Чужак в чужой стране

           Hehadalreadymemorizedthemallandhadthoughtpleasantlyofhavinghimselftattooedallover,oncebegrokkedwhatshouldbepictured.Thelifeofhisfather,waterbrotherJubal?Hewouldhavetoponderit.HewoulddiscussitwithJill–andJillmightwishtobetattooed,too.WhatdesignswouldmakeJillmorebeautifullyJill?InthewayinwhichperfumemultipliedJill’sodorwithoutchangingit?

           WhathesawwhenhelookedatPatwithouthertattoospleasedhimbutnotasmuch;shelookedasawomannecessarilymustlooktobewoman.MikestilldidnotgrokDuke’scollectionofpictures;thepictureswereinterestingandhadtaughtMikethattherewasmorevarietyinthesizes,shapes,proportionsandcolorsofwomenthanhehadknownuptothenandthattherewassomevarietyintheacrobaticsinvolvingphysicallove–buthavinglearnedthesesimplefactsheseemedtogrokthattherewasnothingmoretobelearnedfromDuke’sprizedpictures.Mike’searlytraininghadmadeofhimaveryexactobserver,byeye(andothersenses),butthatsametraininghadlefthimunresponsivetothesubtlepleasuresofvoyeurism,itwasnotthatbedidnotfindwomen(including,mostemphaticallyPatriciaPaiwonski)sexuallystimulating,butitlaynotinseeingthem.Ofhissenses,smellandtouchcountedmuchhigher–inwhichhewasquasi-human,quasi-Martian;theparallelMartianreflex(asunsubtleasasneeze)wastriggeredbythosetwo,butcouldactivateonlyinseason–whatmustbetermed"sex"inaMartianisasromanticasintravenousfeeding.