Межзвёздный скиталец

           ButIputtwoandtwotogether,andknewthatthetwotiredsaddle-horseswerejustonemoreaddedtouchofominousnesstothesituation.

           “Iguessthey’rekeepinganeyeonus,Laban,”wasmyfather’ssolecomment.

           ItwasatFillmorethatIsawamanthatIwastoseeagain.Hewasatall,broad-shoulderedman,welloninmiddleage,withalltheevidenceofgoodhealthandimmensestrength—strengthnotaloneofbodybutofwill.UnlikemostmenIwasaccustomedtoaboutme,hewassmooth-shaven.Severaldays’growthofbeardshowedthathewasalreadywell-grayed.Hismouthwasunusuallywide,withthinlipstightlycompressedasifhehadlostmanyofhisfrontteeth.Hisnosewaslarge,square,andthick.Sowashisfacesquare,widebetweenthecheekbones,underhungwithmassivejaws,andtoppedwithabroad,intelligentforehead.Andtheeyes,rathersmall,alittlemorethanthewidthofaneyeapart,werethebluestblueIhadeverseen.

           Itwasattheflour-millatFillmorethatIfirstsawthisman.Father,withseveralofourcompany,hadgonetheretotrytobuyflour,andI,disobeyingmymotherinmycuriositytoseemoreofourenemies,hadtaggedalongunperceived.Thismanwasoneoffourorfivewhostoodinagroupwiththemillerduringtheinterview.

           “Youseenthatsmooth-facedoldcuss?”Labansaidtofather,afterwehadgotoutsideandwerereturningtocamp.