"I'm beginning to think you're more advanced than you're letting on."
"In many matters, Mr. Barnes you're still an outsider. Security, you must understand. Especially now. You've done the earth a great service but I'm still under orders. There are many things I can't let you in on. If you were a soldier, you'd readily understand. So a certain wall, not too high, though, must always remain between us."
"I'm not a soldier, true, but I do understand."
"You may be interested to know that the ship will be landing within the week."
"Really? I guess I'd better stay out of the way."
"Oh, you'll be on hand. In case something goes wrong and a new line must be written into the script fast. There must be no blunders. If there are then we must cover up. So you'll be close by, ready to write, ready to coach."
"I wonder what they'll look like."
"You'll be finding out soon enough."
In order to avert panic, the world was alerted to the coming of the Martians four days before the strange arrival.