"Didn't what take? I don't know what you were being exposed to; I just came on duty."
Matt went back to his room feeling rather depressed. He had been a little afraid of hypnosis, but to find that he apparently did not react to the method was worse yet. He wondered whether or not he could ever keep up with his studies if he were forced to study everything, outer languages as well, by conventional methods.
Nothing to do but to go back and see Lieutenant Wong about it-tomorrow, he decided.
Oscar was alone in the suite and was busy trying to place a hook in the wall of a common room. A framed picture was leaning against the chair on which he stood. "Hello, Oscar."
"Howdy, Matt." Oscar turned his head as he spoke; the drill he was using slipped and he skinned a knuckle. He started to curse in strange, lisping speech. "May maledictions pursue this nameless thing to the uttermost depths of world slime!"
Matt clucked disapprovingly. "Curb thy voice, thou impious fish."
Oscar looked up in amazement. "Matt-I didn't know you knew any Venerian."
Matt's mouth sagged open. He closed it, then opened it to speak "Well, I'll be a- Neither did II"
VII TO MAKE A SPACEMAN
THE SEHGEANT CROUCHED in the air, his feet drawn up. "At the count of one," he was saying, "take the ready position, with your feet about six inches from the steel. At the count of two, place your feet firmly against the steel and push off." He shoved against the steel wall and shot into the air, still talking, "Hold the count of four, turn on the count of five-" His body drew up into a ball and turned over a half turn, "-check your rotation-" His body extended again, "-and make contact on the count of seven-" His toes touched