The Project Gutenberg EBook of Jubilation, U.S.A., by G. L. Vandenburg

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Title: Jubilation, U.S.A.

Author: G. L. Vandenburg

Release Date: September 12, 2007 [EBook #22589]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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JUBILATION, U.S.A.

By G. L. VANDENBURG

_You've heard, I'm sure, about the two Martians who went into
a bar, saw a jukebox flashing and glittering, and said to it,
"What's a nice girl like you doing in a joint like this?"
Well, here's one about two Capellans and a slot-machine...._

Toryl pointed the small crypterpreter toward the wooden,
horseshoe-shaped sign. The sign's legend was carved in bright yellow
letters. Sartan, Toryl's companion, watched up and down the open highway
for signs of life. In seconds the small cylindrical mechanism completed
the translation.

The sign said:

JUBILATION, U.S.A.!!

The doggondest, cheeriest
little town in America!

The two aliens smiled at each other. Unaccustomed to oral conversation,
they exchanged thoughts.

"_The crypterpreter worked incredibly fast. The language is quite
simple. It would seem safe to proceed. The sign indicates
friendliness_," thought Toryl, the older of the two Capellans.

"_Very well, Brother_," replied Sartan, "_though I still worry for the
safety of the ship_."

"_Sartan, our instruments tell us that anyone who discovers the ship_,"
Toryl explained, a trifle impatient, "_will show a remarkable degree of
curiosity before they display any hostility_."

Sartan agreed to dismiss his worries and the two aliens began to walk
along the barren highway. Before them, at a great distance, they could
see a cluster of small frame buildings. When they had walked a hundred
feet or more they encountered another sign.

JUBILATION, U.S.A.!!

WELCOME, STRANGER! See America
first and begin with
JUBILATION!

And several hundred feet further two more signs.