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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of She Knew He Was Coming, by Kris Neville
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: She Knew He Was Coming
+
+Author: Kris Neville
+
+Release Date: October 11, 2010 [EBook #33934]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SHE KNEW HE WAS COMING ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Greg Weeks, Dianna Adair and the Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+_Mary might have learned a more ladylike trade, but one thing is
+certain: she had a shining faith in that space guy from Earth. Now,
+about that cake she baked ..._
+
+
+
+
+She Knew He Was Coming
+
+By Kris Neville
+
+Illustrated by Ed Emsh
+
+
+Outside, the bluish sun slanted low across the green dust of the Martian
+desert, its last rays sparkling on the far mountain tops. One by one,
+lights flickered on in the city.
+
+"Mary must be expecting that Earthman," Anne said. She held her glastic
+blouse tight together over her breasts and leaned a little out of the
+window.
+
+Milly nodded. "The _Azmuth_ landed this morning."
+
+The noises of commerce were fading. From the window Anne saw the neon
+blaze up over the door. For the thousandth time she blinked between the
+equivocal words: 30--BEAUTIFUL HOSTESSES--30. Laughter, dry and false,
+filtered up from the tea bars along the street. She looked westward,
+toward the spaceport, and made out the shadowy nose of the berthed space
+liner looming against the night. She could picture the scene--a thousand
+stevedores unloading cargo, refill men and native spacewriters scurrying
+over the sleek hull, the Earth voyageurs shouting orders and curses.
+
+"Maybe he isn't even on it." Anne turned from the window. She crossed to
+the couch and sat down, fluffing out the green crinkly glass of her
+skirt; pendant, multicolored birds flashed from the rings in her ears.
+She tucked rosy feet under her scented body. "I don't like Earthmen,"
+she said.
+
+"They spend money."
+
+"They make me sick," Anne said. "With their pale skins and ugly eyes and
+hairy bodies."
+
+"They have strong arms."
+
+Anne's wide, red mouth curled in distaste. "They're like a bunch of
+kids."
+
+The room was lighted by soft, overhead fire. Heavy drapes hung from the
+walls. Sweet, spicy incense curled bluely from the burners by the
+window.
+
+Before the mirror, Milly edged in the narrow line of her pink eyebrows
+with a pencil. She folded her lips in, rubbing them together, licked
+them, making them a glistening red. She pinched her cheeks.
+
+"I wonder when they'll catch Crescent?" she said.
+
+Anne yawned languorously. "It won't be long."
+
+"I wouldn't want to be in her shoes," Milly said.
+
+Anne patted her mouth lazily. "She ought to have known she couldn't run
+away."
+
+"What do you think Miss Bestris will do to her?"
+
+Anne stood up, brushing out the wrinkles in her dress. "I should care."
+
+"But what will she do?"
+
+Anne shrugged. "Whip her, maybe. How should _I_ know?"
+
+"Don't you feel you'd like to run away, once in a while?" Milly asked,
+turning to look at the other girl.
+
+Anne laughed coldly. "I've got better sense."
+
+"But don't you _want_ to?"
+
+Anne tossed her purple hair. "Where is there to go? Who is there to go
+to?"
+
+"Yes.... I guess you're right." Milly turned back to her reflection.
+
+_Buzzzzzz_....
+
+Both girls turned their heads to the buttons on the wall. The white one
+was glowing.
+
+"It's Miss Bestris."
+
+"We'd better go," Milly said.
+
+Together they walked down the heavily carpeted stairs to the sitting
+room.
+
+The Madame was waiting. She was a large woman, rolling in creases of
+fat, and her pink hair was rough and clipped short. She had a pair of
+dimples in her cheeks and a single gold band around her right wrist. She
+was leaning against the piano.
+
+"Hurry now, girls, hurry right along," she said.
+
+More girls were entering the room; they spread out, sitting on the
+chairs, curling at the Madame's feet. Their eyes--amethyst, gray or
+golden--were on her face. Many had pink hair, others had tresses of
+purple or salmon.
+
+"Now, girls, I suppose you know there's an Earth ship in port?"
+
+The girls nodded.
