"There," he said to the little boy softly, turning his head to look up
into the round, chubby, smiling face. "There. Isn't that nicer, huh?
Isn't that better than that hot old air outside?"

"Gleefle-ah," said the child with a grin.

"Oh, come on, boy. I've heard you manage bigger words than that. Or is
it your brother?" He chuckled and headed toward the drug counter.

"Hey, Jim!"

The big man brought himself up short and turned--carefully, so as not to
jiggle the baby on his shoulder. When he saw the shorter, thinner man,
he grinned hugely. "Jinks! By God! Jinks! Watch it! Don't shake the hand
too hard or I'll drop this infant. God damn, man, I thought you were in
Siberia!"

"I was, Jim, but a man can't stay in Siberia forever. Is that minuscule
lump of humanity your own?"

"Yup, yup. So I've been led to believe. Say hello to your Uncle Jinks,
young 'un. C'mon, say hello."

The child jammed the three fingers of his left hand into his mouth and
refused to say a word. His eyes widened with an unfathomable
baby-emotion.

"Well, he's got your eyes," said the thinner man. "Fortunately, he's
going to look like his mother instead of being ugly. He _is_ a he, isn't
he?"

"That's right. Mother's looks, father's plumbing. I got another just
like him, but his mother's taking the other one to the doctor to get rid
of the sniffles. Don't want this one to catch it."

"Twins?"

"Naw," said the big man sarcastically, "Octuplets. The Government took
seventy-five percent for taxes."

"Ask a silly question, get a silly answer," the smaller man said
philosophically.

"Yup. So how's the Great Northern Wasteland, Jinks?"

"Cold," said Jinks, "but it's not going to be a wasteland much longer,
Jim. Those Martian trees are going to be a big business in fifteen
years. There'll be forests all over the tundra. They'll make a hell of a
fine income crop for those people. We've put in over five thousand
square miles in seedlings during the past five years. The first ones
will be ready to harvest in ten years, and from then on, it will be as
regular as clockwork."

"That's great. Great. How long'll you be in town, Jinks?"

"About a week. Then I've got to head back to Siberia."

"Well, look, could you drop around some evening? We could kill off a few
bottles of beer after we eat one of Ellen's dinners. How about it?"

"I'd love to. Sure Ellen won't mind?"

"She'll be tickled pink to see you. How about Wednesday?"

"Sure.