JILL STOPPED TO GRAB a negligee from a well-stocked wardrobe, hurriedout into the living room and let in Mrs. Paiwonski. .Come in, dear. We weregrabbing baths in a hurry; he’ll be right out. I’ll get you a drink- then you canhave your second drink in the tub if you like. Loads of hot water.“.I had a shower after I put Honey Bun to bed, but-yes, I’d love a tub bath.
But, Jill baby, I didn’t come here to borrow your bath tub; I came because I’mjust heartsick that you kids are leaving the show.“.We won’t lose track of you.“ Jill was busy with glasses. The hotel was so oldthat not even the .Bridal Suite“ had its own ice dispenser but the nightbellman, indoctrinated and subsidized, had left a carton of ice cubes. .Timwas right and you know he was. Mike and I have got to slick up our act a lotbefore we can hold up our end.“.Your act is okay. Needs a few laughs in it, maybe, but-Hi, Smitty.“ As Mikecame in, she offered him a gloved hand. Mrs. Paiwonski always wore glovesaway from the lot, and a high-necked dress and stockings. Dressed so, shelooked like a middle-aged1, most respectable widow, who had kept her figuretrim in spite of her years-looked so, because she was precisely2 that.
.I was just telling Jill,“ she went on, .that you’ve got a good act, you two.“Mike smiled gently. .Now, Pat, you don’t have to kid us. It stinks3. We knowit.“.No, it doesn’t, dearie. Oh, maybe it needs a little something to give it somezing. A few jokes. Or, well, you could even cut down on Jill’s costume a little.
You’ve got an awful cute figure, hon.“Jill shook her head. .That wouldn’t do it.“.Well, I saw a magician once that used to bring his assistant out dressed forthe Gay .Nineties-the eighteen-nineties, that is-not even her legs showing.
Then he would disappear one garment after another. The marks loved it. Butdon’t misunderstand me, dear-nothing unrefined. She finished . . . oh, inalmost as much as you wear now.“.Patty,“ Jill said frankly4, .I’d do our act stark5 naked if the clowns wouldn’tclose the show.“ As she said it, she realized that she meant it- and wonderedhow Graduate Nurse Boardman, floor supervisor7, had reached the pointwhere she could mean it?
Mike, of course- And she was quite happy about it.
Mrs. Paiwonski shook her head. .You couldn’t, honey. The marks would riot.
Just a touch more ginger8 ale, dear. But if you’ve got a good figure, why notuse it? How far do you think I would get as a tattooed9 lady ii I didn’t peel offall they’ll let me?“.Speaking of that,“ Mike said, .you don’t look comfortable in all those clothes,Pat. I think the aircooling in this dump has gone sour again -it must be atleast eighty.“ He himself was dressed in a light robe, his concession11 to theeasy-going conventions of carney good manners. Extreme heat, he hadlearned, affected12 him slightly, enough so that he sometimes had to adjustconsciously his metabolism-extreme cold affected him not at all. But he knewthat their friend was used to the real comfort of almost nothing and affectedthe clothes she now wore to cover her tattoos13 when out among the marks; Jillhad explained it to him. .Why don’t you get comfortable? .Ain’t nobody herebut just us chickens.’“ The latter, he knew, was a joke, an appropriate one foremphasizing that friends were in private-Jubal had tried to explain it to him,but failed. But Mike had carefully noted15 when and how the idiom could beused.
.Sure, Patty,“ Jill agreed. .If you’re raw under that dress, I can get yousomething light and comfortable. Or we’ll just make Mike close his eyes.“.Uh ... well, I did slip back into one of my costumes.“.Then don’t be stiff with friends. I’ll get your zippers16.“.Le’me get these stockings and shoes.“ She went on talking while trying tothink how she could get the conversation around to religion, where shewanted it. Bless them, these kids were ready to be seekers, she was certainandshe had counted on the whole season to bring them around to the light .
