"Watching the kiddies play," the girl on the bridge replied, running a hand through her touseled violet hair. She looked down at her slacks and jacket. "Wish I'd brought my swim suit, though I gather it wouldn't be expected." "Vera-Ellen!" Madson said apprehensively. "It doesn't look very inviting down there, though," she mused. "Guess I'll wait for Aqua Heaven at New Angeles." "You're going to New Angeles?" Ellenby put in. It is not easy to be conversationally brilliant while squatting chest deep in muddy water, acutely conscious of the absence of clothes. Vera-Ellen nodded lazily, leaning on the railing. "Going to get me a city job. With its reduced faculty Ozona holds no more intellectual interest for me. Did you know math's going to be made part of the Home Eck department, Mr. Ellenby?" "But how did you know that we--" "Daughter of the man who got you run out of town ought to know what the old bully's up to. And if you're worrying that they'll come after me and find us together, I'll just head along by myself." Madson and Ellenby both protested, though it is even harder to protest effectively than to be conversationally brilliant while squatting naked in coffee-colored water. Vera-Ellen said, "All right, so quit playing and let's get on. You have to tell me all about New Angeles and the kind of jobs we'll get." "But--?" "Modest, eh? I'm afraid Pa wouldn't count it in your favor. But all right." She turned her back and sauntered to the other side of the bridge. * * * * * Madson and Ellenby cautiously climbed out of the ditch, brushed the water from their skins, and wormed into their soggy clothes. "We've got to persuade her to go back," Madson whispered. "Vera-Ellen?" Ellenby replied and raised his eyebrows. Madson groaned softly. "Cheer up," Ellenby said. And he seemed in a cheerful humor himself when they climbed to the bridge. "Vera-Ellen," he said, "we've been having an argument as to whether man ruined Nature or Nature ruined man to start with." "Is this a class, Mr. Ellenby?" "Of sorts," he told her. Behind him Madson snorted, flipping his Keats to dry the pages. They started off together. "Well," said Vera-Ellen, "I like Nature and I like ... human beings. And I don't feel ruined at all. Where's the argument?" "What about the bombs?" Madson demanded automatically. "By man our physicist here means Technology. Whereas I mean--" "Oh, the bombs," she said with a shrug. "What sort of job do you think I should get in New Angeles?" "Well ..." Madson began. "Say, I'm getting hungry," she raced on, turning to Ellenby. "So am I," he agreed.