«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
«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.»
«Thou art God. I had a wonderful night, too — free from worry by knowing you were in good hands. The best hands — better than mine.»
«Oh, never, Jill!»
«So? I grok a few lumps still — but we'll wash them away.» She sat up, touched his cheek, said soberly, «Before tonight, dear. Because, of all my beloved brothers, I would not have your Sharing-Water be less than perfect.»
«Uh — » Ben stopped.
«Waiting is,» she said, and reached toward the end of the couch. It looked to Caxton as if a pack of cigarettes jumped into her hand.
Glad to change the subject, he said, «You've picked up some sleight-of-hand, too.»
Jill smiled. «Nothing much. “I am only an egg,” to quote my teacher.»
«How did you do that?»
«Why, I whistled to it in Martian. First you grok a thing, then you grok what you want it to —
«Coming.» The Man from Mars came straight to Ben, pulled him to his feet. «Let me look at you, Ben! Golly, it's good to see you!»
«It's good to see
«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 Welcome tonight. Might just as well shut down — they won't be worth a damn.»
«Patty has rescheduled,» Jill told Mike. «Dawn and Ruth and Sam are taking care of what's necessary. Patty sloughed the 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. «Ben, don't take up preaching. I spend night and day rushing from one job to another, telling people why they must never hurry. I owe you, along with Jill and Jubal, more than anyone on this planet — yet this is the first time I've been able to say hello. How've you been? You're looking fit. Dawn tells me you
Ben found himself blushing. «I'm okay.» «That's good. Carnivores will be on the prowl tonight. I'll grok close and sustain you. You'll be fresher at the end than at the start — won't he, Little Brother?»
«Yes,» agreed Jill. «Ben, Mike can lend you strength — physical strength, not just moral support. I can do it a little. Mike can really do it.»
«Jill can do it a lot.» Mike caressed her. «Little Brother is a tower of strength to everybody. Last night she certainly was.» He smiled down at her, then sang:
«You'll never find a girl like Jill.
«No, not one in a billion.
«Of all the tarts who ever will
«The willingest is our Gillian!
« — isn't that right, Little Brother?»
«Pooh,» answered Jill, obviously pleased, covering his hand and pressing it to her. «Dawn is exactly like me — and every bit as willing.»
«But Dawn is downstairs interviewing the possibles out of the tip. She's busy — you ain't. That's an important difference — isn' t it, Ben?»
«Could be.» Caxton was finding their behavior embarrassing, even in this relaxed atmosphere — he wished that they would knock off necking or give him an excuse to leave.
Mike went on cuddling Jill while keeping an arm around Ben's waist… and Ben was forced to admit that Jill encouraged him. Mike said very seriously, «Ben, a night like last night — helping a group to make the big jump to Eighth Circle — gets me terribly keyed up. Let me tell you something out of the lessons for Sixth. We humans have something that my former people don't even dream of. I must tell you how precious it is … how especially precious
«Beautifully right, Mike — and Ben knows it is Truth. But make a song for Dawn, too, darling.»
«Okay —
«Ardent is our lovely Dawn;
«Ben grokked that in her glance —
«She buys new dresses every morn,
«But
«Okay — »
Jill giggled. «Did you tune her in?»
«Yes, and she gave me a Bronx cheer — with a kiss behind it for Ben. Say, isn't there anybody in the kitchen? I just remembered I haven't eaten for a couple of days. Or years, maybe.»
«I think Ruth is,» Ben said, trying to stand up.
Mike pulled him down. «Hey, Duke! See if you can find somebody who'll fix me a stack of wheat cakes as tall as you are and a gallon of maple syrup.»
«Sure,» Duke answered. «I'll do it myself.»
«I'm not
«Huh? Oh, I'm all right!»
Mike looked into his eyes. «I wish you knew the language, Ben. I can feel your uneasiness but can't see your thoughts.»
«Mike …» Jill said.
The Man from Mars looked at her, then looked back at Ben and said slowly, «Jill just now told me your trouble, Ben — and it's a thing I never have been able to grok in fullness.» He looked worried, and hesitated almost as long as when he was learning English. «But I grok that we can't hold your Sharing-Water tonight. Waiting is.» Mike shook his head. «I'm sorry. But waiting will fill.»
Jill sat up. «No, Mike! We
«I do not grok it, Little Brother,» Mike said reluctantly. A long pause followed, silence more tense than speech. At last Mike said doubtfully to Jill, «You speak rightly?»
«You will see!» Jill got up suddenly and sat down on Ben's other side, put her arms around him. «Ben, kiss me and stop worrying.»
She did not wait but kissed him. Ben did stop worrying, was lulled into a sensuous glow that left no room for misgivings. Then Mike tightened the arm he still had around Ben's waist and said softly, «We grok closer. Now, Jill?»
«Now! Right here, at once — oh, Share Water, my darlings!» Ben turned his head — and was snatched out of euphoria by utter surprise. Somehow, the Man from Mars had rid himself of every stitch of clothing.
XXXIII
