 What is Houlihan's relationship with the little people?
A one-time Air Force officer, he has turned to fantasy in his lighter moments, to bring us such brightly sparkling little gems as this. But its small, mischievous pilots had a rendezvous with destiny—on Earth. It was in a park near the nuclear propulsion center—a cool, green spot, with the leaves all telling each other to hush, be quiet, and the soft breeze stirring them up again. Not children, but a group of little people, hard at work. I had seen them first as a boy of eight, and then, very briefly again, on my tenth birthday. "Come along now, people!" said this crotchety one, looking straight at me.
 He has some kind of historical relationship with them but it's not clear what
 He has some kind of historical relationship with them but it's not clear what  He has seen them once before and is suspicious of what they're taking from the area  He is a little person himself and is glad to finally find his own people  He believes in all fantastical creatures so he is an honorary member of their group