"When he comes back?"
"Why sure!" Hank stared at me amiably. "He'll be back any minute now. He done a lot better this time than the first, don't you think? Next time he'll probably get what he wants."
"And," I faltered, "and I suppose you know what that is?"
"Reckon I do," said Hank complacently. "He wants me."
I gave up trying. My brain was in a muddle, anyway.
I said, "All right, Hank. You win. Now get down to straight facts. Who is he, where did he come from, why does he want you, how do you know he does, and what is this all about?"
Hank shifted uncomfortably.
"Well, now, Jim, that's a powerful lot of questions at one lump. Dunno's I can answer 'em all—yet. Hafta talk to him first, o' course, but as near as I can figger, here's the set-up.
"That guy ain't from our time. He's from some time which ain't come yet. The future, so to speak. I don't know his name, 'cause he didn't speak very clear, but I know who he wants 'cause he said me."
Helen said dazedly, "He said—"