MARTIANS, KEEP OUT! By Fritz Leiber

and as if that sign weren't enough someone with a red spray pencil had added that means you bug the stiff blackshell form impaled on a spike beside the traffic way with Gummy beads of blue blood glistening in the sun told the pretty little story much more graphically it hadn't been decapitated martians lack external heads scat scanned the Tableau his scarred lean features impassive they didn't mention this he commented do we still go in you ask questions like that just for the sake of the record don't you click click replied using his black pincers to produce code in a way that explained his nickname though headless martians didn't lack brains definitely scat switched to the turbine for jetless surface drive and the utility car crawled into Bronco a hick town scat decided a couple of 100 story skylons a main street of glasstic commercial buildings and rows of stressing similar homes all of them Paradise 37s or Eden 2os but the skylons looked dead the glastic was dingy and the Shrubbery drooped a few cars were untidily parked by Traffic Way foot paths worn in the grass showed that the slidewalks hadn't been strategically placed and not all of them seemed to be working crummy but it was in Bergs like this that the destiny of the Martians was being decided in the big Metropolis in intellectuals talked Martian question all night here things happen click click sat up in plain view not to see but to be seen Isa perception gave him as good a picture as scats of the Town less range but a lot more three-dimensional his shiny black body and jointed arms brought some coldly unfavorable lingering stairs but nothing more broad daylight didn't lend itself to lynchings when they entered the offices of the Bronco news beam old Don noan acted as if he had been betrayed his scraggly eyebrows gyrated contorted above his pale closed set eyes if I'd had any idea that I was selling the news beam to a damn bug Lover he finally howled impotently get off my property said scat in a low voice Jonas scatter day The Liberator Donelan's eyes became crooked blue needles of bigotry seems to me I recall you're a bug Smuggler too mixed up in the underground Skyway to Nara get off my property scat repeated as Don Nolan sidled out he uttered those Famous Last Words which are as old as wishful thinking and blustering cowardice you can't do this to me in the transmission room scat explained the change situation to the news beam employees with click clicks standing beside him a grizzled old beam doctor expressed their sentiments I guess we'll stick with you mister I won't say we like it but it's our jobs scat nodded unenthusiastically he knew the arrangement wouldn't last out the day but as click click had observed there were a lot of things he did for the sake of the record 10 minutes later they had the missionary sizzling on the beam after a brief editorial statement of the new ownership and policy click click had fetched the master tapes from the car anachronistically speaking the missionary was Dynamite scat switched him in on the transmission room screen and sat down to listen unmindful of the guardedly resent ful looks he got from the staff as he listened his lanky frame relaxed and his Stony features softened a little the missionary wasn't blind but he had the spiritual look some Blind Men get he was cadaverous his voice got under your ribs living machines It Is by virtue of that legal fiction that we have denied the Martians even the humanitarian treatment we Grant to domestic animals that we have revived an institution as vile as it is old in order to exploit them that we have spurned all communion with their gentle Minds living machines the Earth's bad conscience is the best testimony to the fality of that fiction though even the most confirmed Martian hater recognizes it he says succinctly bug but they's soulless you claim inhuman without feelings well fellow free citizens of the world Confederation I went to preach the word to those living machines on their home planet I had to fight outer spaceways to get permission to do it I I had to live in a cramped little pressure Hut and wear a space suit whenever I went among them I had to shiver under their meager sun because fuel supplies Were Somehow always late in getting to me but I was happy because I was going to teach the Martians our religion I soon found out however that it was they who ought to be teaching me a scene of Martian religious ceremonies followed one of the few shots that humans have been able to obtain the speaker's voice continued it was one of the few shootings of Martian religious ceremonies that humans have been able to take lacking their perception and telepathy it wasn't easy to get in contact with their minds but we discovered ways I found out how they live what they believe in I was going to teach them our Golden Rule they taught me theirs the golden rule of a telepathic race do unto others as others would have you do unto them not many people watching in at this hour but the missionaries words were being Faithfully recorded in every home owning a Bronco new news beam set and during supper when people switched on the news there'd be a lot of Martian owning or Martian supported fathers and husbands who'd get indigestion and have to be restrained from