ted down through the
air.

The city waited, its pulse thumping.

The rocket was a black point in the sky. It grew. White-suited men
scattered over the landing strip. Photographers crouched. Bulbs snapped
into reflectors. Cameras pointed.

The rocket landed. A door snapped open. Blue uniforms converged and
flash bulbs popped. There were shouts and orders and men running. Gates
swung and there was a blue-rimmed movement to a black open car. Sirens
moaned, screamed. And the black car was moving swiftly into the city.

Beneath the buildings, marching bands in red and blue and yellow
uniforms stood assembled. Girls in short skirts and tasseled hats spun
silver batons into the warm air. Bare legs kicked. Black boots flashed.

The crowd swayed against the ropes, and there was laughter and sweating
and squinting.

The black car reached the heart of the city. Sirens died. Rows of men
snapped to attention. Policemen aligned their motorcycles.

A baton shimmered high against the sun and came down.

A cymbal crashed. Drums cracked. Music blared. And there was a movement
down the street.

The black car rolled along, while tape swept down from the buildings in
long swirling ribbons. There was a snow of confetti. And from the
throats of the people came the first roar. It grew, building, building
in volume, and the city thundered its welcome to the man sitting upon
the back of the open car, the small man who tipped his hat and smiled
and blinked behind his glasses: Joseph S. Stettison, B.A., B.S., M.S.,
M.D., Ph.D., L.M. (Hon.), F.R.C.O.G.

THE END

Transcriber's Note:

This etext was produced from _If Worlds of Science Fiction_ July
1953. Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S.
copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and
typographical errors have been corrected without note.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Celebrity, by James McKimmey

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