He lifted the telephone receiver and pressed it against the plastic of his helmet. If there had been a dialing sound he could have heard it through the conducting material. But, as he had expected, there was only silence. So--it was all a fake, though a fantastically careful one. And it was clearly not intended to deceive but rather--he hoped--to reassure. That was a very comforting thought; nevertheless he would not remove his suit until he had completed his voyage of exploration.