

	Now/rb that/cs he/pps knew/vbd himself/ppl to/to be/be self/nn he/pps was/bedz free/jj to/to grok/vb ever/ql closer/rbr to/in his/pp$ brothers/nns ,/, merge/vb without/in let/nn ./.
Self's/nn$ integrity/nn was/bedz and/cc is/bez and/cc ever/rb had/hvd been/ben ./.
Mike/np stopped/vbd to/to cherish/vb all/abn his/pp$ brother/nn selves/nns ,/, the/at many/ap threes-fulfilled/jj on/in Mars/np ,/, corporate/jj and/cc discorporate/jj ,/, the/at precious/jj few/ap on/in Earth/nn --/-- the/at unknown/jj powers/nns of/in three/cd on/in Earth/nn that/wps would/md be/be his/pp$ to/to merge/vb with/in and/cc cherish/vb now/rb that/cs at/in last/ap long/jj waiting/nn he/pps grokked/vbd and/cc cherished/vbd himself/ppl ./.


	Mike/np remained/vbd in/in trance/nn ;/. ;/.
there/ex was/bedz much/ap to/to grok/vb ,/, loose/jj ends/nns to/to puzzle/vb over/rp and/cc fit/vb into/in his/pp$ growing/vbg --/-- all/abn that/cs he/pps had/hvd seen/vbn and/cc heard/vbn and/cc been/ben at/in the/at Archangel/nn Foster/np Tabernacle/nn (/( not/* just/rb cusp/nn when/wrb he/pps and/cc Digby/np had/hvd come/vbn face/nn to/in face/nn alone/rb )/) why/wrb Bishop/nn Senator/nn Boone/np made/vbd him/ppo warily/rb uneasy/jj ,/, how/wrb Miss/np Dawn/np Ardent/np tasted/vbd like/cs a/at water/nn brother/nn when/wrb she/pps was/bedz not/* ,/, the/at smell/nn of/in goodness/nn he/pps had/hvd incompletely/rb grokked/vbn in/in the/at jumping/nn up/rp and/cc down/rp and/cc wailing/vbg --/--

	Jubal's/np$ conversations/nns coming/vbg and/cc going/vbg --/-- Jubal's/np$ words/nns troubled/vbd him/ppo most/rbt ;/. ;/.
he/pps studied/vbd them/ppo ,/, compared/vbd them/ppo with/in what/wdt he/pps had/hvd been/ben taught/vbn as/cs a/at nestling/nn ,/, struggling/vbg to/to bridge/vb between/in languages/nns ,/, the/at one/cd he/pps thought/vbd with/in and/cc the/at one/cd he/pps was/bedz learning/vbg to/to think/vb in/rp ./.
The/at word/nn ``/`` church/nn ''/'' which/wdt turned/vbd up/rp over/rp and/cc over/rp again/rb among/in Jubal's/np$ words/nns gave/vbd him/ppo knotty/jj difficulty/nn ;/. ;/.
there/ex was/bedz no/at Martian/jj concept/nn to/to match/vb it/ppo --/-- unless/cs one/pn took/vbd ``/`` church/nn ''/'' and/cc ``/`` worship/nn ''/'' and/cc ``/`` God/np ''/'' and/cc ``/`` congregation/nn ''/'' and/cc many/ap other/ap words/nns and/cc equated/vbd them/ppo to/in the/at totality/nn of/in the/at only/ap world/nn he/pps had/hvd known/vbn during/in growing-waiting/nn then/rb forced/vbd the/at concept/nn back/rb into/in English/np in/in that/dt phrase/nn which/wdt had/hvd been/ben rejected/vbn (/( by/in each/dt differently/rb )/) by/in Jubal/np ,/, by/in Mahmoud/np ,/, by/in Digby/np ./.


