Чужак в чужой стране

           Butbewaseagerlylookingforwardtosnow–seeingforhimselfthateachtinycrystalofthewateroflifewasauniqueindividual,ashehadread–walkingbarefootinit,rollinginit.

           Inthemeantimehewasequallypleasedwiththeunseasonablywarmautumnnightandthestillmorepleasingcompanyofhiswaterbrother.

           "Okay,youcarrythetray.I’llswitchonjusttheunderwaterlights.That’llbeplentytoeatby."

           "Fine."Mikelikedhavinglightcomingupthroughtheripples;itwasagoodness,abeauty,eventhoughhedidnotneedit.Theypicnickedbythepool,thenlaybackonthegrassandlookedatthestars.

           "Mike,there’sMars.ItisMars,isn’tit?OrisitAntares?"

           "ItisMars."

           "Mike?WhataretheydoingonMars?"

           Hehesitatedalongtime;thequestionwastoowideinscopetopindowntothesparseEnglishlanguage."Onthesidetowardthehorizon–thesouthernhemisphere–itisspring;theplantsarebeingtaughttogrow."

           "‘Taughttogrow?’"

           Hehesitatedonlyslightly."Larryteachesplantstogroweveryday.Ihavehelpedhim.Butmypeople–theMartians,Imean;Igroknowthatyouaremypeople–teachtheplantsanotherway.Intheotherhemisphereitisgrowingcolderandthenymphs,thosewhohavestayedalivethroughthesummer,arebeingbroughtintothenestsforquickeningandmoregrowing."Hethought."OfthehumansweleftattheequatorwhenIcamehere,onehasdiscorporatedandtheothersaresad."

           "Yes,Iheardaboutitinthenews"