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They had f<strong>in</strong>ished <strong>the</strong>ir dr<strong>in</strong>ks, and she went to refill.<br />
'Lot of hot blood stirred up <strong>in</strong> political discussion.' Paul said. 'Everywhere you go. Essential to<br />
keep head.'<br />
'Yes,' Childan agreed. 'Calmness and order. So th<strong>in</strong>gs return to customary stability.'<br />
'Period after death of Leader critical <strong>in</strong> totalitarian society,' Paul said. 'Lack of tradition and<br />
middle-class <strong>in</strong>stitutions comb<strong>in</strong>e — ' He broke off. 'Perhaps better drop politics.' He smiled. 'Like<br />
old student days.'<br />
Robert Childan felt his face flush, and he bent over his new dr<strong>in</strong>k to conceal himself from <strong>the</strong><br />
eyes of his host. What a dreadful beg<strong>in</strong>n<strong>in</strong>g he had made. In a foolish and loud <strong>man</strong>ner he had<br />
argued politics; he had been rude <strong>in</strong> his disagree<strong>in</strong>g, and only <strong>the</strong> adroit tact of his host had sufficed<br />
to save <strong>the</strong> even<strong>in</strong>g. How much I have to learn, Childan thought. They're so graceful and polite.<br />
And I — <strong>the</strong> white barbarian. It is true.<br />
For a time he contented himself with sipp<strong>in</strong>g his dr<strong>in</strong>k and keep<strong>in</strong>g on his face an artificial<br />
expression of enjoyment. I must follow <strong>the</strong>ir leads entirely, he told himself. Agree always.<br />
Yet <strong>in</strong> a panic he thought, My wits scrambled by <strong>the</strong> dr<strong>in</strong>k. And fatigue and nervousness. Can I<br />
do it? I will never be <strong>in</strong>vited back anyhow; it is already too late. He felt despair.<br />
Betty, hav<strong>in</strong>g returned from <strong>the</strong> kitchen, had once more seated herself on <strong>the</strong> carpet. How<br />
attractive, Robert Childan thought aga<strong>in</strong>. The slender body. Their figures are so superior; not fat,<br />
not bulbous. No bra or girdle needed. I must conceal my long<strong>in</strong>g; that at all costs. And yet now and<br />
<strong>the</strong>n he let himself steal a glance at her. Lovely dark colors of her sk<strong>in</strong>, hair, and eyes. We are halfbaked<br />
compared to <strong>the</strong>m. Allowed out of <strong>the</strong> kiln before we were fully done. The old aborig<strong>in</strong>al<br />
myth; <strong>the</strong> truth, <strong>the</strong>re.<br />
I must divert my thoughts. F<strong>in</strong>d social item, anyth<strong>in</strong>g. His eyes strayed about, seek<strong>in</strong>g some<br />
topic. The silence reigned heavily, mak<strong>in</strong>g his tension sizzle. Unbearable. What <strong>the</strong> hell to say?<br />
Someth<strong>in</strong>g safe. His eyes made out a book on a low black teak cab<strong>in</strong>et.<br />
'I see you're read<strong>in</strong>g The Grasshopper Lies Heavy,' he said. 'I hear it on <strong>man</strong>y lips, but pressure<br />
of bus<strong>in</strong>ess prevents my own attention.' Ris<strong>in</strong>g, he went to pick it up, carefully consult<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
expressions; <strong>the</strong>y seemed to acknowledge this gesture of sociality, and so he proceeded. 'A<br />
mystery? Excuse my abysmal ignorance.' He turned <strong>the</strong> pages.<br />
'Not a mystery,' Paul said. 'On contrary, <strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g form of fiction possibly with<strong>in</strong> genre of<br />
science fiction.'<br />
'Oh no,' Betty disagreed. 'No science <strong>in</strong> it. Nor set <strong>in</strong> future. Science fiction deals with future, <strong>in</strong><br />
particular future where science has advanced over now. Book fits nei<strong>the</strong>r premise.'<br />
'But,' Paul said, 'it deals with alternate present. Many well-known science fiction novels of that<br />
sort.' To Robert he expla<strong>in</strong>ed, 'Pardon my <strong>in</strong>sistence <strong>in</strong> this, but as my wife knows, I was for a long<br />
time a science fiction enthusiast. I began that hobby early <strong>in</strong> my life; I was merely twelve. It was<br />
dur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> early days of <strong>the</strong> war.'<br />
'I see,' Robert Childan said, with politeness.<br />
'Care to borrow Grasshopper?' Paul asked. 'We will soon be through, no doubt with<strong>in</strong> day or so.<br />
My office be<strong>in</strong>g downtown not far from your esteemed store, I could happily drop it off at<br />
lunchtime.' He was silent, and <strong>the</strong>n — possibly, Childan thought, due to a signal from Betty —<br />
cont<strong>in</strong>ued, 'You and I, Robert, could eat lunch toge<strong>the</strong>r, on that occasion.'<br />
'Thank you,' Robert said. It was all he could say. Lunch, <strong>in</strong> one of <strong>the</strong> downtown bus<strong>in</strong>essmen's<br />
fashionable restaurants. He and this stylish modem <strong>high</strong>-place young Japanese. It was too much; -<br />
he felt his gaze blur. But he went on exam<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> book and nodd<strong>in</strong>g. 'Yes,' he said, 'this does look<br />
<strong>in</strong>terest<strong>in</strong>g. I would very much like to read it. I try to keep up with what's be<strong>in</strong>g discussed.' Was