Carefully, laboriously, he described the space ship. With the pencil he sketched diagram after diagram, while the pale young man helped him and labeled them as he directed. The young man was becoming visibly excited. When the Martian had finished, he burst out: "By god, it would--it _would_ do it!... Look--" "Shut up!" said Blumberg. The perspiration was standing out in large beads on his forehead. "Fellow," he said heavily, "if you're lying, you've got one hell of an imagination!" "You not have space travellers?" asked the Martian tensely. "No.... Just ships that travel in air," answered the pale young man. He heard the other's painful catch of breath, and continued quickly: "But with these diagrams it would be easy to--" "Shut up, Edgar.... Shut up--an' get outta here!" barked the big man. The other turned, and left the room without a word. "Now, look here, fellow," said Blumberg, "I'm goin' to take your word for it. I'm probably crazy to believe you; but I've seen most of the funny critters of this world in my time, an' I ain't ever seen one like you. So you may come from Mars, for all I know." The other looked at him eagerly, trying to understand his words. "You think I am man of Lo--of Mars?" "Yes--that's right." The Martian quivered with excitement. He held out his arms in a gesture of appeal. "You help me?..." "Yes." "You help me go to Mars?" Blumberg looked down at the desktop, and was silent. "Yes. I'll help you," said Blumberg suddenly. He stood up, and patted the other softly on the head.... "Sure ... you bet!" * * * * * The Martian lay upon his back on a leather couch in a small room where they had taken him. His eyes were wide and shining. His hands clenched and opened convulsively. It seemed to him that he had been waiting for days. The door opened, and Blumberg entered, followed by a smaller man. As the Martian struggled to his knees to greet him, he spoke heartily. "Hello there! Think I wasn't comin'? No use being in too much of a hurry, y'know.... Meet Dr. Smith. He's a scientist like you...." The Martian nodded and smiled at them happily. Dr. Smith looked at him long and curiously, meanwhile automatically seating himself in a chair close to the couch. Blumberg, who was pacing the room, cleared his throat. "Now, look here," he said, "I'm willing to help you, but you've got to help me do it ...--" The Martian understood him immediately. "Yes!" he replied quickly. "Yes." "Good!... Now, Dr. Smith is going to ask you questions about things we need to know. You tell him all you can." "Yes ... I tell him!" Dr. Smith had many questions to ask, on many and diverse subjects. At first, communication between the two was very difficult; but both were highly intelligent and understanding men, and before long they became fairly successful in exchanging ideas. Blumberg paced constantly about the room. Occasionally he went out, but always returned quickly.