| The Martian stood in the open field | | | | |
| surrounded by the best government artillery | | | | Unknown to them all, the green giant had a |
| pointed at his head and chest and back. | | | | special vibration-meter on his wrist and |
| | | | within a few minutes the increasingly hostile |
| The infantry troops formed a circle around | | | | emotions all around him set the alarm off, |
| him. | | | | creating a loud piercing shrill. |
| | | | |
| Up above, fighter jets waited for the word to | | | | A nervous gunman, his nerves taut, |
| launch a missile right into the corn field if | | | | accidentally pulled the trigger. |
| necessary. | | | | |
| | | | The other gunmen, confused, assuming that an |
| Unaware of the hostile force that had greeted | | | | order had been given, began firing as well. |
| him, innocent of all thoughts of death and | | | | |
| destruction, the handsome green giant, using | | | | The bullets passed through the green giant. |
| his intergalactic translator device, said: | | | | |
| | | | "Clear the field," shouted the commander. |
| "My wonderful friends: | | | | |
| | | | The soldiers raced to their vehicles. Within |
| "We have noticed your suffering on this | | | | minutes the entire field was deserted. And |
| planet and I have been sent as an emissary to | | | | the first missile struck. Then the second |
| bring you good tidings. | | | | and the third. Within a few minutes, a small |
| | | | crater had formed. |
| "You're not here to suffer. | | | | |
| | | | Watching all this on a giant television |
| "You don't have to be hungry. | | | | screen, the pictures being taken by |
| | | | satellite, the president and all his men were |
| "There is no need to cry. | | | | astonished to see that the green giant and |
| | | | his shiny vehicle appeared to be unharmed. |
| "I have come to bring you hope. | | | | |
| | | | "We'll have to go nuclear," was the last |
| "It's possible to wish for what you want. | | | | command given. |
| | | | |
| "It's possible to move beyond merely trying. | | | | Soon a huge mushroom of smoke enveloped the |
| | | | crater. |
| "You see all being everywhere are here TO | | | | |
| THRIVE." | | | | When it cleared, there was no sign of the |
| | | | alien and his craft. |
| "The president wishes to speak to you," said | | | | |
| a brusque man in army fatigues and enough | | | | Far above the chaos, another flying saucer, |
| medallions to sink a ship. He threw a | | | | monitoring the scene, the real green giant |
| walkie-talkie at the alien's feet. | | | | decided to turn his image projector off . |
| | | | The hologram image on the surface of the |
| "Hello, Mr. President. I have good news for | | | | earth disappeared. |
| you. You see, the entire Universe is onyour | | | | |
| side." | | | | While the entire country was suddenly |
| | | | celebrating their victory over beating back |
| The President, surrounded by his entire | | | | the invasion, apart from a small group of |
| cabinet, experts on UFOs, and the top-ranked | | | | malcontents that actually felt sorry for the |
| officers of the armed forces, barked: "Why | | | | alien, the jolly green giant said to his |
| are you here?" | | | | wife, "I don't think they're ready yet." |
| | | | |
| As the two spoke, the agitation around the | | | | Pushing the joystick with a sigh, she pointed |
| president increased. This was obviously a | | | | the craft out of the earth's orbit at warp |
| breach of national security. And it was | | | | speed. |
| getting worse by the minute. | | | | |