. . not just one hurried visit before they left. .The point about show business,Smitty, is that first you have to know what the marks want . . . and you haveto know what it is you’re giving them and how to make .em like it. Now if youwere a real magician- oh, I don’t mean that you aren’t skillful, dear, becauseyou are.“ She tucked her carefully rolled hose in her shoes, loosened hergarter belt and got out of it modestly, let Jill get her dress zippers. .I mean ifyour magic was real like you had made a pact17 with the Devil. That’d be onething. But the marks know that it’s clever sleight-of-hand. So you give .em alight-hearted show to match. But did you ever see a fire eater with a prettyassistant? Heavens, a pretty girl would just clutter18 his act; the marks arestanding around hoping he’ll set fire to hisself~ or blow up.“She snaked the dress over her head; Jill took it and kissed her. .You lookmore natural, Aunt Patty. Sit back and enjoy your drink.“.Just a second, deane.“ Mrs. Paiwonski prayed mightily20 for guidance -wishedthat she were a preacher . . . or had even the gift of gab21 of a talker. Well, herpictures would just have to speak for themselves-and they would; that waswhy George had put them there. .Now this is what I’ve got to show the marks... this and my snakes, but this is more important. Have either one of youever looked, really looked, at my pictures?“.No,“ Jill admitted, .I guess not. We didn’t want to stare at you, like acouple of marks.“.Then stare at me now, dears-because that’s why George, bless his sweetsoul safe in heaven, put them on me. To be stared at . . . and studied. Nowright up here under my chin is the birth scene of our prophet, the holyArchangel Foster-just an innocent babe and maybe not knowing whatHeaven had in store for him. But the angels knew-see .em there around him?
The next scene is his first miracle, when a young sinner in the country schoolhe attended shot down a poor little birdie . . - and he picked it up and strokedit and it flew away unharmed. See the school house behind? Now it kind o’
jumps a little and I’ll have to turn my back. But all of .em are dated for eachholy event in his life.“ She explained how George had not had a bare canvasto work with when first the great opus was started-since they had both beensinners and young Patricia already rather much tattooed . . . how with greateffort and inspired genius George had been able to turn .The Attack on PearlHarbor“ into .Armageddon,“ and .Skyline of New York“ into .The Holy City.“.But,“ she admitted candidly22, .even though every single one of them is asacred picture now, it did kind of force him to skip around to find enough bareskin to record in living flesh a witness to each milestone23 in the earthly life ofour prophet. Here you see him preaching on the steps of the ungodlytheological seminary that turned him down-that was the first time he wasarrested, the beginning of the Persecution24. And on around, right on my spine,you see him smashing idolatrous images - . . and next you see him in jail,with the holy light streaming down on it. Then the Faithful Few bust25 into thejail-.
The Reverend Foster had realized early that, when it caine to upholdingreligious freedom, brass26 knucks, clubs, and a willingness to tangle27 with copswas worth far more than passive resistance. His had been a church militantfrom scratch. But he had been a tactician28, too; pitched battles were foughtonly where the heavy artillery29 was on the side of the Lord.
.-and they rescue him and tar6 & feather the idolatrous judge who put himthere. Around in front here. Uh, you can’t see it very well; my bra covers mostof it, A shame.“(.Michael, what does she want?“)(.Thou knowest. Tell her. .).Aunt Patty,“ Jill said gently, .you want us to look at all your pictures. Don’tyou?“.Well ...it’s just as Tim says in the bally, George used up all the skin I have inmaking the story complete.“.If George went to all that work, I’m sure he meant for them to be seen. Takeoff your costume. I told you that I wouldn’t mind working our own act starknaked if they’d let me-and ours is just entertainment. Yours has a purpose - .
- a holy purpose.“.Well ... all right. If you really want me to.“ She sang a silent hallelujah anddecided that Foster himself was sustaining her-with blessed luck andGeorge’s pictures she would yet have these dear kids seeking the light.
.I’ll unhook you-.
(.Jill-.)(.No, Michael?“)(.Wait“)To her utter surprise and some fear Mrs. Paiwonski found that her spangledbriefies and bra were gone! But Jill was surprised to find that her almost-newnegligee followed the little costume into wherever and nowhere. Jill was onlymildly surprised when Mike’s robe disappeared, too; she chalked it up,correctly but not completely, to his catlike good manners.
Mrs. Paiwonski clutched at her mouth and gasped31. Jill at once put her armsaround her. .There, there, dear! It’s all right, nobody’s hurt.“ She turned herhead and said, .Mike, you did it, you’ll simply have to tell her.“.Yes, Jill. Pat-.
.Yes, Smitty?’
