"I'll hop right over."

He hung up and I sighed. I built myself a solid drink and got comfortable.

He showed up twenty minutes later. He was thinner, more nervous than before.

He flopped on a divan. "You wouldn't believe it," he said.

"Believe what?"

"I want to do a picture. A science picture about a trip to Mars."

"It's been done. And more than once."

"With real Martians?"

I blinked. "I'll get you a drink."

"No. I want a clear head. Hear me out. I've met them."