a romanticist, at heart.

"Half a minute," said Camilla softly, "Twen—"

There was a soft, but clearly audible sound emerging suddenly from somewhere within the cavernous depths of Gor Jeetl. A pleasant, bell-like tone, like a sweet-voiced alarm clock. The Saturnian turned his face away, and it was contorted with emotion.

"The warning signal," Chris said. "Goodby, darling." He kissed her. It was quite an expert kiss for a young man more experienced in reading decitrig slide rules. He intended that it should last until the end. But he ran out of breath. It seemed quite a long time, and still nothing had happened.

Nothing.

"Something is wrong," Camilla said.

But the curious expression was still on Gor Jeetl's face. Not fear; not the anticipation of the end. Something almost like repugnance.

"You did not laugh," Gor Jeetl said. "For that I thank you." He waited, while they stared in horrified expectation. "Oh, you need not stay any longer," he said. "It is all over. My ignominy is complete now, is it not? I am ready to go home."

Still no answer. "Wait a minute," said Chris after a moment, "just what is it that's inside you? A belated light was dawning.

"Why you must know, of course. It is an artificial stomach. Many years ago I had an ulcer. They removed my digestive system and installed a mechanical thing in its place. There was no longer any hunger pangs to warn me that I need nourishment, therefore the bell within me. I shall never forgive them for that. I did not ask for it. I, Gor Jeetl, to be embarrassed three times daily!" The Saturnian was frankly crying now. He propped his chins on his belly and wiped his nose with his shirt collar. "The ticking?" said Chris in an odd voice.

"Oh, it ticks a little now and then. It needs overhauling. If it hadn't been for that accursed, long-eared Venusian! They jumped at the chance, of course, to humiliate me! No one would have known, otherwise." He slumped on the table, wracked with sobs. "That man's stomach should bring shame upon his entire nation!" he blubbered.

"Don't you understand," Chris shouted in his ear, "We thought it was a bomb. Everybody thought it was a bomb; that Saturn had determined to blow up Friendship Tower just to spite Earth!"

Gor Jeetl looked up at 

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