Чужак в чужой стране

           "There,doesn’tthatfeelgood?"

           Smithwiggledhistoesinthecoolgrass,thensaidtimidly,"Buttheselive?"

           "Sure,they’realive.It’sreallivegrass.Benpaidalottohaveitthatway.Why,thespeciallightingcircuitsalonecostmorethanImakeinamonth.Sowalkaroundandletyourfeetenjoyit."

           Smithmissedmuchofthespeechbuthedidunderstandthatthegrasswasmadeupoflivingbeingsandthathewasbeinginvitedtowalkonthem."Walkonlivingthings?"heaskedwithincreduloushorror.

           "Huh?Whynot?Itdoesn’thurtthisgrass;itwasspeciallydevelopedforhouserugs."

           Smithwasforcedtoremindhimselfthatawaterbrothercouldnotleadhimintowrongfulaction.Apprehensivelyhelethimselfbeencouragedtowalkaround-andfoundthathedidenjoyitandthatthelivingcreaturesdidnotprotest.Hesethissensitivityforsuchthingsashighaspossible;hisbrotherwasright,thiswastheirproperbeing-tobewalkedon.Heresolvedtoenfolditandpraiseit;theeffortwasmuchlikethatofahumantryingtoappreciatethemeritsofcannibalism-acustomwhichSmithfoundperfectlyproper.

           Jillletoutasigh."Well,Ihadbetterstopplaying.Idon’tknowhowlongwewillbesafehere."

           "Safe?"

           "Wecan’tstayhere,notverylong.TheymaybecheckingoneveryconveyancethatlefttheCenterthisveryminute."Shefrownedandthought.Herplacewouldnotdo,thisplacewouldnotdo-andBenhadintendedtotakehimtoJubalHarshaw.