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〃Chief； in just a few minutes； there is something I have to get your opinion on。 I tried to stop it but they are so bullheaded over at Homeview。 They wouldn't listen； and furthermore； they wouldn't even tell me what it was all about。 You've seen the spot ads？〃
Lombar was reading some reports of fights and riots between the Army and the Fleet； occasioned by the Army halfheartedly trying to enforce Fleet quarantine to bases。 It was giving him some satisfaction to see them quarrelling with each other instead of him。 His confidence was rising。 The strong…man image seemed to be very effective。 He hardly paid any attention at all when Madison turned on the Homeview。
The spot announcer said； 〃In just fifteen minutes now； the new HIGHTEE HELLER musical； The Outlaw； will e to you live； live； live。 It has a new type of music called downbeat that has never been heard before。 It has a cast of hundreds。 After this one showing on Homeview it will move to the Joy City Amphitheater。 So this is your last chance to view it free。 Hightee Heller takes her life in her hands to bring it to you。 So rush out and get your neighbors and friends and people on the street and get them to your set。 It may be your last chance to see Hightee。 BE HERE！〃
Spot ads themselves weren't usually done on Home…view； so the fact that they had been running now every hour for the last thirty…six was creating something of a sensation。 There was hardly anyone who did not know that something was going to happen tonight。 That 〃takes her life in her hands〃 was not understood at all。 Was she going to do death…defying feats on the stage or what？ The billions and billions of passionately devoted Hightee Heller fans reacted in a number of different ways。 A few of them got physically ill at the idea of anything happening to 〃their dear Hightee。〃 Alarmed calls had been jamming the circuit boards of Homeview all day from every part of the planet and some from other planets which only had delays measurable in hours。
The news followed。 As a lot of day programming was given over to the trial； the news itself could get on with other matters。 Mention was made that the fighting on Calabar seemed to be diminishing as Apparatus troops pulled out。 Several papers were speculating on the target of some punitive strike； guessing at which of several unconquered planets。 One said that a race had developed a new and devastating weapon and needed preinvasion chastisement and a usually informed source mentioned that it might be Blito…P3。 Lombar grinned like a toother at that： Madison had told him that such a leak 〃prepared the public mind。〃
Then the musical came on with a roar from the studio audience。 The performers were all introduced； as is usual。 Then with a fanfare the curtain went up and to the downbeat music； playing in a dirge version of ragtime； the Devils and the beaten people howled and moaned。 The show had begun。 Hightee stepped out and in a brilliant aria described the scene and the history of her brother and herself。
Madison glanced at Lombar。 He seemed to find the antics of the red Devils and the abuse of the people a source of gratification。 He hadn't really grasped the import of the play。
The brother went through his duplicity； the sister described it all in song； the choruses and scenery were superb。
Lombar seemed to be musing about something as he watched。 He even once or twice tapped his boot toe in time to the music。 Such was Lombar's ego that he seemed to be missing the point。 But Madison knew that no one else on Voltar was missing it。 They all knew that High…tee's brother was Jettero Heller。 The lead male star in the piece； by Madison's covert interference； was a handsome blond youth from Manco； six foot two。
Then in the latter part of the play； just before the final scenes； Hightee Heller as the outlaw's sister is seen standing on the cowcatcher of an improbable lootive of a train that is being robbed。 Boxes and bags of loot are being taken off。 Another robber es to her； opens a box and says； 〃Look； we found some of the Devils' clothes； ha； ha； we found some of the Devils' clothes。〃 And he holds up a scarlet Apparatus general's uniform。
Madison； at that moment； looked at Lombar。 The Dictator of Voltar was sitting there stunned。
Hightee； at that point； throws back her head and laughs。 Then she draws a six…gun and fires it in the air to attract the attention of peasants in the nearby fields。 These all run up and Hightee sings them a song。
With the crazy downbeat rhythm and singing as only Hightee could sing； the ballad went：
The Devil's going to get you
If you don't watch out。
The Devil's going to cheat you
Before you know he is about。
He's going to hit you；
With a great big stick。
He is going to smash you
With a fist that's quick。
But if you saw the Devil
When he was skinned；
You would really find；
He was just a bag of wind。
For the Devil was bred
In a lowly slum
And every unknown father
Was a gutter bum。
The point of this song
Should not be missed。
I am singing about
（mouthed only） _____ ___！
There is no mistaking the words that Hightee's lips form。 They can only be 〃Lombar Hisst。〃 But in their very silence； they are ten times as loud as if they had been spoken。
Then the robber holding the uniform inflates it with gas and it does a crazy dance as it rises。 The stage…play brother rushes up； draws his six…guns and shoots the uniform full of holes。 The peasants and robbers all go into a wild carnival of dance； stamping on the uniform and finally burning it in effigy。
But that wasn't the only thing that went into wild motion。 Lombar was up out of his chair； waving his arms about wildly and leaping。 〃That's me！ That's me she's singing about！ I'll kill her！ I'll maim her！ She is holding me up to ridicule！ Oh； Gods； I get the point of this play now！ She's telling the people to revolt and tear me to bits！〃 He shook both fists at the screen and would have lunged into it but he tripped over a stool and began to roll around on the floor； frothing at the mouth。
The convulsions lasted until the burning of the effigy on the screen； and then Hisst lay there in a twisted pile； staring at the set as though in a catatonic stupor。
The rest of the play ran off； the brother and sister were both hanged and their bodies seized down into a grave and the vast cast all sadly sang the last song the sister had sung。 Then they chorused The Outlaw theme song again； but with celestial overtones； and the face of Hightee and factually the face of Jettero Heller himself looked down from heaven。 Madison's last touch had not been known to anybody except the bribed technician。
The studio audience went into yells and applause that Madison thought better than to plete。 He turned the set off。
Lombar somehow got himself straightened out and fell into a chair。
〃Now you see why I was worried；〃 said Madison。
〃It's Heller；〃 said Lombar。 〃Heller put her up to this。 All Voltar knows Jettero Heller is her brother。 It didn't take that last picture of his face to drive it home！ It's a plot against my life！ I'll order a Death Battalion to raid her house and shoot her down at once！〃
Madison said； 〃Lombar； all famous figures have to be able to withstand ridicule。 It's one of the r