Stranger in a Strange Land

She stopped talking and looked up, unsmiling but beatific, a plump angle with a big stirring spoon in one hand. “Then we walked into the Innermost Temple and a spotlight hit me and our robes were whisked away… and they were all in the pool and calling out to us in Martian to come, come and share the water of life—and I stumbled into that pool and submerged and I haven’t come up since!

“Nor ever want to. Don’t fret, Ben, you’ll learn the language and acquire the discipline and you’ll have loving help from all of us every step of the way. You stop worrying and jump in that pool tonight; I’ll have my arms out to catch you. All of us will have our arms out, welcoming you home. Now take this plate in to Duke and tell him I said he was a pig but a charming one. And take this one in for yourself—oh, of course you can eat that much!—give me a kiss and run along; Ruthie has work to do.”

Ben delivered the kiss and the message and the plate, then found that he did have some appetite left… but nevertheless did not concentrate on food as he found Jill stretched out, apparently asleep, on one of the wide, soft couches. He sat down opposite her, enjoying the sweet sight of her and thinking that Dawn and Jill were even more alike than he had realized the night before.

He looked up from a bite and saw that her eyes were open and she was smiling at him. “Thou art God, darling—and that smells good.”

“And you look good. But I didn’t mean to wake you.” He got up and sat by her, put a bite in her mouth. “My own cooking, with Ruth’s help.”

“I know. And good, too. Duke told me to stay out of the kitchen because Ruthie was giving you a good-for-your-soul lecture. You didn’t wake me; I was just lazing until you came out. I haven’t been asleep all night.”

“Not at all?”

“Not a wink. But I’m not tired, I feel grand. Just hungry. That’s a hint.” So he fed her. She let him do so, never stirring, not using her own hands. “But did you get any sleep?” she asked presently.

“Uh, some.”

“Enough? No, you got enough. But how much sleep did Dawn get? As much as two hours?”

“Oh, more than that, I’m certain.”

“Then she’s all right. Two hours of sleep does us as much good as eight used to. I knew what a sweet night you were going to have—both of you—but I was a teeny bit worried that she might not rest.”

“Well, it was a wonderful night,” Ben admitted, “although I was, uh, surprised at the way you shoved her at me.”

“Shocked, you mean. I know you, Ben, maybe better than you know yourself. You arrived here yesterday with jealousy sticking out in lumps. I think it’s gone now. Yes?”

He looked back at her. “I think so.”

“That’s good. I had a wonderful and joyous night, too—made free from any worry by knowing you were in good hands. The best hands—better than mine.”

“Oh, no!”

“Hmm. I grok a few lumps still—but tonight we’ll wash them away in water.” She sat up, reached toward the end of the couch—and it looked to Caxton as if a pack of cigarettes on the end table jumped the last few inches into her hand.

“You seemed to have picked up some sleight-of-hand tricks, too.”

She seemed momentarily puzzled, then she smiled. “Some. Nothing much. Parlor tricks. ‘I am only an egg,’ to quote my teacher.”

“How did you do that trick?”

“Why, I just whistled to it in Martian. First you grok a thing, then you grok what you want it to—Mike!” She waved. “We’re over here, dear!”

“Coming.” The Man from Mars came straight to Ben, took his hands, pulled him to his feet. “Let me look at you, Ben! Golly, it’s good to see you!”

“It’s good to see you. And to be here.”

“And we’re going to twist your arm to keep you here. What’s this about three days? Three days indeed!”

“I’m a working man, Mike.”

“We’ll see. The girls are all excited, getting ready for your party tonight. Might just as well shut down services and classes for the rest of the day—they won’t be worth a damn.”

“Patty has already done any necessary rescheduling,” Jill told Mike. “She just didn’t bother you with it. Dawn and Ruth and Sam are going to take care of what’s necessary. Patty decided to slough the Outer matinee—so you’re through for the day.”

“That’s good news.” Mike sat down, pulled Jill’s head into his lap, pulled Ben down, put an arm around him, and sighed. He was dressed as Ben had seen him in the outer meeting, smart tropical business suit, lacking only shoes. “Ben, don’t ever take up preaching. I spend my days and nights rushing from one job to another, telling people why they must never hurry. I owe you, along with Jill and Jubal, more than anyone else on this planet—yet you’ve been here since yesterday afternoon and this is the first time I’ve been able to say hello. How’ve you been? You’re looking fit. In fact Dawn tells me you are fit.”

Ben found himself blushing. “I’m okay.”

“That’s good. Because, believe me, the hill tribes will be restless tonight. But I’ll grok close and sustain you. You’ll be fresher at the end of the party than at the start—won’t he, Little Brother?”