Stranger in a Strange Land

«My dear, I have been waiting by my phone all day, ready to act instantly. The Stars tell us the nature of each crisis; they never tell details. But there is still time. I have Dr. Harshaw on the telephone; all that is necessary is to bring them face to face — before Venus reaches meridian.»

«Well — All right, Allie. I must dig Joseph out of some silly conference. Give me the number of the phone you have this Doctor Rackshaw on — or can you transfer the call?»

«I can switch it here. Just get Mr. Douglas. Hurry, dear.»

«I will.»

When Agnes Douglas left the screen, Becky went to another phone. Her profession required ample phone service; it was her largest business expense. Humming happily she called her broker.

XVII

As BECKY left the screen Jubal leaned back. «Front,» he said.

«Okay, Boss,» Miriam acknowledged.

«This is for the “Real-Experiences” group. Specify that the narrator must have a sexy contralto voice — »

«Maybe I should try for it.»

«Not that sexy. Dig out that list of null surnames we got from the Census Bureau, pick one and put an innocent, mammalian first name with it, for pen name. A girl's name ending in “a” — that always suggests a “C” cup.»

«Huh! And not one of us with a name ending in “a”. You louse!»

«Flat-chested bunch, aren't you? “Angela”. Her name is “Angela”. Title: “I Married a Martian”. Start: All my life I had longed to become an astronaut. Paragraph. When I was just a tiny thing, with freckles on my nose and stars in my eyes, I saved box tops just like my brothers — and cried when Mummy wouldn't let me wear my Space Cadet helmet to bed. Paragraph. In those carefree childhood days I did not dream to what strange, bittersweet fate my tomboy ambition would — »

«Boss!»

«Yes, Dorcas?»

«Here come two more loads.»

«Hold for continuation Miriam, sit at the phone.» Jubal went to the window, saw two air cars about to land. «Larry, bolt this door. Anne, your robe. Jill, stick close to Mike. Mike, do what Jill tells you to.»

«Yes, Jubal. I will do.»

«Jill, don't turn him loose unless you have to. And I'd much rather he snatched guns and not men.»

«Yes, Jubal.»

«This indiscriminate liquidation of cops must stop.»

«Telephone, Boss!»

«All of you stay out of pickup. Miriam, note another title: “I Married a Human”.» Jubal slid into the seat and said, «Yes?»

A bland face looked at him. «Doctor Harshaw?»

«Yes.»

«The Secretary General will speak with you.»

«Okay.»

The screen changed to the tousled image of His Excellency the Honorable Joseph Edgerton Douglas, Secretary General of the World Federation of Free Nations. «Dr. Harshaw? Understand you need to speak with me.»

«No, sir.»

«Eh?»

«Let me rephrase it, Mr. Secretary.You need to speak with me.»

Douglas looked surprised, then grinned. «Doctor, you have ten seconds to prove that.»

«Very well, sir. I am attorney for the Man from Mars.»

Douglas stopped looking tousled. «Repeat?»

«I am attorney for Valentine Michael Smith. It may help to think of me as de-facto Ambassador from Mars… in the spirit of the Larkin Decision.»

«You must be out of your mind!»

«Nevertheless I am acting for the Man from Mars. And he is prepared to negotiate.»

«The Man from Mars is in Ecuador.»

«Please, Mr. Secretary, Smith — the real Valentine Michael Smith, not the one who appeared in newscasts — escaped from Bethesda Medical Center on Thursday last, in company with Nurse Gillian Boardman. He kept his freedom — and will continue to keep it. If your staff has told you anything else, then someone has been lying.»

Douglas looked thoughtful. Someone spoke to him from off screen. At last he said, «Even if what you said were true, Doctor, you can't speak for young Smith. He's a ward of the State.»

Jubal shook his head. «Impossible. The Larkin Decision.»

«Now see here, as a lawyer, I assure you — »

«As a lawyer myself, I must follow my own opinion — and protect my client.»

«You are a lawyer? I thought you claimed to be attorney-in-fact, rather than counsellor.»

«Both. I am an attorney, admitted to practice before the High Court.» Jubal heard a dull boom from below and glanced aside. Larry whispered, «The front door, I think,Boss-Shall I go look?»

Jubal shook his head. «Mr. Secretary, time is running out. Your men — your S.S. hooligans — are breaking into my house. Will you abate this nuisance? So that we can negotiate? Or shall we fight it out in the High Court with all the stink that would ensue?»

Again the Secretary appeared to consult off screen. «Doctor, if Special Service police are trying to arrest you, it is news to me. I — »

«If you'll listen, you'll hear them tromping up my staircase, sir! Mike! Anne! Come here.» Jubal shoved his chair back to allow the angle to include them. «Mr. Secretary General — the Man from Mars!» He could not introduce Anne, but she and her white cloak of probity were in view.

Douglas stared at Smith; Smith looked back and seemed uneasy. «Jubal — »