UFO

'An alien spacecraft has been seen landing in a field near Wimbledon'.

The newscaster pulled no punches. This must be a first. And there were pictures. The camera zoomed in on the flying saucer-like craft. Where were our interstellar policemen? There had been no warning; nothing to suggest such an extraterrestrial visit.

As viewers in England were glued to their television sets, panic was flaring in the government. Who should approach the craft; what should be done? A special contingent must be formed, possibly headed by the Prime Minister himself. This was no hoax; it was very real. Suddenly the lights stopped flashing on the craft and a door slid open. Someone was about to appear.

A human-looking person (after all, what else could come from stars?) emerged. He was dressed in a green and yellow suit. The man must be arrested, surely. Who was he; what was his intention? Where had he come from? He stood on the bridge of the craft, his hand raised in salute. He seemed to be friendly.

The group of spectators that had gathered in front of the craft were in hushed silence. A reverential calm settled on the crowd. The man from outer space then seemed to speak, but, not surprisingly, no one could understand the language. He would have to be taken away for interviews, see psychologists, members of the government. It must be found out where he had come from.

This was surely the news story of the millenium, possibly of all time. There were worlds out there that we here on earth did not even know about.

Billionaire Bill Travers sucked hard on a big fat cigar.

"It's going well, isn't it?"

"Yes," said his financial adviser, "it couldn't be better."

"How much do you think we'll make from exclusive coverage?"

"Oh, millions, there is no doubt about it."

"And do you think they'll ever discover the 'spaceman' is Joe Dodds from off the building site, speaking gobbledegook and acting a very good part?"

"By that time we'll have the money. They will believe it, because they want to believe it, until Joe makes a mistake. This story is so big."

Joe Dodds, lapping up all the attention, was having the time of his life. He had even convinced himself he was Vitar, a Zoygan from Zoyga !