Stranger in a Strange Land

Douglas glanced aside. «Those warrants, if any, will not be served. As soon as I can track them down they will be canceled.»

«Thank you, sir.»

Douglas looked at Major Bloch. «You insist on booking him?»

«Him? Oh, he's merely a fool in uniform. Let's forget damages, too. You and I have serious matters to discuss.»

«You may go, Major.» The S.S. officer saluted and left abruptly. Douglas continued, «Counsellor, the matters you raise cannot be settled over the telephone.»

«I agree.»

«You and your, uh, client will be my guests at the Palace. I'll send my yacht. Can you be ready in an hour?»

Harshaw shook his head. «Thank you, Mr. Secretary. We'll sleep here… and when it comes time I'll dig up a dog sled, or something. No need to send your yacht.»

Mr. Douglas frowned. «Come, Doctor! As you pointed out, conversations will be quasi-diplomatic. In proffering protocol I have conceded this. Therefore I must be allowed to provide official hospitality.»

«Well, sir, my client has had too much official hospitality — he had the Devil's own time getting shut of it.»

Douglas's face became rigid. «Sir, are you implying — »

«I'm not implying anything. Smith has been through a lot and is not used to high-level ceremony. He'll sleep sounder here. And so shall I. I am an old'man, sir; I prefer my own bed. I might point out that talks may break down and my client would be forced to look elsewhere — in which case we would find it embarrassing to be guests under your roof.»

The Secretary General looked grim. «Threats again. I thought you trusted me, sir? I distinctly heard you say that you were “ready to negotiate”.»

«I do trust you, sir.» ( — as faras I could throw a fit!) «And we are ready to negotiate. But I use “negotiate” in its original sense, not in this new-fangled meaning of “appeasement”. However, we will be reasonable. But we can't start talks at once; we're shy one factor and must wait. How long, I don't know.»

«What do you mean?»

«We expect the administration to be represented by whatever delegation you choose — and we have the same privilege.»

«Surely. But let's keep it small. I shall handle this myself, with an assistant or two. The Solicitor General… our experts in space law. To transact business requires a small group — the smaller the better.»

«Most certainly. Our group will be small. Smith — myself — I'll bring a Fair Witness — »

«Oh, come now!»

«A Witness does not hamper. We'll have one or two others — but we lack one man. I have instructions that a fellow named Ben Caxton must be present… and I can't find the beggar.»

Jubal, having spent hours of maneuvering in order to toss in this one remark, waited. Douglas stared. «“Ben Caxton”? Surely you don't mean that cheap winchell?»

«The Caxton I refer to has a column with one of the syndicates.»

«Out of the question!»

Harshaw shook his head. «Then that's all, Mr. Secretary. My instructions give me no leeway. I'm sorry to have wasted your time. I beg to be excused.» He reached out as if to switch off. «Hold it!»

«Hold it!»

«Sir?»

«I'm not through speaking to you!»

«I beg the Secretary-General's pardon. We will wait until he excuses us.»

«Yes, yes, never mind. Doctor, do you read the tripe that comes out of this Capitol labeled news?»

«Good Heavens, no!»

«I wish I didn't have to. It's preposterous to talk about having journalists present. We'll see them after everything is settled. But even if we were to admit them, Caxton would not be one. The man is poisonous… a keyhole sniffer of the worst sort.»

«Mr. Secretary, we have no objection to publicity. In fact, we insist on it.»

«Ridiculous!»

«Possibly. But I serve my client as I think best. If we reach agreement affecting the Man from Mars and the planet which is his home, I want every person on this planet to know how it was done and what was agreed. Contrariwise, if we fail, people must hear how the talks broke down. There will be no star chamber, Mr. Secretary.»

«Damn it, I wasn't speaking of a star chamber and you know it! I mean quiet, orderly talks without elbows jostled!»

«Then let the press in, sir, through cameras and microphones… but with elbows outside. Which reminds me — we will be interviewed, my client and I, over the networks later today — and I shall announce that we want public talks.»

«What? You mustn't give out interviews now — why, that's contrary to the whole spirit of this discussion.»

«I can't see that it is. Are you suggesting that a citizen must have your permission to speak to the press?»

«No, of course not, but — »

«I'm afraid it's too late. Arrangements have been made and the only way you could stop it would be by sending more carloads of thugs. My reason for mentioning it is that you might wish to give out a news release — in advance — telling the public that the Man from Mars has returned and is vacationing in the Poconos. So as to avoid any appearance that the government was taken by surprise. You follow me?»