Pictures Dont Lie

Countdown for blast off. X-5, 4, 3, 2, X-1, fire. From the far horizons of the unknown, come transcribed tales of new dimensions in time and space. These are stories of the future. Adventures in which you'll live in a million could be years on a thousand maybe worlds.

The National Broadcasting Company, in cooperation with Galaxy's Science Fiction magazine, presents... Tonight's story, Pictures Don't Lie by Kathryn McLean. I had been writing science stories for the times for a few years before the whole business of the aliens came up.

I got on to doing science because I wasn't a very good spice rider. And the girl made it clear to the manager that I had enough seniority to make a tough to fire me. So when masters went over to Life Magazine, I was shoved into his spot.

Now, being the man from the times on any given story is quite a responsibility. It's not quite as awe-inspiring as the London Times. You remember the butler announcing there were several reporters and a gentleman from the Times?

But we're supposed to look as if we didn't specialize in ex-murder and picking winners at Jamaica. Of course it pays off. You find scientist Atomic Energy Commissioners, even Congressman, will open up to the timesman.

And that's how I got on the inside of this whole business. I had met Joseph Nathan at a convention in Atlantic City. And when he invited me to look over this work, I accepted. I don't think there's anything classified in this work, Mr. Schwartz, as long as I don't actually supply you the text of messages.

I got a department clearance up to most confidential. That should do it. Hello, Max. Hi. My job is radio decoder in the department here. Under the Pentagon directly? Department of Military Intelligence. I use a directional pick-up to tune in on foreign bands, record any scrambled or coded messages I hear.