+
+"So I expect we'll have visitors tonight. I want you to all look your
+very best." She smiled at them. "Anne, why don't you wear that low-cut,
+orange plastic with the spangles, and June, you the prim white one? You
+look like an angel in it." June smiled. "And Mary...?"
+
+"Yes, Miss Bestris?"
+
+"Mary. Did you buy that neo-nylon I told you about?"
+
+"No, Miss Bestris."
+
+"Mary, Mary, Mary. I just don't understand you at all."
+
+"I'm saving my money, Miss Bestris," Mary said intently.
+
+"Yes, dear, I know that. We're _all_ saving our money. But we simply
+must look presentable. We have a reputation to hold up."
+
+"Yes, Miss Bestris."
+
+"Then, Mary, dear, do--do, _please_, buy yourself something decent."
+
+"Yes, Miss Bestris. I will.... Tomorrow. Tomorrow morning, if I ..."
+
+[Illustration]
+
+"Child? If you what?"
+
+"Nothing, Miss Bestris."
+
+"Well. See that you get it tomorrow. If you don't, I'm afraid I'll have
+to take some of your money and get it for you."
+
+Mary looked down at the floor. The flaming glow of the hydrojet torches
+cast golden lights in her softly purple hair.
+
+"By the way, Mary. Is that your cake in the oven?"
+
+"Yes, Miss Bestris."
+
+The other girls snickered.
+
+"Let her alone," said the Madame. "If she wants to bake a cake, why
+shouldn't she?"
+
+No one answered.
+
+Miss Bestris went on around the room, discussing the girls' clothing,
+brushing this girl's hair, pinching that girl's cheek, chucking this one
+under the chin, smiling, frowning. Then finally she stepped back and
+nodded.
+
+"You all look quite good, I think. I can be proud of you. And now, I
+want you all to go to your rooms and make them extra attractive, and
+then try to get a little rest, so you'll all be especially beautiful
+when the boys come. Run along now."
+
+The girls filed out, and night continued to settle. After a while, her
+cigarette glowing in the gloom, the Madame waddled to her office. There
+three people were waiting for her.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The office was plain, businesslike, masculine; no lace, no ribbons, no
+perfume, only the crisp smell of new paper, the tangy odor of ink, the
+sweet smell of eraser fluid. When she came in the door the three people
+stood up.
+
+She waved her cigarette hand with a once delicate gesture and flame
+light glinted dully on the gold band. "Please don't get up for me," she
+said, but her tone was condescending and the three visitors sat down
+respectfully.
+
+Miss Bestris crossed to her desk; she perched on a corner of it, leaned
+back, blew smoke.
+
+"You wanted to see me about your girls?"
+
+Two of the people, man and wife, looked at each other. "Yes," they said.
+And the other man said, "Yes."
+
+"Did you bring any pictures?"
+
+They handed her pictures, and she held them up to the overhead torch.
+She studied them critically, pursing and unpursing her lips in secret
+calculation.
+
+"This one," she said finally, holding out one of the pictures.
+
+The man and wife rustled their clothing; they smiled faintly proud at
+each other.
+
+The other man got up slowly, retrieved his picture, left the room
+without saying a word.
+
+"We can't do for little Lavada," the woman whined. "She was a late
+child, and we're getting old, and we thought she would be better here.
+It's hard to do for a growing girl when you get old. And my husband
+can't keep steady work, because of his health and ..."
+
+"I'm sure she will be happy here," the Madame said, smiling.
+
+"Yes," the man agreed. "It's for the best. But--you know--well, we hate
+to do it."
+
+"How old is she?"
+
+"... Fourteen."
+
+Miss Bestris studied the picture again. "She doesn't look over twelve."
+
+"She's fourteen."
+
+"And healthy--"
+
+"We have doctors to see to that," the Madame said. "How much did you
+have in mind?"
+
+"Well," the man said, "it's been a month now since I worked, and with
+debts and everything...."
+
+"And something to put aside for winter," his wife added.
+
+"We couldn't take less than a _milli dordoc_."
+
+"And we wouldn't even think of it, but we don't have a scrap of bread in
+the house."
+
+"And all our bills, and winter coming on...."
