dr. morton sat numbly in front of his typewriter, staring at a letter. he couldn't seem to find the right words for what he wished to say. he tried to derive inspiration from a glossy photograph lying on the table beside him. it had what looked like another skyrocket trail on it.
before he could answer it, the door opened and harvey walked in, accompanied by two men with muscles. "i haven't seen you since the accident, professor," he said.
"i've been trying to write you a letter," said dr. morton, "to tell you how sorry i am about what happened. and i also have to thank you for getting that law against fireworks through the council. i am extremely sorry it took your house burning down to convince them."
"i keep my promises," said harvey. one of the men with muscles turned the radio on, loud.
"we're trying to get up a collection among the staff to help pay for your losses," said dr. morton, "but the director suggested a more permanent kind of remembrance." he picked up the photograph. "this will be one of the brightest objects in the sky, in a few months. it won't be back again for thousands of years, but it will be around for a good while. we've just discovered it, and it is our privilege to call it 'harvey's comet.'"
"that's nice," said harvey. the first of the two men went around pulling down blinds; the other went into the bathroom and starting filling the tub.
"well," said the physicist, looking tired and old, "i guess there's nothing more i can say."
"oh, yes, there is, professor," said harvey, with a sudden grin on his face. he turned to his muscle men. "you two guys cut out the comedy and bring it in, now."
the two men followed his instructions.
"you see, professor," the gambler continued, "i took a beating on the house, but the other club boys chipped in and made up all my losses. so, i don't need your money at all. besides, i have two things to thank you for. first, i heard about the comet from one of your men, and it's the nicest thing anybody's ever done for me." one of his men came back with what looked like a round candy box. "second, that fire was the best publicity stunt i could get. it made the papers back on earth and all the new tourists are packing into the harvey club. even the other operators are playing my tables. that's why i want you to have this."
he handed dr. morton the box. it read "harvey's club" in the center, and "doctor morton's poker chip" around the edge. across the bottom, it said "five thousand."
"that's dollars in it, professor," said harvey. "don't spend it all in one place."
