Чужак в чужой стране

           JillsawthatMikewasobviouslydelighted;shemanaged,slurringlybutpassably,tocroaktheshortestofthenineformsbywhichawaterbrothermayreturntheresponse–althoughshedidnotgrokitfullyandwouldnothaveconsideredsuggesting(inEnglish)thenearesthumanbiologicalequivalent?certainlynottoamanshehadjustmet!

           However,Mahmoud,whodidunderstandit,tookitinitssymbolicmeaningratherthanits(humanlyimpossible)literalmeaning,andspokerightlyinresponse.ButJillhadpassedthelimitofherlinguisticability;shedidnotunderstandhisansweratallandcouldnotreply,eveninpedestrianEnglish.

           Butshegotasuddeninspiration.Atintervalsaroundthehugetablewereplacedtheage-oldfurnitureofhumanpalavers-waterpitcherseachwithitsclumpofglasses.Shestretchedandgotapitcherandatumbler,filledthelatter.

           ShelookedMahmoudintheeye,saidearnestly,"Water.Ournestisyours."ShetouchedittoherlipsandhandedittoMahmoud.

           HeansweredherinMartian,sawthatshedidnotunderstandhimandtranslated,"Whoshareswatersharesall."HetookasipandstartedtohandtheglassbacktoJill–checkedhimself,lookedatHarshawandofferedhimtheglass.

           Jubalsaid,"Ican’tspeakMartian,son–butthanksforwater.Mayyouneverbethirsty."Hetookasip,thendrankaboutathirdofit."Ak!"HepassedtheglasstoBen.

           CaxtonlookedatMahmoudandsaidverysoberly,"Growcloser.Withthewateroflifewegrowcloser."HewethislipswithitandpassedittoDorcas.