"I don't like it," replied Landovitch. He shook his head full-like from side to side. "But, well Jaro, how are you mixed up in this?"
Jaro hitched his chair closer. "Listen, I was at Valego, organizing the Martian army. The prince had commissioned me."
"We know all about your disreputable past," Landovitch interrupted blandly.
"Quit heckling him," said Joan. "For all I've been able to gather he was born yesterday. He's the most uncommunicative man ever."
Irving Landovitch clucked sympathetically. "Jaro, how did you impose on this poor innocent child. If you'd let me know, maybe I could, too."
"I was on Mars," Jaro continued patiently, "when I got a flash from the Red Witch—she's using the name of Mikail—to grab the first spaceship for Mercury. She said she was singing at Mercury Sam's Garden." In as few words as possible he sketched his adventures since arriving. Landovitch whistled.
"The Rains are three days overdue," he said.
"What is the Festival like?" asked Jaro. "I've heard something about it, but I've never been here during the Rains."
The T.I.S. agent rolled his eyes. "It would make a Roman orgy look like a Sunday School picnic. Ordinarily the Mercurians are the meekest people in the Universe, but during the Rains, they go a little crazy."
"A little?" said Joan. "They're mad as hatters." She paused, her expression undergoing an abrupt change. "Listen!"