	``/`` Thou/ppss art/nn God/np ''/'' ./.
He/pps was/bedz closer/rbr to/to understanding/vbg it/ppo in/in English/np now/rb ,/, although/cs it/pps could/md never/rb have/hv the/at inevitability/nn of/in the/at Martian/jj concept/nn it/pps stood/vbd for/in ./.
In/in his/pp$ mind/nn he/pps spoke/vbd simultaneously/rb the/at English/jj sentence/nn and/cc the/at Martian/jj word/nn and/cc felt/vbd closer/jjr grokking/nn ./.
Repeating/vbg it/ppo like/cs a/at student/nn telling/vbg himself/ppl that/cs the/at jewel/nn is/bez in/in the/at lotus/nn he/pps sank/vbd into/in nirvana/nn ./.


	Before/in midnight/nn he/pps speeded/vbd his/pp$ heart/nn ,/, resumed/vbd normal/jj breathing/nn ,/, ran/vbd down/rp his/pp$ check/nn list/nn ,/, uncurled/vbd and/cc sat/vbd up/rp ./.
He/pps had/hvd been/ben weary/jj ;/. ;/.
now/rb he/pps felt/vbd light/jj and/cc gay/jj and/cc clear-headed/jj ,/, ready/jj for/in the/at many/ap actions/nns he/pps saw/vbd spreading/vbg out/rp before/in him/ppo ./.


	He/pps felt/vbd a/at puppyish/jj need/nn for/in company/nn as/ql strong/jj as/cs his/pp$ earlier/jjr necessity/nn for/in quiet/nn ./.
He/pps stepped/vbd out/rp into/in the/at hall/nn ,/, was/bedz delighted/vbn to/to encounter/vb a/at water/nn brother/nn ./.
``/`` Hi/uh ''/'' !/. !/.


	``/`` Oh/uh ./.
Hello/uh ,/, Mike/np ./.
My/uh ,/, you/ppss look/vb chipper/jj ''/'' ./.


	``/`` I/ppss feel/vb fine/rb !/. !/.
Where/wrb is/bez everybody/pn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Asleep/rb ./.
Ben/np and/cc Stinky/np went/vbd home/nr an/at hour/nn ago/rb and/cc people/nns started/vbd going/vbg to/in bed/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Oh/uh ''/'' ./.
Mike/np felt/vbd disappointed/vbn that/cs Mahmoud/np had/hvd left/vbn ;/. ;/.
he/pps wanted/vbd to/to explain/vb his/pp$ new/jj grokking/nn ./.


	``/`` I/ppss ought/md to/to be/be asleep/rb ,/, too/rb ,/, but/cc I/ppss felt/vbd like/cs a/at snack/nn ./.
Are/ber you/ppss hungry/jj ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Sure/rb ,/, I'm/ppss hungry/jj ''/'' !/. !/.


	``/`` Come/vb on/rp ,/, there's/ex some/dti cold/jj chicken/nn and/cc we'll/ppss see/vb what/wdt else/rb ''/'' ./.
They/ppss went/vbd downstairs/rb ,/, loaded/vbd a/at tray/nn lavishly/rb ./.
``/`` Let's/vb take/vb it/ppo outside/rb ./.
It's/pps plenty/ql warm/jj ''/'' ./.


	``/`` A/at fine/jj idea/nn ''/'' ,/, Mike/np agreed/vbd ./.


	``/`` Warm/jj enough/qlp to/to swim/vb --/-- real/jj Indian/jj summer/nn ./.
I'll/ppss switch/vb on/in the/at floods/nns ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Don't/do bother/vb ''/'' ,/, Mike/np answered/vbd ./.
``/`` I'll/ppss carry/vb the/at tray/nn ''/'' ./.
He/pps could/md see/vb in/in almost/rb total/jj darkness/nn ./.
Jubal/np said/vbd that/cs his/pp$ night-sight/nn probably/rb came/vbd from/in the/at conditions/nns in/in which/wdt he/pps had/hvd grown/vbn up/rp ,/, and/cc Mike/np grokked/vbd this/dt was/bedz true/jj but/cc grokked/vbd that/cs there/ex was/bedz more/ap to/in it/ppo ;/. ;/.
his/pp$ foster/jj parents/nns had/hvd taught/vbn him/ppo to/to see/vb ./.
As/cs for/in the/at night/nn being/beg warm/jj ,/, he/pps would/md have/hv been/ben comfortable/jj naked/jj on/in Mount/nn Everest/np but/cc his/pp$ water/nn brothers/nns had/hvd little/jj tolerance/nn for/in changes/nns in/in temperature/nn and/cc pressure/nn ;/. ;/.
he/pps was/bedz considerate/jj of/in their/pp$ weakness/nn ,/, once/cs he/pps learned/vbd of/in it/ppo ./.
But/cc he/pps was/bedz looking/vbg forward/rb to/in snow/nn --/-- seeing/vbg for/in himself/ppl that/cs each/dt tiny/jj crystal/nn of/in the/at water/nn of/in life/nn was/bedz a/at unique/jj individual/nn ,/, as/cs he/pps had/hvd read/vbn --/-- walking/vbg barefoot/rb ,/, rolling/vbg in/in it/ppo ./.


