| The Martian stood in the open field surrounded by the | | | | vibration-meter on his wrist and within a few minutes |
| best government artillery pointed at his head and chest | | | | the increasingly hostile emotions all around him set the |
| and back. | | | | alarm off, creating a loud piercing shrill. |
| The infantry troops formed a circle around him. | | | | A nervous gunman, his nerves taut, accidentally pulled |
| Up above, fighter jets waited for the word to launch a | | | | the trigger. |
| missile right into the corn field if necessary. | | | | The other gunmen, confused, assuming that an order |
| Unaware of the hostile force that had greeted him, | | | | had been given, began firing as well. |
| innocent of all thoughts of death and destruction, the | | | | The bullets passed through the green giant. |
| handsome green giant, using his intergalactic translator | | | | "Clear the field," shouted the commander. |
| device, said: | | | | The soldiers raced to their vehicles. Within minutes the |
| "My wonderful friends: | | | | entire field was deserted. And the first missile struck. |
| "We have noticed your suffering on this planet and I | | | | Then the second and the third. Within a few minutes, a |
| have been sent as an emissary to bring you good | | | | small crater had formed. |
| tidings. | | | | Watching all this on a giant television screen, the |
| "You're not here to suffer. | | | | pictures being taken by satellite, the president and all |
| "You don't have to be hungry. | | | | his men were astonished to see that the green giant |
| "There is no need to cry. | | | | and his shiny vehicle appeared to be unharmed. |
| "I have come to bring you hope. | | | | "We'll have to go nuclear," was the last command |
| "It's possible to wish for what you want. | | | | given. |
| "It's possible to move beyond merely trying. | | | | Soon a huge mushroom of smoke enveloped the |
| "You see all being everywhere are here TO THRIVE." | | | | crater. |
| "The president wishes to speak to you," said a | | | | When it cleared, there was no sign of the alien and his |
| brusque man in army fatigues and enough medallions | | | | craft. |
| to sink a ship. He threw a walkie-talkie at the alien's | | | | Far above the chaos, another flying saucer, monitoring |
| feet. | | | | the scene, the real green giant decided to turn his |
| "Hello, Mr. President. I have good news for you. You | | | | image projector off . The hologram image on the |
| see, the entire Universe is onyour side." | | | | surface of the earth disappeared. |
| The President, surrounded by his entire cabinet, | | | | While the entire country was suddenly celebrating their |
| experts on UFOs, and the top-ranked officers of the | | | | victory over beating back the invasion, apart from a |
| armed forces, barked: "Why are you here?" | | | | small group of malcontents that actually felt sorry for |
| As the two spoke, the agitation around the president | | | | the alien, the jolly green giant said to his wife, "I don't |
| increased. This was obviously a breach of national | | | | think they're ready yet." |
| security. And it was getting worse by the minute. | | | | Pushing the joystick with a sigh, she pointed the craft |
| Unknown to them all, the green giant had a special | | | | out of the earth's orbit at warp speed. |