Stranger in a Strange Land

“In due course, I shall. Don’t be difficult, girl; Mike has no communicable diseases, or I wouldn’t let him use the pool—which reminds me: Miriam, when Larry gets back, tell him I want the pool drained and refilled tonight—we’re through with murkiness. Well, Dorcas?”

“How do you know it would be our first time?”

“Mmm, there’s that. Mike, have you ever kissed Dorcas?”

“No, Jubal. Only today did I learn that Dorcas is my water brother.”

“She is?”

“Yes. Dorcas and Anne and Miriam and Larry. They are your water brothers, my brother Jubal.”

“Mmm, yes. Correct in essence.”

“Yes. It is essence, the grokking—not sharing of water. I speak rightly?”

“Very rightly, Mike.”

“They are your water brothers.” Mike paused to think words. “In catenative assemblage, they are my brothers.” Mike looked at Dorcas. “For brothers, growing-closer is good. But I did not know.”

Jubal said, “Well, Dorcas?”

“Huh? Oh, Heavens! Boss, you’re the world’s worst tease. But Mike isn’t teasing. He’s sweet.” She walked up to him, stood on tiptoes, and held up her arms. “Kiss me, Mike.”

Mike did. For some seconds they “grew closer.”

Dorcas fainted.

Jubal spotted it and kept her from falling, Mike being far too inexperienced to cope with it. Then Jill had to speak sharply to Mike to keep him from trembling into withdrawal when he saw what had happened to Dorcas. Luckily Dorcas came out of it shortly and was able to reassure Mike that she was all right, that she had indeed “grown closer” and would happily grow closer again—but she needed to catch her breath. “Whew!”

Miriam had watched round-eyed. “I wonder if I dare risk it?”

Anne said, “By seniority, please. Boss, are you through with me as a Witness?”

“For the time being, at least.”

“Then hold my cloak.” She slipped out of it. “Want to bet on it?”

“Which way?”

“I’ll give you seven-to-two I don’t faint—but I wouldn’t mind losing.”

“Done.”

“Dollars, not hundreds. Mike dear… let’s grow lots closer.”

In time Anne was forced to give up through simple hypoxia, although Mike, with his Martian training, could have gone without oxygen much longer. She gasped for air and said, “I don’t think I was set just right. Boss, I’m going to give you another chance for your money.”

She started to offer her face again but Miriam tapped her on the shoulder. “Out.”

“Don’t be so eager.”

“‘Out,’ I said. The foot of the line for you, wench,” Miriam insisted.

“Oh, well!” Anne pecked Mike hastily and gave way. Miriam moved in, smiled at him, and said nothing. It was not necessary; they grew close and continued to grow closer.

“Front!”

Miriam looked around. “Boss, can’t you see I’m busy?”

“All right, all right! But get out of the pickup angle—I’ll answer the phone myself.”

“Honest, I didn’t even hear it.”

“Obviously. But for a while we’ve got to pretend to a modicum of dignity around here—it might be the Secretary General. So get out of range.”

But it was Mr. Mackenzie. “Jubal, what in the devil is going on?”

“Trouble?”

“A short while ago I got a wild phone call from a young man claiming to speak for you who urged me to drop everything and get cracking, because you’ve finally got something for me. Since I had already ordered a mobile unit to your place—”

“Never got here.”

“I know. They called in, after wandering around somewhere north of you. Our despatcher straightened them out and they should be there any moment now. I tried twice to call you and your circuit was busy. What have I missed?”

“Nothing yet.” Jubal considered it. Damnation, he should have had someone monitor the babble box. Had Douglas actually made that news release? Was Douglas committed? Or would a new passel of cops show up? While the kids played post office! Jubal, you’re getting senile. “I’m not sure that there’s going to be, just yet. Has there been anything special in the way of a news flash this past hour?”

“Why, no—oh, one item: the Palace announced that the Man from Mars had returned north and was vacationing in the—Jubal! Are you mixed up in that?”

“Just a moment. Mike, come to the phone. Anne, grab your robe.”

“Got it, Boss.”

“Mr. Mackenzie—meet the Man from Mars.”

Mackenzie’s jaw dropped, then his professional reflexes came to his aid. “Hold it. Just hold it right there and let me get a camera on this! We’ll pick it up in flat, right off the phone—and we’ll repeat in stereo just as quick as those jokers of mine get there. Jubal, I’m safe on this? You wouldn’t—You wouldn’t—”

“Would I swindle you with a Fair Witness at my elbow? Yes, I would, if necessary. But I’m not forcing this interview on you. Matter of fact, we should wait and tie in Argus and Trans-Planet.”

“Jubal! You can’t do this to me.”