"I don't quite see how...." His voice was weary, and he let the sentence hang short of blunt refusal. "Tonight, Bud. We've got to see you tonight. He's flying in." "Well ..." he sighed resignedly. "My place, then. I'll see you at, nine o'clock there." "That will be fine." "Nine, then. I've got to rush. My place at nine." "Goodby, Bud." * * * * * Less than an hour later flash bulbs popped from all corners of the room as the starmen entered for their second session of questioning. Chairman Stilson, in a peevishly thin voice, limited the photographers to ten minutes and ruled against pictures during the questioning. After nearly half an hour, the hearing got under way. Herb was first on the stand. He continued in the same fashion as yesterday. His answers were polite and informative. Senator Stilson's attempt to get him to contradict himself proved unfruitful. Herb surrendered the chair to one of the others and returned to his seat at the long table reserved for the starmen. The hearing droned on. He no longer listened. He wanted to sleep. "Yes," said the starman who was testifying, "that is correct. One of our main reasons for making this expedition is to offer you technological information: space flight, medicine...." "... eventually trade...." "Initiate a cultural exchange at the first practical moment...." Herb heard someone say: "But we have limited facilities on this expedition. A larger one, with your permission, will be dispatched for Earth within a year." He was not even sure whether it was he who was speaking. "In the meantime, we would like permission to conduct certain scientific tests on the surface.... A mineral analysis, sir, primarily. But we are interested in geological evidence...." "... whether or not," someone said, "the physical similarity of our two races is due to parallel evolution or to a forgotten, prehistoric cycle of colonization by a common ancestor...." "... These tests can be completed within a few days...." "In return, sir, we offer...." "... We must leave within a week. We must have an answer before then." They described their own planet and their own civilization. They made an excellent impression. When it was Bud's turn to question, he asked Herb: "How do we know--here, you've learned the language, so much about us and all--how do we know that this isn't a fabrication, a tissue of prevarications you're telling the American people here today? We have to take everything on faith. Now, you know so much about us, you have studied us...." "We have only a week ..." Herb replied. * * * * * They were waiting for Bud at nine o'clock. He was late. "I'm sorry," Bud said. "Came as quickly as I could. I was at a secret session.... But for a brother and sister, well, I just had to leave...." "We appreciate it, Bud," Norma said. "Drink, anybody?" "No, thanks," Frank said. Norma shook her head.