Чужак в чужой стране

           But–Mike,I’llhavetoshowyou;Ican’ttellyou.Butfirstclosethoseslats,willyou?"

           TheVenetianblindsflippedthemselvesshut."Allright,"shesaid."Nowthisposewouldbejustalittlebitnaughty–anyoftheshowgirlswoulduseitasaprofessionalpic?andthisoneisjustalittlebitmoreso,someofthegirlswoulduseit.Butthisoneisunmistakablynaughtyandthisoneisquitenaughty?andthisoneissoextremelynaughtythatIwouldn’tposeforitwithmyfacewrappedinatowel–unlessyouwantedit."

           "Butifyourfacewascovered,whywouldIwantit?"

           "AskDuke.That’sallIcansay."

           Hecontinuedtolookpuzzled."Igroknotwrongness,Igroknotgoodness.Igrok-"HeusedaMartianwordindicatinganullstateofallemotions.

           Buthewasinterestedbecausehewassobaffled;theywentondiscussingit,inMartianasmuchaspossiblebecauseofitsextremelyfinediscriminationsforemotionsandvalues–andinEnglish,too,becauseMartian.richasitis,simplycouldn’tcopewiththeconcepts.

           Mikeshowedupataringsidetablethatnight,Jillhavingcoachedhiminhowtobribethematred’hteltogivehimsuchaspot;hewasdeterminedtopursuethismystery.Jillwasnotaverse.Shecamestruttingoutinthefirstproductionnumber,hersmileforeveryonebutaquickwinkforMikeassheturnedandhereyespassedacrosshis.