+
+Miss Bestris turned the picture this way and that. The parents waited.
+The woman cleared her throat. The man shuffled his feet. The clock on
+the wall went tick-tick, tick-tick.
+
+"I'll give you eight hundred and thirty _dordocs_," the Madame said.
+
+"Well...."
+
+Miss Bestris bent forward, holding out the picture. "Here, then. Take
+it. I wouldn't offer that, but I need a girl right now. One of mine ran
+away last week, and I'm afraid she won't be able to work for a month or
+so after they bring her back. I'm being generous. Eight hundred and
+thirty, or take your picture and don't waste my time."
+
+The man and woman stared at her. And the clock went _tick-tick_.
+
+"Take it, Chav."
+
+"... All right," the man said. "We need the money."
+
+Miss Bestris leaned across the desk, pressed a button on her panel.
+Almost immediately, a door slid silently open and her lawyer entered
+with a white, printed, standard-form sales contract in his hand.
+Efficiently and rapidly, he entered the particulars. "Sign here," he
+said, and the parents signed.
+
+"Now," said the Madame, "if you'll bring in Lavada tomorrow at nine,
+I'll arrange for a doctor to be here. If his examination is
+satisfactory, the money will be ready."
+
+The lawyer left, and the woman said, "You understand, we wouldn't do
+this but for ..."
+
+"I understand, perfectly," Miss Bestris said. "You don't need to worry.
+This is the best kind of house--Earthmen only, you know, and they're
+very particular. My girls are given the best of care. I'm like a mother
+to them, and if they are thrifty and diligent, they'll be able to save
+enough money in a--a very short time to redeem their contract as
+provided by law. You needn't worry at all."
+
+"Well," the woman said, "I feel better after talking to you. I feel
+better about the whole thing to hear you talk like that."
+
+The clock went _tick-tick_.
+
+"Uh," the man said, "you won't--? That is, our little daughter is
+sometimes wilful and ... uh ... well ... Sometimes."
+
+Miss Bestris smiled. "We know how to handle girls."
+
+"You'll treat her...?"
+
+"As I would my own child," Miss Bestris said; she took out another
+cigarette, lit it. "I think we'll call her--well--Poppy. Earthmen like
+to feel at home, you know."
+
+The clock went _tick-tick_.
+
+"Well, uh," the man said. "Uh. Thank you."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+In one of the rooms upstairs Mary sat before the dressing table with her
+back to the mirror, while June and Adele occupied the two overstuffed
+chairs. Night sounds drifted up from the yellow canal, and fresh flower
+scents whispered on the warm air. The diaphanous glass curtains rustled
+at the open window.
+
+"They're too expensive," Mary said. "I'm sure Miss Bestris overcharges
+us for them."
+
+"Hush," said June, glancing around at the walls nervously. "Hush, Mary."
+She smoothed at the delicate, plutolac lace fringe above her breasts.
+"Imported material like this costs money. You can't get it for nothing,
+and we have to have the best."
+
+"I still think she charges too much."
+
+Adele shrugged delicately and crossed shapely ankles. "I think Miss
+Bestris must like you, or she wouldn't let you wear that dress again
+tonight. You ought to watch out that you don't get on the wrong side of
+her."
+
+Mary laughed, her amethyst eyes sparkling. "I won't care. Not after
+tonight."
+
+"You're not going to run away?" June asked breathlessly. "You wouldn't
+dare do that. You'd catch it, sure!"
+
+Mary shook her head. "Not _run_ away."
+
+Adele leaned forward and said huskily, "You got enough money to redeem
+your contract?"
+
+Again Mary shook her head. "No. It's nine hundred and ten _dordocs_. I
+have only ninety-three. But I'll have enough in the morning!" She stood
+up and crossed to the window, looked out toward the spaceport.
+
+"How?"
+
+"Tell us, Mary!"
+
+"Tell you what?" Anne asked, coming into the room. Languidly she drew
+the door closed behind her and rested against it. "Tell you what?" she
+insisted, narrowing milky eyes.
+
+"Mary says she can redeem her contract tomorrow."
+
+Anne's wide mouth curled contemptuously. "Nonsense!"
