August 1999: The Earth Men

           Whoeverwasknockingatthedoordidn’twanttostop.Mrs.Tttthrewthedooropen."Well?"

           "YouspeakEnglish!"Themanstandingtherewasastounded.

           "IspeakwhatIspeak,"shesaid.

           "It’swonderfulEnglish!"Themanwasinuniform.Therewerethreemenwithhim,inagreathurry,allsmiling,alldirty.

           "Whatdoyouwant?"demandedMrs.Ttt.

           "YouareaMartian!"Themansmiled."Thewordisnotfamiliartoyou,certainly.It’sanEarthexpression."Henoddedathisthen."WearefromEarth.I’mCaptainWilliams.We’velandedonMarswithinthehour.Hereweare,theSecondExpedition!TherewasaFirstExpedition,butwedon’tknowwhathappenedtoit.Buthereweare,anyway.AndyouarethefirstMartianwe’vemet!"

           "Martian?"Hereyebrowswentup.

           "WhatImeantosayis,youliveonthefourthplanetfromthesun.Correct?"

           "Elementary,"shesnapped,eyeingthem.

           "Andwe"—hepressedhischubbypinkhandtohischest—"wearefromEarth.Right,men?"

           "Right,sir!"Achorus.

           "ThisistheplanetTyrr,"shesaid,"ifyouwanttousethepropername."

           "Tyrr,Tyrr."Thecaptainlaughedexhaustedly."Whatafinename!But,mygoodwoman,howisityouspeaksuchperfectEnglish?"

           "I’mnotspeaking,I’mthinking,"shesaid."Telepathy!Goodday!"Andsheslammedthedoor.

           Amomentlatertherewasthatdreadfulmanknockingagain.

           Shewhippedthedooropen."Whatnow?"shewondered.

           Themanwasstillthere,tryingtosmile,lookingbewildered.Heputouthishands.