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radiating competence and goodwill. I knew he had a mean streak and was a ruthless political gut-fighter
when campaigning, but none of that showed now.
Kenson was a charming host but also an efficient one. Very shortly I found myself closeted with him
and talking business. He had evidently sized me up as rapidly as I had him, and, of course, he had done
his homework on my background. "Hope, we are opening a new embassy," he said. "It's a critical one,
and delicate; it must be handled correctly. I believe you are the man for the position."
"An ambassador, sir?" I asked, not crediting it. I had supposed he was considering me for some
bureaucratic position without much significance, so as to be able to lay claim to some support from the
Hispanic community. Of course, some embassies were quite minor; it depended on the planet.
"Ganymede," he said.
If he had intended to floor me he had succeeded. Communist Ganymede was the current sore spot of the
Jupiter sphere of space. "Gany? But "
"But we have had no diplomatic relations with that satellite since the revolution," he said. "However,
that is changing; I would much rather be in touch with my enemy than out of touch; it's safer. But the
identity of the ambassador is critical. He must have stature, competence, caution, and courage." He
smiled, and again that incandescent camaraderie manifested. "It is amazing how few politicians fit that
description."
No understatement! "I "
"I do not deny that this post has been turned down by more than one nominee," he continued, as if this
were a personal communication that only I was privileged to hear. "They are afraid; not for their persons
but for their reputations. The far right will seek to blacken anyone who goes to Ganymede. Success in
this position may appear as damning as failure. But there is no more important spot at the moment, and I
believe you can handle it. After all, you cleaned up the Belt."
"Yes! "
He clapped me heartily on the shoulder. "Excellent! I'll set the wheels turning." He winked. "Nice
device, that mustard-six. I remember it from my own training in the Navy. I kept smirking when I
thought about it, and I was in a strategy session at the time. I probably made a fool of myself." He did a
little jump, as of someone feeling a sudden burn.
I had to smile. I hadn't realized that news of that episode had reached this far. "I "
"It's really good to have a man of your caliber aboard, Ambassador Hubris!"
In this manner I became Jupiter's representative at Ganymede. The president had been too diplomatic to
mention my two outstanding qualifications for the office: I spoke Spanish fluently, and I was
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unemployed, politically. I remained bemused by the proficiency with which he had dazzled me into
acceptance; when he smiled at me, I would have accepted appointment to the post of Assistant Slop
Inspector. He had a talent for personnel management that I envied. I would have to study it, with the
hope of making it my own.
Megan understood. "I was sure you would like Kenson," she murmured. "His talent is the complement
of your own. You understand people; he manages them."
"He managed me," I confessed. "I really don't know if I should have accepted the post or even if I did
accept it. Ganymede... I mean "
"You had no choice," she said, "from the moment his eye fixed on you. I confess I had hoped for
something less controversial, but..." She shrugged.
I stared at her. "You had a hand in this."
"Not really," she demurred.
"You are too modest. What did you "
"I merely mentioned to one of my friends that it would be unfortunate to allow such a talented person to
lie fallow for any length of time."
And that friend had had the ear of the president. He had done it for Megan, not for me. That angered me.
"I "
She turned to me, her head cocked slightly sidewise, her eyes wide, in her fashion challenging me to
make something of it. My ire melted; I could not oppose anything she wanted for me. "Thank you,
Megan," I said humbly.
She only smiled, faintly, and I felt rewarded. I had married her, I claimed, to forward my political
career; she was certainly doing that.
The announcement of the resumption of diplomatic relations with Ganymede generated a furor in
Jupiter. There were angry editorials in the media and cries of "Impeach the President!" from the
conservatives. They were serious, too, which shows how foolish they were. Somehow there always
seemed to be greater outrage when an attempt was made to encourage communication and peace, than
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