The Book That Saved the Earth
Communication sandwiches
Explain how Think-Tank's misunderstandings saved Earth.
Hats? Sandwiches? Oop thinks the books might be hats. Think-Tank decides the library is 'a crude refreshment stand' and the books are sandwiches. Oop is ordered to eat one 'for the glory of Mars'. 'They're dry as Martian dust.'
Noodle's quiet corrections. Each time, Noodle humbly offers 'a cloudy piece of information'. Each time, Think-Tank takes the credit:
- the books are 'communication sandwiches', so the crew must listen to them;
- Noodle: Earthlings 'opened them and watched them', so they're for the eyes;
- Noodle: weren't the crew given vitamins to increase their intelligence? Think-Tank: 'A thought of magnificent brilliance has come to me!'
Mother Goose. With the vitamins, the crew read a book of nursery rhymes.
- 'Mistress Mary, quite contrary… silver bells and cockle shells': Think-Tank decides Earthlings can grow rare metals and high explosives.
- 'Hey diddle diddle… the cow jumped over the moon': they may launch 'an interplanetary attack of millions of cows!' 'No invasion today.'
Humpty Dumpty. Oop reads 'Humpty Dumpty… had a great fall' and shows the picture. It looks just like Think-Tank! He screams: 'It's me! It's my Great and Mighty Balloon Brain. The Earthlings have seen me, and they're after me.' He orders the fleet to evacuate the whole of Mars and flee to Alpha Centauri.
How it ends. Back in the twenty-fifth century: Earth and Mars are now friends, Think-Tank has been replaced by 'the wise and wonderful Noodle', and Earthlings have set up a model library in Marsopolis. But no Martian will touch Mother Goose. A book of nursery rhymes saved the Earth.
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