+
+"It's not," said Mary without turning.
+
+Anne glided sensuously across the room to the bed, her tight fitting
+plastic rippling with her tigerish muscles. She sat down.
+
+"He said he'd take me away, this trip," Mary continued. "He'll sign off,
+and then we'll both get a ship and go to one of the frontier planets.
+Where it won't matter about--all this."
+
+Anne laughed harshly. "My God! You believe _that_?"
+
+"We've both been saving our money," Mary said dreamily. "He's in love
+with me. He said so."
+
+"Honey, that's what they all say."
+
+Smiling, Mary turned from the window and leaned backward, stretching.
+"You don't know him. He's different."
+
+"They're all the same," Anne said, her mouth twisting bitterly.
+"They're just alike. Don't believe any of them."
+
+And Mary said, "With him, it's different. You'll see."
+
+After a moment, Anne said, "That Earthman? That what's-his-name?" Mary
+nodded, and Anne brushed an imaginary something off her knee. "An
+Earthman," Anne said. "They're the worst of all."
+
+"You don't know him, or you wouldn't say that."
+
+Adele looked away from Anne. "You love him, don't you, Mary?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"You're a fool," Anne said. "Listen to me. _Love_ a man? God! You'll
+see. After him, there'll be another and another, and--just like
+Rosy--you'll watch 'em leave you and laugh at you until finally you're
+hurt so bad you don't think you can stand being hurt any more, and then
+along comes another one, and it starts all over again, and then one
+night you take a razor blade and go to the sink and stick out your
+throat and...."
+
+"No! No! You're wrong! He's not like the rest!"
+
+Anne leaned back carelessly, resting, propped on one hand. "See. You
+know I'm right, already."
+
+"You're not!"
+
+Anne shrugged. "Honey, tell me that tomorrow night."
+
+"I better go take my cake out," Mary said. She fled the room in a swirl
+of shimmering glastic.
+
+Anne sneered, "I don't see why Miss Bestris puts up with her the way she
+does."
+
+"You're jealous," June said quietly.
+
+Anne did not answer.
+
+"Mary's decent," Adele said. "Maybe that's why. She's from the sticks,
+and her parents still come to see her on visiting days, and there's
+something about her so--so innocent. Maybe that's why Miss Bestris likes
+her."
+
+June said, "I think she's better than the rest of us. I think Miss
+Bestris feels sorry for her in a way."
+
+"Don't make me laugh," Anne said, facing June. "The only one that'll
+ever feel sorry for her is herself!"
+
+"You shouldn't have talked like that to her!" June snapped. "Why don't
+you let her alone? She'll feel bad enough without you helping!"
+
+Anne rolled over on the bed and stared up at the ceiling. June took a
+helox lamp from her drawer and started to bake her hair darker. Those
+Earthmen were so funny about colors.
+
+In the kitchen, Mary took the cake out of the oven. It was steamy and
+light and fluffy, and it smelled sweet and warm. She set it on the table
+and mixed a two-minute green frosting which she spread, carefully, over
+the cake. She patted here and there with the spatula and stood back, her
+eyes proud and serious.
+
+She hummed a little tune under her breath as she scrubbed the pots and
+pans. Her hands moved in practiced rhythm, and the water splashed and
+gurgled. When the kitchen was again spotless, she looked once more at
+the cake, and then, turning out the light, she went back to her room.
+
+Anne and Adele had left, but June was sitting quietly in the dusky
+moonlight. Her white dress seemed vaguely luminous.
+
+Laughing, Mary flicked on the light.
+
+"It's a wonderful cake," she said. "The best one I ever made. Just the
+way it should be."
+
+"I wouldn't feel too bad, Mary, if he doesn't come to eat it," June
+said. "I don't want to sound like Anne, but there was a lot of sense in
+what she said."
+
+"It's just like a real wedding cake." She hummed the snatch of Martian
+tune. "Like in the tele-papers." She laughed with her eyes. "The
+bridegroom takes the silver knife and cuts two large pieces of the cake
+while the bride, dressed in filament coral, stands at his right hand.
+She carries a bouquet of--Anne just likes to be mean!"
