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up clearly?" 
    "Yes , but not by ordinary receivers.  It's just been relayed from the Helsinki hundred metre telescope.  Judging from your remarks it had the same effect on you as on us.  Whoever these people are they produce some fantastic music, if that's not too demeaning a word for it." 
     
    ***************
    George Dent had obviously used this conference room before.  He negotiated the maze of corridors and offices without effort.  By the time they arrived Lincoln was exhausted.  Dent thrust open the door and allowed Lincoln to precede him into the room.
    "Good day everyone, I want you to meet Arthur Lincoln . "  Dent introduced him to each in turn and waited while they shook hands and exchanged the usual pleasantries, although he was clearly itching to get on with more important business.
    The room was far too pretentious for such a small gathering decided Lincoln.  The terminal authorities set great store by their prestigious facilities and as a conference room this lacked nothing.  Luxurious leather upholstered chairs surrounded an enormous oval table.  Each place had its own little console with controls for recording events; whisper microphones for superimposing one's own comments without disturbing the proceedings or to allow one to communicate in confidence with someone outside the room; a computer link to permit access to any external information, and viewing screens recessed into the table in front of each place to allow teleconferences. 
    At the end of the room was a raised platform with every conceivable visual display facility available at the touch of a switch.  Lighting was superb.  The windows overlooked the departure runway and were fitted with 'Constalight' glass.  This darkened automatically to reduce glare on bright days and became a light source to supplement sunlight on dark days or replace it altogether during the hours of darkness.
    Lincoln smiled to himself, a ll this for a group of seven.
    The five already present had stood politely to greet the newcomers and were now observing protocol in waiting for Dent to seat himself.
    "I suggest we make ourselves comfortable at the front, help yourselves to drinks, there's a dispenser in the small cupboard to your left."
    Dent seated himself centrally and the others took places on either side.  Lincoln opened the sliding door of the drinks dispenser and treated himself to a glass of orange juice.  He smiled again, this was a feature he hadn't noticed, and wondered what other marvels the room contained.
    "As you are all aware ," Dent began, "we have been contacted by an intelligence of extraterrestrial origin.  This contact has been deliberately instigated and has used our own primary language.  The message has implied further communication but so far none has been received.  Doctor Lincoln is the foremost specialist in the field of xenothology, the science of communication and diplomacy with intelligent alien races.  He's been looking for extraterrestrial intelligence for some five years now and is perhaps the least taken aback at this development.  Arthur, would you care to give us the benefit of your views on broadly how we should handle this contact?"
    'The crafty old devil ,' thought Lincoln, ' h e knows what my feelings are and he also knows that the opinion of the " expert " in a matter such as this is likely to influence the opinions of others, particularly if voiced first.  All the fuss in getting me down here is bound to lend weight to my credibility and hence my views.  He's hoping to use me merely as a mouthpiece for his own views.  Well he'll get my views, whether they coincide with his or not, and if they don't then he'll find that I won't be silenced.  He might have chosen me, but now I'm here I'm going to stay and play a full part in his game, but by my own rules.'
    "Well I'll certainly try ," he began, showing no outward sign of the defiance he felt internally, "but I hope you'll bear with me if I remain seated, I'm