Jean's voice was rough. "July 2nd, 1937. I guess I'll never forget that,
when my god died. What are you trying to say? Is it some new damned cult
you're promoting, Fred?"
"You called her a god. Why, Jean?"
"I don't know. I was only thirteen when she died. But she was so clean,
so--so free and windswept, so--oh, what the spirit of America should
be--and isn't."
I looked up to see tears in her eyes. Why was she moved? This girl who
certainly knew corruption, this worldly, lovely girl. I smiled at her.
She wiped the tears with the back of her hand. "Fred, you are the
strangest--I know this town's a zoo, but you, Fred--"
I continued to smile at her. "I'm just a guy trying to learn. May I
repeat something I said last night? You're beautiful, Jean."
"You're no three-headed calf, yourself," she said.
Twin planets and parallel evolution.... Parallel destiny? Not with a
third planetary war shaping up here. Three major wars in less than fifty
years. Why, why, why....