Short Stories by Robert A. Heinlein Vol 2 Part 99

After a time he pushed her gently away and said, "My dear, my very dear, uhwe could drive down and find a minister in some little town?"

She looked at him steadily. "That wouldn't be very bright, would it? I mean, n.o.body knows we're here and that's the way we want it. And besides, your car might not make it back up that road."

"No, it wouldn't be very bright. But I want to do the right thing."

"It's all right. Potty. It's all right."

"Well, then . . . kneel down here with me. Well say them together."

"Yes, Potiphar." She knelt and he took her hand. He closed his eyes and prayed wordlessly.

When he opened them he said, "Whats the matter?"

"Uh, the gravel hurts my knees."

"Well stand up, then."

"No. Look, Potty, why don't we just go in the house and say them there?"

"Hub? h.e.l.ls bells, woman, we might forget to say them entirely. Now repeat after me: I, Potiphar, take thee,

Meade-"

"Yes, Potiphar. I, Meade, take thee, Potiphar-"

III.

"OFFICIAL: STATIONS WITHIN RANGE BELAY TWICE. EXECUTIVE.

BULLETIN NUMBER NINEROAD LAWS PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED.

HAVE BEEN IGn.o.bED IN MANY INSTANCES. PATBOLS ABE OB-.

DEBED TO SHOOT WITHOUT WARNING AND PBOVOST MARSHALS.

ABE DIBECTED TO USE DEATH PENALTY FOB UNAUTHOMZED.

POSSESSION OF GASOLINE. B.W. AND BADIATION QUABANTINE.

BEGULATIONS PREVIOUSLY ISSUED WILL BE BIGIDLY ENFOBCED.

LONG LIVE THE UNITED STATES! HABLEY J. NEAL, LIEUTENANT.

GENEBAL, ACTING CHIEF OF GOVERNMENT. ALL STATIONS RE-.

LAY TWICE.".

"THIS IS THE FREE RADIO AMERICA BELAY NETWOBK. Pa.s.s THIS.

ALONG, BOYS I GOVERNOR BBANDLEY WAS SWORN IN TODAY.

AS PRESIDENT BY ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE BOBEBTS UNDEB THE.

BULE-OF-SUCCESSION. THE PBESIDENT NAMED THOMAS DEWEY.

AS SECRETARY OF STATE AND PAUL DOUGLAS AS SECRETARY OF.

DEFENSE. HIS SECOND OFFICIAL ACT WAS TO STBIP THE BENE-.

GADE NEAL OF BANK AND TO DIRECT HIS ABBEST BY ANY.

CITIZEN OR OFFICIAL. MORE LATEB. Pa.s.s THE WORD ALONG.

"h.e.l.lO, CQ, CQ, CQ. THIS IS WgKMB, FBEEPOBT, QBB, QBRi

ANYBODY READ ME? ANYBODY? WE'RE DYING LIKE FLIES.

DOWN HERE. WHAT'S HAPPENED? STARTS WITH FEVER AND A.

BUBNING THIRST BUT YOU CAN'T SWALLOW. WE NEED HELP.

ANYBODY BEAD ME? h.e.l.lO, CQ 75, CQ 75 THIS IS "5 KILO.

METBO BOMEO CALLING QBB AND CQ 75- BY FOR SOMEBODY.

... ANYBODYIII".

"THIS IS THE LORD'S TIME, SPONSOBED BY SWAN'S ELIXIB, THE.

TONIC THAT MAKES WAITING FOR THE KINGDOM OF G.o.d.

WORTHWHILE. YOU ARE ABOUT TO HEAB A MESSAGE OF CHEER.

FROM JUDGE BBOOMFIELD, ANOINTED VICAB OF THE KINGDOM.

ON EABTH. BUT FIKST A BULLETIN: SEND YOUR CONTRIBU-.

TIONS TO 'MESSIAH,' CLINT, TEXAS. DON'T TRY TO MAIL.

THEM: SEND THEM BY A KINGDOM MESSENGER OR BY SOME.

PILGRIM JOURNEYING THIS WAY. AND NOW THE TABERNACLE.

CHOIR FOLLOWED BY THE VOICE OF THE VICAB ON EARTH".

"THE FIRST SYMPTOM IS LITTLE RED SPOTS IN THE ARMPITS.

THEY ITCH. PUT 'EM TO BED AT ONCE AND KEEP 'EM COVERED.