by Kris Neville
mean!"
June frowned. Mary crossed to the dressing table. She studied her facein the mirror. It was heart shaped, elfin; her purple hair was a riot ofcurls, and her eyes were amethyst and gold. She smiled at herself. "Iwant to look as pretty as I can tonight." She twisted around. "You don'tthink he'll come either, do you?"
"I--no, Mary."
Mary looked back at the mirror. "He likes our canal blossom perfume."She dabbed some of it on her ear lobes. "I like it best, too."
June stood up, crossed to the musikon, found a slow five-toned waltz.She turned the music very low, and left the color mixer dim enough sothat only the faintest ghosts projected hues moved on walls and ceiling.
Mary continued to stare into the mirror. "But he will come. I know it."
June said nothing.
"Don't you see. I just _know_ he'll come."
June crossed back to her seat.
Mary turned from the mirror. "I'm sure he will. He's--I mean...."
June smiled wanly.
"Well, he will! You'll see!"
June said, "Even if it is an old dress, you look very nice in it."
"I've been learning his language. I can say 'thank you' and 'yes' and'no' and 'I love you' and all kinds of things in it. He gave me a book,and I've been studying. I want to be able really to talk with him. We'vegot a lot to talk about. I want to find out about his parents, and whathe likes for supper and what kind of music he likes to hear, and--andall sorts of things. I want to find out all about his planet, and...."
"Yes," June said wearily, "I know."
The music played on. The moving lights on the walls were like coloredreflections from a sunlit river.
"He may be a little late tonight; he has a lot to do, first. But he'llbe here."
_Buzzzzz_....
It was the red button; it blinked on and off.
"Visitors," June said.
"Look--" Mary said. "Look, June. I'm not half ready yet. Look. Tell MissBestris I'll be down a little late. Tell her I have a special boy, andit'll be all right. He wants me to wait for him."
June was on her feet. "... All right. You'd better not wait too long!"
"I won't."
After June was gone, Mary returned to the task of making her facepretty, but after a moment, she turned from the mirror, leaned back, andtried to relax. Underneath her dress, her heart was pounding.
The warm air carried sounds of the night creatures. One of the greatcanal insects, screeching, flapped by the window. The tiny third mooncrept up over the horizon, and the buildings cast triple shadows.
_Buzzz. Buzzzz._
Still Mary waited.
_Buzzz. Buzzzz. Buzzzzzz...._
She was afraid to wait any longer. But by now she was sure that he wouldbe down stairs.
There was a last-minute flurry of combing and primping, and then sherustled out of the room, her head erect, her eyes shining.
* * * * *
The large reception room was filling. Overhead, the color organ threwshimmering, prismatic beams on the ceiling. Beneath it, stiff,embarrassed spacemen, mostly officers dressed in parade uniforms,chatted in space-pidgin with the laughing, rainbow-haired girls.
Miss Bestris sat in one corner, her eyes roving the room: settling herefor a second, there for a second, checking, approving, disapproving,silently. Occasionally she would smile or nod at one of the girls or oneof the spacemen, and once she frowned ever so slightly and shook herhead.
Anne was reclining on a couch, eating a golden Martian apple, listeningto a second mate; she played with a lock of his hair and smiled her widesmile.
June, angelic, sat primly in a straight-backed chair, the captain at herfeet, a boyish, space-pale Earthman, drew embarrassed circles on thecarpet with his index finger.
In the next room, three couples were dancing to the slow music of anEarth orchestra.
An inner door opened, and a uniformed native sheriff stepped in, acrisp, military figure. "Miss Bestris?"
She stood up. "Yes?"
The Earthmen fell silent, waiting.
"We think we have your runaway." He turned to the door. "Bring her in."
Two more sheriffs entered, and between them, there was a young, slendergirl. Her face was gaunt and tear-stained. Her body trembled. She lookedat the Madame fearfully.
"You idiots!" Miss Bestris screamed. "Get her out of here! You'll ruinmy party! Take her out!"
The two men removed the girl. To the remaining sheriff, Miss Bestrissaid, "Damn you, if you ever do anything like that again, I'll ...I'll...."
"I'm sorry, Madame. But we wanted immediate identification. Would youwant us to hold the wrong girl?"
"That's her, all right! Now, get out! Wait for me in my office."
When they were gone Miss Bestris turned to the silent room. In quitepassable Esperanto she said, "I--am sorry. A misunderstanding. I assureyou, nothing. Go on with the party, and I'll see what I can do for thepoor girl."
She stood up and in her own language said, "Lively, girls! Smile! You,Rita, hurry and serve tea!"
She made her exit.
The spacemen grumbled among themselves, coughed uneasily, watched theclosed door through which the Madame had gone. Listening, they couldhear only a muted mumble of sing-song sounds in several voices.
With determined animation, the girls moved about, smiled, chatted.
Rita came in, wheeling the tea tray, and the girls converged on it, eachtrying to be the first to serve her escort. The tea was the Martianstuff, concocted of a kind of local hemp. The Earthmen found it harshand bitter to the taste, but gentle on the soul.
Anne had filled two cups and returned to the second mate when she caughtsight of Mary coming down the stairs.
On the lowest step, Mary stood for a long time; her eyes eagerlysearched the crowd. Slowly a puzzled, hurt look came over her face.
June came to her side after a little while.
"Isn't he here?"
"No. Not yet."
"I'm sorry," June said, touching Mary's arm lightly.
"It's all right. It's early yet. I'll just sit down by Miss Bestris'chair and wait for him."
She turned from June and went to the chair. Before she could sit down, aspace corporal came over, bowed, tried to take her hand. She shook herhead. He smiled twistedly and walked stiffly away.
Another man smiled at her. She shook her head slowly.
Someone came in the front door, and she leaned forward. Then she slumpedback limply.
She heard a tinkly laugh. She looked in its direction. She met Anne'seyes, bright and amused. Just then Miss Bestris came in, her eyes angryand her cheeks flushed. She strode across the room.
"Well," she said. "I'm glad to see you finally came down." She sankheavily into her chair. "Cresent's back. They just brought her in. Theidiots came right in here with her. I'll bet I lost half-a-dozencustomers. These Earthmen are sensitive about such things."
Mary was still staring at the door; Miss Bestris looked down at her.
"Well, what are you sitting here for?"
"Please, Miss Bestris. I'm waiting for my special boy friend tonight."
She snorted and looked away. "Why isn't he here?"
"He will be."
"He'd better. I'll let you wait another--half an hour. That's all."
"Thank you, Miss Bestris. You're very kind to me."
"I indulge you more than I ought to, child," she said. "More than isgood for you, if the truth were known."
A man came in; Mary stiffened and then relaxed.
The mutter of voices blended into a steady hum. More couples weredancing. Miss Bestris moved around the room. The music was tinny.
Another man came in.
"Your time's up," the Madame told Mary.
"Please, let me just wait for another few minutes."
Miss Bestris fixed her lips grimly. "I've had enough nonsense fortonight. You heard me!"
"_Please!_"
"You heard what I said."
/> "Miss Bestris, I couldn't. Not tonight. Honest, I couldn't. If I had totalk to anybody, I'd break down and cry. He'll ... come. I know hewill."
Miss Bestris whirled on her. "Listen, you little--" But she stopped,suddenly. "All right," she said, gritting her teeth. "I can't affordanother scene tonight. But you'll be sorry for this."
Miss Bestris stormily looked away. The dancers danced; the music swelledlouder. Gradually, deliberately, the lights were waning.
"Haven't I always been good to you, Mary?" the Madame asked.
"Yes."
"Then like an