busting up the set they'd flash a protest to the news beam they'd record an indignant tape to the government more to the point they'd squawked to kimeran which reminded Scot that he had business while I'm gone you take orders from him he told the staff indicating click click any question you got he'll write you an answer he walked out without waiting for the reaction a small boy was soaping bugs on the glasstic it begins thought scat he tossed an old new spool at the boy and hopped in the car he passed up the skylon housing the front offices of keman mining interests and headed straight for 10 Mile if they were going to give him the run around it might as well be on the spot outside City Limits the Traffic Way skirted bugtown he parked to get picks some shots of those miserable Burrows and those apathetic black forms so spiritless in comparison with a healthy psychically sound enlightened Martian like click click would fit nicely into an article he was doing for the free Martian monthly and maybe something for the news beam Sunday supplement if the new ownership lasted that long why there were only two refrigerators for the whole community and the measley vacuum Shack was inadequate even for mating purposes but owners didn't worry about the interminable process of Martian gation and maturation now while outer spaceways was running the theoretically illegal bug Trade Wide Open with an almost Savage flirt of his fingers he switched into smell getter might as well give the owners of sets with old factory reception a whiff of sick Martian while he was at it a rangy loose jawed man slouched out of the bushes on the other side of the Traffic Way a tarnished squirt gun was stuck conspicuously in the belt of his smok what might you be doing mister he drawled admiring the scenery scat replied harshly Bronco should be proud and he gave him his Jets too at 10 Mile his tape of introduction from World Mine owners got scat admitted to a manager's office Pronto he explained I've been commissioned to do an article on how you keep the bugs happy in the world's deepest mind he didn't say for what publication of course we have our standard news releases or Mr Martin the manager began tentatively he was frowning at scat trying to place him they're a bit stodgy I'm afraid scat replied we wanted something with more life to it shots of the bugs working the radioactives and the 10mi drifts and so on pictures of the bugs playing games and going through their primitive ceremonials when Mars is in the sky all specially posed and rehearsed of course I see yes there's something to what you say all right the manager nodded wisely pursing his little lips it could be made a lot more convin ing that way of course we'd have to get an okay from Mr kon's secretarial offices Mr the far away look that came into his eyes told scat that the whisper transmitter behind his ear had gone into action the manager's expression didn't change very much but his plump little hand crept down out of sight and pressed something Don Nolan must have squawked loud and Fast and to the right people scat decided regretfully a couple of barrel chested men with bug boss ritten all over them ambled in the manager came around the table and grabbed at scats right arm scat evaded the movement caught his hand and squeezed the manager squealed the bug bosses moved forward but scat released him yes the name scatter day he said end duroplast considerably harder than flesh everybody knew that Jonas scatter day had lost his right arm from Squirt Gun corrosive while standing off a raid on an Eastern Bug Town the manager nursed his hand hand his puffy little white face was venomous he said we could have you in court for using a bogus tape of introduction to try to sneak in and agitate among our bugs but since you've so conveniently put yourself in our hands I don't believe it will be necessary to call in the law scat laughed better check first with kean's secretarial offices with the situation as it is and all those government contracts that you're having to hump yourselves to fulfill I don't think they'd want anything to happen that would raise a stink if Jonah scatter a should disappear at 10 Mile I'm afraid the government regretfully of course would have to take a hand as he walked out the manager acted as if he were about to give the bug bosses an order but he didn't scat parked the utility car in front of the news beam a rock clunked against the duroplast of the tail he didn't turn around there were more signs soaked on the glasstic but a chunky little man with a great shock of red hair was erasing them scat called highin and walked in Don Nolan was waiting for him with a couple of seedy looking policemen he jumped up and waved a spool under scats nose put that on your pocket projector he chortled triumphantly it's an injunction restraining you from publishing the news beam because fraud was employed in its purchase scat pushed past him remarking casually the regional court has attested the legality of the sale and has set aside any and all injunctions against the present ownership of the news beam based on those grounds the whole world doesn't take orders from ceran quite the light of Triumph in donin's watery blue eyes flickered the Regional Court can't set aside an injunction that hasn't even been