File:Tales to Astonish Vol 1 7 007.jpg

Description
Aliens meet a hermit in the swamp when their spacecraft becomes stuck and offer him a chest full of what they value most in return for his aid in freeing the ship. He agrees, and when they take off, they tell him that they will return within his lifetime with the invasion force. The hermit tells a reporter that is why he always stares at the sky, waiting for their return, and since he felt so bad for betraying humanity, he has never opened the chest. The excited reporter tells the hermit that he made no such oath and would like to open the chest. The hermit agrees, but there is nothing but air in the chest. The reporter leaves, feeling that the hermit is just pulling his leg, but the hermit realizes the space faring creatures did leave what is most valuable in a space ship, air.