Stranger in a Strange Land

shall we fight it out in the High Court with all the stink and scandal that would ensue?"
                Again the Secretary appeared to speak with someone off screen. He turned back, looking troubled. "Doctor, if the Special Service police are trying to arrest you, it is news to me. I do not see-"
                "If you'll listen closely, you'll hear them tromping up my staircase, sir! Mike! Anne! Come here." Jubal shoved his chair back to allow the camera angle to include three people. "Mr. Secretary General Douglas- the Man from Mars!" He did not, of course, introduce Anne, but she and her white cloak of probity were fully in view.
                Douglas stared at Smith; Smith looked back at him and seemed uneasy. "Jubal-"
                "Just a moment, Mike. Well, Mr. Secretary? Your men have broken into my house-I hear them pounding on my study door this moment." Jubal turned his head. "Larry, unbolt the door. Let them in." He put a hand on Mike. "Don't get excited, lad, and don't do anything unless I tell you to."
                "Yes, Jubal. That man. I have know him."
                "And he knows you." Over his shoulder Jubal called out to the now open door, "Come in, Sergeant. Right over here."
                The S.S. sergeant standing in the doorway, mob gun at the ready, did not come in. Instead he called out, "Major! Here they are!"
                Douglas said, "Let me speak to the officer in charge of them, Doctor." Again he spoke off screen.
                Jubal was relieved to see that the major for whom the sergeant had shouted showed up with his sidearm still in its holster; Mike's shoulder had been trembling under Jubal's hand ever since the sergeant's gun had come into view-and, while Jubal lavished no fraternal love on these troopers, he did not want Smith to display his powers . . . and cause awkward questions.
                The major glanced around the room. "You're Jubal Harshaw?"
                "Yes. Come over here. Your boss wants you."
                "None of that. You come along. I'm also looking for-"
                "Come here! The Secretary General himself wants a word with you- on this phone."
                The S.S. major looked startled, then came on into the study, around Jubal's desk, and in sight of the screen-looked at it, suddenly came smartly to attention and saluted. Douglas nodded. "Name, rank, and duty."
                "Sir, Major C. D. Bloch, Special Service Squadron Cheerio, Maryland Enclave Barracks."
                "Now tell me what you are doing where you are, and why."
                "Sir, that's rather complicated. I-"
                "Then unravel it for me. Speak up, Major."
                "Yes, sir. I came here pursuant to orders. You see-"
                "I don't see."
                "Well, sir, about an hour and a half ago a flying squad was sent here to make several arrests. They didn't report in when they should have and when we couldn't raise them by radio, I was sent with the reserve squad to find them and render assistance as needed."
                "Whose orders?"
                "Uh, the Commandant's, sir."
                "And did you find them?"
                "No, sir. Not a trace of them."
                Douglas looked at Harshaw. "Counsellor, did you see anything of another squad, earlier?"
                "It's no part of my duties to keep track of your servants, Mr. Secretary. Perhaps they got the wrong address. Or simply got lost."
                "That is hardly an answer to my question."
                "You are correct, sir. I am not being interrogated. Nor will I be, other than by due process. I am acting for my client; I am not nursemaid to these uniformed, uh, persons. But I suggest, from what I have seen of them, that they might not be able to find a pig in a bath tub."
                "Mmm ... possibly. Major, round up your men and return. I'll confirm that via channels."
                "Yes, sir!" The major saluted.
                "Just a moment!" Harshaw said sharply. "These men broke into my house. I demand to see their warrant."
                "Oh. Major, show him your search warrant."
                Major Bloch turned brick red. "Sir, the