issued yet he protested it's not legal scat opened a drawer and tossed him a spool a stat of the regional courts decision he explained for you to keep read it and amplify your knowledge of law as he walked into the transmission room he added there's a projector on the desk well how did you and the staff get along together he asked click click audible speech wasn't strictly necessary martians being telepathic but it was generally easier to say a question than to think it just fine click click coed back at him some men are as bad as unenlightened martians they take orders from anything but after a while the staff had callers and walked out in a body seems they'd all been offered jobs with keran and the promise that he'd eventually make them as pensioners they walked out while the beam was hot click click ticked on but that didn't make any difference because by that time Lynn and the boys had arrived with the truck and they took over the next injunction remarked scad a little dreamily will be on the grounds that we're employing martians and semi-restricted jobs but it's the one after that I'm worrying about Lynn came in smiling all clean for the night he announced except for one sign which said bugs inside I just changed it to Martian and left it after after getting out the late news flashes click click and his three compatriots retired to the refrigerated vacuum tank which had been the truck's Chief Freight scat and Lynn were in the office having a last smoke before their catnap the lights outside made oddly distorted patterns on the glastic and the soap sign Lenn had left was silhouetted blackly Martian inside calling you calling you came the Swedish feminine sing song from the toxy on the desk the button blinked red but but the screen didn't come on Len pushed the lever but the screen stayed Black Scat smiled thinly Jonah scattered a and ly cut came a slow deep whisper from the black screen this is the voice of the Mystic X Bronco will not tolerate bug lovers we are however giving you one chance get out now and take your bugs with you and you won't be harmed Lynn joggled the lever feudal blacked out there in Des surmised Halloween stunts I got a mind to put the ghoul laughs in the projector and play back at them but he didn't look quite as amused as he sounded the button went black and ly stood there remembering things it was Mystic X who blew up the Martian Clinic to free Martian started in scaron Right Said scat letun get some sleep toward morning he awoke with a start he groped out and found the switch but the lights didn't come on the darkness was absolute while he slept the glass plastic had somehow been rendered opaque as he lay there he heard the unmistakable click of Pinchers from the transmission room and the faint moan of the beam he realized then what must have happened lighting power was local in Conformity with some Bronco ordinates so they've been able to cut it off but beam power was Regional and they weren't tampering with that yet click click had taken in the situation and had decided not to wake him or Lyn while he and his Pals got out the morning addition human beings couldn't operate very effectively until the lighting system had been jury rigged on beam power the busy clicking continued scat smiled Martian perception was independent of light click click must be getting a kick out of this still he better get up he dream some improvements in the editorial probably gone out already but they could always back tape and dub in the changes in the morning he and Lynn strolled out in front every square inch of glasstic was covered with black paint still sticky and glistening from the spray guns kind of like the new color remarked Lyn loudly for the benefit of some passers by black for free Martia scat sent him out to try and buy some food and rinse sleeping quarters in the Bronco recreational center which occupied the number two skylon just for the sake of the record Lyn would discover that the hosy was full up and that by some strange Mis chance there didn't happen to be any food in Bronco today a chalk sign killed the bugs came coasting by on the slidewalk scat put down his foot in front of it and let the slidewalk do the erasing back in the transmission room he discovered that click click's three companions had increased to five during the night passengers for the underground Skyway asked scat and this time he just thought the question click click coded an affirmative from 10 Mile they guess we must be in the neighborhood from the Martian tape were're running in the news beam all the Martians out at 10mile are picking up the tape be perception or the good old telepathic Grapevine they're crazy about it it's the first entertainment they've had in months the Martian tape was one of the trickiest things that scat handled any hint of agitation or even of attempted Enlightenment among own martians was strictly forbidden that was one point where the government would crack down fast hence the Martian tape adapted to beam perception had to be and was purely recreational devoted to vastly complex brain teasers and solid geom ometry and other mental Sports dear to martians click click continued these two somehow managed to slip past the bug guard they're begging me to send them to the reservation three the Martian reservation