Ulkay stared at Lloyd a long moment. Then the nozzle asked, "What trip?"
"To your city," said Lloyd. "To your planet."
Ulkay frowned, then fiddled a moment with a dial on the side of the machine. The nozzle spoke slowly this time. "Repeat your response. It was not a sensible."
"We came here. To Mars. To find you." Lloyd said it carefully and distinctly, feeling very uneasy.
"But this is Earth," said the nozzle loudly.
"To you it is Earth," said Lloyd, with a tolerant smile. "I think we're having a semantic problem, Ulkay. Each planet's self-name would translate as 'Earth.' This machine cannot make the proper distinction."
"No, no, no!" came the nozzle's voice. "You say your planet is called 'Earth'. Why do you now call it 'Mars'?"
"We don't," said Lloyd, bewildered. "We call this planet Mars. Our planet is called Earth—"
"Sir!" Kroner grasped his arm tightly. "Wait a minute! I think I get it!... Ulkay! Is this your planet?"