The tall man looked doubtfully at the microphone, but Prem smiled and nodded encouragingly. The tall man stepped closer as if he was about to swallow the microphone. “Hello, mom,” he said gravely. “It was a wet crossing, but we made it. I hereby declare America officially discovered.”
Stieve scowled at Prem. “Did you have to teach them so much slang?”
Prem discreetly averted his eyes.
Well, it was soon over. Stieve unhooked the microphone.
“It was a darn good broadcast, at that,” he told Orig.
“Thank you, sir,” said Orig, squirming with happiness.
“Now let’s take our stuff and get back home. Where’s the tube?”
“At the other end of the beach, sir.”
Stieve was almost run over by a bare-footed newsboy who ran through the crowd shouting, “Extry! Extry! Columbus discovers America! Read