had been established in in ntica by an Administration noted for its uneasy and fluctuating liberalism much like the present one the reservation had been a bone of contention ever since on it martians were to all intents free from human supervision although conditions were none too good and food supply was always a critical problem it served as a Beacon of Hope to enslave Martia it was largely because of the existence of the reservation that border patrols ground and Sky local and Regional have been made almost fantastically heavy you've told them the dangers ask scat they still want to go okay then get the cans ready and for kp's sake keep them in the ice box until there were a half dozen palet flatchested youth waiting in the outer office they acted nervous and whenever the slidewalk in front creaked with the weight of a passer by they'd all look around quickly and then remember that you couldn't see through the glasstic anymore when no footsteps came they relax a little one of them hurried up Mr scatter day that's right instantly the youth adopted a conspiratorial Heir his companions crowded behind him craning their necks but keeping and I cocked on the door we're the executive Council of the young free workers he whispered horsely it's an undercover movement in the Bronco young people's organization we want to thank you for your editorial in product of patronage feudalism it was just like listening to our own Constitution only better expressed thanks gee Mr scatter day we don't like being pensioners of ceran the youth continued a little more human now that he had discharged his mission we don't want to spend our lives playing games and getting an endless Third Rate education and being kon's cheering section we're only pensioners because our fathers were but what can we do all the restricted jobs have a waiting list a Lighty year long and we're too poor to buy the specialized education that's required for most of them keran keeps cutting down the pension allotments just like you said sure Scot agreed matter of factly he employs martians and pays Earthman a very profitable arrangement considering the greater efficiency of Martian labor and the reduction in operating expenses if keman switched to human labor he'd have to ventilate his Minds increase the size of the drifts provide special protective garments and all sorts of safety devices even at that it's doubtful if human beings could do the work the Situation's practically the same with regard to all other non-restricted jobs that's right another youth cut in a dark brow Surly kid nobody can expect us to compete with bugs we want work any sort so we can feel we got a stake in the world but everywhere we look it's bugs bugs bugs and who's to blame ask scat softly you and me our fathers our grandfathers you know your history importation of martians was permitted only on condition that for every living machine employed on Earth the owner would retire an Earthman on Perpetual pension that was the you see mouthwatering bait dangled in front of workers eyes so they'd vote in an Administration that would pass the Martian importation act but what does it add up to now you're living on charity the Martians are enslaved under those circumstances it takes a little courage for either of you to stick up for your rights we got to get rid of the bugs asserted The Surly kid that's what we got to do run him off Earth been listening to the Mystic X Sunny scad inquired or is that just the line ceran hands you kean's not so bad the kid retorted hotly he wants to get rid of the bugs but he can't on account of competition after all he's got us to support as ceran says the fight now is to keep the bugs from grabbing off all the restricted jobs too you know give a bug a micron and he'll take a meter clicki came in and walked over to Scot's desk all the US were obviously surprised when he didn't go down on all fours and take the most circuitous route possible possible as he strolled blly past they automatically Drew back to avoid any suspicion of contact after that their reactions diverged the sirly kid scowled and held his nose but the spokesman looked ashamed a flaming blush crept over his pale face he chewed his lip nerving himself Mr scatter day he began suddenly I don't know about the others he looked around doubtfully almost fearfully at his companions but I personally haven't got anything against the he glanced self-consciously at click click martians from where he was rummaging in the desk click click coated briskly to scat coming up in the world us bugs I don't believe all that ceran tells us the spokesman continued nervously but with less hesitation I think he's just trying to put pressure on us so we'll enlist in the Martian Patrol or his own private he looked apologetically at click click bug guard personally I'd like to see the Martians get a square deal at this point the Surly kid gave a snort of disgust and walked out of the office along with one of the others I really would but keman says that if he had to put in all the improvements the liberators are agitating for it would mean cutting down the pension allotments to almost nothing so whole families would actually starve his next words were almost a plea GE you don't really believe that would happen do you Mr scatter day scat smiled smiled