DESPITE A LATE EVENING Jill was ready to relieve the night floor nurse tenminutes early the next morning. She intended to obey Ben’s order to stay outof his proposed attempt to see the Man from Mars but she was determined tobe close by when it happened . . . just in case. Ben might needreinforcements.
There were no longer marine guards in the corridor. Trays, medications, andtwo patients to be prepared for surgery kept her busy the first two hours; shehad only time to check the knob of the door to suite K- 12. It was locked, aswas the door to the adjoining sitting room. The door to the watch room on itsother side was closed. She considered sneaking in again to see Smiththrough the connecting sitting room, now that the guards were gone, butdecided to postpone it; she was too busy. Nevertheless she managed tokeep a close check on everyone who came Onto her floor.
Ben did not show up and discreet questions asked of her assistant on theswitchboard reassured her that neither Ben nor anyone else had gone in tosee the Man from Mars while Jill was busy elsewhere. It puzzled her; whileBen had not set a time, she had had the impression that he had intended tostorm the citadel as early in the day as possible.
Presently she felt that she just had to snoop a bit. During a lull she knockedat the door of the Suite’s watch room, then stuck her head in and pretendedsurprise. .Oh! Good morning, Doctor. I thought Doctor Frame was in here.“The physician at the watch desk was strange to Jill. He turned away from thedisplayed physio data, looked at her, then smiled as he looked her up anddown. .I haven’t seen Dr. Frame, Nurse. I’m Dr. Brush. Can I help?“At the typical male reaction Jill relaxed. .Nothing special. To tell the truth Iwas curious. How is the Man from Mars?“She smiled and winked. .It’s no secret to the staff, Doctor. Your patient-. Shegestured at the inner door.
.Huh?“ He looked startled. .Did they have him in this suite?“.What? Isn’t he here now?“.Not by six decimal places. Mrs. Rose Bankerson-Dr. Garner’s patient. Webrought her in early this morning.“.Really? But what happened to the Man from Mars? Where did they puthim?“.I haven’t the faintest. Say, did I realiy just miss seeing ValentineSmith?“.He was here yesterday. That’s all I know.“.And Dr. Frame was on his case? Some people have all the luck. Look whatI’m stuck with.“ He switched on the Peeping Tom above his desk; Jill sawframed in it, as if she were looking down, a water bed; floating in it was a tinyold woman. She seemed to be asleep.
.What’s her trouble?“.Mmm ... Nurse, if she didn’t have more money than any person ought tohave, you might be tempted to call it senile dementia. As it is, she is in for arest and a check-up.“Jill made small talk for a few moments more, then pretended to see a calllight. She went back to her desk, dug out the night log-yes, there it was: V M.
Smith, K-12-zransfer. Below that entry was another: Rose ~ Bankerson(Mrs.)-red K-12 (diet kitchen instrd by Dr. Garner-no orders-fir nt respnbl).
Having noted that the rich old gal was no responsibility of hers, Jill turned hermind back to Valentine Smith. Something about Mrs. Bankerson’s casestruck her as odd but she could not put her finger on it, so she put it Out ofher mind and thought about the matter that did interest her. Why had theymoved Smith in the middle of the night? To avoid any possible contact withoutsiders, probably. But where had they taken him? Ordinarily she wouldsimply have called .Reception“ and asked, but Ben’s opinions plus the phonybroadcast of the night before had made her jumpy about showing curiosity;she decided to wait until lunch and see what she could pick up on the gossipgrapevine.
But first Jill went to the floor’s public booth and called Ben. His officeinformed her that Mr. Caxton had just left town, to be gone a few days. Shewas startled almost speechless by this-then pulled herself together and leftword for Ben to call her.
She then called his home. He was not there; she recorded the samemessage.
Ben Caxton had wasted no time in preparing his attempt to force his way intothe presence of Valentine Michael Smith. He was lucky in being able to retainJames Oliver Cavendish as his Fair Witness. While any Fair Witness woulddo, the prestige of Cavendish was such that a lawyer was hardly necessarytheold gentleman had testified many times before the High Court of theFederation and it was said that the wills locked up in his head representednot billions but trillions. Cavendish had received his training in total recallfrom the great Dr. Samuel Renshaw himself and his professional hypnoticinstruction had been undergone as a fellow of the Rhine Foundation. His feefor a day or fraction thereof was more than Ben made in a week, but Benexpected to charge it off to the Post syndicate-in any case, the best wasnone too good for this job.
Caxton picked up the junior Frisby of Biddle, Frisby, Frisby, Biddle, & Reedas that law firm represented the Post syndicate, then the two younger mencalled for Witness Cavendish. The long, spare form of Mr. Cavendish,wrapped chin to ankle in the white cloak of his profession, reminded Ben ofthe Statue of Liberty . . . and was almost as conspicuous. Ben had alreadyexplained to Mark Fnsby what he intended to try (and Frisby had alreadypointed Out to him that he had no status and no rights) before they called forCavendish; once in the Fair Witness’s presence they conformed to protocoland did not discuss what he might be expected to see and hear.
The cab dropped them on top of Bethesda Center; they went down to theDirector’s office. Ben handed in his card and said that he wanted to see theDirector.
An imperious female with a richly cultivated accent asked if he had anappointment. Ben admitted that he had none.
