Чужак в чужой стране

           NorhadhebeenabletodomorethandentMike’sassumptionthattheFosteriteswereinclosetouchwithhuman"OldOnes."ItappearedthatMike’sdifficultyinunderstandingthenatureoftruthwasthathedidn’tknowwhataliewas–thedictionarydefinitionsof"lie"and"falsehood"hadbeenfiledinhismindwithnotraceofgrokking.Onecould"speakwrongly"onlybyaccidentormisunderstanding.SohenecessarilyhadtakenwhathehadheardoftheFosteriteserviceatitsbald,facevalue.

           Jubaltriedtoexplainthatallhumanreligionsclaimedtobeintouchwith"OldOnes"inonewayoranother;neverthelesstheiranswerswerealldifferent.

           Mikelookedpatientlytroubled."Jubalmybrother,Itry?butIdonotgrokhowthiscanberightspeaking.Withmypeople,theOldOnesspeakalwaysrightly.Yourpeople-"

           "Holdit,Mike."

           "Begpardon?"

           "Whenyousaid,‘mypeople’youweretalkingaboutMartians.Mike,youarenotaMartian;youareaman."

           "Whatis‘Man’?"

           Jubalgroanedinwardly.Mikecould,hewassure,quotethefulllistofdictionarydefinitions.Yettheladneveraskedaquestionsimplytobeannoying;heaskedalwaysforinformation–andheexpectedhiswaterbrotherJubaltobeabletotellhim."Iamaman,youareaman,Larryisaman."

           "ButAnneisnotaman?"

           "Uh?Anneisaman,afemaleman.Awoman."

           ("Thanks,Jubal."-"Shutup,Anne.")

           "Ababyisaman?Ihavenotseenbabies,butIhaveseenpictures–andinthegoddam-noi-instereovision.