Stranger in a Strange Land

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Book: Read Stranger in a Strange Land for Free Online
Authors: Robert A. Heinlein
signed by three doctors, and allowed you mail on alternate leap years. I’m wondering what they are going to do to him.”
    â€œWhat can they do?”
    â€œWell, he might die—from gee-fatigue, say.”
    â€œYou mean murder him?”
    â€œTut, tut! Don’t use nasty words. I don’t think they will. In the first place he is a mine of information. In the second place, he is a bridge between us and the only other civilized race we have encountered. How are you on the classics? Ever read H. G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds?”
    â€œA long time ago, in school.”
    â€œSuppose the Martians turn out nasty. They might and we have no way of guessing how big a club they swing. Smith might be the go-between who could make the First Interplanetary War unnecessary. Even if this is unlikely, the administration can’t ignore it. The discovery of life on Mars is something that, politically, they haven’t figured out yet.”
    â€œThen you think he is safe?”
    â€œFor the time being. The Secretary General has to guess right. As you know, his administration is shaky.”
    â€œI don’t pay attention to politics.”
    â€œYou should. It’s barely less important than your own heart beat.”
    â€œI don’t pay attention to that, either.”
    â€œDon’t talk when I’m orating. The patchwork majority headed by Douglas could slip apart overnight—Pakistan would bolt at a nervous cough. There would be a vote of no confidence and Mr. Secretary General Douglas would go back to being a cheap lawyer. The Man from Mars can make or break him. Are you going to sneak me in?”
    â€œI’m going to enter a nunnery. Is there more coffee?”
    â€œI’ll see.”
    They stood up. Jill stretched and said, “Oh, my ancient bones! Never mind coffee, Ben; I’ve got a hard day tomorrow. Run me home, will you? Or send me home, that’s safer.”
    â€œOkay, though the evening is young.” He went into his bedroom, came out carrying an object the size of a small cigarette lighter. “You won’t sneak me in?”
    â€œGee, Ben, I want to, but—”
    â€œNever mind. It is dangerous—and not just to your career.” He showed her the object. “Will you put a bug on him?”
    â€œHuh? What is it?”
    â€œThe greatest boon to spies since the Mickey Finn. A microminiaturized recorder. The wire is spring driven so it can’t be spotted by a snooper circuit. The insides are packed in plastic—you could drop it out of a cab. The power is about as much radioactivity as in a watch dial, but shielded. The wire runs twenty-four hours. Then you slide out a spool and stick in another—the spring is part of the spool.”
    â€œWill it explode?” she asked nervously.
    â€œYou could bake it in a cake.”
    â€œBen, you’ve got me scared to go into his room.”
    â€œYou can go into the room next door, can’t you?”
    â€œI suppose so.”
    â€œThis thing has donkey’s ears. Fasten the concave side against a wall—tape will do—and it picks up everything in the room beyond.”
    â€œI’m bound to be noticed if I duck in and out of that room. Ben, his room has a wall in common with a room on another corridor. Will that do?”
    â€œPerfect. You’ll do it?”
    â€œUmm . . . give it to me. I’ll think it over.”
    Caxton polished it with his handkerchief. “Put on your gloves.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œPossession is good for a vacation behind bars. Use gloves and don’t get caught with it.”
    â€œYou think of the nicest things!”
    â€œWant to back out?”
    Jill let out a long breath. “No.”
    â€œGood girl!” A light blinked, he glanced up. “That must be your cab. I rang for it when I went to get this.”
    â€œOh. Find my shoes, will you? Don’t come to the roof. The less I’m

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