Chapter 34

           FOSTERLOOKEDUPfromhiscurrentWorkinProgress."Junior!"

           "Sir?"

           "Thatyoungsteryouwanted–he’savailablenow.TheMartianshavereleasedhim."

           Digbylookedpuzzled."I’msorry.TherewassomeyoungcreaturetowardwhomIhaveaDuty?"

           Fostersmiledangelically.Miracleswerenevernecessary–inTruththepseudo-concept"miracle"wasself-contradicting.Buttheseyoungfellowsalwayshadtolearnitforthemselves."Nevermind,"hesaidgently."It’saminorjobandI’llhandleitmyself–andJunior?"

           "Sir?"

           "Callme‘Fog,’please–ceremonyisallrightinthefieldbutwedon’tneeditinthestudio.Andremindmenottocallyou‘Junior’afterthis–youmadeaverynicerecordonthattemporarydutyassignment.Whichnamedoyouliketobecalled?"

           Hisassistantblinked."Ihaveanothername?"

           "Thousandsofthem.Doyouhaveapreference?"

           "Why,Ireallydon’trecallatthiseon."

           "Well?howwouldyouliketobecalled‘Digby’?"

           "Uh,yes.That’saverynicename.Thanks."

           "Don’tthankme.Youearnedit."ArchangelFosterturnedbacktohiswork,notforgettingtheminoritemhehadassumed.BrieflyheconsideredhowthiscupmightbetakenfromlittlePatricia–thenchidedhimselfforsuchunprofessional,almosthuman,thought.Mercywasnotpossibletoanangel;angeliccompassionleftnoroomforit.