Part 35 (2/2)

”Because you've been to Peru, Brazil, Chile and Paraguay,” I said. ”The Venezuelans are a little touchy about their place in the South American hierarchy of nations. Throw them a bone, Mich.e.l.le. Don't make them the only South American country on the block without a visit from an Oscar-winning alien. They have enough troubles as it is.”

”When are the rest of the Yherajk going to come down?” Mich.e.l.le wanted to know. ”There's two thousand of us, you know. Wouldn't hurt to have some of them pitch in.”

”Jim says the human quarters are just about ready on the Ionar,” I said. ”When they're ready, we'll start inviting folks up and bringing other Yherajk down. It'll be soon, I promise.”

”You said that a month ago, Tom.”

”You can't rush these things, Mich.e.l.le. These things take as long as they take.”

”Which reminds me,” Mich.e.l.le said. ”How long until Miranda pops?”

”If she hasn't gone into labor in about a week, our doctor wants to induce,” I said. ”Miranda has her own opinions on that one.”

”I don't doubt that,” Mich.e.l.le said. ”Pick out any names yet?”

”We have,” I said. ”Mich.e.l.le if it's a girl, Joshua if it's a boy.”

”Well, shucks,” Mich.e.l.le said. ”I'm touched. I may cry.”

”You don't have tear ducts anymore,” I said.

”I'll make them especially for this purpose,” Mich.e.l.le said.

Brandon, my new a.s.sistant, popped his head through the door. ”It's him, on line three,” he said.

I nodded and shooed him out of the room. ”Listen, Mich.e.l.le, I have go. I have a three o'clock with Carl, but before I do that I have to take this call I've got coming in. Where are you now, anyway?”

”I'm somewhere over the Midwest,” Mich.e.l.le said. ”I'll be in Chicago in about an hour. I can't believe you have me going to a science fiction convention.”

”Hey,” I said. ”It won't be so bad. Jim is going to be there. And besides, these people are your core const.i.tuency. Give 'em a thrill.”

”Oh, I will,” Mich.e.l.le said. ”Wait till you see what I have planned for the costume ball.” She clicked off.

I looked at my watch. 2:55. Five more minutes. If I took this call, I ran the risk of being late to my meeting with Carl, which would be bad.

Oh, what the h.e.l.l, I thought. Might as well live dangerously. I flicked the b.u.t.ton on line three.

”h.e.l.lo, Mr. President,” I said.

The ball went thock as it hit the window.

<script>