He asked Johnson to get a description of the place where Harris found himself. The answer was, in a fashion, conclusive.
"Like any other part of the sea bottom," reported Johnson. "And, furthermore, he's tired of thinking and wants to rest."
"Who does?" demanded Smith.
"They won't tell me," said Johnson, sadly.
Smith choked off a curse, noticing Simonetta standing there. He combed his hair furiously with both hands. No one suggested any other questions, so he thanked Johnson and told Joe to break off.
"At least, we know it's all real," he sighed. "He was actually taken, and he's still alive."
"You put a lot of faith in a couple of fish," said Lydman.
Smith hesitated.
"Well ... now ... they aren't really fish," he said. "Let's not build up a mental misconception, just because we've been kidding about 'swishy the thinking fishy.' Actually, they probably wouldn't even suggest fish to an ichthyologist, and they may be a pretty high form of life."
"They may be as high as this Harris," commented Parrish, and earned a cold stare from Lydman.