	In/in the/at meantime/nn he/pps was/bedz pleased/vbn with/in the/at warm/jj night/nn and/cc the/at still/ql more/ql pleasing/jj company/nn of/in his/pp$ water/nn brother/nn ./.


	``/`` Okay/uh ,/, take/vb the/at tray/nn ./.
I'll/ppss switch/vb on/in the/at underwater/jj lights/nns ./.
That'll/wps be/be plenty/rb to/to eat/vb by/in ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Fine/rb ''/'' ./.
Mike/np liked/vbd having/hvg light/nn up/rp through/in the/at ripples/nns ;/. ;/.
it/pps was/bedz a/at goodness/nn ,/, beauty/nn ./.
They/ppss picnicked/vbd by/in the/at pool/nn ,/, then/rb lay/vb back/rb on/in the/at grass/nn and/cc looked/vbd at/in stars/nns ./.


	``/`` Mike/np ,/, there's/ex Mars/np ./.
It/pps is/bez Mars/np ,/, isn't/bez it/pps ?/. ?/.
Or/cc Antares/np ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` It/pps is/bez Mars/np ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Mike/np ?/. ?/.
What/wdt are/ber they/ppss doing/vbg on/in Mars/np ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	He/pps hesitated/vbd ;/. ;/.
the/at question/nn was/bedz too/ql wide/jj for/in the/at sparse/jj English/jj language/nn ./.
``/`` On/in the/at side/nn toward/in the/at horizon/nn --/-- the/at southern/jj hemisphere/nn --/-- it/pps is/bez spring/nn ;/. ;/.
plants/nns are/ber being/beg taught/vbn to/to grow/vb ''/'' ./.


	``/`` '/' Taught/vbn to/to grow/vb '/' ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	He/pps hesitated/vbd ./.
``/`` Larry/np teaches/vbz plants/nns to/to grow/vb ./.
I/ppss have/hv helped/vbn him/ppo ./.
But/cc my/pp$ people/nns --/-- Martians/nps ,/, I/ppss mean/vb ;/. ;/.
I/ppss now/rb grok/vb you/ppss are/ber my/pp$ people/nns --/-- teach/vb plants/nns another/dt way/nn ./.
In/in the/at other/ap hemisphere/nn it/pps is/bez growing/vbg colder/jjr and/cc nymphs/nns ,/, those/dts who/wps stayed/vbd alive/jj through/in the/at summer/nn ,/, are/ber being/beg brought/vbn into/in nests/nns for/in quickening/vbg and/cc more/ap growing/vbg ''/'' ./.
He/pps thought/vbd ./.
``/`` Of/in the/at humans/nns we/ppss left/vbd at/in the/at equator/nn ,/, one/pn has/hvz discorporated/vbn and/cc the/at others/nns are/ber sad/jj ''/'' ./.


	Yes/rb ,/, I/ppss heard/vbd it/ppo in/in the/at news/nn ''/'' ./.


	Mike/np had/hvd not/* heard/vbn it/ppo ;/. ;/.
he/pps had/hvd not/* known/vbn it/ppo until/cs asked/vbn ./.
``/`` They/ppss should/md not/* be/be sad/jj ./.
Mr./np Booker/np T./np W./np Jones/np Food/nn Technician/nn First/od Class/nn is/bez not/* sad/jj ;/. ;/.
the/at Old/jj Ones/nns have/hv cherished/vbn him/ppo ''/'' ./.