at him a little sadly look boys he said I only know one thing about your problems this is it you're going to be pensioners maybe well fed maybe starving but pensioners until every Martian is free the youth gulped when he answered it was in a very small voice and with a kind of sigh I guess that's what I believe too he said his three companions nodded there was a martian lynched here a couple of days ago scat continued gently where were you hung his head gee Mr scatter day there's so few of you s yes said scat so few of us their eyes met the slidewalk creaked and this time there were footsteps click click walked out with the tray of tapes he had been assembling by his looks a bishop at least he coded cryptically the door opened and they're swept in a red-faced figure colorfully August in the brown and gold Robes of the reformed and reconciled churches of the world his Stern bloodshot eyes instantly fix themselves on the remains of the executive Council of the young free workers they hastily excused themselves they didn't exactly slink out but they obviously had a hard time fighting the impulse the churchmen Wheeled on scat I am the Reverend Arthur allardice Basset spiritual monitor of Bronco he announced in a booming voice I have come to voice religion's protest against a publication which seeks to Pander to the viest impulses in man and Bug to reduce a creature made in the Lord's image to equality with his machines to bmer human dignity and Sully the purity of Earth's Womanhood by advocacy of open Commerce with the foulest and most purly prying Minds in all creation he paused for breath scat figuratively rubbed his hands this was something he could get his teeth into he could hardly wait to bring up the missionary 15 minutes later the Reverend Basset stalked out spluttering threats he done everything but mention the Mystic X by name Scot's satisfied grin evaporated fast he paced restlessly twice he pounded his palm and his lips formed the syllables keman he recorded at an editorial had to keep back taping gave it up finally he sat down at his desk and flashed him mile I want to talk C Mr ktan I'll connect you with his secretarial offices I'm sorry but Mr ktan is in conference he'll be interested scat told the pretty efficient looking girl tell him I want to be a story about how he's begun to install a 10 mile the most upto-date and Humane Martian protective devices of any mine in the world a brief wait Mr kimeran has no comment good day clicki came in he extended his pinches for scats inspection my new manicure he explained I've been forging the pincher Ridge patterns of one of those martians were keeping for the underground that's the only identification that means anything to a human get the idea scat frowned too risky you might get in 10 Mile but I don't think you'd get out we need you here they need me more out there in their holes while I can hop into a vacuum tank every night suddenly click clicks Pinchers stiffened Lind outside he CED turly I think he wants you looks like they've brought a finder finder scat shot up got the cans ready yes shall we put them in not yet but be ready he hurried out there was a utility car with a keran Insignia parked in front two scowling bug guards were arguing with Lynn their hands were suggestively near their squirt guns one of them had a dirty smok girl by the wrist she had a silly open-mouthed grin that just seemed to stay there she drooled we were telling him you got 10 Mile bugs inside the bug guard explained to scat scat looked at him steadily we employ martians to run the beam they confused your find her the guard pulled the girl to him look piggy he said these people got bugs of their own maybe it's those you've been feeling she shook her head stubbornly like a little child it's our 10 Mile bugs you feel then you're sure her head bobbed up and down bug finders were human beings with an inborn sensitivity to Martian telepathy usually mentally defective they could not interpret the telepathy but they had an uncanny n for distinguishing the characteristic thought waves of an individual Martian the guard looked up at scat we're coming in Mister piggy never misses he put his hand on his squir gun four scat felt very conscious of his artificial arm there was a Tremor in the stump he couldn't control from the door behind him he heard the code for catch he half turned and picked a blaster out of the air with his good hand not on my property he told the Guard the guard hesitated okay then make us do it the hard way he said they got in the car and drove off piggy making inarticulate sounds of protest and having to be dragged Scot's eyes followed them get out the truck he told Len you're going to Manford to buy groceries click click can your visitors fast underground Lynn asked with a look scat nodded about the time Lyn was ready to roll the bug guards came jetting back accompanied by a policeman who looked and acted exactly like them except for the uniform got a warrant to search your place for fugitive bugs he told scad hold on there he called the ly who was starting the truck let's have a look before you get away the bug guard LED piggy to the truck she was making anxious eager noises unexpectedly click click came out from behind the truck so that they almost collided piggy squealed and backed