+
+June frowned. Mary crossed to the dressing table. She studied her face
+in the mirror. It was heart shaped, elfin; her purple hair was a riot of
+curls, and her eyes were amethyst and gold. She smiled at herself. "I
+want to look as pretty as I can tonight." She twisted around. "You don't
+think he'll come either, do you?"
+
+"I--no, Mary."
+
+Mary looked back at the mirror. "He likes our canal blossom perfume."
+She dabbed some of it on her ear lobes. "I like it best, too."
+
+June stood up, crossed to the musikon, found a slow five-toned waltz.
+She turned the music very low, and left the color mixer dim enough so
+that only the faintest ghosts projected hues moved on walls and ceiling.
+
+Mary continued to stare into the mirror. "But he will come. I know it."
+
+June said nothing.
+
+"Don't you see. I just _know_ he'll come."
+
+June crossed back to her seat.
+
+Mary turned from the mirror. "I'm sure he will. He's--I mean...."
+
+June smiled wanly.
+
+"Well, he will! You'll see!"
+
+June said, "Even if it is an old dress, you look very nice in it."
+
+"I've been learning his language. I can say 'thank you' and 'yes' and
+'no' and 'I love you' and all kinds of things in it. He gave me a book,
+and I've been studying. I want to be able really to talk with him. We've
+got a lot to talk about. I want to find out about his parents, and what
+he likes for supper and what kind of music he likes to hear, and--and
+all sorts of things. I want to find out all about his planet, and...."
+
+"Yes," June said wearily, "I know."
+
+The music played on. The moving lights on the walls were like colored
+reflections from a sunlit river.
+
+"He may be a little late tonight; he has a lot to do, first. But he'll
+be here."
+
+_Buzzzzz_....
+
+It was the red button; it blinked on and off.
+
+"Visitors," June said.
+
+"Look--" Mary said. "Look, June. I'm not half ready yet. Look. Tell Miss
+Bestris I'll be down a little late. Tell her I have a special boy, and
+it'll be all right. He wants me to wait for him."
+
+June was on her feet. "... All right. You'd better not wait too long!"
+
+"I won't."
+
+After June was gone, Mary returned to the task of making her face
+pretty, but after a moment, she turned from the mirror, leaned back, and
+tried to relax. Underneath her dress, her heart was pounding.
+
+The warm air carried sounds of the night creatures. One of the great
+canal insects, screeching, flapped by the window. The tiny third moon
+crept up over the horizon, and the buildings cast triple shadows.
+
+_Buzzz. Buzzzz._
+
+Still Mary waited.
+
+_Buzzz. Buzzzz. Buzzzzzz...._
+
+She was afraid to wait any longer. But by now she was sure that he would
+be down stairs.
+
+There was a last-minute flurry of combing and primping, and then she
+rustled out of the room, her head erect, her eyes shining.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The large reception room was filling. Overhead, the color organ threw
+shimmering, prismatic beams on the ceiling. Beneath it, stiff,
+embarrassed spacemen, mostly officers dressed in parade uniforms,
+chatted in space-pidgin with the laughing, rainbow-haired girls.
+
+Miss Bestris sat in one corner, her eyes roving the room: settling here
+for a second, there for a second, checking, approving, disapproving,
+silently. Occasionally she would smile or nod at one of the girls or one
+of the spacemen, and once she frowned ever so slightly and shook her
+head.
+
+Anne was reclining on a couch, eating a golden Martian apple, listening
+to a second mate; she played with a lock of his hair and smiled her wide
+smile.
+
+June, angelic, sat primly in a straight-backed chair, the captain at her
+feet, a boyish, space-pale Earthman, drew embarrassed circles on the
+carpet with his index finger.
+
+In the next room, three couples were dancing to the slow music of an
+Earth orchestra.
+
+An inner door opened, and a uniformed native sheriff stepped in, a
+crisp, military figure. "Miss Bestris?"
+
+She stood up. "Yes?"
+
+The Earthmen fell silent, waiting.
+
+"We think we have your runaway." He turned to the door. "Bring her in."
+
+Two more sheriffs entered, and between them, there was a young, slender
+girl. Her face was gaunt and tear-stained. Her body trembled. She looked
+at the Madame fearfully.
