly."

           "’LiveMartians?’"SecretaryGeneralDouglasturnedtoCaptainvanTromp."YouhavemoviesofMartians,haven’tyou?"

           "Thousandsoffeet."

           "There’syouranswer,Jock.Whenthelivestuffgetsthin,trotonthemoviesofMartians.Thepeoplewillloveit.Now,Captain,aboutthispossibilityofextraterritoriality:yousaytheMartianswerenotopposedtoit?"

           "Well,no,sir-buttheywerenotforit,either."

           "Idon’tfollowyou?"

           CaptainvanTrompchewedhislip."Sir,Idon’tknowjusthowtoexplainit.TalkingwithaMartianissomethingliketalkingwithanecho.Youdon’tgetanyargumentbutyoudon’tgetresultseither."

           "Semanticdifficulty?Perhapsyoushouldhavebroughtwhat’s-his-name,yoursemantician,withyoutoday.Orishewaitingoutside?"

           "Mahmoud,sir.No,DoctorMahmoudisnotwell.A-aslightnervousbreakdown,sir."VanTrompreflectedthatbeingdeaddrunkwasthemoralequivalentthereof.

           "Spacehappy?"

           "Alittle,perhaps."Thesedamnedgroundhogs!

           "Well,fetchhimaroundwhenhe’sfeelinghimself.youngmanSmithshouldbeofhelpasaninterpreter."

           "Perhaps,"vanTrompsaiddoubtfully.

           ThisyoungmanSmithwasbusyatthatmomentjuststayingalive.