Chapter 20

           JubalhadconsideredhavingMikeremainseatedwhileDouglascamein,buthadrejectedtheidea;hewasnottryingtoplaceMikeanotchhigherthanDouglasbutmerelytoestablishthatthemeetingwasbetweenequals.So,whenhestoodup,hesignaledMiketodosolikewise.Thegreatdoubledoorsatthebackoftheconferencehallhadopenedatthefirststrainsof"HailtoSovereignPeace"andDouglascamein.Hewentstraighttohischairandstartedtositdown.

           InstantlyJubalsignaledMiketositdown,theresultbeingthatMikeandtheSecretaryGeneralsatdownsimultaneously–withalong,respectfulpauseofsomesecondsbeforeanyoneelseresumedhisseat.Jubalheldhisbreath.HadLaRuedoneit?Ornot?Hehadn’tquitepromised–Thenthefirstfortissimotocsinofthe"Mars"movementfilledtheroom-the"WarGod"themethatstartlesevenanaudienceexpectingit.WithhiseyesonDouglasandwithDouglaslookingbackathim,Jubalwasatonceupoutofhischairagain,likeascaredrecruitsnappingtoattention.Douglasstoodup,too,notasquicklybutpromptly.

           ButMikedidnotgetup;Jubalhadnotsignalledhimtodoso.Hesatquietly,impassively,quiteunembarrassedbythefactthateveryoneelsewithoutanyexceptiongotquicklybackonhisfeetwhentheSecretaryGeneralstoodup.Mikedidnotunderstandanyofitandwasquitecontenttodowhathiswaterbrothertoldhimtodo.Jubalhadpuzzledoverthisbit,afterhehaddemandedthe"MartianAnthem.