Чужак в чужой стране

           Thehouris-"HestoppedandsatupsosuddenlythathedumpedMiriam."Say!It’sjustpossiblethatyougirlsdon’thavesouls!"

           Miriamsatupandsaidbitterly,"Why,youungratefuldogofaninfidel!Takethatback!""Peace,Maryam.Ifyoudon’thaveasoul,thenyou’reimmortalanyhowandwon’tmissit.Jubal?isitpossibleforamantodieandnotnoticeit?"

           "Can’tsay.Nevertriedit."

           "CouldIhavediedonMarsandjustdreamedthatIcamehome?Lookaroundyou!AgardentheProphethimselfwouldbepleasedwith.Fourbeautifulhouris,passingaroundlovelyfoodanddeliciousdrinksatallhours.Eventheirmalecounterparts,ifyouwanttobefussy.IsthisParadise?"

           "Icanguaranteethatitisn’t,"Jubalassuredhim."Mytaxesareduethisweek."

           "Still,thatdoesn’taffectme."

           "Andtakethesehouris-Evenifwestipulateforthesakeofargumentthattheyareofbeautyadequatetomeetthespecifications–afterall,beautyisintheeyeofthebeholder-"

           "Theypass."

           "Andyou’llpayforthat,Boss,"Miriamadded.

           "-therestillremains,"Jubalpointedout,"onemorerequisiteattributeofhouris."

           "Mmmm-"saidMahmoud,"Idon’tthinkweneedgointothat.InParadise,ratherthanatemporaryphysicalcondition,itwouldbeapermanentspiritualattribute–moreastateofmind.Yes?"

           "Inthatcase,"Jubalsaidemphatically,"Iamcertainthatthesearenothouris."

           Mahmoudsighed."InthatcaseI’lljusthavetoconvertone."