Stranger in a Strange Land Read Free Page B

him.”
    â€œIn one word—no.”
    â€œOh, Tad, don’t go regulation.”
    He gazed at his nails. “If I let you put your foot inside that door, I’d wind up in Antarctica. I wouldn’t want Dr. Nelson even to catch you in this watch room.”
    She stood up. “Is Doctor Nelson likely to pop in?”
    â€œNot unless I send for him. He’s sleeping off low-gee fatigue.”
    â€œThen what’s the idea of being so duty struck?”
    â€œThat’s all, Nurse.”
    â€œVery well, Doctor!” She added, “Stinker.”
    â€œJill!”
    â€œA stuffed shirt, too.”
    He sighed. “Still okay for Saturday night?”
    She shrugged. “I suppose. A girl can’t be fussy these days.” She went back to her station, picked up the pass key. She was balked but not beaten, as suite K-12 had a door joining it to the room beyond, a room used as a sitting room when the suite was occupied by a high official. The room was not then in use. She let herself into it. The guards paid no attention, unaware that they had been flanked.
    She hesitated at the door between the two rooms, feeling the excitement she used to feel when sneaking out of student nurses’ quarters. She unlocked it and looked in.
    The patient was in bed, he looked at her as the door opened. Her first impression was that here was a patient too far gone to care. His lack of expression seemed to show the apathy of the desperately ill. Then she saw that his eyes were alive with interest; she wondered if his face was paralyzed?
    She assumed her professional manner. “Well, how are we today? Feeling better?”
    Smith translated the questions. The inclusion of both of them in the query was confusing; he decided that it might symbolize a wish to cherish and grow close. The second part matched Nelson’s speech forms. “Yes,” he answered.
    â€œGood!” Aside from his odd lack of expression she saw nothing strange about him—and if women were unknown to him, he was managing to conceal it. “Is there anything I can do?” She noted that there was no glass on the bedside shelf. “May I get you water?”
    Smith spotted at once that this creature was different from the others. He compared what he was seeing with pictures Nelson had shown him on the trip from home to his place—pictures intended to explain a puzzling configuration of this people group. This, then, was “woman.”
    He felt both oddly excited and disappointed. He suppressed both in order that he might grok deeply, with such success that Dr. Thaddeus noticed no change in the dials next door.
    But when he translated the last query he felt such surge of emotion that he almost let his heartbeat increase. He caught it and chided himself for an undisciplined nestling. Then he checked his translation.
    No, he was not mistaken. This woman creature had offered him water. It wished to grow closer.
    With great effort, scrambling for adequate meanings, he attempted to answer with due ceremoniousness. “I thank you for water. May you always drink deep.”
    Nurse Boardman looked startled. “Why, how sweet!” She found a glass, filled it, and handed it to him.
    He said, “You drink.”
    Wonder if he thinks I’m trying to poison him? she asked herself—but there was a compelling quality to his request. She took a sip, whereupon he took one also, after which he seemed content to sink back, as if he had accomplished something important.
    Jill told herself that, as an adventure, this was a fizzle. She said, “Well, if you don’t need anything, I must get on with my work.”
    She started for the door. He called out, “No!”
    She stopped. “Eh?”
    â€œDon’t go away.”
    â€œWell . . . I’ll have to go, pretty quickly.” She came back. “Is there anything you want?”
    He looked her up and down. “You are . . .