JUBAL AND THE MAN FROM MARS strolled slowly into the living room withthe big stereo tank. Apparently the entire Nest was gathered, watching it. Itshowed a dense and turbulent crowd, somewhat restrained by policemen.
Mike glanced at it and looked serenely happy. .They come. Now is thefullness.“ The sense of ecstatic expectancy Jubal had felt growing ever sincehis arrival swelled greatly, but no one moved.
.It’s a mighty big tip, sweetheart,“ Jill agreed.
.And ready to turn,“ added Patty.
.I’d better dress for it,“ Mike commented. .Have I got any clothes aroundthis dump? Patty?“.Right away, Michael.“Jubal said, .Son, that mob looks pretty ugly to me. Are you sure this is anytime to tackle them?“.Oh, sure,“ said Mike. .They’ve come to see me ... so now I go down to meetthem.“ He paused while some clothing got out of the way of his face; he wasbeing dressed at break-neck speed with the unnecessary help of severalwomen-unnecessary as each garment seemed to know where to go and howto drape itself. .This job has its obligations as well as its privileges-the starhas to show up for the show . . * grok me? The marks expect it.“Duke said, .Mike knows what he’s doing, Boss.“.Well ... I don’t trust mobs.“.That crowd is mostly curiosity seekers, they always are. Oh, there are someFosterites and some others with grudges-but Mike can handle any crowd.
You’ll see. Right, Mike?“.Keerect, Cannibal. Pull in a tip, then give .em a show. Where’s my hat?
Can’t walk in the noonday sun without a hat.“ An expensive Panama with asporty colored band glided out and settled itself on his head; he cocked itjauntily. .There! Do I look all right?“ He was dressed in his usual outerservicesmufti, a smartly tailored, sharply creased, white business suit, shoesto match, snowy shirt, and luxurious dazzling scarf.
Ben said, .All you lack is a brief case.“.You grok I need one? Patty, do we have one?“Jill stepped up to him. .Ben was kidding, dear. You look just perfect.“ Shestraightened his tie and kissed him-and Jubal felt kissed. .Go talk to them.“.Yup. Time to turn the tip. Anne? Duke?“.Ready, Mike.“ Anne was wearing her floor-length Fair Witness, cloak,wrapping her in dignity; Duke was just the opposite, being sloppily dressed,with a lighted cigarette dangling from his face, an old hat on the back of hishead with a card marked .PRESS“ stuck in its band, and himself hung aboutwith cameras and kit.
They headed for the door to the foyer common to the four penthouse suites.
Only Jubal followed; all the others, thirty and more, stayed around the stereotank. Mike paused at the door. There was a hall table there, with a pitcher ofwater and glasses, a dish of fruit and a fruit knife. .Better not come anyfarther,“ he advised Jubal, .or Patty would have to escort you back throughher pets.“Mike poured himself a glass of water, drank part of it. .Preaching is thirstywork.“ He handed the glass to Anne. then took the fruit knife and sliced off achunk of apple.
It seemed to Jubal that Mike sliced off one of his fingers . . . but his attentionwas distracted as Duke passed the glass to him. Mike’s hand was notbleeding and Jubal had grown somewhat accustomed to legerdemain. Heaccepted the glass and took a sip, finding that his own throat was very dry.
Mike gripped his arm and smiled. .Quit fretting. This will take only a fewminutes. See you later, Father.“ They went out through the guardian cobrasand the door closed. Jubal went back to the room where the others were, stillcarrying the glass. Someone took it from him; he did not notice, as he waswatching images in the big tank.
The mob seemed denser, surging about and held back by police armed onlywith night sticks. There were a few shouts but mostly just the unlocalizedmuttering of crowd.
Someone said, .Where are they now, Patty?“.They’ve just dropped down the tube. Michael is a little ahead, Duke stoppedto catch Anne. They’re entering the lobby. Michael has been spotted, picturesare being taken.“The scene in the tank resolved into enormous head and shoulders of abrightly cheerful newscaster: .This is NWNW New World Networks’ mobilenewshound on the spot while it’s hot-your newscaster, Happy Holliday. Wehave just learned that the fake messiah, sometimes known as the Man fromMars, has crawled out of his hide-out in a hotel room here in beautiful St.
Petersburg, the City that Has Everything to Make You Sing. Apparently Smithis about to surrender to the authorities. He crushed out of jail just yesterday,using high explosives smuggled in to him by his fanatic followers. But thetight cordon placed around this city seems to have been too much for hint Wedon’t know yet-I repeat, we don’t know yet-so stay with the chap who coversthe map-and now a word from your local sponsor who has given you thiskeyhole peep at the latest leap-.
.Thank you, Happy Holliday and all you good people watching via NWNW!
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(.They’re coming out the front entrance,“ Patty said quietly. .The crowd hasn’tspotted Michael yet.“).Maybe not yet ... but soon. You are now looking at the main entrance of themagnificent Sans Souci Hotel, Gem of the Gulf, whose management is in noway responsible for this hunted fugitive and who have cooperated with theauthorities throughout according to a statement just issued by Chief of PoliceDavis. And while we’re waiting to see what wi............