"Do you want to ruin me? Dance. Tumble. Do something."
Jean shrugged and went back to where the Venerians squatted. "He says
dance."
Evelyn and Gail stepped properly, I should say primly, aside and the
other three began stomping about. The rhythm was infectious. The
movements became more heated and shouts of approval began to ring out.
"Dance, Gookie!"
"Whapperoonie!"
"Go go go Gook!"
I was delighted. So was everyone else. The dance grew more and more
violent. There was a great deal of body contact in it. Evelyn and Gail
looked longingly at the gyrating three, but kept out of it. I wondered
why--never knowing that the Venerians are a _very_ conventional people.
Pancho was delighted. So was the Professor. In the middle of it, the
prof raised his hands and made a signal. An earsplitting clangor broke
from the Eyespy.
The Venerians stopped.
Everyone stared at the Eye.
And at me.
The Professor stepped forward and flipped his Loyalty Oath over,
it opened like a poison-ring. The engraving inside said TBI Morals
Division.
"The Interlocutory Decree, if you please," he commanded.
Stunned, I fished it out and handed it over.
He glanced at it. "You realize of course that this is immediately
invalidated."
"_What?_" I couldn't believe my ears.
"You know--as any Legal Eagle should know--that any re-stablishment
of--uh--connubial rights abrogates an interlocutory."
"Of course I know that."
He glanced at Honest Pancho and smiled. There was triumph flashing
between them like a shuttlecock. "You Joe Macs never learn. The law is
the law. What do you think your clients were just doing--and in front
of a roomful of witnesses?"