Stranger in a Strange Land

She wondered what his next change would be? But she did not worry; Mike was good and wise. «Mike, wouldn't it be nice to have Dorcas and Anne and Miriam here in the tub, too? And Father Jubal and the boys and — oh, our whole family!»

«Need a bigger tub.»

«Who minds crowding? When are we making another visit home, Mike?»

«I grok it will be soon.»

«Martian “soon”? Or Earth “soon”? Never mind, darling, it will be when waiting is filled. That reminds me that Aunt Patty will be here soon and I mean Earth “soon”. Wash me?»

She stood; soap lifted out of the dish, traveled all over her, replaced itself and the soapy layer slathered into hubbles. «Oooh! You tickle.»

«Rinse?»

«I'll dunk.» She squatted, sloshed off, stood up. «Just in time, too.»

Someone was knocking. «Dearie? Are you decent?»

«Coming, Pat!» Jill shouted, and added as she stepped out of the tub, «Dry me, please?»

At once she was dry, not even wet footprints. «Dear? You'll remember to put on clothes? Patty's a lady — not like me.»

«I will remember.»

XXVII

JILL GRABBED a negligee, hurried into the living room. «Come in, dear. We were bathing; he'll be right out. I'll get you a drink — then you'll have your second drink in the tub. Loads of hot water.»

«I had a shower after I put Honey Bun to bed, but — yes, I'd love a tub bath. But, Jill baby, I didn't come here to borrow your tub; I came because I'm heartsick that you kids are leaving.»

«We won't lose track of you.» Jill got busy with glasses. «Tim was right. Mike and I need to slick up our act.»

«Your act is okay. Needs some laughs, maybe, but — Hi, Smitty.» She offered him a gloved hand. Away from the lot Mrs. Paiwonski always wore gloves, high-necked dresses, and stockings. She looked like (and was) a middle-aged, respectable widow who had kept her figure trim.

«I was telling Jill,» she went on, «that you've got a good act.»

Mike smiled. «Pat, don't kid us. It stinks.»

«No, it doesn't dearie. Oh, it could use some zing. A few jokes. Or you could cut down on Jill's costume a little. You've got a cute figure, hon.»

Jill shook her head. «That wouldn't do it.»

«Well, I knew a magician that used to dress his assistant as Gay Nineties — eighteen-nineties, that is — not even her legs showing. Then he would disappear one garment after another. The marks loved it. Don't get me wrong, dear — nothing unrefined. She finished in as much as your wear now.»

«Patty,» Jill said, «I'd do our act stark naked if the clowns wouldn't close the show.»

«You couldn't, honey. The marks would riot. But if you've got a figure, why not use it? How far would I get as a tatooed lady if I didn't peel all they'll let me?»

«Speaking of clothes,» Mike said, «you don't look comfortable, Pat. The aircooling in this dump has gone sour — must be at least ninety.» He dressed in a light robe, enough for easy-going carnie manners. Heat affected him only slightly; he sometimes had to adjust his metabolism. But their friend was used to the comfort of almost nothing and affected clothes to cover her tatoos when out among marks. «Why not get comfortable? “Ain't nobody here but just us chickens”.» The latter was a joke, appropriate for emphasizing that friends were in private — Jubal had explained it to him.

«Sure, Patty,» Jill agreed. «If you're raw underneath, I can get you something.»

«Uh … well, I did slip into one of my costumes.»

«Then don't be stiff with friends. I'll get your zippers.»

«Le'me get these stockings and shoes.» She went on talking while trying to think how she could get around to religion. Bless them, these kids were ready to be seekers, she was certain — but she had counted on the whole season to bring them to the light. «The point about show business, Smitty, is that you have to understand marks. If you were a real magician — oh, I don't mean you aren't skillful, dearie, you are.» She tucked hose in her shoes, let Jill get her zippers. «I mean like you had a pact with the Devil. But the marks know it's sleight-of-hand. So you need a light-hearted routine. Did you ever see a fire eater with a pretty assistant? Heavens, a pretty girl would just clutter his act; the marks are hoping he'll set fire to hisself.»

She snaked the dress over her head; Jill took it and kissed her. «You look more natural, Aunt Patty. Sit back and enjoy your drink.»

«Just a second, dearie.» Mrs. Paiwonski prayed for guidance. Well, her pictures would speak for themselves — that was why George had put them there. «Now this is what I've got for the marks. Have you ever looked, really looked, at my pictures?»

«No,» Jill admitted, «we didn't want to stare at you, like a couple of marks.»