«Now, Becky, we won't bring that up. I was paid.»

«You saved his life.»

«I did no such thing. It was his will to fight — and your nursing.»

«Uh… Doc, we're wasting time. Just how hot are you?»

«They're throwing the book… and anybody near me will get splashed. There's a warrant out — a Federation warrant — and they know where I am and I can't run. It will be served any minute… and Mr. Douglas is the only person who can stop it.»

«You'll be sprung. I guarantee that.»

«Becky… I'm sure you would. But it might take a few hours. It's that “back room”, Becky. I'm too old for a session in the back room.»

«But — Oh, goodness! Doc, can't you give me some details? I ought to cast a horoscope, then I'd know what to do. You're Mercury, of course, since you're a doctor. But if I knew what house to look in, I could do better.»

«Girl, there isn't time.» Jubal thought rapidly. Whom to trust? «Becky, just knowing could put you in as much trouble as I am in.»

«Tell me, Doc. I've never taken a powder at a clem yet — and you know it.»

«All right. So I'm “Mercury”. But the trouble lies in Mars.»

She looked at him sharply. «How?»

«You've seen the news. The Man from Mars is supposed to be in the Andes. Well, he's not. That's just to hoax the yokels.»

Becky seemed not as startled as Jubal had expected. «Where do you figure in this, Doc?»

«Becky, there are people all over this sorry planet who want to lay hands on that boy. They want to use him, make him geek. He's my client and I won't hold still for it. But my only chance is to talk with Mr. Douglas.»

«The Man from Mars is your client? You can turn him up?»

«Only to Mr. Douglas. You know how it is, Becky — the mayor can be a good Joe, kind to children and dogs. But he doesn't know everything his town clowns do — especially if they haul a man in and take him into that back room.»

She nodded. «Cops!»

«So I need to dicker with Mr. Douglas before they haul me in.»

«All you want is to talk to him?»

«Yes. Let me give you my number — and I'll sit here, hoping for a call… until they pick me up. If you can't swing it… thanks anyway, Becky. I'll know you tried.»

«Don't switch off!»

«Eh?»

«Keep the circuit, Doc. If I have any luck, they can patch through this phone and save time. So hold on.» Madame Vesant left the screen, called Agnes Douglas. She spoke with calm confidence, pointing out that this was the development foretold by the stars — exactly on schedule. Now had come the critical instant when Agnes must guide her husband, using her womanly wit and wisdom to see that he acted wisely and without delay. «Agnes dear, this configuration will not be repeated in a thousand years — Mars, Venus, and Mercury in perfect trine, just as Venus reaches meridian, making Venus dominant. Thus you see — »

«Allie, what do the Stars tell me to do? You know I don't understand the scientific part.»

This was hardly surprising, since the described relationship did not obtain. Madame Vesant had not had time to compute a horoscope and was improvising. She was untroubled by it; she was speaking a «higher truth,» giving good advice and helping her friends. To help two friends at once made Becky Vesey especially happy. «Dear, you do understand it, you have born talent. You are Venus, as always, and Mars is reinforced, being both your husband and that young man Smith for the duration of this crisis. Mercury is Dr. Harshaw. To offset the imbalance caused by the reinforcement of Mars, Venus must sustain Mercury until the crisis is past. But you have very little time; Venus waxes in influence until reaching meridian, only seven minutes from now — after that your influence will decline. You must act quickly.»

«You should have warned me.»

«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.»