Чужак в чужой стране

           Istillam?eventhoughIdon’tgomuch."

           "Ithoughtperhapsyouweren’tentitledtoreceiveit,Butapparentlyyouare,soyouknowwhatI’mtalkingabout,ifyoustoptothink."Jubalstoodupsuddenly."ButIdon’tbelongtoyourchurchnortoMike’s,soIshan’tattempttoarguethesubtledifferencesbetweenoneformofritualcannibalismandanother.Duke,I’vegoturgentworktodo;Ican’tspendanymoretimetryingtoshakeyouloosefromyourprejudices.Areyouleaving?Ifyouare,IthinkIhadbetterchaperoneyouofftheplace,makesureyou’resafe.Ordoyouwanttostay?Stayandbehaveyourself,Imean–eatatthetablewiththerestofuscannibals.

           "Dukefrowned."ReckonI’llstay."

           "Suityourself.BecausefromthismomentforwardIwashmyhandsofanyresponsibilityforyoursafety.Yousawthosemovies;ifyou’rebrightenoughtohitthefloorwithyourhat,you’vefiguredoutthatthisman-Martianwe’vegotstayingwithuscanbeunpredictablydangerous."

           Dukenodded."Igotthepoint.I’mnotasstupidasyouthinkIam,Jubal.ButI’mnotlettingMikerunmeofftheplace,either."Headded,"Yousayhe’sdangerous?andIseehowhecouldbe,ifhegotstirredup.ButI’mnotgoingtostirhimup.Shucks,Jubal,Ilikethelittledope,mostways."

           "Mmm?damnit,Istillthinkyouunderestimatehim,Duke.Seehere,ifyoureallydofeelfriendlytowardhim,thebestthingyoucandoistoofferhimaglassofwater.Shareitwithhim.Understandme?Becomehis‘Waterbrother