Чужак в чужой стране

           Shewaspleasedtoseethatthepoweredbedwasthere.Thenshesawthattheroomwasoccupied-sittinginanarmchairwithapicturebookinhislapwastheManfromMars.

           Smithlookedupandgaveherthebeamingsmileofadelightedbaby.

           Jillfeltdizzy,asifshehadbeenjerkedoutofsleep.Jumbledideasracedthroughhermind.ValentineSmithhere?Buthecouldn’tbe;hehadbeentransferredsomewhereelse;thelogshowedit.Buthewashere.

           Thenalltheuglyimplicationsandpossibilitiesseemedtolinethemselvesup-thefake"ManfromMars"onstereonotonecadaver,buttwo.

           Whenthislastnightmarerushedthroughhermind,itcarriedinitstrainacoldwindoffear,therealizationthatsheherselfwasinperilthroughhavingstumbledontothistop-secretfact.

           Smithgotclumsilyupfromhischair,heldoutbothhandswhilestillsmilingandsaid,"Waterbrother!"

           "Hello.Uh

           "Iamwell.Iamhappy."Headdedsomethinginastrange,chokingspeech,thencorrectedhimselfandsaidcarefully,"Youarehere,mybrother.Youwereaway.Nowyouarehere.Idrinkdeepofyou."

           Jillfeltherselfhelplesslysplitbetweentwoemotions,onethatcrushedandmeltedherheart-andanicyfearofbeingcaughthere.Smithdidnotseemtonotice.Insteadhesaid,"See?Iwalk!Igrowstrong."Hedemonstratedbytakingafewstepsbackandforth,thenstopped,triumphant,breathless,andsmilinginfrontofher.

           Sheforcedherselftosmile.