.Then I am afraid that your chance of seeing Dr. Broemer is very slight. Willyou state your business?“.Just tell him,“ Caxton said loudly, so that others waiting would hear, .thatCaxton of the Crow’s Nest is here with a lawyer and a Fair Witness tointerview Valentine Michael Smith, the Man from Mars.“She was startled almost out of her professional hauteur. But she recoveredand said frostily, .I shall inform him. Will you be seated, please?“.Thanks, I’ll wait right here.“They waited. Frisby broke out a cigar, Cavendish waited with the calmpatience of one who has seen all manner of good and evil and now countsthem both the same, Caxton uttered and tried to keep from biting his nails. Atlast the snow queen behind the desk announced, .Mr. Berquist will see you.“.Berquist? Gil Berquist?“.I believe his name is Mr. Gilbert Berquist.“Caxton thought about it-Gil Berquist was one of Secretary Douglas’s largesquad of stooges, or .executive assistants.“ He specialized in chaperoningofficial visitors. .I don’t want to see Berquist; I want the Director.“But Berquist was already coming out, hand shoved out before him, greeter’sgrin plastered on his face. .Benny Caxton! How are you, chum? Long timeand so forth. Still peddling the same old line of hoke?“ He glanced at the FairWitness, but his expression admitted nothing.
Ben shook hands briefly. .Same old hoke, sure. What are you doing here,Gil?“.If I ever manage to get Out of public service I’m going to get me a column,too-nothing to do but phone in a thousand words of rumors each day andspend the rest of the day in debauchery. I envy you, Ben.“.I said, .What are you doing here, Gil?’ I want to see the Director, then getfive minutes with the Man from Mars. I didn’t come here for your high-levelbrush off.“.Now, Ben, don’t take that attitude. I’m here because Dr. Broemer has beendriven almost crazy by the press-so the Secretary General sent me over totake some of the load off his shoulders.“.Okay. I want to see Smith.“.Ben, old boy, don’t you realize that every reporter, special correspondent,feature writer, commentator, free-lance, and sob sister wants the samething? You winchells are just one squad in an army; if we let you all haveyour way, you would kill off the poor jerk in twenty-four hours. Polly Peeperswas here not twenty minutes ago. She wanted to interview him on love lifeamong the Martians.“ Berquist threw up both hands and looked helpless.
.I want to see Smith, Do I see him, or don’t I?“.Ben, let’s find a quiet place where we can talk over a long, tall glass. Youcan ask me anything you want to.“.I don’t want to ask you anything; I want to see Smith. By the way, this is myattorney, Mark Frisby-Biddle & Frisby.“ As was customary, Ben did notintroduce the Fair Witness; they all pretended that he was not present.
.I’ve met Frisby,“ Berquist acknowledged. .How’s your father, Mark? Sinusesstill giving him fits?“.About the same.“.This foul Washington climate. Well, come along, Ben. You, too,Mark.“.Hold it,“ said Caxton. .I don’t want to interview you, Gil. I want to seeValentine Michael Smith. I’m here as a member of the press, directlyrepresenting the Post syndicate and indirectly representing over two hundredmillion readers. Do I see him? If I don’t, say so out loud and state your legalauthority for refusing me.“Berquist sighed. .Mark, will you tell this keyhole historian that he can’t gobusting into a sick man’s bedroom just because he has a syndicated column?
Valentine Smith made one public appearance just last night -against hisphysician’s advice I might add. The man is entitled to peace and quiet and achance to build up his strength and get oriented. That appearance last nightwas enough, more than enough.“.There are rumors,“ Caxton said carefully, .that the appearance last nightwas a fake.“Berquist stopped smiling. .Frisby,“ he said coldly, .do you want to advise yourclient on the law concerning slander?“.Take it easy, Ben.“.I know the law on slander, Gil. In my business I have to. But whom am Islandering? The Man from Mars? Or somebody else? Name a name. Irepeat,“ he went on, raising his voice, .that I have heard that the maninterviewed on TV last night was not the Man from Mars. I want to see himmyself and ask him.“The crowded reception hail was very quiet as everyone present bent an earto the argument. Berquist glanced quickly at the Fair Witness, then got hisexpression under control and said smilingly to Caxton, .Ben, it’s just possiblethat you talked yourself into the interview you wanted-as well as a lawsuit.
Wait a moment.“He disappeared into the inner office, came back fairly soon. .I arranged it,“ hesaid wearily, .though God knows why. You don’t deserve it, Ben. Comealong. Just you-Mark, I’m sorry but we can’t have a crowd of people; after all,Smith is a sick man.“.No,“ said Caxton.
.Huh?“.All three of us, or none of us. Take your choice.“.Ben, don’t be silly; you’re receiving a very special privilege. Tell you what-Mark can come along and wait outside the door But you certainly don’t needhim.“ Berquist glanced toward Cavendish; the Witness seemed not to hear.
.Maybe not. But I’ve paid his fee to have him along. My column will statetonight that the administration refused to permit a Fair Witness to see theMan from Mars.“Berquist shrugged. .Come along, then. Ben, I hope that slander suit reallyclobbers you.“They took the patients’ elevator rather than the bounce tube out of deferenceto Cavendish’s age, then rode a slide-away for a long distance pastlaboratories, therapy rooms, solaria, and ward after ward. They were stoppedonce by a guard who phoned ahead, then let them through; they were at lastushered into a physio-data display room used for watching critically illpatients. .This is Dr. Tanner,“ Berquist announced. .Doctor, this is Mr. Caxtonand Mr. Frisby.“ He did not, of course, introduce Cavendish.
Tanner looked worried. .Gentlemen, I am doing this against my betterjudgment because the Director insists. I must warn you of one thing. Don’t door say anything that might excite my patient. He is in an extremely neuroticcondition and falls very easily into a state of pathological withdrawal-a trance,if you choose to call it that.“.Epilepsy?“ asked Ben.
.A layman might easily mistake it for that. It is more like catalepsy. But don’tquote me; there is no clinical precedent for this case.“.Are you a specialist, Doctor? Psychiatry, maybe?“Tanner glanced at Berquist. .Yes,“ he admitted.
.Where did you do your advanced work?“Berquist said, .Look, Ben, let’s see............