Чужак в чужой стране

           AndthenextdayStinkytoldtheuniversitythatweweretakingasabbaticalforfieldwork–orhisresignation,iftheywished.Sohereweare."

           "Doingwhat?"

           "Working.Workingharderthanyouevermademework,Boss–myhusbandisaslavedriver."

           "Doingwhat?"

           "They’rewritingaMartiandictionary,"Pattytoldhim.

           "MartiantoEnglish?Thatmustbedifficult."

           "Oh,no,no,no!"Miriamlookedalmostshocked."Thatwouldn’tbedifficult,thatwouldbeimpossible.AMartiandictionaryinMartian.There’sneverbeenonebefore;theMartiansdon’tneedsuchthings.Uh,mypartofitisjustclerical;Itypewhattheydo.MikeandStinky–mostlyStinky–workedoutaphoneticscriptforMartian,eighty-onecharacters.SowehadanI.B.M.typerworkedoverforthosecharacters,usingbothupperandlowercase–Bossdarling,I’mruinedasasecretary;ItypetouchsysteminMartiannow.Willyoulovemeanyhow?Whenyoushout‘Front!’andI’mnotgoodforanything?Icanstillcook?andI’mtoldthatIhaveothertalents."

           "I’lllearntodictateinMartian."

           "Youwill,beforeMikeandStinkygetthroughwithyou.Igrok.Eh,Patty?"

           "Youspeakrightly,mybrother."

           Theyreturnedtothelivingroom,Caxtonjoinedthemandsuggestedfindingaquieterplace,awayfromthegiantbabblebox,ledJubaldownapassageandintoanotherlivingroom."Youseemtohavemostofthisfloor"

           "Allofit,"agreedBen.