第3部分(第2/7 頁)

s　country　has　absolutely　no　preparedness　in　the　event　of　an　alien　invasion。　Absolutely　no　preparedness　whatever。〃

Because　the　lawyer　was　young；　and　because　he　stared　down　at　his　sock　as　he　spoke；　Norman　at　first　thought　he　was　embarrassed　at　having　been　sent　on　a　fool's　errand。　But　when　the　young　man　looked　up；　Norman　saw　to　his　astonishment　that　he　was　utterly　serious。

〃We　could　really　be　caught　with　our　pants　down　on　this　one；〃　the　lawyer　said。　〃An　alien　invasion。〃

Norman　had　to　bite　his　lip。　〃That's　probably　true；〃　he　said。

〃People　in　the　Administration　are　worried。〃

〃Are　they？〃

〃There　is　the　feeling　at　the　highest　levels　that　contingency　plans　should　be　drawn。〃

＇＇15＇＇　〃You　mean　contingency　plans　in　the　event　of　an　alien　invasion。　。。。〃　Norman　somehow　managed　to　keep　a　straight　face。

〃Perhaps；〃　said　the　lawyer；　〃perhaps　invasion　is　too　strong　a　word。　Let's　soften　that　to　say　'contact'：　alien　contact。〃

〃I　see。〃

〃You're　already　involved　in　civilian　crash…site　teams；　Dr。　Johnson。　You　know　how　these　emergency　groups　function。　We　want　your　input　concerning　the　optimal　position　of　a　crash…site　team　to　confront　an　alien　invader。〃

〃I　see；〃　Norman　said；　wondering　how　he　could　tactfully　get　out　of　this。　The　idea　was　clearly　ludicrous。　He　could　see　it　only　as　displacement：　the　Administration；　faced　with　immense　problems　it　could　not　solve；　had　decided　to　think　about　something　else。

And　then　the　lawyer　coughed；　proposed　a　study；　and　named　a　substantial　figure　for　a　two…year　research　grant。　Norman　saw　a　chance　to　buy　his　house。　He　said　yes。　〃I'm　glad　you　agree　the　problem　is　a　real　one。〃

〃Oh　yes；〃　Norman　said；　wondering　how　old　this　lawyer　was。　He　guessed　about　twenty…five。

〃We'll　jus