Stranger in a Strange Land

She pursued the last bite on Duke's plate, moved over and started preparations to cook. «Duke, I'll send you out something other than mush. Take your coffee and skedaddle. Ben, I was worried, too — but don't you be, dear; Michael does not make mistakes. You belong here or you wouldn't be here. You're going to stay?»

«Uh, I can't. Ready for the first installment?»

«Pour them in. You'll be back. Someday you'll stay. Duke is correct — Sam and I pole-vaulted. It was too fast for a middle-aged, prim and proper housewife.»

«Middle-aged?»

«Ben, one bonus of the discipline is that as it straightens out your soul, your body straightens out, too. That's a matter in which Christian Scientists are right. Notice any medicine bottles in the bathrooms?»

«Uh, no.»

«There aren't any. How many people have kissed you?»

«Several.»

«As a priestess I kiss more than “several”, but there's never so much as a sniffle in the Nest. I used to be the sort of whiny woman who is never quite well and given to “female complaints.”» She smiled. «Now I'm more female than ever but I'm twenty pounds lighter, years younger, and have nothing to complain about — I like being female. As Duke flattered me, “a Levantine whore” and unquestionably more limber — I sit in lotus position when I'm teaching, whereas it used to be all I could do just to bend over.

«But it did happen fast,» Ruth went on. «Sam was a professor of Oriental languages; he started coming because it was the only way to learn Martian. Strictly professional, he wasn't interested in the church. I went along to keep an eye on him. I was jealous, even more possessive than the average.

«So we worked up to Third Circle, Sam learning rapidly and myself grimly studying because I didn't want him out of my sight. Then boom! the miracle happened. We began to think in it, a little … and Michael felt it and had us stay after service one night … and Michael and Gillian gave us water. Afterwards, I knew that I was all the things I despised in other women and I despised my husband for letting me and hated him for what he had done. All this in English, with the worst parts in Hebrew. So I wept and moaned and made myself a stinking nuisance to Sam… and couldn't wait to share and grow closer again.

«After that things were easier but not easy as we were pushed through the circles as fast as possible. Michael knew we needed help and wanted to get us into the safety of the Nest. When it came time for our Sharing-Water, I was still unable to discipline myself without help. I wanted to enter the Nest — but wasn't sure I could merge with seven other people. I was scared silly; on the way over I almost begged Sam to turn around and go home.»

She looked up, unsmiling but beatific, a plump angel with a big spoon in one hand. «We walked into the Innermost Temple and a spotlight hit me and our robes were whisked away … and they were in the pool calling to us in Martian to come share the water of life — and I stumbled in and submerged and 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 all the way. You jump in that pool tonight; I'll have my arms out to catch you. All of us will, welcoming you home. Take this to Duke and tell him I said he was a pig … but a charming one. And take this for yourself — oh, you can eat that much! — give me a kiss and run along; Ruthie has work to do.»

Ben delivered the kiss, the message, and the plate. He found Jill, apparently asleep, on one of the couches; he sat down facing her, enjoying the sweet sight and thinking that Dawn and Jill were more alike than he had realized. Jill's tan was unmarked and just the shade of Dawn's; their proportions were identical — in rest even their features were more alike.

He looked up from a bite and saw that her eyes had opened, she was smiling. «Thou art God, darling — and that smells good.»

«You look good. I didn't mean to wake you.» He moved across and sat by her, put a bite into her mouth. «My own cooking, with Ruth's help.»

«And good, too. 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 feel grand. Just hungry. That's a hint.»

So he fed her. She let him do so, not stirring. «Did you get any sleep?» she asked presently.

«Uh, some.»

«How much sleep did Dawn get? As much as two hours?»

«Oh, more than that.»

«Then she's all right. Two hours does as much as eight used to. I knew what a sweet night you were going to have — both of you — but I was 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. I was tempted to spend the night with you myself — I wanted to, dear! But you arrived with jealousy sticking out in lumps. I think it's gone now. Yes?»

«I think so.»