Yay!
Yow!
Whoopee!”
They winked tremendously at each other. They flung up their hands to clap the air.
“Hey!”
“Hooray!” said the crowd.
They set the Earth Men on a table.
The shouting died.
The captain almost broke into tears.
“Thank you.
It’s good, it’s good.”
“Tell us about yourselves,” suggested Mr. Uuu.
The captain cleared his throat.
The audience ohed and ahed as the captain talked.
He introduced his crew; each made a small speech and was embarrassed by the thunderous applause.
Mr. Uuu dapped the captain’s shoulder,
“It’s good to see another man from Earth.
I am from Earth also.”
“How was that again?”
“There are many of us here from Earth.”
“You?
From Earth?”
The captain stared.
“But is that possible?
Did you come by rocket?
Has space travel been going on for centuries?”
His voice was disappointed.
“What — what country are you from?”
“Tuiereol.
I came by the spirit of my body, years ago.”
“Tuiereol.”
The captain mouthed the word.
“I don’t know that country.
What’s this about spirit of body?”
“And Miss Rrr over here, she’s from Earth, too, aren’t you, Miss Rrr?”
Miss Rrr nodded and laughed strangely.
“And so is Mr. Www and Mr. Qqq and Mr. Vvv!”
“I’m from Jupiter,” declared one man, preening himself.
“I’m from Saturn,” said another, eyes glinting slyly.
“Jupiter, Saturn,” murmured the captain, blinking.
It was very quiet now; the people stood around and sat at the tables which were strangely empty for banquet tables.
Their yellow eyes were glowing, and there were dark shadows under their cheekbones.
The captain noticed for the first time that there were no windows; the light seemed to permeate the walls.
There was only one door.
The captain winced.
“This is confusing.
Where on Earth is this Tuiereol?
Is it near America?”
“What is America?”
“You never heard of America!