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           Thetwocontinuedtalkinginunhumansymbols,Mikeinaneagertorrent,Mahmoudnotquiteasrapidly,withsoundeffectslikearhinocerosramminganironmonger’slorry.

           Thenewsmenstooditforsometime,thosewhooperatedbysoundrecordingitandthewritersnotingitaslocalcolor.Butatlastoneinterrupted."Dr.Mahmoud!Whatareyousaying?Clueus!"

           Mahmoudturned,smiledbrieflyandsaidinclippedOxonianspeech,"Forthemostpart,I’vebeensaying,‘Slowdown,mydearboy–do,please.’

           "Andwhatdoeshesay?"

           "Therestofourconversationispersonal,private,ofnopossibleinteresttoothers,Iassureyou.Greetings,y’know.Oldfriends."HeturnedbacktoMikeandcontinuedtochat–inMartian.

           Infact,MikewastellinghisbrotherMahmoudallthathadhappenedtohiminthefortnightsincehehadlastseenhim,sothattheymightgrokcloser–butMike’sabstractionofwhattotellwaspurelyMartianinconcept,itbeingconcernedprimarilywithnewwaterbrothersandtheuniqueflavorofeach?thegentlewaterthatwasJill?thedepthofAnne?thestrangenot-yet-fully-grokkedfactthatJubaltastednowlikeanegg,thenlikeanOldOne,butwasneither-theungrokkablevastnessofocean-

           MahmoudhadlesstotellMikesincelesshadhappenedintheinterimtohim,byMartianstandards–oneDionysianexcessquiteun-Martianandofwhichhewasnotproud,onelongdayspentlyingfacedowninWashington’sSuleimanMosque,theresultsofwhichhehadnotyetgrokkedandwasnotreadytodiscuss.Nonewwaterbrothers.