An open end and backstage had been erected in the park, actually just a platform. Fifteen hundred seats had been erected in tiers at one side, but open space near them permitted thousands more to stand. Three huge military bands-Army, Fleet and Palace Qty-assembled on short notice, stood before and to either side of the platform. Just now, the center one-Fleet-of more than a hundred pieces, was playing "Spaceward Ho!" The floodlights sparkled on their instruments: the flash of the conductor's electric gloves pulsed in cadence as he directed them. Then there was a long note and to its strident call, Hightee Heller marched upon the stage and the piece continued. A spotlight hit her as she marched. She wore a very daring version of an Army uniform but on her head, cocked to the side, was the dress cap of a Fleet officer. She was carrying the electric dagger of a Fleet marine. She marched once across the stage and then made an imperious gesture. She turned and, as she marched back, up the left side steps behind her came a chorus in Army uniforms. At that moment the music changed to an Army battle song-the Army band was playing. They paraded all the way across the stage and High-tee stopped again. She turned and up the right side steps behind her marched a chorus dressed as Fleet marines. The Palace City band joined in playing the marine battle charge. Hightee marched to center stage and faced audience front. The Fleet band bepn to play "Spaceward Ho!" again. Hightee walked forward and up the steps behind her came a chorus dressed as spacers of the Fleet. The only backdrop was the stars. The lights on High-tee and the three choruses were flashing in a marching beat. Homeview cameras flickered. The show was being carried to the packed streets and meeting places and the homes of the Confederacy. Aside from. the interest of the moment, who would not watch and listen to Hightee Heller? The routines being done by the choruses so hastily flown in from Homeview studios in Joy City were very standard routines they all knew well. But Heller was amazed she had been able to assemble it so fast. A swell of pride in his sister rose up in him: so very, very much depended on her success with this. He wondered if she had managed the near impossible and gotten the song written and fitted to music and practiced. He found he was holding his own breath. Then suddenly all three choruses fanned into a solid line behind her, facing front, and began to mark time in place. Hightee threw a switch on her electric dagger, putting it to full intensity, and lunged. Abruptly all three bands played a long and ominous note. The dagger swept down, spitting sparks. And then three bands began to play, conducted by swirls of fire from the dagger, a savage piece of music. They played through the whole tune once, Hightee conducting. Then a scarlet, pulsing spotlight hit her, and she began to sing with that searing, surging music: We'll end off our invasion From the culture of contagion And blow the offending planet from the sky! You'll find our guns quite warm, But you've no time to reform, Or even to request the reason why! Your psychology bends wills, Your psychiatry just kills, Your drugs that cause convulsions All must die! You should have taken warning In your very day of borning, When you saw yourself begin to putrefy! We'll now use all our exterminant To blast you from the firmament And all your tricks of spying won't apply! We won't meet you later on, For you'll have no other dawn. Earth, you won't be missed!
CHAPTER 3