Чужак в чужой стране

           Gad,whatahorriblejoke!Hewonderedifthepoordevilappreciatedthegrislyhumorofwhathadbeen

           Buthow,inessence,fromtheunprejudicedviewpointofaMartian,didMandifferfromotherearthlyanimals?Wouldaracethatcouldlevitate(andGodknowswhatelse)beimpressedbyengineering?And,ifso,wouldtheAswanDam,orathousandmilesofcoralreef,winfirstprize?Man’sself-awareness?Sheerlocalconceit;theupstatecountieshadnotreported,fortherewasnowaytoprovethatspermwhalesorgiantsequoiaswerenotphilosophersandpoetsfarexceedinganyhumanmerit.

           Therewasonefieldinwhichmanwasunsurpassed;heshowedunlimitedingenuityindevisingbiggerandmoreefficientwaystokilloff,enslave,harass,andinallwaysmakeanunbearablenuisanceofhimselftohimself.Manwashisowngrimmestjokeonhimself.Theverybedrockofhumorwas-

           "Manistheanimalwholaughs,"Jubalanswered.

           Mikeconsideredthisseriously."ThenIamnotaman."

           "Huh?"

           "Idonotlaugh.Ihaveheardlaughinganditfrightedme.ThenIgrokkedthatitdidnothurt.Ihavetriedtolearn-"Mikethrewhisheadbackandgaveoutaraucouscackle,morenerve-rackingthantheidiotcallofakookaburra.

           Jubalcoveredhisears."Stop!Stop!"

           "Youheard,"Mikeagreedsadly."Icannotrightlydoit.SoIamnotman."

           "Waitaminute,son.Don’tgiveupsoquickly.Yousimplyhaven’tlearnedtolaughyet?andyou’llneverlearnjustbytrying.Butyouwilllearn,Ipromiseyou.