Stranger in a Strange Land

Caxton punched buttons; the taxi, which had been circling under a «hold» instruction, woke up and headed for the apartment hotel where Ben lived. He punched a phone number and said to Jill, «How much time do you want to get liquored up, sugar foot? I'll tell the kitchen to have the steaks ready.»

Jill considered it. «Ben, your mousetrap has a private kitchen.»

«Of sorts. I can grill a steak.»

«I'll grill the steak. Hand me the phone.» She gave orders, stopping to make sure that Ben liked endive.

The taxi dropped them on the roof and they went down to his flat. It was old-fashioned, its one luxury a live grass lawn in the living room. Jill stopped, slipped off her shoes, stepped barefooted into the living room and wiggled her toes among the cool green blades. She sighed. «My, that feels good. My feet have hurt ever since I entered training.»

«Sit down.»

«No, I want my feet to remember this tomorrow.»

«Suit yourself.» He went into his pantry and mixed drinks.

Presently she followed and became domestic. Steak was in the package lift; with it were pre-baked potatoes. She tossed the salad, handed it to the refrigerator, set up a combination to grill the steak and heat the potatoes, but did not start the cycle. «Ben, doesn't this stove have remote control?»

He studied the setup, flipped a switch. «Jill, what would you do if you had to cook over an open fire?»

«I'd do darn well. I was a Girl Scout. How about you, smarty?»

They went to the living room; Jill sat at his feet and they applied themselves to martinis. Opposite his chair was a stereovision tank disguised as an aquarium; he switched it on, guppies and tetras gave way to the face of the well-known winchell Augustus Greaves.

« — it can be stated authoritatively,» the image was saying, «that the Man from Mars is being kept under drugs to keep him from disclosing these facts. The administration would find it extremely — »

Caxton flipped it off. «Gus old boy,» he said pleasantly, «you don't know a durn thing more than I do.» He frowned. «Though you might be right about the government keeping him under drugs.»

«No, they aren't,» Jill said suddenly.

«Eh? How's that, little one?»

«The Man from Mars isn't under hypnotics.» Having blurted more than she had meant to, she added, «He's got a doctor on continuous watch, but there aren't any orders for sedation.»

«Are you sure? You aren't one of his nurses?»

«No. Uh … matter of fact, there's an order to keep women away from him and some tough marines to make sure of it.»

Caxton nodded. «So I heard. Fact is, you don't know whether they are drugging him or not.»

Jill bit her lip. She would have to tell on herself to back up what she had said. «Ben? You wouldn't give me away?»

«How?»

«Any way at all.»

«Hmm … that covers a lot, but I'll go along.»

«All right. Pour me another.» He did so, Jill went on. «I know they don't have the Man from Mars hopped up — because I talked with him.»

Caxton whistled. «I knew it. When I got up this morning I said to myself, “Go see Jill. She's the ace up my sleeve.” Honey lamb, have another drink. Have six. Here, take the pitcher.»

«Not so fast!»

«Whatever you like. May I rub your poor tired feet? Lady, you are about to be interviewed. How — »

«No, Ben! You promised. You quote me and I'll lose my job.»

«Mmm … How about “from a usually reliable source”?»

«I'd be scared.»

«Well? Are you going to let me die of frustration and eat that steak by yourself?»

«Oh, I'll talk. But you can't use it.» Ben kept quiet; Jill described how she had out-flanked the guards.

He interrupted. «Say! Could you do that again?»

«Huh? I suppose so, but I won't. It's risky.»

«Well, could you slip me in that way? Look, I'll dress like an electrician — coveralls, union badge, tool kit. You slip me the key and — »

«No!»

«Huh? Look, baby girl, be reasonable. This is the greatest human-interest story since Colombo conned Isabella into hocking her jewels. The only thing that worries me is that I may find another electrician — »

«The only thing that worries me is me,» Jill interrupted. «To you it's a story; to me it's my career. They'd take away my cap, my pin, and ride me out of town on a rail.»

«Mmm … there's that.»

«There sure is that.»

«Lady, you are about to be offered a bribe.»

«How big? It'll take quite a chunk to keep me in style the rest of my life in Rio.»

«Well… you can't expect me to outbid Associated Press, or Reuters. How about a hundred?»

«What do you think I am?»

«We settled that, we're dickering over the price. A hundred and fifty?»

«Look up the number of Associated Press, that's a lamb.»

«Capitol 10-9000. Jill, will you marry me? That's as high as I can go.»

She looked startled. «What did you say?»

«Will you marry me? Then, when they ride you out of town on a rail, I'll be waiting at the city line and take you away from your sordid existence. You'll come back here and cool your toes in my grass — ourgrass — and forget your ignominy. But you've durn well got to sneak me into that room first.»