Чужак в чужой стране

           TheCaptain’swifewasatall,plainwomanwiththecalmeyesofonewhohaswatchedfromtheWidow’sWalk.Shestoodup,kissedJubal."ThouartGod."

           "Uh,thouartGod."Jubaldecidedthathemightaswellrelaxtotheritual–hell,ifhesaiditoftenenough,hemightlosetherestofhisbuttonsandbelieveit?anditdidhaveafriendlyringtoitwiththearmsoftheSkipper’swifefirmlyaroundhim.Hedecidedthatshecouldeventeachnote4somethingaboutkissing.She–howwasitAnnehadoncedescribedit?–shegaveitherwholeattention;shewasn’tgoinganywhere.

           "Isuppose,Van,"hesaid,"thatIreallyshouldn’tbesurprisedtofindyouhere."

           "Well,"answeredthespaceman,"amanwhocommutestoMarsoughttobeabletopalaverwiththenatives,don’tyouthink?"

           "Justforpowwow,huh?"

           "Thereareotheraspects."VanTrompreachedforapieceoftoast;thetoastcooperated."Goodfood,goodcompany."

           "Um,yes."

           "Jubal,"MadameVesantcalledout,"soup’son!"

           Jubalreturnedtohisplace,foundeggs-on-horseback,orangejuice,andotherchoicecomestibleswaitingforhim.Beckypattedhisthigh."Afineprayermeeting,mebucko."

           "Woman,backtoyourhoroscopes!"

           "Whichremindsme,dearie,Iwanttoknowtheexactinstantofyourbirth."

           "Uh,Iwasbornonthreesuccessivedays,atvarioushours.Iwastoobigaboy–theyhadtohandlemeinsections."

           Beckymadearudeanswer."I’llfindout."

           "ThecourthouseburneddownwhenIwasthree.Youcan’t."