"It said students would pay visit to the embassy of the United States of—of—"
"The United States of Mexico!"
"Yes, that was it."
"It's my fault, Chandra," conceded Biff. "I forgot that Mexico is officially known as the United States of Mexico. I should have told you the United States of America. Then you'd have checked on the American Embassy." He turned to Kamuka. "Dumb of me, wasn't it?"
"Maybe I was dumb, too," returned Kamuka. "If I had told Chandra to look for United States of Brazil, he would have brought us to the Brazilian Embassy. I could tell our story there."
"You're right, Kamuka," acknowledged Biff. "We had two chances out of three and we missed. Well, we can't sit here. We will have to follow the crowd." Follow the crowd they did. As the last three off the bus, Biff and his companions tagged on into the Mexican Embassy and slid into a rear corner of the reception room where the students were seated. Members of the Mexican diplomatic corps proceeded to hold open forum with the students of New India, exchanging views on their respective countries. After an hour's session was completed, the students started out, shaking hands with the Embassy staff as they went.
Again, Biff and his companions held back. They were able to ease along behind the students, who were so interested in exchanging their own views that they did not notice the dragging trio. Biff particularly, was glad to avoid the handshakes. The diplomats showed interest in a few genuine Sikh students, and Biff was afraid he would be asked embarrassing questions.
There was just one greeter they could not avoid. Outside the reception room, a Mexican youth of about Biff's age had come up to shake hands with the students and was chatting briefly with them. Fortunately, his back was partly turned, so Biff saw a way to avoid him.
"You shake hands with him first, Kamuka," Biff whispered, "but keep moving or he may guess that you are a Brazilian. You crowd in fast, Chandra, and keep him talking while I slide by—"
They had reached the youth by then, and Kamuka's handshake was over too quickly. Chandra, caught off stride, could not think what to say, so the young Mexican politely bowed him on with a brief shake; then turned with perfect poise to meet the last departing visitor, Biff.