Чужак в чужой стране

           "‘Blow-off’?"

           "Jillmeans,"Patriciaputin,"theendoftheservicewheresheisAllMother,MaterDeumMagna.Kids,Imustrush."

           "Neverhurry,Pattycake."

           "IgottarushsoIwon’thavetohurry.Ben,ImustputHoneyBuntobedandgodownandtakemyclass–sokissmegood-nightnow.Please?"

           Benfoundhimselfkissinggood-nightawomanstillwrappedmostthoroughlybyagiantsnake–anddecidedthathecouldthinkofbetterways?saywearingfullarmor.ButhetriedtoignoreHoneyBunandtreatPattyasshedeservedtobetreated.

           Jillkissedherandsaid,"StopbyandtellMiketostalluntilIgetthere,prettyplease."

           "Hewillanyhow.‘Night,dears."Sheleftunhurriedly.

           "Ben,isn’tshealamb?"

           "Shecertainlyis.Althoughshehadmebaffledatfirst."

           "Igrok.Butit’snotbecauseshe’stattooednorbecauseofhersnakes,Iknow.Shebaffledyou–shebaffleseverybody–becausePattyneverhasanydoubts;shejustautomaticallyalwaysdoestherightthing.She’sverymuchlikeMike.She’sthemostadvancedofanyofus–sheoughttobehighpriestess.Butshewon’ttakeitbecausehertattooswouldmakesomeofthedutiesdifficult–beadistractionatleast–andshedoesn’twantthemtakenoff."

           "Howcouldyoupossiblytakeoffthatmuchtattooing?Withaflensingknife?Itwouldkillher."

           "Notatall,dear.Mikecouldtakethemoffcompletely,notleaveatrace,andnotevenhurther.