Чужак в чужой стране

           "Wedo.Bytheway,thisconversationiscompletelyprivate–andbesidesthat,nooneofuswouldeverattempttoreadyou;I’mnotsurewecould.EvenlastnightthelinkwasthroughDawn’smind,notyours."

           "Well,thatissomeslightcomfort."

           "Uh,Iwanttogettothatlater.Iam‘onlyanegg’inthisart;theOldOnesarepastmasters.Theystayedlinkedwithmebutleftmeonmyown,ignoredme–thentheytriggeredmeandallthatIhadseenandheardanddoneandfeltandgrokkedpouredoutofmeandbecamepartoftheirpermanentrecords.Idon’tmeanthattheywipedmymindofmyexperiences;theysimplyplayedthetape,sotospeak,madeacopy.ButthetriggeringIwasawareof–anditwasoverbeforeIcouldpossiblydoanythingtostopit.Thentheydroppedme,cutoffthelinkage;Icouldn’tevenprotest."

           "Well?itseemstomethattheyusedyouprettyshabbily-"

           "Notbytheirstandards.NorwouldIhaveobjected–Iwouldhavebeenhappytovolunteer–hadIknownaboutitbeforeIleftMars.Buttheydidn’twantmetoknow;theywantedmetoseeandgrokwithoutinterference."

           "Iwasgoingtoadd,"Jubalsaid,"thatifyouarefreeofthisdamnableinvasionofyourprivacynow,thenwhatharmhasbeendone?ItseemstomethatyoucouldhavehadaMartianatyourelbowallthesepasttwoandahalfyears,withnoharmotherthanattractingstares."

           Mikelookedverysober."Jubal,listentoastory.Listenallthewaythrough.