Чужак в чужой стране

           Dukecamein,carryingastepladder,glancedatthegroup,thenlookedasecondtime,butsaidnothingandsettheladderinonecorner.AtlastMikesaiduncertainly,"Iamnotsure,Jubal.I-"Hestoppedandseemedtosearchforaword."Iamidiotinthesethings."

           "Don’twearyourselfout."

           "Icanthinkonemore.Ihope."ApaperweightacrossthedeskfromMikestirred,lifted–andallthedozen-oddfloatingobjectsfelldownatonce.Mikeseemedabouttoweepalthoughnotearsformed."Jubal,Iamsorry.Iamutmostlysorry."

           Harshawpattedhisshoulder."Youshouldbeproud,notsorry.Son,youdon’tseemtorealizeit,butwhatyoujustdidis-"Jubalsearchedforacomparison,rapidlydiscardedthemanythatsprangtohismindbecauseherealizedthattheytouchednothinginMike’sexperience."Whatyoudidismuchharderthantyingshoestrings,muchmorewonderfultousthandoingaone-and-a-halfgainerperfectly.Youdidit,uh,‘brightly,brightly,andwithbeauty.’Yougrok?"

           Mikelookedsurprised."Iamnotsure,Jubal.Ishouldnotfeelshame?"

           "Youmustnotfeelshame.Youshouldfeelproud."

           "Yes,Jubal,"heansweredcontentedly."Ifeelproud."

           "Good.Mike,Icannotliftevenoneashtraywithouttouchingit."

           Smithlookedstartled."Youcannot?"

           "No.Canyouteachme?"

           "Yes,Jubal.You-"Smithstoppedspeaking,lookedembarrassed."Iagainhavenotwords.Iamsorry.ButIwillreadandIwillreadandIwillread,untilIfindthewords.ThenIwillteachmybrother."