"I see no reason why it should be disputed."
"What purpose would Maynard have in lying?"
"It is truthful enough for me."
"I'm in accord."
"Let's drop this foolishness," said Kane, the publisher. "What is far more important is the public explanation for Maynard's absence."
"Our friend of the Fourth Estate is correct," said Mantley. "The log is accepted, and will be maintained in the archives under secret classification." He smiled at Maynard. "Now, young man, you force us into developing a year-long cock-and-bull story for the public."
"Sir? I don't understand."
"If you breathe a word of that story to anyone else, you'll be the direct reason for an Interplanetary War—with capital letters."
"But—"