"Talk to them, Father Briton," said Stark. "You are the linguist."
"Howdy," said the priest.
He may or may not have been understood, but the two of them smiled at him, so he went on.
"Father Briton from Philadelphia," he said, "on detached service. And you, my good man, what is your handle, your monicker, your tag?"
"Ha-Adamah," said the man.
"And your daughter, or niece?"
It may be that the shining man frowned momentarily at this; but the woman smiled, proving that she was human.
"The woman is named Hawwah," said the man. "The sheep is named sheep, the lion is named lion, the horse is named horse and the hoolock is named hoolock."
"I understand. It is possible that this could go on and on. How is it that you use the English tongue?"
"I have only one tongue; but it is given to us to be understood by all; by the eagle, by the squirrel, by the ass, by the English."