Chapter 21

           Themeetingadjourned.JubalfoundhisintentionofgettinghisflockoutofthePalacebalkedbythepresenceoftheAmericanPresidentandofSenatorBoone;bothwantedtochatwithMike,bothwerepracticalpoliticianswhorealizedfullythefreshlyenhancedvalueofbeingseenonintimatetermswiththeManfromMars–andbothwerewellawarethattheeyesoftheworld,viastereovision,werestillonthem.

           Andotherhungrypoliticoswereclosingin.

           Jubalsaidquickly,"Mr.President,Senator–we’releavingatoncetohavelunch.Canyoujoinus?"Hereflectedthattwoinprivatewouldbeeasiertohandlethantwodozeninpublic–andhehadtogetMikeoutoftherebeforeanythingcameunstuck.

           Tohisreliefbothhadotherdutieselsewhere.JubalfoundhimselfpromisingnotonlytofetchMiketothatobsceneFosteriteservicebutalsotobringhimtotheWhiteHouse–oh,well,theboycouldalwaysgetsick,ifnecessary."Places,girls."

           WithhisescortagainaroundhimMikewasconvoyedtotheroof,Anneleadingthewaysinceshewouldrememberit–andcreatingquiteabowwavewithherheight,herValkyrieblondebeauty,andherimpressivecloakofaFairWitness.Jubal,Ben,andthethreeofficersfromtheChampioncoveredtherear.LarryandtheGreyhoundbuswerewaitingontheroof;afewminuteslaterthedriverleftthemontheroofoftheNewMayflower.Newsmencaughtupwiththemthere,ofcourse,butthegirlsguardedMikeondowntothesuiteDukehadtakenearlier.