"The hell you didn't mean no harm! You were out to rob me!"
"We were only ex-per-i-ment-ing--"
"There's their crooked experimenting right there!" said Okie, pointing a
finger at the deactivated one-armed bandit. "I want them locked up until
that machine's paid for!"
"All right," said the sheriff, "you two better come with me."
"But, sir," Sartan protested, "we merely wanted to know how the machine
functioned. You see, we are from Capella and--"
"Capella!" exclaimed the sheriff. "Where is that? I never heard of the
place."
"Well, it is not a part of your Earth."
"Oh, well why didn't you say so before!" The sheriff winked at the
crowd. "You mean you boys are from out of this world?"
"That is correct," Sartan grinned proudly.
"Well, well! That makes a big difference!" The sheriff turned to the
crowd. "All right, boys, grab them and hustle them over to the jail
house!"
* * * * *
A group of men slowly closed in on the two aliens.
Toryl and Sartan backed away toward the wall.
"_I believe they are angry, Brother_," thought Sartan.
"_But why?_" inquired Toryl.
"_I do not know. Do you suppose the machine represented some form of
religious deity?_"
"_Exceed-ing-ly possible_," Toryl answered.
As the men came closer Okie yelled, "Just get them two crackpots! I'll
plug the first man that touches that money!"
The men were diverted by Okie's warning. They didn't notice, until it
was almost too late, that the two strangers were halfway out the door.
"Get after them!!" the sheriff bellowed.
The aliens ran as though their lives were at stake, which was true,
following the same route they had taken into town.
* * * * *
The crowd followed them as far as the edge of town. From there they
hurled rocks.
Toryl and Sartan continued to run at breakneck speed, praying they would
reach the safety of the ship. Once they looked behind them and saw that
the crowd of angry men had given up the chase.
Halfway back to their ship they passed a sign, though they didn't bother
to stop and read it.
YOU ARE NOW LEAVING
JUBILATION, U.S.A.!!
The doggondest, cheeriest little
town in America! Come back soon!!