Chapter 5

           Jilllookedround-eyed."I’vecertainlyhadtoomanymartinisBen.IwouldswearthatyousaidthatthatpatientownstheplanetMars."

           "Hedoes.Hemaintainedoccupationofit,unassisted,fortherequiredlengthoftime.SmithistheplanetMars-King,President,solecivicbody,whatyouwill.IftheskipperoftheChampionhadnotleftcolonistsbehind,Smith’stenuremighthavefailed.Buthedid,andthatcontinuesoccupationeventhoughSmithcametoEarth.ButSmithdoesn’thavetosplitwiththem;theyaremereimmigrantsuntilhegrantsthemMartiancitizenship."

           "Fantastic!"

           "Itsurelyis.Alsoit’slegal.Honey,doyounowseewhysomanypeopleareinterestedinwhoSmithisandwherehecamefrom?Andwhytheadministrationissodamnedanxioustokeephimunderarug?Whattheyaredoingisn’tevenvaguelylegal.SmithisalsoacitizenoftheUnitedStatesandoftheFederation,byderivation-dualcitizenshipwithnoconflict.It’sillegaltoholdacitizen,evenaconvictedcriminal,incommunicadoanywhereintheFederation;that’soneofthethingswesettledinWorldWarThree.ButIdoubtifSmithknowshisrights.Also,ithasbeenconsideredanunfriendlyactallthroughhistorytolockupavisitingfriendlymonarch-whichiswhatheis-andnottolethimseepeople,especiallythepress,meaningme.Youstillwon’tsneakmeinasathumbfingeredelectrician?"

           "Huh?You’vegotmeworsescaredthanever.