"Why did it leave?" |
"Gone back to report, probably. And don't say 'it," Matt; 1 say 'she.'" ^
"It's a difference that could only matter to another Venerian." j
"Well, it's a bad habit, anyway." Oscar squatted down 1 and waited. j
After a time made longer by insects, heat, and sultri-1 ness the water was broken in a dozen places at once. One 1 of the amphibians climbed gracefully up on the bank and | stood up. She came about to Mart's shoulder. Oscar re-| peated the formal greeting. She looked him over. "My mother tells me that she knows thee not."
"Doubtless being busy with important thoughts she has forgotten."
"Perhaps. Let us go to my mother and let her smell thee."
"Thou art gracious. Canst thou carry my sibling?" Oscar pointed to Thurlow. "Being Ul, 'she' cannot close 'her' mouth to the waters."
The Venerian agreed. She called one of her followers to her side and Oscar joined the consultation, illustrating how Thurlow's mouth must be covered and his nose pinched together "-lest the waters return 'her to 'her' mother's mother's mother." The second native argued but agreed.
Tex was getting more and more round-eyed. "See here, Matt," he said urgently in Basic, "surely you're not figuring on going under water?"