Stranger in a Strange Land

«No, no!» Harshaw said. «I told you that, while religions said many things, most of them said, “God made the World”. I told you that I did not grok the fullness, but that “God” was the word that was used.»

«Yes, Jubal,» Mike agreed. «Word is “God”.» He added, «You grok.»

«I must admit I don't grok.»

«You grok,» Smith repeated firmly. «I am explain. I did not have the word. You grok. Anne groks. I grok. The grasses under my feet grok in happy beauty. But I needed the word. The word is God.»

«Go ahead.»

Mike pointed triumphantly at Jubal.«Thou art God!»

Jubal slapped a hand to his face. «Oh, Jesus H. — What have I done?Look, Mike, take it easy! You didn't understand me. I'm sorry. I'm very sorry! Just forget what I've said and we'll start over another day. But — »

«Thou art God,» Mike repeated serenely. «That which groks. Anne is God. I am God. The happy grasses are God. Jill groks in beauty always. Jill is God. All shaping and making and creating together — » He croaked something in Martian and smiled.

«All right, Mike. But let it wait. Anne! Have you been getting this?»

«You bet I have, Boss!»

«Make a tape. I'll have to work on it. I can't let it stand. I must — » Jubal glanced up, said, «Oh, my God! General Quarters, everybody!Anne! Set the panic button on “dead man” — and for God's sake keep your thumb on it; they may not be coming here.» He glanced up again, at two air cars approaching from the south. «I'm afraid they are. Mike! Hide in the pool! Remember what I told you — down in the deepest part, stay there, hold still — don't come up until I send Jill.»

«Yes, Jubal.»

«Right now!Move!»

«Yes, Jubal.» Mike ran the few steps, cut water and disappeared. He kept his knees straight, toes pointed, feet together.

«Jill!» Jubal called out. «Dive in and climb out. You too, Larry. If anybody saw that, I want 'em confused as to how many are using the pool. Dorcas! Climb out fast, child, and dive again. Anne — No, you've got the panic button.»

«I can take my cloak and go to the edge of the pool. Boss, do you want delay on this “dead-man” setting?»

«Uh, thirty seconds. If they land, put on your Witness cloak and get your thumb back on the button. Then wait — and if I call you to me, let the balloon go up. I don't dare shout “Wolf”! unless — » He shielded his eyes. «One of them is going to land … and it's got that Paddy-wagon look. Oh, damn, I thought they would parley.»

The first car hovered, dropped for a landing in the garden around the pool; the second started circling at low altitude. The cars were squad carriers in size, and showed a small insignia : the stylized globe of the Federation.

Anne put down the radio relay link, got quickly into professional garb, picked up the link and put her thumb on the button. The door of the first car opened as it touched and Jubal charged towards it with the belligerence of a Pekingese. As a man stepped out, Jubal roared, «Get that God damned heap off my rose bushes!»

The man said, «Jubal Harshaw?»

«Tell that oaf to raise that bucket and move it back! Off the garden and onto the grass! Anne!»

«Coming, Boss.»

«Jubal Harshaw, I have a warrant for — »

«I don't care if you've got a warrant for the King of England; move that junk off my flowers! Then, so help me, I'll sue you for — » Jubal glanced at the man, appeared to see him for the first time. «Oh, so it's you,» he said with bitter contempt. «Were you born stupid, Heinrich, or did you have to study? When did that uniformed jackass learn to fly?»

«Please examine this warrant,» Captain Heinrich said with careful patience. «Then — »

«Get your go-cart out of my flower beds or I'll make a civil-rights case that will cost you your pension!»

Heinrich hesitated.«Now!» Jubal screamed. «And tell those yokels getting out to pick up their feet! That idiot with the buck teeth is standing on a prize Elizabeth M. Hewitt!»

Heinrich turned his head. «You men — careful of those flowers. Paskin, you're standing on one.Rogers! Raise the car and move back clear of the garden.» He turned to Harshaw. «Does that satisfy you?»

«Once he moves it — but you'll still pay damages. Let's see your credentials … and show them to the Fair Witness and state loud and clear your name, rank, organization, and pay number.»

«You know who I am. I have a warrant to — »

«I have a warrant to part your hair with a shotgun unless you do things legally and in order!I don't know who you are. You look like a stuffed shirt I saw over the telephone — but I don't identify you.You must identify yourself, in specified fashion. World Code paragraph 1602, part II, before you may serve a warrant. And that goes for those other apes, too, and that pithecan parasite piloting for you.»

«They are police officers, acting under my orders.»