Чужак в чужой стране

           Ifawaterbrotherselectedforhimsuchastrangediscorporation,hewouldcherishitandtrytogrok.

           "Well,wecan’tstandherepamperingourfeet.I’vegottofeedus,I’vegottogetyouintodifferentclothes,andwe’vegottoleave.Takethoseoff."ShelefttocheckBen’swardrobe.

           Sheselectedforhimaninconspicuoustravelsuit,aberet,shirt,underclothes,andshoes,thenreturned.Smithwasassnarledasakitteninknitting;hehadtriedtoobeybutnowhadonearmprisonedbythenurse’suniformandhisfacewrappedintheskirt.Hehadnotevenremovedthecapebeforetryingtotakeoffthedress.

           Jillsaid,"Oh,dear!"andrantohelphim.

           Shegothimloosefromtheclothes,lookedatthem,thendecidedtostuffthemdowntheoubliette

           Hewatchedherfillthetubwithdelight.TherehadbeenatubinthebathroomofthesuitehehadbeeninbutSmithhadnotknownitwasusedtoholdwater;bedbathswereallthathehadhadandnotmanyofthose;histrancelikewithdrawalshadinterfered.

           Jilltestedthewater’stemperature."Allright,climbin."

           Smithdidnotmove.Insteadhelookedpuzzled.

           "Hurry!"Jillsaidsharply."Getinthewater."

           ThewordssheusedwerefirmlypartsofhishumanvocabularyandSmithdidassheordered,emotionshakinghim.Thisbrotherwantedhimtoplacehiswholebodyinthewateroflife.Nosuchhonorhadevercometohim;tothebestofhisknowledgeandbeliefnoonehadeverbeforebeenofferedsuchaholyprivilege.