'You know,' said the senator, 'I was going to make a speech.'
The two old soldiers stared at him in disbelief.
'It's a fact,' the senator told them, 'but I can't with this eye. And will I catch hell for not making that speech! That's what I get for sneaking out with my camera.'
'Maybe we can help you out,' suggested Gramp. 'Maybe we could square things for you.'
'Maybe we could,' squeaked the Martian.
'Listen, boys,' said the senator, 'if I were to go out in a ship for a tour of the surface and if the ship broke down and I couldn't get back in time to make my speech, nobody would blame me for that, would they?'
'You're dang right they wouldn't,' said Gramp.
'How about the eye?' asked Jurg Tec.
'Shucks,' said Gramp, 'we could say he run into somethin'.'
'Would you boys like to come along with me?' asked the senator.