+
+"You idiots!" Miss Bestris screamed. "Get her out of here! You'll ruin
+my party! Take her out!"
+
+The two men removed the girl. To the remaining sheriff, Miss Bestris
+said, "Damn you, if you ever do anything like that again, I'll ...
+I'll...."
+
+"I'm sorry, Madame. But we wanted immediate identification. Would you
+want us to hold the wrong girl?"
+
+"That's her, all right! Now, get out! Wait for me in my office."
+
+When they were gone Miss Bestris turned to the silent room. In quite
+passable Esperanto she said, "I--am sorry. A misunderstanding. I assure
+you, nothing. Go on with the party, and I'll see what I can do for the
+poor girl."
+
+She stood up and in her own language said, "Lively, girls! Smile! You,
+Rita, hurry and serve tea!"
+
+She made her exit.
+
+The spacemen grumbled among themselves, coughed uneasily, watched the
+closed door through which the Madame had gone. Listening, they could
+hear only a muted mumble of sing-song sounds in several voices.
+
+With determined animation, the girls moved about, smiled, chatted.
+
+Rita came in, wheeling the tea tray, and the girls converged on it, each
+trying to be the first to serve her escort. The tea was the Martian
+stuff, concocted of a kind of local hemp. The Earthmen found it harsh
+and bitter to the taste, but gentle on the soul.
+
+Anne had filled two cups and returned to the second mate when she caught
+sight of Mary coming down the stairs.
+
+On the lowest step, Mary stood for a long time; her eyes eagerly
+searched the crowd. Slowly a puzzled, hurt look came over her face.
+
+June came to her side after a little while.
+
+"Isn't he here?"
+
+"No. Not yet."
+
+"I'm sorry," June said, touching Mary's arm lightly.
+
+"It's all right. It's early yet. I'll just sit down by Miss Bestris'
+chair and wait for him."
+
+She turned from June and went to the chair. Before she could sit down, a
+space corporal came over, bowed, tried to take her hand. She shook her
+head. He smiled twistedly and walked stiffly away.
+
+Another man smiled at her. She shook her head slowly.
+
+Someone came in the front door, and she leaned forward. Then she slumped
+back limply.
+
+She heard a tinkly laugh. She looked in its direction. She met Anne's
+eyes, bright and amused. Just then Miss Bestris came in, her eyes angry
+and her cheeks flushed. She strode across the room.
+
+"Well," she said. "I'm glad to see you finally came down." She sank
+heavily into her chair. "Cresent's back. They just brought her in. The
+idiots came right in here with her. I'll bet I lost half-a-dozen
+customers. These Earthmen are sensitive about such things."
+
+Mary was still staring at the door; Miss Bestris looked down at her.
+
+"Well, what are you sitting here for?"
+
+"Please, Miss Bestris. I'm waiting for my special boy friend tonight."
+
+She snorted and looked away. "Why isn't he here?"
+
+"He will be."
+
+"He'd better. I'll let you wait another--half an hour. That's all."
+
+"Thank you, Miss Bestris. You're very kind to me."
+
+"I indulge you more than I ought to, child," she said. "More than is
+good for you, if the truth were known."
+
+A man came in; Mary stiffened and then relaxed.
+
+The mutter of voices blended into a steady hum. More couples were
+dancing. Miss Bestris moved around the room. The music was tinny.
+
+Another man came in.
+
+"Your time's up," the Madame told Mary.
+
+"Please, let me just wait for another few minutes."
+
+Miss Bestris fixed her lips grimly. "I've had enough nonsense for
+tonight. You heard me!"
+
+"_Please!_"
+
+"You heard what I said."
+
+"Miss Bestris, I couldn't. Not tonight. Honest, I couldn't. If I had to
+talk to anybody, I'd break down and cry. He'll ... come. I know he
+will."
+
+Miss Bestris whirled on her. "Listen, you little--" But she stopped,
+suddenly. "All right," she said, gritting her teeth. "I can't afford
+another scene tonight. But you'll be sorry for this."
+
+Miss Bestris stormily looked away. The dancers danced; the music swelled
+louder. Gradually, deliberately, the lights were waning.
