her
masterpiece, she is a luxury I can't afford. Anyway, this mug of mine
rather put me out of the running in the only leagues I've wanted to play
in. Incidentally, you introduced yourself as _Miss_ Julie Stone, didn't
you?"

"No, but it happens to be correct."

"What's your excuse?"

"For being single? I'm a career girl. I have my own modeling agency. Too
busy for one thing. And I guess a woman gets bored looking at beautiful
men in my business. Not a brain in a barnful. Just beautiful brawn and
wavy hair. Ugh! Animals! Everyone of them."

"Young woman, that's sedition. Don't you believe the government
propaganda?"

"If I did do you think I'd be here? No. Dr. Long, I find your arguments
quite valid. America is in the hands of the feminists, all right, and
it's the fault of several generations of mama's boys. I just can't
get--"

* * * * *

She broke off as a heavy truck rolled by out front, back-firing heavily.
They were both silhouetted in the open door. She glanced out, and
suddenly she threw herself upon him, pulling him to the floor. He caught
her in his arms as they cascaded into a tangle of limbs and nylon.

The racket faded off down the street, but Dr. Long's mind was not on the
noise. The touch of this beautiful woman's flesh under his hands
dominated his whole being. How different, how soft, incredibly soft!

Now she was clinging to him, trembling slightly and breathing deeply.
Even at this range her pale hair looked natural. "Are you all right?"
she asked at last.

"Of course," he said sitting up reluctantly. "It was only a truck
back-firing."

"Look!" She pointed behind him at the wall opposite the door. A wavery
line of small, deep holes cut across about heart-high. "I saw the
gun-barrel stick out as the truck came up," she explained, untangling
herself. "It appears your temporary immunity is over. They're getting
active."

Long stared half-unbelieving at the mean, business-like little holes.
With the reactions of a trained semanticist he relaxed instead of
tensing up with fear. He had made his decision days ago, and he knew
full well the risks he incurred.

"Thanks for nothing!" he said coldly.

Julie Stone looked up from straightening her dress and studied his lined
face. "So you really were expecting an attack?" She shook her head in
disgust. "I finally meet a man with some semblance of guts, and the only
way he can think of to win his point is to let a