Чужак в чужой стране

           "Don’tsetyourheartonit."

           "Begpardon?"

           "Mike,don’tbedisappointedifyoudonotfindtherightwords.YoumaynotfindthemintheEnglishlanguage."

           Smithconsideredthisquitealongtime."ThenIwillteachmybrotherthelanguageofmynest."

           "Maybe.Iwouldliketotry–butyoumayhavearrivedaboutfiftyyearstoolate."

           "Ihaveactedwrongly?"

           "Notatall.I’mproudofyou.YoumightstartbytryingtoteachJillyourlanguage."

           "Ithurtsmythroat,"putinJill.

           "Trygarglingwithaspirin."Juballookedather."That’sasillyexcuse,nurse–butitoccurstomethatthisgivesmeanexcusetoputyouonthepayroll?forIdoubtiftheywillevertakeyoubackatBethesda.Allright,you’remystaffresearchassistantforMartianlinguisticswhichincludessuchextradutiesasmaybenecessary.Takethatupwiththegirls.Anne,putheronthepayroll–andbesureitgetsenteredinthetaxrecords."

           "She’sbeendoinghershareinthekitchensincethedayaftershegothere.ShallIdateitback?"

           Jubalshrugged."Don’tbothermewithdetails."

           "But,Jubal,"Jillprotestedshrilly,"Idon’tthinkIcanlearnMartian!"

           "Youcantry,can’tyou?That’sallColumbusdid."

           "But-"

           "Whatwasthatidlechatteryouweregivingmeabout‘gratitude’?Doyoutakethejob?Ordon’tyou?"

           Jillbitherlip."I’lltakeit.Yes?Boss."

           Smithtimidlyreachedoutandtouchedherhand."Jill?Iwillteach."

           Jillpattedhis."Thanks,Mike.