	``/`` You/ppss knew/vbd him/ppo ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Yes/rb ./.
He/pps had/hvd his/pp$ own/jj face/nn ,/, dark/jj and/cc beautiful/jj ./.
But/cc he/pps was/bedz homesick/jj ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Oh/uh ,/, dear/uh !/. !/.
Mike/np do/do you/ppss ever/rb get/vb homesick/jj ?/. ?/.
For/in Mars/np ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` At/in first/rb I/ppss was/bedz homesick/jj ''/'' ,/, he/pps answered/vbd ./.
``/`` I/ppss was/bedz lonely/jj always/rb ''/'' ./.
He/pps rolled/vbd toward/in her/ppo and/cc took/vbd her/ppo in/in his/pp$ arms/nns ./.
``/`` But/cc now/rb I/ppss am/bem not/* lonely/jj ./.
I/ppss grok/vb I/ppss shall/md never/rb be/be lonely/jj again/rb ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Mike/np darling/jj ''/'' --/-- They/ppss kissed/vbd ,/, and/cc went/vbd on/rp kissing/vbg ./.


	Presently/rb his/pp$ water/nn brother/nn said/vbd breathlessly/rb ./.
``/`` Oh/uh ,/, my/uh !/. !/.
That/dt was/bedz almost/ql worse/jjr than/cs the/at first/od time/nn ''/'' ./.


	``/`` You/ppss are/ber all/ql right/jj ,/, my/pp$ brother/nn ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` Yes/rb ./.
Yes/rb indeed/qlp ./.
Kiss/vb me/ppo again/rb ''/'' ./.


	A/at long/jj time/nn later/rbr ,/, by/in cosmic/jj clock/nn ,/, she/pps said/vbd ,/, ``/`` Mike/np ?/. ?/.
Is/bez that/dt --/-- I/ppss mean/vb ,/, '/' Do/do you/ppss know/vb '/' ''/'' --/--

	``/`` I/ppss know/vb ./.
It/pps is/bez for/in growing/vbg closer/rbr ./.
Now/rb we/ppss grow/vb closer/rbr ''/'' ./.


	``/`` Well/uh I've/ppss been/ben ready/jj a/at long/jj time/nn --/-- goodness/nn ,/, we/ppss all/abn have/hv ,/, but/cc never/rb mind/vb ,/, dear/jj ;/. ;/.
turn/vb just/rb a/at little/ap ./.
I'll/ppss help/vb ''/'' ./.


	As/cs they/ppss merged/vbd ,/, grokking/vbg together/rb ,/, Mike/np said/vbd softly/rb and/cc triumphantly/rb :/: ``/`` Thou/ppss art/ber God/np ''/'' ./.


	Her/pp$ answer/nn was/bedz not/* in/in words/nns ./.
Then/rb ,/, as/cs their/pp$ grokking/nn made/vbd them/ppo ever/rb closer/rbr and/cc Mike/np felt/vbd himself/ppl almost/rb ready/jj to/to discorporate/vb her/pp$ voice/nn called/vbd him/ppo back/rb :/: ``/`` Oh/uh !/. !/.
Oh/uh !/. !/.
Thou/ppss art/ber God/np ''/'' !/. !/.


	``/`` We/ppss grok/vb God/np ''/'' ./.



25/cd ./.

On/in Mars/np humans/nns were/bed building/vbg pressure/nn domes/nns for/in the/at male/nn and/cc female/nn party/nn that/dt would/md arrive/vb by/in next/ap ship/nn ./.
This/dt went/vbd faster/rbr than/cs scheduled/vbn as/cs the/at Martians/nps were/bed helpful/jj ./.
Part/nn of/in the/at time/nn saved/vbn was/bedz spent/vbn on/in a/at preliminary/jj estimate/nn for/in a/at long-distance/nn plan/nn to/to free/vb bound/vbn oxygen/nn in/in the/at sands/nns of/in Mars/np to/to make/vb the/at planet/nn more/ql friendly/jj to/in future/jj human/nn generations/nns ./.


