The wind sagged out of Roy's sails, "Oh, no!" he groaned. "The last
thing I expected--competition!"
"Not at all," said Edith. "You never had a chance!"
"He'll never lay a hand on you," said Roy maliciously. "Unless he can
do it over TV."
"If he could, I think I'd let him," returned Edith sweetly.
"Your cruelty is savage beyond comprehension," growled Roy. "Why don't
you jump off the roof...." His voice trailed away as he listened to the
Martian.
"Fellow men and women of Earth," came the voice, exquisitely clear and
cultured. "We are happy to present ourselves to you. In order that you
may know us completely, we will begin with what we on Mars consider
the most important facet of our lives--the family. The next thing you
will see is a Martian wedding, which is really the beginning of living
on Mars. Until the day a Martian man and woman join themselves as a
family, to begin the wonderful task of continuing the race, it cannot
be said that they have really been alive, but only going through the
first faint stirrings of life as it really is. Look now upon a Martian
wedding day."
* * * * *
As the voice faded away, the face of the Martian, which had filled the
whole sky, began to recede, and as it did so, his shoulders came into
view, his bronzed chest, his perfectly formed arms, his gleaming nude
torso....
[Illustration: Millions of Earthlings gaped while the Martian show went
on.]
"Oh, my goodness!" screamed Edith, sitting erect in her chair. "Oh, my
goodness!"
"He's stark naked!" roared Fendler. "Mallory, he's nude as a jaybird!"
"So I see," said Roy uncomfortably. "Rather makes the classical
sculptures of the ancient Greeks seem crude by comparison, doesn't he?"
"Eh?" said Fendler. "Oh ... yes, he ... does.... I see what you mean.
But ..." he subsided and relaxed in his chair, because now the figure
had vanished. "Classical art, personified. Great artists, those
Martians must be...."
Roy looked covertly at Edith, who was trembling and trying to compose
herself as she too returned to her reclining position.
"Eight, nine, ten," he muttered.
"What did you say?" asked Edith faintly, her composure returning.
"Just counting myself out," said Roy sadly. "If that's what it takes,
I'm long gone."
Once more the gigantic television screen of the sky came to life, and
this time Roy Mallory sat erect. "This is more like it!" he exclaimed
with renewed interest.
The scene was a great cathedral-like building, with the rays of the sun
streaming redly through fantastically carved windows that seemed made
of diamonds. Walking straight toward them came a young woman, smiling
radiantly, and bearing in her arms a large bouquet of the most vivid
and exotic flowers Roy had ever seen. Except for the flowers she wore
absolutely nothing other than a gold band around her forehead, in the
center of which was a gigantic, blood-red ruby.
* * * * *
Standing on both sides were long rows of smiling men and women, two by
two, and in common with the girl who advanced down the aisle between
them, they were all completely naked.
"One thing seems certain," said Fendler. "Clothing is unknown on Mars.
I hadn't suspected, but I suppose it would be best to make nothing of
it."
"Exactly, Mr. Fendler," said Roy. "God created man and woman in the
Garden of Eden, unclothed, and it was only the warping effect of sin in
their minds that made them wear clothing. Obviously on Mars this either
never happened, or they have returned to godliness and purity."
"You're right, my boy," said Fendler, beginning to beam again. And this
time he beamed with distinct pleasure. "Beautiful, aren't they?"
"Terrific!" said Roy.
"The flowers are lovely," said Edith bravely. "She carries them so
gracefully."
"Flowers?" said Roy absently. "Oh, yes, flowers. Very nice. Geraniums,
aren't they? Look! She's giving them to the audience!"
"There's the groom," said Fendler. "My ... she's a lucky girl!"
Edith threw the executive a look that should have made him sink
through the roof, but he didn't see it. She returned her gaze quickly
to the heavens and tried to stare composedly. Once again she found it
difficult to find a comfortable position in her chair.
For long minutes the three along with every other person on Earth,
watched the ensuing ceremony, which was simple, direct, noble and
uplifting. Background music that began as a murmur, grew until it
became a virtual pæan of joy as the young Martian couple announced
their eternal vows in ringing tones. Then, before the assembled
audience, they removed their golden circlets from about their heads,
and exchanged them. Obviously this completed the wedding ceremony, for
now they clasped their arms around each other and kissed, long and
tenderly.
"It is ... lovely," said Edith wistfully.
Now the young couple, arm in arm, advanced slowly up a few steps toward
an ornate couch, around which burned candles with flames of a color
never seen on Earth.
"Eh?" said Fendler. He leaned forward anxiously.
"Oh!" said Edith, her hand flying to her mouth as though to stifle any
further outburst.
"Ah!" said Roy.
The couple advanced to the couch and sat down upon it. A moment
of incredulous silence was broken as Fendler leaped to his feet.
"Mallory!" he roared. "Get that show off the air! Cut the power! Smash
the cameras! Do anything! The FCC will murder us!"
"There's no power to cut," said Roy. "This isn't our show--remember.
Just the commercials."
"Then put on a commercial! Hurry, man!"
"Right in the middle of the show?" asked Roy. "Besides, _they_ control
the commercials too. Immediately after this scene, as I understand
it, they'll put on the breakfast cereal again. And it will be rather
well-timed, I'd say...."
Edith rose to her feet, her face flaming. "You've got to do
_something_...."
"I don't know what," said Roy, looking at the sky intently. "Besides,
isn't this what they got married for?" He settled himself more
comfortably.
Fendler turned and raced from the roof. "Somebody turn that thing off!"
he screamed. His voice floated back to Roy and Edith on the roof. It
died away in the recesses of the building.
"Nobody can turn it off," said Roy. "And it's going to go on for
months...."
"For months!" exclaimed Edith, horrified. She cast a glance upward,
then turned away, clenching her fists, and biting her lips.
"What's the matter?" asked Roy. "Can't you take it?"