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           She’sgotacrushonyou?"

           Jubalshookhishead."Somemistake.The‘DawnArdent’ImeanIjustbarelymet,abouttwoyearsago.Shewouldn’tevenrememberme."

           "Sheremembersyou.Shegetseveryoneofyourpiecesofcommercialcrud,ontape,undereverypseudonymshehasbeenabletotrackdown.Shegoestosleepbythem,usually,andtheygiveherbeautifuldreams.Shesays.Furthermorethereisnodoubtthatsheknowswhoyouare.Jubal,thatbiglivingroom,theNestproper,hasexactlyoneitemofornamentation,ifyou’llpardontheword–alife-sizedcolorcopyofyourhead.Looksasifyouhadbeendecapitated,withyourfaceinahideousgrin.AcandidshotthatDukesneakedofyou,Iunderstand."

           "Why,thatbrat!"

           "Jillaskedhimto,behindyourback."

           "Doublebrat!"

           "Sir,youarespeakingofthewomanIlove–althoughI’mnotaloneinthatdistinction.ButMikeputheruptoit.Braceyourself,Jubal–youarethepatronsaintoftheChurchofAllWorlds."

           Juballookedhorrified."Theycan’tdothistome!"

           "Theyalreadyhave.Butdon’tworry;it’sunofficialandnotpublicized.ButMikefreelygivesyoucredit,insidetheNestjustamongwaterbrothers,forhavinginstigatedthewholeshowandexplainedthingstohimsowellthathewasfinallyabletofigureouthowtoputoverMartiantheologytohumans."

           Juballookedabouttoretch.Benwenton,"I’mafraidyoucan’tduckit.Butinaddition,Dawnthinksyou’rebeautiful.