It seemed to him that they must be awfully uncomfortable with their necks craned like that. But he knew that the producers of the show were only interested in the effect on the home viewers.
Kramvit lost count of the questions he answered, but he was now being told that he was going for $500,000. A half million dollars! That was the largest amount of money given away on the biggest quiz show on Six; here it was just the beginning.
The question consisted of sixteen parts, and he answered them without interruption until the fourteenth part. After he gave his answer to this one, the M.C. asked him to repeat it. He did, hesitantly, and saw the M.C. look nervously towards the control booth.
"I'm sorry, Mr. Kramvit, that's not the correct answer."
Kramvit felt himself being lowered towards the stage. He was helped out of the booth by the young ladies, and escorted to the M.C. No trumpets, now. The audience was silent as the M.C. thanked Kramvit, and told him how honored he was to be the first to welcome the first visitor from another planet on V.C. He also told him how sorry he was that Kramvit had lost.
Kramvit walked off stage while the audience applauded.
... "The funny thing is, I really knew the answer," Kramvit was saying to Carrowick, with a sheepish grin. "I was just so nervous. I'm not accustomed to this at all."
"Well," said Carrowick, "it's nothing to worry about. As I said, it was just a good will appearance."
They were leaving the studio, when a young man in uniform approached Kramvit.