.You said a while ago that I wasn’t a real magician, that my tricks were justsleight-of-hand. You were going to take off your costume anyhow -so I took itoff for you.“.But how? And where is it?“.Same place Jill’s wrapper is-and my robe. Gone.“.But don’t worry about it, Patty,“ put in Jill. .We’ll replace it. Two more - . - andtwice as pretty. Mike, you shouldn’t have done it.“.I’m sorry, Jill. I grokked it was all right.“.Well ... I suppose it is.“ Jill decided30 that Aunt Patty wasn’t too upset-andcertainly she would never tell; she was carney.
Mrs. Paiwonski was not worried by the loss of two scraps32 of costume, nor byher own nudity. Nor by the nakedness of the other two. But she was greatlytroubled by a theological problem that she felt was out of her depth. .Smitty?
That was real magic?“.I guess you would call it that,“ he agreed, using the words mostexactly.
.I’d rather call it a miracle,“ she said bluntly.
.You can call it that, too, if you want to. But it wasn’t sleight-of-hand.“.I know that. You weren’t even near me.“ She, who daily handled live cobrasand who had more than once handled obnoxious33 drunks with her bare hands(to their sorrow), was not afraid. Patricia Paiwonski was not afraid of the Devilhimself; she was sustained by her faith that she was saved and thereforeinvulnerable to the Devil. But she was uneasy for the safety of her friends.
.Smitty ... look me in the eye. Have you made a pact with the Devil?“.No, Pat, I have not.“She continued to look into his eyes, then said, .You aren’tlying-.
.He doesn’t know how to lie, Aunt Patty.“.-so it’s a miracle. Smitty ... you are a holy man!“.I don’t know, Pat.“.Archangel Foster didn’t know that he was a holy man until he reached histeens . . . even though he performed many miracles before that time. But youare a holy man; I can feel it.“ She thought. .I think I felt it when I first metyou.“.I don’t know, Pat.“.I think he may be,“ admitted Jill. .But he really doesn’t know, himself.
Michael - . . I think we’ve told her too much not to tell her more.“.’Michael!’“ Patty repeated suddenly. .The Archangel Michael, send downto us in human form.“.Aunt Patty, please! If he is, he doesn’t know it-.
.He wouldn’t necessarily know it. God performs his wonders in his ownway.“.Aunt Patty, will you please wait and let me talk, just for a bit?“Some minutes later Mrs. Paiwonski had accepted that Mike was indeed theMan from Mars, she had agreed to accept him as a man and to treat him as aman - . . while stating explicitly34 that she still held to her own opinion as to histrue nature and why he was on Earth-explaining (somewhat fuzzily, itseemed to Jill) that Foster had been really and truly a man while he was onEarth, but had been also and always had been, an archangel, even thoughhe had not known it himself. If Jill and Michael insisted that they were notsaved, she would treat them as they asked to be treated-God moves inmysterious ways.
.I think you could properly call us .seekers,’“ Mike told her.
.Then that’s enough, my dears! I’m sure you’re saved-but Foster himself wasa seeker in his early years~ I’ll help.“She had participated in another minor36 miracle. They had been seated in acircle on the rug. Jill lay back flat and suggested it to Mike in her mind. Withno patter of any sort, with no sheet nor anything to conceal37 a non-existentsteel rod, Mike lifted her. Patricia watched it with serene38 happiness,convinced that she was vouchsafed39 sight of a miracle. .Pat,“ Mike then said.
.Lie flat.“She did so without argument, as readily as if he had been Foster. Jill turnedher head. .Hadn’t you better put me down first, Mike?“.No, I can do it.“Mrs. Paiwonski felt herself gently lifted. She was not frightened by it; shesimply felt overpowering religious ecstasy40 like heat lightning in her loins,making tears come to her eyes, the power of which she had not felt since, asa young woman, Holy Foster himself had touched her. When Mike movedthem closer together and Jill put her arms around her, her tears increased,but her cries were the gentle sobs41 of happiness.
Presently he lowered them gently to the floor and found, as he expected, thathe was not tired-he could not recall when last he had been tired.
