Braun looked up from a small flower which he'd found. "I challenge that statement, Commander," he said. "Life could exist here today. Perhaps the life that is here just doesn't know how to keep house very well, and let the work of its ancestors go to ruin." "Well, then, let's investigate," Boone ordered. He led the way into the nearest structure, a gnarled hand falling close to the automatic which hung at his side. But there was nothing in the building save the rubble of a dead civilization and rusted machines which once must have given life and meaning to Mars. They left and went on to the second building. Here they found life. Life was in a back room that had one small window to admit light. Nance entered. The light was so dim that he did not see it at first. He saw it when it moved, slowly, clumsily in a far corner, as if awaking from a long sleep. Nance quickly shone his flashlight over the room and onto the life. "Commander Boone, Braun, come here," he shouted. The other two men were at his side almost instantly. Nance directed his beam of light to the face of the creature in the corner. The creature looked remarkably like a man. He had huge jowls and long overlapping ears, and was somewhat fat. He blinked tiny eyes at the light for a moment and finally managed to get a look at his visitors. In English, he growled, "So you've come at last." The flash quivered in Nance's hand. He remembered his first trip into the pyramids, and suddenly he knew how he would have felt if King Tut's mummy had spoken to him--in English. Boone's voice quavered. "It speaks English. That's not possible." It was gruff, drawling English, sometimes not plain, but it was English. And it kept coming. "I've waited so long," the creature said. He lifted an arm in welcome. Nance noted the fingers were joined together. "I've waited and paid with each moment for an error my ancestors made." He moved his shaggy head and surveyed the crumbled room. "Now my abode is not fit to receive guests," he rumbled. "Who.... What are you?" Commander Boone managed, making a gallant effort to sound authoritative. Braun suddenly laughed. "He looks like a comic strip St. Bernard," he roared, and then laughed some more at the thought. Boone glared at him, obviously not sharing his mirth. The creature laughed also. He leaned his head back and laughed uproariously. "My name is Staang," he said. "I am a Martian ... naturally ... in your language. And I am something more than a Martian in your language." A new wave of laughter shook the creature. "Are there any more here like you?" Commander Boone demanded. "A few, just a few," Staang said. "But won't you sit down. There's not much to offer you in the way of comfort, but the floor will do. There must be things you'd like to ask me."