Чужак в чужой стране

           "NowIamforcedtoassumethatMaryamandIwillbeleavingquitesoon,because,busyasMikeiswithahundredotherthings,he’schangedthemethod.Thereareeightbedroomshereequippedwithtaperecorders.Thoseofuswhocandoitbest–Patty,Jill,myself;Maryam,yourfriendAllie,someothers–taketurnsinthoserooms.Mikeputsusintoashorttrance,pourslanguage–definitions,idioms,concepts–intousforafewmomentsthatfeellikehours?thenwedictateatoncejustwhathehaspouredintous,exactly,whileit’sstillfresh.Butitcan’tbejustanybody,evenoftheInnermostTemple.Itrequiresasharpaccentandtheabilitytojointhetrancerapportandthenspillouttheresults.Sam,forexample,haseverythingbuttheclearaccent–hemanages,Godknowshow,tospeakMartianwithaBronxaccent.Can’tusehim,itwouldcauseendlesserratainthedictionary.AndthatiswhatAllieisdoingnow–dictating.She’sstillinthesemi-tranceneededfortotalrecalland,ifyouinterrupther,she’lllosewhatshestillhasn’trecorded."

           "Igrok,"Jubalagreed,"althoughthepictureofBeckyVeseyasaMartianadeptshakesmealittle.Still,shewasonceoneofthebestmentalistsinshowbusiness;shecouldgiveacoldreadingthatwouldscareanymarkrightoutofhisshoes–andloosenhispocketbook.Say,Stinky,ifyouaregoingtobesentawayforpeaceandquietwhileyouunwindallthisdata,whydon’tyouandMaryamcomehome?Plentyofroomforastudyamp;bedroomsuiteinthenewwing."