	The/at Old/jj Ones/nns neither/cc helped/vbd nor/cc hindered/vbd this/dt plan/nn ;/. ;/.
time/nn was/bedz not/* yet/rb ./.
Their/pp$ meditations/nns were/bed approaching/vbg a/at violent/jj cusp/nn that/wps would/md shape/vb Martian/jj art/nn for/in many/ap millennia/nns ./.
On/in Earth/nn elections/nns continued/vbd and/cc a/at very/ql advanced/vbn poet/nn published/vbd a/at limited/vbn edition/nn of/in verse/nn consisting/vbg entirely/rb of/in punctuation/nn marks/nns and/cc spaces/nns ;/. ;/.
Time/nn magazine/nn reviewed/vbd it/ppo and/cc suggested/vbd that/cs the/at Federation/nn Assembly/nn Daily/jj Record/nn should/md be/be translated/vbn into/in the/at medium/nn ./.


	A/at colossal/jj campaign/nn opened/vbd to/to sell/vb more/ql sexual/jj organs/nns of/in plants/nns and/cc Mrs./np Joseph/np (/( ``/`` Shadow/nn of/in Greatness/nn ''/'' )/) Douglas/np was/bedz quoted/vbn as/cs saying/vbg :/: ``/`` I/ppss would/md no/at more/rbr sit/vb down/rp without/in flowers/nns on/in my/pp$ table/nn than/cs without/in serviettes/nns ''/'' ./.
A/at Tibetan/jj swami/nn from/in Palermo/np ,/, Sicily/np ,/, announced/vbd in/in Beverly/np Hills/nns a/at newly/rb discovered/vbn ,/, ancient/jj yoga/nn discipline/nn for/in ripple/nn breathing/nn which/wdt increased/vbd both/abx pranha/nn and/cc cosmic/jj attraction/nn between/in sexes/nns ./.
His/pp$ chelas/fw were/bed required/vbn to/to assume/vb the/at matsyendra/fw posture/nn dressed/vbn in/in hand-woven/jj diapers/nns while/cs he/pps read/vbd aloud/rb from/in Rig-Veda/np and/cc an/at assistant/nn guru/nn examined/vbd their/pp$ purses/nns in/in another/dt room/nn --/-- nothing/pn was/bedz stolen/vbn ;/. ;/.
the/at purpose/nn was/bedz less/ql immediate/jj ./.


	The/at President/nn of/in the/at United/vbn States/nns proclaimed/vbd the/at first/od Sunday/nr in/in November/np as/cs ``/`` National/jj Grandmothers'/nns$ Day/nn ''/'' and/cc urged/vbd America/np to/to say/vb it/ppo with/in flowers/nns ./.
A/at funeral/nn parlor/nn chain/nn was/bedz indicted/vbn for/in price-cutting/nn ./.
Fosterite/jj bishops/nns ,/, after/in secret/jj conclave/nn ,/, announced/vbd the/at Church's/nn$ second/od Major/jj Miracle/nn :/: Supreme/jj Bishop/nn Digby/np had/hvd been/ben translated/vbn bodily/rb to/in Heaven/nn and/cc spot-promoted/vbn to/in Archangel/nn ,/, ranking/vbg with-but-after/in Archangel/nn Foster/np ./.
The/at glorious/jj news/nn had/hvd been/ben held/vbn up/rp pending/in Heavenly/jj confirmation/nn of/in the/at elevation/nn of/in a/at new/jj Supreme/jj Bishop/nn ,/, Huey/np Short/np --/-- a/at candidate/nn accepted/vbd by/in the/at Boone/np faction/nn after/cs lots/nns had/hvd been/ben cast/nn repeatedly/rb ./.


	L'Unita/fw and/cc Hoy/fw published/vbd identical/jj denunciations/nns of/in Short's/np$ elevation/nn ,/, l'Osservatore/fw Romano/fw and/cc the/at Christian/jj Science/nn Monitor/nn ignored/vbd it/ppo ,/, Times/nns of/in India/np snickered/vbd at/in it/ppo ,/, and/cc the/at Manchester/np Guardian/nn simply/rb reported/vbd it/ppo --/-- the/at Fosterites/nps in/in England/np were/bed few/ap but/cc extremely/rb militant/jj ./.


