FLAME AND BILLOWING SMOKE came up and filled the tank. .Golly!“ Pattysaid reverently. .That’s the best blow-off ever used.“.Yes,“ agreed Becky judicially, .the Professor himself never dreamed up abetter one.“Van Tromp said very quietly, apparently to himself: .In style. Smart and withstyle-the lad finished in style.“Jubal looked around at his brothers. Was he the only one who felt anything?

　　Jill and Dawn were seated each with an arm around the other- but they didthat whenever they were together; neither one seemed disturbed. EvenDorcas was dry-eyed and calm.

　　The inferno in the tank cut to smiling Happy Holiday who said, .And now,folks, a few moments for our friends at Elysian Fields who so graciously gaveup their-. Patty cut him off.

　　.Anne and Duke are on their way back up,“ she said. .I’ll let them through thefoyer and then we’ll have lunch.“ She started to leave.

　　Jubal stopped her. .Patty? Did you know what Mike was going to do?“She seemed puzzled. .Huh? Why, of course not, Jubal. It was necessary towait for fullness. None of us knew.“ She turned and left.

　　.Jubal-. Jill was looking at hint. .Jubal our beloved father please stop andgrok the fullness. Mike is not dead. How can he be dead when no one can bekilled? Nor can he ever be away from us who have already grokked him.

　　Thou art God.“.’Thou art God,’“ he repeated dully.

　　.That’s better. Come sit with Dawn and me-in the middle.“.No. No, just let me be.“ He went blindly to his own room, let himself in andbolted the door after him, leaned heavily with both hands gripping the foot ofthe bed. My son, oh my son! Would that I had died for thee! He had had somuch to live for . . . and an old fool that he respected too much had to shootoff his yap and goad him into a needless, useless martyrdom. If Mike hadgiven them something big-like stereo, or bingo-but he gave them the Truth.

　　Or a piece of the Truth. And who is interested in Truth? He laughed throughhis sobs.

　　After a while he shut them off, both heart-broken sobs and bitter laugh, andpawed through his traveling bag. He had what he wanted with him; he hadkept a supply in his toilet kit ever since Joe Douglas’s stroke had remindedhim that all flesh is grass.

　　Well, now his own stroke had come and he couldn’t take it. He prescribedthree tablets for himself to make it fast and certain, washed them down withwater, and lay quickly on the bed. Shortly the pain went away.

　　From a great distance the voice reached him. .Jubal-.

　　.’M resting, Don’ bother me.“.Jubal! Please, Father!“.Uh ... yes, Mike? What is it?“.Wake up! Fullness is not yet. Here, let me help you.“Jubal sighed. .Okay, Mike“ He let himself be helped and led into the bath, lethis head be held while he threw up, accepted a glass of water and rinsed outhis mouth.

　　.Okay now?“.Okay, son. Thanks.“.Then I’ve got some things to attend to. I love you, Father. Thou art God.“.I love you, Mike. Thou art God.“ Jubal puttered around for a while longer,making himself presentable, changing his clothes, taking one short brandy tokill the slightly bitter taste still in his stomach, then went out to join the others.

　　Patty was alone in the room with the babble tank and it was switched off. Shelooked up. .Some lunch now, Jubal?“.Yes, thanks.“She came up to him. .That’s good. I’m afraid most of them simply ate andscooted. But each of them left a kiss for you. And here it is, all in onepackage.“ She managed to deliver in full all the love placed in her proxycemented together with her own; Jubal found that it left him feeling strong,with her own serene acceptance shared, no bitterness left.

　　.Come out into the kitchen,“ she said. .Tony’s gone so most of the rest arethere-not that his growls ever really chased anybody out anyhow.“ Shestopped and tried to stare down the back of her neck. .Isn’t that final scenechanging a little? Sort of smoky, maybe?“Jubal solemnly agreed that he thought it was. He couldn’t see any changehimself . . . but he was not going to argue with Patty’s idiosyncrasy. Shenodded. .I expected it. I can see around me all right-except myself. I stillneed a double mirror to see my back clearly. Mike says my Sight will includethat presently. No matter.“In the kitchen perhaps a dozen were lounging at a table and elsewhere; Dukewas standing at the range, stirring a small sauce pan. .Hi, Boss. I ordered atwenty-place bus. That’s the biggest that can land on our little landing flat . . .

　　and we’ll need one almost that big, what with the diaper set and Patty’s pets.

　　Okay?“.Certainly. Are they all coming home now?“ If they ran out of bedrooms, thegirls could make up dosses that would do in the living room and here andthere-and this crowd would probably double up mostly anyhow. Come tothink of it, he might not be allowed to sleep solo himself and he made up hismind not to fight it. It was friendly to have a warm body on the other side ofthe bed, even if your intentions weren’t active. By God, he had forgotten howfriendly it was! Growing closer- .Not everybody. Tim will pilot us, then turn inthe bus and go to Texas for a while. The Skipper and Beatrix and Sven we’resimply going to drop off in New Jersey.“Sam looked up from the table. .Ruth and I have got to get back to our kids.

　　And Saul is coming with us.“.Can’t you stop by home for a day or two first?“.Well, maybe. I’ll talk it over with Ruth.“.Boss,“ put in Duke, .how soon can we fill the swimming pool?“.Well, we never filled it earlier than the first of April before-but with the newheaters I suppose we could fill it anytime.“ Jubal added, .But we’ll still havesome nasty weather-snow still on the ground yesterday.“.Boss, lemme clue you. This gang can walk through snow hip deep on a tallgiraffe and not notice it-and will, to swim. Besides that, there are cheaperways of keeping that water from freezing than with those big oil heaters.“.Jubal!“.Yes, Ruth?“.We’ll stop for a day or maybe more. The kids don’t miss me-and I’m notaching to take over being motherly without Patty to discipline them anyhow.

　　Jubal, you’ve never really seen me until you’ve seen me with my hair floatingaround me in the water-looking like Mrs. DoAsYouWouldBeDoneBy.“.It’s a date. Say, where is the Squarehead and the Dutchman? Beatrix hasnever been home-they can’t be in such a hurry.“.I’ll tell .em, Boss.“.Patty, can your snakes stand a clean, warm basement for a while? Until wecan do better? I don’t mean Honey Bun, of course; she’s people. But I don’tthink the cobras should have the run of the house.“.Of course, Jubal.“.Mmm-. Jubal looked around. .Dawn, can you take shorthand?“.She doesn’t need it,“ put in Anne, .anymore thab I do.“.I see. I should have known. Use a typewriter?“.I will learn, if you wish it,“ Dawn answered.

　　.Consider yourself hired-until there’s a vacancy for a high priestesssomewhere. Jill, have we forgotten anybody?“.No, Boss. Except that all those who have left feel free to camp on youanytime, too. And they will.“.I assumed that. Nest number two, when and as needed.“ He went over tothe range and joined Duke, glanced into the pan he was stirring. It held asmall amount of broth. .Hmm ... Mike?“.Yup.“ Duke dipp............