THE MAN WHO JAPED

"Hi," Allen said.

Mrs. Hoyt said: "This unworthy is. I'm ashamed of you, Mr. Purcell. I really am."

"I'll make a note of that," Allen said. "What else?"

"Would you have the decency to tell us what you're doing?" Sue Frost demanded in a low, choked voice. She held up a newspaper. " ‘Active assimilation.' What in the name of heaven is this? Have you all completely lost your minds?"

"We have," Allen admitted. "But I don't see that it matters."

"It's a fabrication, isn't it?" Sue Frost accused. "You're inventing it all. This is some sort of horrible prank. If I didn't know better I'd say you had a hand in the japery of Major Streiter's statue; I'd say you're involved in this whole outbreak of anarchistic and savage lawlessness."

Her choice of words showed the potency of the campaign. It made him feel odd to hear her speaking right out of the plug.

"Now look," Mrs. Hoyt said presently, in a tone of forced amiability. "If you'll resign we'll see that you regain your lease. You'll be able to continue your Agency; you'll be exactly where you were. We'll prepare a guarantee, written, that Telemedia will buy from you." She hesitated. "And we'll undertake to expose Blake-Moffet for their part in the frame-up."

Allen said: "Now I know I'm on the right track. And try to watch TV tonight; you'll get the full story on ‘active assimilation.' "

Re-entering the building he halted to watch the blue Getabout steam away. Their offer had genuinely surprised him. It was amazing how much moral righteousness the breath of scandal could blow down. He ascended by the elevator and joined the group waiting in his office.

"Almost time," Sugerma

"At a rough guess," Gleeby said, "dominos representing seventy percent of the population will be watching. We should achieve an almost perfect saturation on this single airing."

From a suitcase Gates produced two fifths of Scotch whiskey. "To celebrate," he said, opening both. "Somebody get glasses. Or we can pass them around."

The phone rang, and Allen answered it.

"Hello, Allen," Myron Mavis' creaky voice came. "How're things going?"

"Absolutely perfect," Allen answered. "Want to stop by and join us?"

"Sorry. Can't. I'm bogged down in leaving. All my stuff to get packed for the trip to Sirius."

"Try to catch the projection tonight," Allen said. "It starts in a couple of minutes."

"How's Janet?"

"Seems to be feeling pretty fair. She's glad it's out in the open." He added,"[sic] She's watching at the apartment."

"Say hello to her," Mavis said. "And good luck on your lunacy."

"Thanks," Allen said. He said goodbye and hung up.

"Time," Sugerma

"Here we go," Allen agreed.

Mrs. Georgina Birmingham placed her favorite chair before her television set and anticipated her favorite program, "The Pageant of Time." She was tired from the hectic activities of the day, but a deep spiritual residuum reminded her that work and sacrifice were their own reward.

On the screen was an inter-program a

Mrs. Birmingham gladly endured the inter-program a

A shower of brightly-colored fireworks burst across the screen, and from the speaker issued the rumble of guns. A jagged, slashing line of words cut through the blur of war:

THE PAGEANT OF TIME

Her program had begun. Folding her arms, leaning her head back, Mrs. Birmingham now found herself viewing a table at which sat four dignified gentlemen. A discussion was in progress, and dim words were audible. Over them was superimposed the a

"Pageant of Time. Ladies and gentlemen, at this table sit four men, each a distinguished authority in his field. They had come together to discuss an issue vital to every citizen of the Morec society. In view of the unusual importance of this program there will be no interruptions, and the discussion, which is already in progress, will proceed without pause until the end of the hour. Our topic for tonight..." Visible words grew on the screen.

ACTIVE ASSIMILATION IN THE WORLD TODAY

Mrs. Birmingham was delighted. She had been hearing about active assimilation for some time, and this was her opportunity to learn once and for all what it was. Her lack of information had made her feel out of touch.

"Seated at my right is Doctor Joseph Gleeby, the noted educator, lecturer, writer of numerous books on problems of social values." A lean middle-aged man, smoking a pipe and rubbing his ear, was shown. "To Doctor Gleeby's right is Mr. Harold Priar, art critic, architect, frequent contributor to the Encyclopedia Brita