For a long time there was only the consciousness of complete relaxation, rest, surcease from striving. Rest! How he needed it.
But a confused babble of voices kept intruding. And someone was rubbing his head.
As he opened his eyes, he saw that his head was in a woman's lap. Who was she? And why should she have his head in her lap? He had never had anything to do with women. Oh. Stella. Oh....
"Mr. Garth," Stella whispered. "You had better stand up, if you can. There is going to be—trouble."
Oh, yes, trouble. There had always been trouble, but somehow he had not thought to find it here. But he got to his feet slowly.
He found himself in the center of a circle of people. Men and women. Several of the men wore blue, police uniforms. The men in blue had guns. The others had clubs. Some had rocks. Even some of the girls had rocks.
"It's Garth," he heard a voice say.
"Yeah, it's Garth all right," another voice answered.
"Gentlemen," Lee Garth said.
"Shut up!" a voice answered.