The Embassy

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 Street and Smith, publishers of astounding science fiction presents Knight story, the Embassy out of the infinitude of stars and planets in the Solar System and other systems in the universe.

It is almost mathematically certain that other forms of life exist on other worlds. Someday, in the future, in a thousand years or in the next twenty-five minutes, daring travelers through space will make contact with the inhabitants of another world.

But the question is, will we contact them first, or will they contact us? A private detective agency in downtown New York. Mr. Grafius, Mr. Brateric, we'll see you. Well, what can I do for you?

My name is Grafius, Grafius of Springfield. I would like your assistance in helping me locate a Martian embassy. Would you say that again very slowly? I came to New York to locate the Martian Embassy.

I assume you were joking. On the contrary, I am completely serious. As it happens, I am interested only in Martians at the moment. I say, OK, I should. Well, it occurred to me in the course of my studies that we, Earth people, cannot possibly be the only intelligent form of life in the universe.

Since mass is older geologically and since it is also an atmospheric planet, its evolutionary history could easily be similar to ours. You follow me? Well, so far I can't say no. If this is true, then they must have been watching us, observing us for hundreds, possibly thousands of years.