Чужак в чужой стране

           Hegrokkedimperfectlytheintentionbutthereseemedtobeanimpliedwayoutforhimtoavoidthiscrisis-byaccedingtothesuggestedwish.Perhapsifthewomantookitsclothesoffneitherofthemneeddiscorporate.Hesmiledhappily."Please."

           Jillopenedhermouth,closedithastily.Sheopeneditagain."Huh?Well,I’llbedarned!"

           Smithcouldgrokemotionalviolenceandknewthatsomehowhehadofferedthewrongreply.Hebegantocomposehismindfordiscorporation,savoringandcherishingallthathehadbeenandseen,withespecialattentiontothiswomancreature.Thenhebecameawarethatthewomanwasbendingoverhimandheknewsomehowthatitwasnotabouttodie.Itlookedintohisface."CorrectmeifIamwrong,"itsaid,"butwereyouaskingmetotakemyclothesoff?"

           TheinversionsandabstractionsrequiredcarefultranslationbutSmithmanagedit."Yes,"heanswered,whilehopingthatitwouldnotstirupanewcrisis.

           "That’swhatIthoughtyousaid.Brother,youaren’till."

           Theword"brother"heconsideredfirst-thewomanwasremindinghimthattheyhadbeenjoinedinthewaterritual.Heaskedthehelpofhisnestlingsthathemightmeasureuptowhateverthisnewbrotherwanted."Iamnotill,"heagreed.

           "ThoughI’mdarnedifIknowhowtocopewithwhateveriswrongwithyou.ButIwon’tpeeldown.AndI’vegottogetoutofhere."Itstraightenedupandturnedagaintowardthesidedoor-thenstoppedandlookedbackwithaquizzicalsmile."Youmightaskmeagain,realprettily,underothercircumstances."