y.

Speaking slowly with an accent strongly reminiscent of twenty-first
century North American, but with somewhat peculiar grammatical
formations, the oldest of the group told of their having walked for many
weeks from their State deep within the Earth.

Undoubtedly, they will have much more of interest to tell, but Dr.
Stutfeldt refused to let them talk for more than a few minutes. He says
it will be many weeks before they will regain their strength, and much
longer before they will be able to adjust to the tremendous differences
between their old life and life on the surface of the earth. It is
entirely possible, Dr. Stutfeldt says, that they may never be able to
make this adjustment.

An interesting sidelight of their within-the-earth civilization is that,
although they apparently have the same calendar system as ours, in some
way their time seems to have gotten out of step. According to their
reckoning it is now some three years and two months later than it is.

* * * * *

NEW WASHINGTON SUN

What's New Under the Sun
by Dick Richard

The (very) little furor that has been caused by the recent report from
Alvarez County of the arrival of visitors from inside the earth shows
signs of abating completely. Very likely it is just a case of poor
timing, (three reports of flying saucers and one of Saturnian birdmen in
less than a month has pretty well saturated the gullibility market). But
perhaps it is just as well. Not that we are skeptical by nature, but we
cannot help wondering at the somewhat amazing coincidence of the Alvarez
report being issued just two weeks before the start of the Alvarez
County Festival.

* * * * *

_UNITED STATES OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE DEPARTMENT OF STATE DIVISION OF
INVESTIGATION_

Report on Supernatural Phenomena: File No. B5138.

Subject: Subterranean Inhabitants.

Reference: Alvarez County Record, News Item of May 9, 2204, et al. (See
File).

On January 3, 2206, in performance of the subject investigation, a visit
was made to the Alvarez Hospital at Alvarez, Alvarez County. Dr. Ernest
Stutfeldt was contacted, and upon being questioned, expressed surprise
and some annoyance that an investigation was being conducted, in his
words, "so damned long after everything was over." It was pointed out to
Dr. Stutfeldt that qualified investigative personnel was limited, that
these matters had to be taken in their proper