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           IthadbeenJill’sideatoalternate,sentencebysentence,aMartianversionandanEnglishversion–andJubaladmittedwithwarmpleasurethathergimmickpuffedupaformallittlespeechasdevoidofrealcontentasacampaignpromiseintosomethingasrollinglyimpressiveasWagnerianopera.(Andaboutashardtofigureout,Jubaladded.)

           Itdidn’tmattertoMike.HecouldinserttheMartiantranslationaseasilyashecouldmemorizeandrecitetheeditedEnglishversion,i.e.,withouteffortforeither.Ifitwouldpleasehiswaterbrotherstosaythesesayings,itmadeMikehappy.

           SomeonetouchedJubalontheshoulder,shovedanenvelopeinhishand,andwhispered,"FromtheSecretaryGeneral."Juballookedup,sawthatitwasBradley,hurryingsilentlyaway.Jubalopenedtheenvelopeinhislap,glancedatthesinglesheetinside.

           Thenotewasoneword:"Yes,"andhadbeensignedwithinitials"J.E.D."-allinthefamousgreenink.

           Juballookedup,foundthatDouglas’eyeswerenowonhim;JubalnoddedeversoslightlyandDouglaslookedaway.Theconferencewasnowover;allthatremainedwastolettheworldknowit.

           Mikeconcludedthesonorousnullitieshehadbeengiven;Jubalheardhisownwords:"-growingcloser,withmutualbenefittobothworlds-"and"-eachraceaccordingtoitsownnature-"butdidnotlisten.DouglasthenthankedtheManfromMars,brieflybutwarmly.Therewasapause.

           Jubalstoodup."Mr.SecretaryGeneral-"

           "Yes,Dr.Harshaw?"

           "Asyouknow,Mr.Smithisheretodayinadualrole.