"That will be fine."
"Nine, then. I've got to rush. My place at nine."
"Goodby, Bud."
Less than an hour later flash bulbs popped from all corners of the room as the starmen entered for their second session of questioning.
Chairman Stilson, in a peevishly thin voice, limited the photographers to ten minutes and ruled against pictures during the questioning. After nearly half an hour, the hearing got under way.
Herb was first on the stand. He continued in the same fashion as yesterday. His answers were polite and informative. Senator Stilson's attempt to get him to contradict himself proved unfruitful. Herb surrendered the chair to one of the others and returned to his seat at the long table reserved for the starmen.
The hearing droned on. He no longer listened. He wanted to sleep.
"Yes," said the starman who was testifying, "that is correct. One of our main reasons for making this expedition is to offer you technological information: space flight, medicine...."
"... eventually trade...."