Stranger in a Strange Land

Instantly Jubal signalled Mike to sit down, the result being that Mike and the Secretary General sat down simultaneously — with a respectful pause before anyone else did so.

Jubal held his breath. Had LaRue done it? He hadn't quite promised —

The fortissimo tocsin of the «Mars» movement filled the room — the «War God» theme that startles even an audience expecting it. With his eyes on Douglas and Douglas looking back at him, Jubal was up out of his chair like a recruit snapping to attention.

Douglas stood, not as quickly but promptly.

But Mike did not; Jubal had not signalled him. He sat, unembarrassed by the fact that everyone else got back on his feet when the Secretary General did. Mike did not understand any of it and was content to do what his water brother wanted.

Jubal had puzzled over this, after he had demanded the «Martian Anthem.» If the demand was met, what should Mike do? The answer depended on what role Mike was playing in this comedy —

The music stopped. On Jubal's signals Mike stood up, bowed quickly, and sat down, seating himself about as the Secretary General and the rest were seated. They all sat down more quickly this time, as no one missed the glaring point that Mike had remained seated through the «anthem.»

Jubal sighed with relief. He had gotten away with it. Many years earlier he had seen one of the vanishing tribe of royalty (a reigning queen) receive a parade — and he had noticed that the royal lady bowed after her anthem was played, i.e., she had acknowledged a salute offered to her sovereign self.

But the head of a democracy stands for his nation's anthem like any citizen — he is not a sovereign.

As Jubal had pointed out, one couldn't have it two ways. Either Mike was a private citizen, in which case this gymkhana should never have been held — or, by the theory inherent in the Larkin Decision, the kid was sovereign all by his lonesome.

Jubal felt tempted to offer LaRue a pinch of snuff. Well, the point had not been missed by one — the Papal Nuncio kept his face straight but his eyes were twinkling.

Douglas started to speak: «Mr. Smith, we are honored and happy to have you as our guest. We hope that you will consider Earth your home quite as much as the planet of your birth, our neighbor — our good neighbor — Mars — » He went on in rounded, pleasant periods. Mike was welcomed — but whether as a sovereign, as a tourist, or as a citizen returning home, was impossible to tell.

Jubal watched Douglas, looking for some sign that would show how Douglas had taken the letter Jubal had sent to him. But Douglas never looked at him. Presently Douglas concluded, having said nothing and said it very well.

Jubal said, «Now, Mike.»

Smith addressed the Secretary General — in Martian.

He cut it off and said gravely: «Mr. Secretary General of the Federation of Free Nations of the Planet Earth — » then went on again in Martian.

Then in English: « — we thank you for our welcome here today. We bring greetings to the peoples of Earth from the Ancient Ones of Mars — » and shifted again into Martian.

Jubal felt that «Ancient Ones» was a good touch; it carried more bulge than «Old Ones» and Mike had not objected. It had been Jill's idea to alternate a Martian version with the English one — and Jubal admitted with warm pleasure that her gimmick puffed up a formal little speech as devoid of content as a campaign promise into something as rollingly impressive as Wagnerian opera. (And as hard to figure out!)

It didn't matter to Mike. He could insert the Martian as easily as he could memorize and recite the English. If it would please his water brothers to say these sayings, it made Mike happy.

Someone touched Jubal's shoulder, shoved an envelope in his hand, and whispered, «From the Secretary General.» Jubal looked up, saw that it was Bradley, hurrying silently away. Jubal opened the envelope, glanced inside.

The note was one word: «Yes,» and had been signed with «J.E.D.» — in the famous green ink.

Jubal looked up, found Douglas's eyes on him; Jubal nodded and Douglas looked away. The conference was over; all that remained was to let the world know it.

Mike concluded the sonorous nullities; Jubal heard his own words: « — growing closer, with mutual benefit to both worlds — » and «each race according to its own nature — » Douglas then thanked the Man from Mars, briefly but warmly.

Jubal stood up. «Mr. Secretary General — »

«Yes, Dr. Harshaw?»