"Nick, you're the best 'bring 'em back alive' man I've got. The best."
This was very true. "You've got a job for me," I said.
"That's correct."
"So why the buildup? Tell me what you want."
"I want something that no other circus has."
"You must be kidding. You have every known animal there is. Why, the
bushmaster I brought you two months ago is the longest--"
"It isn't exactly an animal I want."
"Oh? You mean you want a performer? What the hell have I got to do--"
"What I want is out of this world."
"A different kind of act? I still say--"
"I want a Martian."
I was glad I didn't have a mirror in front of my face. I could imagine
how foolish I looked with my mouth hanging open.
"I even have a name picked out for him," Marsten persisted. "Marty, the
Martian. What do you think of that?"