	Digby/np was/bedz not/* pleased/vbn with/in his/pp$ promotion/nn ./.
The/at Man/nn from/in Mars/np had/hvd interrupted/vbn him/ppo with/in his/pp$ work/nn half/ql finished/vbn --/-- and/cc that/dt stupid/jj jackass/nn Short/np was/bedz certain/jj to/to louse/vb it/ppo up/rp ./.
Foster/np listened/vbd with/in angelic/jj patience/nn until/cs Digby/np ran/vbd down/rp ,/, then/rb said/vbd ,/, ``/`` Listen/vb ,/, junior/np ,/, you're/ppss an/at angel/nn now/rb --/-- so/cs forget/vb it/ppo ./.
Eternity/nn is/bez no/at time/nn for/in recriminations/nns ./.
You/ppss too/rb were/bed a/at stupid/jj jackass/nn until/cs you/ppss poisoned/vbd me/ppo ./.
Afterwards/rb you/ppss did/dod well/rb enough/qlp ./.
Now/rb that/cs Short/np is/bez Supreme/jj Bishop/nn he'll/pps do/do all/ql right/rb ,/, he/pps can't/md help/vb it/ppo ./.
Same/ap as/cs with/in the/at Popes/nns ./.
Some/dti of/in them/ppo were/bed warts/nns until/cs they/ppss got/vbd promoted/vbn ./.
Check/vb with/in one/cd of/in them/ppo ,/, go/vb ahead/rb --/-- there's/ex no/at professional/jj jealousy/nn here/rb ''/'' ./.


	Digby/np calmed/vbd down/rp ,/, but/cc made/vbd one/cd request/nn ./.


	Foster/np shook/vbd his/pp$ halo/nn ./.
``/`` You/ppss can't/md touch/vb him/ppo ./.
You/ppss shouldn't/md have/hv tried/vbn to/to ./.
Oh/uh ,/, you/ppss can/md submit/vb a/at requisition/nn for/in a/at miracle/nn if/cs you/ppss want/vb to/to make/vb a/at fool/nn of/in yourself/ppl ./.
But/cc ,/, I'm/ppss telling/vbg you/ppo ,/, it'll/pps be/be turned/vbn down/rp --/-- you/ppss don't/do understand/vb the/at System/nn yet/rb ./.
The/at Martians/nps have/hv their/pp$ own/jj setup/nn ,/, different/jj from/in ours/pp$$ ,/, and/cc as/ql long/jj as/cs they/ppss need/vb him/ppo ,/, we/ppss can't/md touch/vb him/ppo ./.
They/ppss run/vb their/pp$ show/nn their/pp$ way/nn --/-- the/at Universe/nn has/hvz variety/nn ,/, something/pn for/in everybody/pn --/-- a/at fact/nn you/ppss field/vb workers/nns often/rb miss/vb ''/'' ./.


	``/`` You/ppss mean/vb this/dt punk/nn can/md brush/vb me/ppo aside/rb and/cc I've/ppss got/vbn to/to hold/vb still/rb for/in it/ppo ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	``/`` I/ppss held/vbd still/rb for/in the/at same/ap thing/nn ,/, didn't/dod I/ppss ?/. ?/.
I'm/ppss helping/vbg you/ppo now/rb ,/, am/bem I/ppss not/* ?/. ?/.
Now/rb look/vb ,/, there's/ex work/nn to/to be/be done/vbn and/cc lots/nns of/in it/ppo ./.
The/at Boss/nn wants/vbz performance/nn ,/, not/* gripes/nns ./.
If/cs you/ppss need/vb a/at Day/nn off/rp to/to calm/vb down/rp ,/, duck/vb over/rp to/in the/at Muslim/jj Paradise/nn and/cc take/vb it/ppo ./.
Otherwise/rb ,/, straighten/vb your/pp$ halo/nn ,/, square/vb your/pp$ wings/nns ,/, and/cc dig/vb in/rp ./.
The/at sooner/rbr you/ppss act/vb like/cs an/at angel/nn the/at quicker/rbr you'll/ppss feel/vb angelic/jj ./.
Get/vb Happy/jj ,/, junior/jj ''/'' !/. !/.