off flapping her arms the guard grabbed at his squir gun but scat interposed your bug done that on purpose purp the guard blustered threateningly he knows Piggy's no good for as much as 10 minutes after she gets that close to a bug they searched the truck thoroughly the body was empty except for some boxes of tape scrap and three medium-sized canisters conspicuously labeled in red caution beam refus gas standard container Lyn's hand hovered over one of the want a sniff he asked pleasantly the guard gave him a sour look beam refu Gap was so deadly a poison that it could not safely be disposed of by any ordinary methods it had to be shipped to a reconditioning plant in containers that were seamless supposedly and these three canisters actually contain beam refu gas under standard pressure they'd have to in order to pass the minute inspection made at the regional border but the shell of a Martian is one of the most impermeable armors ever developed by organic evolution and when quiescent he can go upwards for an hour without breathing this is because he is built for an extremely rarified atmosphere his physiology is typical of a depleted Planet economy on Mars's inhalation SL exhalation ratio is about 100 to1 the chief problem in a climatizing him to Earth is teaching him to inhale as infrequently as he exhales otherwise oxygen drowning occurs a Martian's lungs are really oxygen accumulators he has 100% U utilization of inhaled oxygen and he exhales pure carbon dioxide freighted with other respiratory excretions hence the bad breath so obnoxious to human beings with a Johny wave of his hand Lyn crawled off and the search moved inside the building scat stayed with them to make sure nothing was overlooked but piggy recovered maintained with Sullen headshakes that she no longer felt the presence of 10 Mile bugs and after that the guards lost interest scat could tell that they were puzzling as to how he'd smuggled out the bugs while they were getting the warrant for undoubtedly there have been ceron spies watching the news beam building to prevent just such a move afterwards scat said to click click I was a little worried when they took your pincher prints anticipated the Martian cated laconically I removed the forgeries but since I have the cast they can easily be replaced at first I thought of letting the guards pick me up here but that would be too suspicious it's going to be suspicious wherever it happens said scad shaking his head in any case you won't be able to pass bugfinder identification don't do it click click you told Lynn to drop in at the free Martian offices and fetch a martian to replace me you're bound and determined then yes scat sigh Okay click click yes I told Lyn scat felt a black pincher lightly touch his shoulder don't mope scat I get a great kick out of going contrary to your orders after all it's my badge of Enlightenment most martians are too obliging it's our great racial sin works all right when everybody's telepathic thought pressure keeps the potential transgressor against social welfare in line but when a telepathic race comes up against a non- telepathic one ouch then the thought pressure is all going one way our Golden Rule worked on Mars but it sure got us into trouble here that evening while scat was having his last smoke he wished that Lynn were there to Chin with he kept wondering profitless how long the Regional Court would hold out against the pressure kimeran was undoubtedly bringing to Bear vacillating governments were the curse of eras like this rather the inevitable accompanyment he wondered if there would be a Civil War and to what degree he would be responsible for it tonight it was hard to dodge that question the toxy button flashed as he'd been expecting it to this time the screen didn't stay completely dark a wavering X glowed there black paper painted with phosphorescence and clapped over the screen at their end he judged Jonas scatter day you have disregarded Our advice came the whisper that is unwise your time allotment is almost up this is the last warning scat wondered if he ought to have the call traced fat chance with all the toxy operators locals still for the sake of the record but he felt time tired sometime that night click click departed but Lynn got back with a replacement in time for the Morning Edition afterwards he showed scat a big ugly splotch on the tail of the truck where squirt gun corrosive was eating in tried to stop me on the way back just outside Bronco he explained as he swabbed on the decontamination fluid had a barricade up but I gunned my Jets and managed to jump it he went on swabbing you know he said reflectively the only good sign I've noticed in this Berg so far is that the kid aren't bothering us so much maybe it's because we're running space Pals and in the days of the airplane those were a lot better than the crummy Comics Don Nolan was feeding them scat laughed mirthlessly and maybe it's just because they've stepped back to give their parents a chance pessimism wasn't usually scats Forte but he just reached the mental conclusion that it would be 3 days before the Regional Court would weaken and give kimeran and the Mystic x what amounted to cart blanch to handle the new beam situation any way they wanted to actually his guess was a day short but that