The operator took time out, in spite of the supervisor's admonishments, to listen frankly.
"They've lost sight of the E," the operator exclaimed. "No, wait a minute. There he is, down in the valley, coming out from behind a bush to talk to the pilot and the head man of the colony."
"Can't have happened like that," the supervisor grumbled. "Ten or twelve miles from that mountain top to the valley. The ship has garbled their reporting. Probably got behind in reporting and then just decided to skip the journey back, and pick up to make it current. There's going to be complaints about this."
"Well, you were right here," the operator said. "You were listening. I didn't skip anything. It wasn't my fault."
"All right, all right."
"Wait a minute," the operator said. "Here, listen in."
The supervisor's eyes grew round.
"Can't be," he exclaimed.
"All the buildings, everything's just like it was before," the operator said loudly to the room at large. "All of a sudden, the way they report it."
"They're faking the reports," the supervisor grumbled irritably. "Have to be."