"Of course. English."
"And why should you speak English on Mythox? Haven't you got a language of your own?"
"Certainly. But you're obviously from Earth. I thought you were a Watcher. I tried English. If you hadn't responded I'd have spoken to you in the other Earth languages."
"How many do you know?"
"Eleven hundred and seventeen. With various dialects, four thousand and—"
"There aren't that many."
She looked puzzled. Then her face cleared. "Oh you mean Earth languages. I was referring to those of the Five Galaxies."
I'm not going to be surprised at anything, he told himself doggedly. Not at anything. "Do you know anyone named Naia North?"
There was a childlike seriousness in her manner. It tended to deny the maturity of her body. Or was it the other way around? Martin Kirk wasn't sure, and grimly assured himself that he didn't give a damn.