"Friend and buddy," Mike said in a whiskey-hoarse voice.
"We thought you understood, Dr. Waters," Moskov said, eyeing Mike distastefully, "that this was to be a secret conference."
M. Tourneau, who had a sensitive nose, shifted his chair slightly away from the bum.
Joe said, "I met Mike in a bar last night and he's been with me since. I like his unsophisticated point of view."
"Bar!" Sir Manly exclaimed, visibly shaken.
"Bar." Joe answered. "For the same reason I'm here now." He leaned forward.
"I happened to be looking at the moon with my girl when they blew it up." His eyes narrowed at the memory. "She started to cry, and was still at it when we got back to her apartment. That's when I went to a bar to get drunk. It's also one reason I'm here. When they take the moon away from lovers, it's the last straw!"
"Give 'em hell, kid!" Mike rasped. Joe silenced him with a wave of his hand, and Mike slouched down in his chair looking hurt.
"Mr. Conrad," Moskov said, "will you be good enough to give Dr. Waters the latest developments?"
"All right. Joe, you know what's happened this past week."