Very fortunately, the fire department was still observing my client—and me, I suspected afterwards, ridiculous as that may seem.
This time it took them several hours of deep spraying and drilling to confine the area. A vast saucer of aluminum remained.
"Useful for signalling to stars, oh, yus?" asked Lood, hopefully.
"Oh, no," I said.
A threatening cough made me turn round to see the three Commissioners staring at me.
"Mr. Jones...."
"... you have now destroyed the Courthouse, the Public Library and five city blocks...."
"... and buried them under a filthy layer of dust...."
"and reduced a park into a great garbage pit...."
"... we therefore refuse your claim and give you and your client six hours to get off Earth...."