+
+"Haven't I always been good to you, Mary?" the Madame asked.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Then like an obedient girl, do as I say. If he hasn't come by now, he
+just won't. He's gone to some other house."
+
+"No!" Mary said doggedly.
+
+"Just remember, tomorrow, how you deliberately disobeyed me. Your silly
+emotions are costing me money, and that's one thing I simply won't stand
+for."
+
+"He'll come." Mary said. "You won't lose money."
+
+Couples sat side by side, laughing, talking in whispers. Occasionally
+there were giggles. The room began to empty slowly.
+
+The lights continued to dim until the rooms were gloomy. Even the
+shifting shades of the color organ were no more than a faint ambience.
+Anne, laughing, helped her second mate to his feet.
+
+"I'll give you one more chance," Miss Bestris said. "The next man that
+comes in...."
+
+"No! I just couldn't! Not tonight!"
+
+A few more customers drifted in. Then even the stragglers stopped
+coming. It was very late.
+
+"He's deserted you; you see that now?" Madame Bestris sneered.
+
+Mary stood up. There were tears in her eyes. "You can't--you
+don't--know--how I feel," she choked. "You don't care!" She turned and
+ran up the stairs, crying.
+
+Several Earthmen, still in the big room, turned to watch. The torches
+were misty twinkles now. The last couples climbed the stairs and then
+Miss Bestris, too, went to bed.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The blue morning came. The town awoke; commerce began.
+
+At seven, Miss Bestris lay in bed frowning, considering the events of
+the previous evening. But she was not so annoyed that she forgot to call
+a doctor on the teleview and arrange for him to come at nine to give a
+physical examination.
+
+Her bulk out of bed, she dressed and went to the kitchen to brew a pot
+of hemp tea. The cleaning maid, moving about in the next room, heard
+Miss Bestris call sharply: "Flavia! Come in here!"
+
+Flavia appeared with a dust rag in her hand.
+
+"Did you cut this cake?"
+
+"No, ma'am."
+
+Miss Bestris glowered. "That little idiot! She must have slipped down
+here after we were all asleep and sat here and cried her silly little
+eyes out! If she thinks she can pull that love-sick act on me she'll
+soon find out different. Am I supposed to put up with having her moon
+over every space tramp that comes in? Why, I've taken more from her--!"
+
+"Yes, ma'am."
+
+Miss Bestris waddled to the stairs, climbed them determinedly. At Mary's
+door she stopped and twisted the knob. Locked!
+
+Miss Bestris hammered. "Open up, Mary!" The door rattled under her hand.
+"Open that door at once!"
+
+No answer.
+
+Miss Bestris pounded harder. "Open up, I say!"
+
+Anne sauntered into the hall, her dressing gown swishing. "She really
+made you look the fool last night, didn't she?" Anne said lazily.
+
+"You--you slut! Mind your own business."
+
+Anne smiled and shrugged.
+
+"Open the door, Mary! Do you hear me! Open it!"
+
+"Maybe she killed herself," Anne said. "It has happened."
+
+"My God! No.... She wouldn't dare. You think she would?"
+
+Anne shrugged again. "They do funny things sometimes."
+
+Miss Bestris' face was red. "Run down and get my keys. In my desk. You
+know where they are."
+
+Then, "_For God's sake, hurry!_"
+
+While she waited Miss Bestris rattled the door, pleading and cursing.
+
+Finally Anne returned. Miss Bestris snatched the key with a shaking
+hand. She hurled the door open and burst inside.
+
+"See here, you little--!" She stopped.
+
+The room was empty.
+
+On the neatly made bed reposed a little stack of money. When Miss
+Bestris got around to counting it, she found that it contained exactly
+nine hundred and ten _dordocs_.
+
+THE END
+
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Transcriber's Notes:
+
+This etext was produced from If Worlds of Science Fiction May 1953.
+Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S.
+copyright on this publication was renewed.
+
+Obvious punctuation errors repaired.
+
+Page 39 word "lambence" changed to "ambience" (no more than a faint
+ambience) meaning a faint light.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of She Knew He Was Coming, by Kris Neville
+
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