I'm a Stranger Here Myself

In Short

Set in the cosmopolitan chaos of mid-century Tangier, this story follows two men meeting at a sidewalk cafe to discuss the state of the world. Through their cynical observations of human conflict, technological progress, and social decay, the narrative explores themes of alienation and the predatory nature of advanced civilizations. The story has endured as a sharp, compact piece of science fiction that uses the "hidden alien" trope to offer a biting, detached critique of human history, ultimately landing with a punchline that reframes the human experience as a cosmic commodity.

The Story

The story opens on a bright, sunny morning in Tangier, a city defined by its role as a haven for the world’s displaced and desperate. Rupert, an American expat, sits at the Cafe de Paris on the Place de France, reading the New York Herald Tribune and watching the kaleidoscopic parade of humanity—Berbers, Europeans, and international drifters—pass by. He is joined by Paul, a man he has known casually for some time but knows little about, other than his background in exports and his cynical outlook on life.

The two men settle into a rhythm of idle, intellectual banter. They discuss the headlines: Soviet satellites, the absurdity of pop culture, and the persistent, unexplained mystery of flying saucers. As they drink their beer and eat local tapas, the conversation shifts from light observation to a philosophical debate about extraterrestrial life. Rupert offers several standard tropes: the Galactic League that restricts entry until a race develops space flight, or an advanced civilization hiding underground on Mars. Paul pushes back against these, arguing that the true barrier to such theories is the presence of Earth’s pervasive intelligence and security apparatuses. He insists that any alien observer would eventually be caught by the likes of Scotland Yard or the FBI.

Rupert counters this, suggesting that an alien would choose to base themselves in a place like Tangier precisely because it is a city where nobody asks questions and anything goes. This observation triggers a sudden, subtle shift in the tone of their exchange. When Rupert questions Paul’s background, Paul stops playing the role of the disinterested Englishman. He admits he sensed a mental "probe" from Rupert earlier during their talk about police agencies.

The masks fall away. Paul reveals that he is not human, but an alien from Deneb. Rupert follows suit, dropping his American identity to confess that he is from Aldebaran. The revelation quickly moves from their origins to their true purposes on Earth. Paul explains that he is an agent for a "meat trust," scouting humanity because humanoid flesh is considered a delicacy in his part of the galaxy. Rupert, equally detached, explains that his own job is to stir up international conflicts—the very wars and tensions they were just discussing—to provide entertainment for "thrill tourists" from his home world. As the story ends, the two beings continue their conversation, bickering over whether Rupert’s warmongering is damaging the quality of the "meat" Paul is sent to harvest.

How It Unfolds

The Cafe in Tangier Rupert sits at the Cafe de Paris, observing the city’s mix of social classes and international fugitives. He is joined by Paul, a vague acquaintance who settles in for a conversation that serves as a distraction from the day's headlines.

The Theory of Observers The two men trade theories regarding why humanity hasn't been contacted by extraterrestrials. They dismiss standard science-fiction concepts, settling instead on the idea of hidden, scholarly observers who prefer to remain undetected.

The Tangier Advantage Rupert argues that Tangier is the perfect sanctuary for such an observer because of its lawless, indifferent nature. This specific point of contention leads Paul to realize that Rupert possesses an extra-sensory awareness that no human should have.

The Mask Slips Paul confronts Rupert about his telepathic probe, forcing an immediate transition from human banter to extraterrestrial confession. They confirm their alien origins, revealing that their presence on Earth is not for scientific study, but for cold, commercial exploitation.

A Market-Driven Conflict The story closes on their mutual admission of their roles: one is a culinary scout for a meat trust, and the other is an agent provocateur fueling global wars for tourist entertainment. They end their meeting by debating the professional ethics of how to maximize the "yield" of their human subjects.

The People

Rupert acts as the primary narrator, presenting himself as a worldly American expat. He is observant, well-read, and comfortable with ambiguity. He seeks to maintain a façade of normalcy, but his true function is that of a cosmic instigator, a man who views human suffering as a product to be sold to bored tourists.

Paul appears at first to be a typical, slightly cynical Englishman from Liverpool. He is motivated by professional pragmatism and a clear-eyed, if horrifying, sense of duty to his employer. He is a protein scout, driven by the biological appetites of his home world.

Both characters start the story appearing as men of leisure, but they end as cold, bureaucratic entities. They are not villains in a traditional sense, but rather professionals who view their work on Earth with the same mundane, detached detachment that a human might feel toward a routine business transaction. They are mirror images of one another: both are disguised in human bodies, both are hiding in plain sight, and both view humanity not as a species to be respected, but as a resource to be managed, harvested, or exploited.

In Its Own Voice

The setting is established as a place where the ordinary meets the bizarre, capturing the cynical tone of the narrator.

One can't be too cautious about the people one meets in Tangier. They're all weirdies of one kind or another.

The conversation takes a sharp turn when the narrator reflects on the impossibility of being a hidden observer in a world obsessed with police and security.

This world is so deep in police, counter-espionage outfits and security agents that an alien would slip up in time, no matter how much he'd been trained.

The true nature of their presence on Earth is revealed in the final moments, stripping away any pretense of scientific curiosity.

My job is to go around to these backward cultures and help stir up inter-tribal, or international, conflicts--all according to how advanced they are.

What It's Really About

At its heart, this is a story about the banality of evil. It treats the most horrific aspects of human history—war, famine, and systemic collapse—as nothing more than background noise for a commercial enterprise. It asks the reader to consider the possibility that human misery is not a tragedy caused by human error, but a resource being farmed by powers far beyond our comprehension. By placing the narrative in a city defined by its moral ambiguity, the story argues that our inability to see our own exploitation is a result of our own self-absorption. It forces the reader to confront the idea that we are not the protagonists of history, but a commodity in a much larger, darker, and entirely indifferent universe.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy mid-century science fiction will appreciate the crisp, punchy prose and the noir-influenced atmosphere of the story. It captures the specific, smoke-filled, cynical energy of the 1950s and 60s, where global tensions and the space race were filtered through a lens of existential dread. You will likely find the dialogue sharp and the progression of the "unmasking" both clever and unsettling.

However, be aware that the story reflects the era’s attitudes, including dated portrayals of local populations and an offhand, casual approach to sensitive topics. It is a very short read, functioning more like an extended vignette than a full-length novel, which means it lacks deep character development in favor of a singular, devastating realization. It reads like a classic Twilight Zone episode—a quick, sharp jab to the ribs that leaves you questioning the world around you. What stays with you is the coldness of the ending; the realization that our most desperate struggles might be nothing more than entertainment for an uncaring audience. It is an ideal choice for a reader who wants a thought-provoking, dark piece of fiction that can be finished in one sitting, leaving the reader with a lingering sense of cosmic unease that persists long after the last page is turned.