	Digby/np heaved/vbd a/at deep/jj ethereal/jj sigh/nn ./.
``/`` Okay/uh ,/, I'm/ppss Happy/jj ./.
Where/wrb do/do I/ppss start/vb ''/'' ?/. ?/.


	Jubal/np did/dod not/* hear/vb of/in Digby's/np$ disappearance/nn when/wrb it/pps was/bedz announced/vbn ,/, and/cc ,/, when/wrb he/pps did/dod ,/, while/cs he/pps had/hvd a/at fleeting/vbg suspicion/nn ,/, he/pps dismissed/vbd it/ppo ;/. ;/.
if/cs Mike/np had/hvd had/hvn a/at finger/nn in/in it/ppo ,/, he/pps had/hvd gotten/vbn away/rb with/in it/ppo --/-- and/cc what/wdt happened/vbd to/in supreme/jj bishops/nns worried/vbd Jubal/np not/* at/in all/abn as/ql long/jj as/cs he/pps wasn't/bedz bothered/vbn ./.


	His/pp$ household/nn had/hvd gone/vbn through/in an/at upset/vbn ./.
Jubal/np deduced/vbd what/wdt had/hvd happened/vbn but/cc did/dod not/* know/vb with/in whom/wpo --/-- and/cc didn't/dod want/vb to/to inquire/vb ./.
Mike/nn was/bedz of/in legal/jj age/nn and/cc presumed/vbd able/jj to/to defend/vb himself/ppl in/in the/at clinches/nns ./.
Anyhow/rb ,/, it/pps was/bedz high/jj time/nn the/at boy/nn was/bedz salted/vbn ./.


	Jubal/np couldn't/md reconstruct/vb the/at crime/nn from/in the/at way/nn the/at girls/nns behaved/vbd because/cs patterns/nns kept/vbd shifting/vbg --/-- ABC/np vs/np D/np ,/, then/jj BCD/np vs/np A/np or/cc AB/np vs/np CD/np ,/, or/cc AD/np vs/np CB/np ,/, through/in all/abn ways/nns that/cs four/cd women/nns can/md gang/vb up/rp on/in each/dt other/ap ./.


	This/dt continued/vbd most/ap of/in the/at week/nn following/vbg that/ql ill-starred/jj trip/nn to/in church/nn ,/, during/in which/wdt period/nn Mike/np stayed/vbd in/in his/pp$ room/nn and/cc usually/rb in/in a/at trance/nn so/ql deep/jj that/cs Jubal/np would/md have/hv pronounced/vbn him/ppo dead/jj had/hvd he/pps not/* seen/vbn it/ppo before/rb ./.
Jubal/np would/md not/* have/hv minded/vbn it/ppo if/cs service/nn had/hvd not/* gone/vbn to/in pieces/nns ./.
The/at girls/nns seemed/vbd to/to spend/vb half/abn their/pp$ time/nn tiptoeing/vbg in/rp ``/`` to/to see/vb if/cs Mike/np was/bedz all/ql right/jj ''/'' and/cc they/ppss were/bed too/ql preoccupied/vbn to/to cook/vb ,/, much/ql less/ap be/be secretaries/nns ./.
Even/rb rock-steady/jj Anne/np --/-- Hell/uh ,/, Anne/np was/bedz the/at worst/jjt !/. !/.
Absent-minded/jj ,/, subject/nn to/in unexplained/jj tears/nns Jubal/np would/md have/hv bet/nn his/pp$ life/nn that/cs if/cs Anne/np were/bed to/to witness/vb the/at Second/od Coming/nn ,/, she/pps would/md memorize/vb date/nn ,/, time/nn ,/, personae/nns ,/, events/nns ,/, and/cc barometric/jj pressure/nn without/in batting/vbg her/pp$ calm/jj blue/jj eyes/nns ./.

