Чужак в чужой стране

           ’But‘Apollonian’and‘Dionysian’aretwosidesofthesamecoin–anunonherkneesinhercell,holdingperfectlystillandherfacialmusclesrelaxed,canbeinareligiousecstasymorefrenziedthananypriestessofPanPriapuscelebratingthevernalequinox.Ecstasyisintheskull,notinthesetting-upexercises."Jubalfrowned."Anothercommonerroristoidentify‘Apollonian’with‘good’–merelybecauseourmostrespectablesectsareallratherApollonianinritualandprecept.Merelocalprejudice.Proceed."

           "Well?thingsweren’tasquietasanunatherdevotionsanyhow.Theydidn’tjuststayseatedandletMikeentertainthem.Theywanderedaboutabit,swappedseats,andtherewasnodoubtthattherewasneckinggoingon;nomorethannecking,Ibelieve,butthelightingwasverylowkeyanditwashardtoseefromonepewtoanother.Onegalwanderedoverourway,startedtojoinus,butPattygavehersomesigntoletusbesoshejustkissedusandleft."Bengrinned."Kissedquitewell,too,thoughshedidn’tdallyaboutit.Iwastheonlypersonnotdressedinarobe;Iwasasconspicuousasaspacesuitinasalon.Butshegavenosignofnoticing.

           "Thewholethingwasverycasual?andyetitseemedascoordinatedasaballerina’smuscles.Mikekeptbusy,sometimesoutinfront,sometimeswanderingamongtheothers–oncehesqueezedmyshoulderandkissedPatty,unhurriedlybutquickly.Hedidn’tspeaktome.