Stranger in a Strange Land

“You really feel that’s something to worry about?” asked Nelson. “Truthfully, Jubal, I had assumed that you were a gourmet who insisted on his own cuisine even away from home. I can’t imagine being poisoned, in a major hotel such as this.”

Jubal shook his head sorrowfully. “Sven, you’re the sort of honest man who thinks everybody else is honest—and you are usually right. No, nobody is going to try to poison you… but your wife might collect your insurance simply because you shared a dish with Mike.”

“You really think that?”

“Sven, I’ll order anything you want. But I won’t touch it and I won’t let Mike touch it. For I’ll lay heavy odds that any waiter who comes to this suite will be on Kung’s payroll… and maybe on two or three others’. I’m not seeing boogie men behind bushes; they know where we are—and they’ve had a couple of hours in which to act. Sven, in cold seriousness, my principal worry has been to keep this lad alive long enough to figure out a way to sterilize and stabilize the power he represents… so that it would be to no one’s advantage to have him dead.”

Jubal sighed. “Consider the black widow spider. It’s a timid little beastie, useful and, for my taste, the prettiest of the arachnids, with its shiny, patent-leather finish and its red hourglass trademark. But the poor thing has the fatal misfortune of possessing enormously too much power for its size. So everybody kills it on sight.

“The black widow can’t help it, it has no way to avoid its venomous power.

“Mike is in the same dilemma. He isn’t as pretty as a black widow spider—”

“Why, Jubal!” Dorcas said indignantly. “What a mean thing to say! And how utterly untrue!”

“Sorry, child. I don’t have your glandular bias in the matter. Pretty or not, Mike can’t get rid of that money, nor is it safe for him to have it. And not just Kung. The High Court is not as ‘non-political’ as it might be although their methods would probably make a prisoner out of him rather than kill him—a fate which, for my taste, is worse. Not to mention a dozen other interested parties, in and out of public office… persons who might or might not kill him, but who have certainly turned over in their minds just how it would affect their fortunes if Mike were guest of honor at a funeral. I—”

“Telephone, Boss.”

“Anne, you have just interrupted a profound thought. You hail from Porlock.”

“No, Dallas.”

“And I will not answer the phone for anyone.”

“She said to tell you it was Becky.”

“Why didn’t you say so?” Jubal hurried out of the living room, found Madame Vesant’s friendly face in the screen. “Becky! I’m glad to see you, girl!” He did not bother to ask how she had known where to call him.

“Hi, Doc. I caught your act—and I just had to call and tell you so.”

“How’d it look?”

“The Professor would have been proud of you. I’ve never seen a tip turned more expertly. Then you spilled ’em before the marks knew what had hit ’em. Dot, the profession lost a great talker when you weren’t born twins.”

“That’s high praise, coming from you, Becky.” Jubal thought rapidly. “But you set up the act; I just cashed in on it—and there’s plenty of cash. So name your fee, Becky, and don’t be shy.” He decided that, whatever figure she picked, he would double it. That drawing account he had demanded for Mike would never feel it… and it was better, far better, to pay Becky off lavishly than to let the obligation stay open.

Madame Vesant frowned. “Now you’ve hurt my feelings.”

“Becky, Becky! You’re a big girl now, dear. Anybody can clap and cheer—but applause worthwhile will be found in a pile of soft, green, folding money. Not my money. The Man from Mars picks up this tab and, believe me, he can afford it.” He grinned. “But all you’ll get from me is thanks, and a hug and a kiss that will crack your ribs the first time I see you.”

She relaxed and smiled. “I’ll hold you to it. I remember how you used to pat my fanny while you assured me that the Professor was sure to get well—you always could make a body feel better.”

“I can’t believe that I ever did anything so unprofessional.”

“You did, you know you did. And you weren’t very fatherly about it, either.”

“Maybe so. Maybe I thought it was the treatment you needed. I’ve given up fanny-patting for Lent—but I’ll make an exception in your case.”

“You’d better.”

“And you’d better figure out that fee. Don’t forget the zeroes.”

“Uh, I’ll think about it. But, truthfully, Doc, there are more ways of collecting a fee than by making a fast count on the change. Have you been watching the market today?”

“No, and don’t tell me about it. Come over and have a drink instead.”

“Uh, I’d better not. I promised, well, a rather important client that I would be available for instant consultation.”

“I see. Mmm… Becky, do you suppose that the stars would show that this whole matter would turn out best for everybody if it were all wrapped up, signed, sealed, and notarized today? Maybe just after the stock market closes?”

She looked thoughtful. “I could look into it.”