Чужак в чужой стране

           WipeoffthelipstickandI’lltellyoueverythingIknow,thenwe’llconsiderhowyoucanuseitwithoutgettingmeriddenonthatrail.Fairenough?"

           "Fairenough."

           Shegavehimadetailedaccount."I’msurehewasn’tdrugged.I’mequallysurethathewasrational-althoughwhyI’msureIdon’tknow,forhetalkedintheoddestfashionandaskedthedarnedestquestions.ButI’msure.Heisn’tpsychotic."

           "Itwouldbeodderstillifhehadn’ttalkedinanoddfashion."

           "Huh?"

           "Useyourhead,Jill.Wedon’tknowmuchaboutMarsbutwedoknowthatMarsisveryunlikeEarthandthatMartians,whatevertheyare,certainlyarenothuman.Supposeyouweresuddenlypoppedintoatribesofarbackinthejunglethattheyhadneverlaideyesonawhitewoman.Wouldyouknowallthesophisticatedsmalltalkthatcomesfromalifetimeinaculture?Orwouldyourconversationsoundodd?That’saverymildanalogy;thetruthinthiscaseisatleastfortymillionmilesstranger."

           Jillnodded."Ifiguredthatout

           "No,you’rerealbright,forafemale."

           "Wouldyoulikethismartinipouredinyourthinninghair?"

           "Iapologize.Womenarelotssmarterthanmen;thatisprovedbyourwholeculturalsetup.Gimme,I’llfillit."

           Sheacceptedthepeaceofferingsandwenton,"Ben,thatorderaboutnotlettinghimseewomen,it’ssilly.He’snosexfiend."

           "Nodoubttheydon’twanttohandhimtoomanyshocksatonce."

           "Hewasn’tshocked.Hewasjust

           "Ifyouhadhumoredhimonthatrequestforaprivateviewing,youmighthavehadyourhandsfull.