Chapter 35

           JUBALHADAMISERABLETRIP.Thetaxiwasautomaticanditdidjustwhatheexpectedofmachinery,developedtroubleintheairandhomedformaintenanceinsteadofcarryingoutitsorders.JubalwoundupinNewYork,fartherfromwherehewantedtobethanwhenhestarted.Therehefoundthathecouldmakebettertimebycommercialschedulethanhecouldbyanycharteravailable.Sohearrivedhourslaterthanheexpectedto,havingspentthetimecoopedupwithstrangers(whichhedetested)andwatchingastereotank(whichhedetestedonlyslightlyless).

           Butitdidinformhimsomewhat.HesawaninsertofSupremeBishopShortproclaimingaholywaragainsttheAntichrist,i.e?Mike,andhesawtoomanyshotsofwhatwasobviouslyanutterlyruinedbuilding–hefailedtoseehowanyofthemhadescapedalive.AugustusGreaves,inhismostsolemnlippmanntones,viewedwithalarmeverythingaboutitbutpointedoutthat,ineveryspite-fencequarrel,oneneighborsuppliestheoriginalincitement–andmadeitplainthat,inhisweasel-wordedopinion,theso-calledManfromMarswasatfault.

           AtlastJubalstoodonamunicipallandingflatswelteringinwinterclothesunsuitedtotheblazingsunoverhead,notedthatpalmtreesstilllookedlikeapoorgradeoffeatherduster,regardedbleaklytheoceanbeyondthem,thinkingthatitwasadirtyunstablemassofwater,certainlycontaminatedwithgrapefruitshellsandhumanexcrementeventhoughhecouldn’tseesuchatthisdistance–andwonderedwhattodonext.

           Amanwearingauniformcapapproachedhim.