Stranger in a Strange Land

“I’m a licensed deputy fire warden, examined and everything, and same for sanitation and safety inspector—neither one takes any work. But it means that we never have to let an outsider go through the joint—and we don’t. They attend outer services… but they never get any farther unless Mike gives an up check.”

They transferred food to plates and sat down at a table. Duke said, “You’re staying, aren’t you, Ben?”

“I don’t see how I can, Duke.”

“Mmmm… I had hoped that you would have more sense than I had. I came for just a short visit, too… went back and moped around for nearly a month before I told Jubal I was leaving and wouldn’t be back. But never mind; you’ll be back. Don’t make any final decisions before the water sharing tonight.”

“Didn’t Dawn tell you? Or Jill?”

“Uh… I don’t think so.”

“Then they didn’t. Hmm, maybe I should let Mike explain it. No, no need to; people will be mentioning it to you all day long. Sharing water you grok, of course; you’re one of the First Called.”

“‘First Called?’ Dawn used that expression.”

“That handful of us who became Mike’s water brothers without learning Martian. The others ordinarily do not share water and grow closer until they pass from the Seventh Circle to the Eighth… and by that time they are beginning to think in Martian. Heck, some of them know more Martian by that stage than I do now, since I’m a ‘First Called’ myself and started my studies after I was already in the Nest. Oh, it’s not actually forbidden to share water with someone who isn’t ready for Eighth Circle. Hell, if I wanted to, I could pick up a babe in a bar, share water with her, then take her to bed—and then take her to the Temple and start her on her apprenticeship. But I wouldn’t want to. That’s the point; I wouldn’t even want to. At the very most I might decide that it was worth while to bring her around to an outer service and let Mike look her over and find out whether any of it clicked with her. Ben, I’ll make a flat-footed prediction. You’ve been around a lot—I’m sure you’ve been in some fancy beds with some fancy babes.”

“Uh… some.”

“I know damn’ well you have. But you will never again in your life crawl in with one who is not your water brother.”

“Hmm.”

“You’ll see. Let’s check it a year from now and you tell me. Now Mike may decide that someone is ready to share water before that person reaches even Seventh Circle. One couple we’ve got in the Nest, Mike picked, and offered them Water, when they had just entered Third Circle and now he’s a priest and she’s a priestess… Sam and Ruth.”

“Haven’t met ’em.”

“You will. Tonight at the latest. But Mike is the only one who can be certain, that soon. Very occasionally Dawn, and sometimes Patty, will spot somebody for special promotion and special training… but never as far down as Third Circle and I’m pretty sure that they always consult Mike before going ahead. Not that they are required to. Anyhow, into the Eighth Circle… and sharing and growing closer starts. Then, sooner or later, into Ninth Circle, and the Nest itself—and that’s the service we mean when we say ‘Sharing Water’ even though we share water all day long. The whole Nest attends and the new brothers—usually it’s a couple—becomes forever part of the Nest. In your case you already are… but we’ve never held the service for you, so everything else is being pushed aside tonight while we welcome you. They did the same for me.” Duke got a faraway look. “Ben, it’s the most wonderful feeling in the world.”

“But I still don’t know what it is, Duke.”

“Uh…it’s a lot of things. Ever been on a real luau of a party, the kind the cops raid and usually ends up in a divorce or two?”

“Well… yes.”

“Up to now, brother, you’ve only been on Sunday School picnics. That’s one aspect of it. Have you ever been married?”

“No.”

“You are married. You just don’t know it yet. After tonight there will never again be any doubt in your mind about it.” Duke again looked faraway, happily pensive. “Ben, I was married before… and for a short time it was pretty nice and then it was steady hell on wheels. This time I like it, all the time. Shucks, I love it! And look, Ben, I don’t mean just that it’s fun to be shacked up with a bunch of bouncy babes. I love them—all my brothers, both sexes. Take Patty—and you will!—Patty mothers all of us… and I don’t think anybody, man or woman, gets over needing that, even if they think they’ve outgrown it. Patty… well, Patty is just swell! She reminds me of Jubal… and that old bastard had better get down here and get the word! My point is that it is not just that Patty is female. Oh, I’m not running down tail—”

“Who is running down tail?” The voice, a rich contralto, came from behind them.

Duke swung around. “Not me, you limber Levantine whore! Come here, babe, and kiss your brother Ben.”

“Never charged for it in my life,” the woman denied as she glided toward them. “Started giving it away before anybody told me.” She kissed Ben carefully and thoroughly. “Thou art God, brother.”