was no satisfaction they were miserable days all four of them days of feeling that there was no use beaming the news because no one would watch it anyway a steady stream of canceled subscriptions sits coming back for refund complaints threats from various sources attacks on their martians nuisances like putting stench gas in the ventilators while they were beaming in addition no word from click click though scat drove one of the Martians past Bug Town to try to pick up something on the grape vine fruitless conferences with the officers of the free Martian and members of The Martian Lobby they were moving Heaven and Earth to keep the Regional Court in line but it showed signs of wavering most of all the feeling that a wall was being built around the news beam shutting it off from the rest of the world you couldn't see that wall but everywhere in Bronco you could touch it late afternoon the fourth day while they were getting out the Evening Edition the wall was completed beam power went Lyn tried to flash the repair offices the toxy was dead looks like this is it he told scat scat nodded now look here Len he began a half hour later he was still trying to persuade Lynn to take the boys in the truck and make a run for it when the spokesman of the young freew workers stumbled into the office ran the slide walks to warn you Mr scattered a he panted Mystic X they're planning to get you tonight everybody's Whispering there's a lot of cars in the air and they got big guards on all the traffic ways some of am are blocked off what did I tell you crowan we couldn't have got out anyway this was an all right thought scat the Regional Court had knuckled under the news beam was finished kean's victory was so complete that they were being saved up as a kind of tidbit for the Mystic X just like the Martian clinic in scaron of course they know known it was coming the free Martian would demand that the regional government send in troops to prevent violence failing there they would ship some of their own people into Bronco if they could thanks for telling us kid said scat you better beat it now no objections push him out Lynn slowly the night came down it was like being in a fortress with the silence and the pocket illuminators casting a ghostly light and every now and then one of the Martians clicking a tur report scat stump bothered him gradually a crowd gathered outside the range of Martian telepathy but inside perception mostly pensioners but some bug guard one of the Martians Co Donelan's there and he ticked off the names of a half dozen fairly prominent Bronco figures hold on there's a new contingent moving in they're wearing masks the toxy began to work again Jonas scatter day and Lynn cut were giving you one more chance want all of you outside you two come out with your hands in the air your bugs on all fours we don't propose to die so quietly scat answered if you want us come get us I intend to defend my property we're armed all of us arming bugs if it had any chance that action had queered it the minutes dragged from somewhere a pellet gun opened up and began to Rattle interminably against the glasstic Len began to to swear in a low steady voice the Martians moved their guns around as if admiring the internal workmanship scat realized that he was tapping out come on come on in Martian code over and over again with his duroplast fingers there's a new Bunch joined them a martian informed him finally they seem to be arguing I don't know about what too far they're moving Off K and interest calling Mr scatter day they all started at that musical voice even the Martians scat jumped for the desk and flipped on the screen he recognized the secretary he had conferred with Mr kiman hopes you haven't suffered any unpleasantness she informed him smilingly he took steps as soon as he heard you were in trouble he particularly desires you to resume publication of the Evening Edition of the news beam oh and about that article you were planning he would like to confer on it at some later date you will finish beaming the Evening Edition won't you good evening as she flashed off off Lenn began to swear again but in a different vein there's more in this then scat began but we got tapes to beam get going he didn't return until after the news beam had been put to bed there was a black figure sitting at his desk click click absolutely the Martian waved his Pines aily a startlingly human gesture you probably guess what happened but I thought maybe you want a personal report the Martian's a 10m struck every last one of them almost unprecedented but not quite and with those government contracts hanging over his head Kon couldn't afford to lose half a day scad appended mentally I won't say that I didn't have anything to do with it click click continued I kept the old Grapevine humming but most of the credit goes to the Martian tape the Martians were wild when it wasn't published today especially because it carried the answers to yesterday's puzzles even ktan couldn't figure out that one they're going back to work now but I imagine they'll be a long time for getting this initial lesson in self assertion scat looked down and click click he grabbed his pincher and squeezed it hard click click squeeze back harder but since it was scats duroplast hand it didn't matter the end