"Oh, there isn't much more," I said indifferently. "We plan to stay at the Redsands hotel in Marsport--American plan. Take in Marsport, with maybe a side trip to Crystallite. If we have time we might even take a waterway cruise to the North Pole...." * * * * * I broke off and dug Donley in the ribs. "Man, you never fished until you have a Martian flying fish at the end of the line!" I grabbed a ruler off the desk and began using it as an imaginary rod and reel. "Talk about fight ... oh, sorry, Mac." My ruler had amputated part of a floppy lettuce leaf that hung from McCleary's sandwich. I settled down in my chair again and started paying attention to my lunch. "Nothing like it," I added between mouthfuls of liverwurst. "How about entertainment?" Young winked slyly. "Well, you know--the wife will be along," I said. "But some of the places near the Grand Canal--and those Martian Mist Maidens! Brother, if I was unattached...." "There ain't any life on Mars," McCleary said, suspicious again. All three of us looked at him in shocked silence. "He says there's no life on Mars!" Donley repeated. "You ever been there, McCleary?" I asked sarcastically. "No, but just the same...." "All right," I cut in, "then you don't know whether there is or isn't. So kindly reserve your opinion until you know a little about the subject under discussion." * * * * * I turned back to Donley and Young. "Really a wonderful place for your health. Dry, thin air, nice and cool at night. And beautiful! From Marsport you can see low-slung mountains in the distance, dunes of soft, red sand stretching out to them. If I were you, Bob, I'd forget all about the Ozarks and sign up on the rocket." "There ain't any rockets going to Mars," McCleary said obstinately. "Isn't," I corrected. "I mean, there is. Besides, McCleary, just because you never heard of something doesn't mean it doesn't exist." "The government's still working on V-2," McCleary said flatly. "They haven't even reached the moon yet." I sighed softly, acting disgusted at having to deal with somebody as stupid as McCleary. "Mac, that's the government and besides they're dealing with military rockets. And did you ever hear of the government perfecting something before private industry? Who perfected the telephone, the radio, television? The government? No, private industry, of course! Private industry has always been ahead of the government on everything, including rockets. Get on the stick, Mac." McCleary started in on his lettuce leaf again, looking very shrewd. "How come I never heard of it before now?" he asked, springing the clincher argument.