Jill said to him, .Mike ... we need a glass of water.“(.????“)(.Yes, . her mind answered.)(.And?“)(.Of elegant necessity. Why do you think she came here?“)(.I knew. I was not sure that you knew .. or would approve. My brother. Myself“)(.My brother.“)Mike did not get up to fetch water. He sent a glass from the tray of drinks intothe bathroom, had the tap fill it, returned it to Jill’s hands. Mrs. Paiwonskiwatched this with almost absent-minded interest; she was beyond beingastonished. Jill held the glass, said to her, .Aunt Patty, this is like beingbaptized - . . and like getting married. It’s ... a Martian thing. It means that youtrust us and we trust you . . . and we can tell you anything and you can tell usanything . . . and that we are always partners, now and forever. It’s veryserious ... and once done it can never be broken. If you broke it, we wouldhave to die-at once. Saved or not. If we broke it- But we won’t. But you don’thave to share water with us if you don’t want to-we’ll still be friends. Now - . -if this in any way interferes42 with your faith, don’t do it. We don’t belong to yourchurch even though you guessed that we did. We don’t. We may neverbelong. .Seekers’ is the most you can call us now. Mike?“.We grok,“ he agreed. .Pat, Jill speaks rightly. I wish we could say it to you inMartian, it would be clearer. But this is everything that getting married is . . -and a great deal more. We are free to offer water to you but if there is anyreason at all, in your religion or in your heart, not to accept-don’t drink it!“Patricia Paiwonski took a deep breath. She had made such a decision oncebefore - with her husband watching . . . and had not funked it. And who wasshe to refuse a holy man? And his blessed bride? .I want it,“ she said firmly.
Jill took a sip43. .We grow ever closer.“ She passed the glass to Mike.
He looked at Jill, then at Patricia. .I thank you for water, my brother.“ He tooka sip. .Pat, I give you the water of life. May you always drink deep.“ Hepassed the glass to her.
Patricia took it. .Thank you. Thank you, oh my dears! The .water of life’-oh, Ilove you both!“ She drank thirstily.
Jill took the glass from her, finished it. .Now we grow closer, my brothers.“(.Jill?“)(.Now!!!“)Michael lifted his new water brother, wafted44 her in and placed her gently onthe bed.
Valentine Michael Smith had grokked, when first he had known it fully14, thatphysical human love-very human and very physical-was not simply anecessary quickening of eggs, nor was it mere45 ritual through which one grewcloser; the act itself was a growing-closer, a very great goodness-and (so faras he knew) unknown even to the Old Ones of his former people. He was stillgrokking it, trying at every opportunity to grok its fullness. But he had longsince broken through any fear that heresy46 lay in his suspicion that even theOld Ones did not know this ecstasy-he grokked already that these his newpeople held spiritual depths unique. Happily he tried to sound them, with noinhibitions from his childhood to cause him guilt47 or reluctance48 of any sort.
His human teachers had been unusually well qualified49 to instruct hisinnocence without bruising51 it. The result was as unique as he himself.
Jill was very pleased but not really surprised to find that .Aunt Patty“accepted as inevitable52 and necessary, and with forthright53 fullness, the factthat sharing water in a very ancient Martian ceremony with Mike led at onceto sharing Mike himself in a human rite54 ancient itself. Jill was somewhatsurprised (although still pleased) at Pat’s continued calm acceptance when itcertainly had been demonstrated to their new water brother that Mike wascapable of more miracles than he had disclosed up to then. However, Jill didnot then know that Patricia Paiwonskj had met a holy man before-Patriciaexpected more of holy men. Jill herself was simply serenely55 happy that acusp had been reached and passed with right action and was ecstaticallyhappy herself to grow closer as the cusp was determinbed-all of which shethought in Martian and quite differently.
In time they rested and Jill had Mike treat Patty to a bath given by telekinesis,and herself sat on the edge of the tub and squealed56 and giggled57 when theolder woman did. It was just play, very human and not at all Martian; Mikehad done it for Jill on the initial occasion almost lazily rather than raisehimself up out of the water-an accident, more or less. Now it had become acustom, one that Jill knew Patty would like. It tickled59 Jill to see Patty’s facewhen she found herself being scrubbed all over by gentle. invisible hands . . .
and then, presently dried in a whisk with neither towel nor blast of air.
Patricia blinked. .After that I need a drink. A big one.“.Certainly, darling.“.And I still want to show you kids my pictures... all of them.“ Patricia followedJill out into the living room, Mike in train, and stood in the middle of the rug.
.But first look at me. Look at me, not at my pictures. What do you see?“With mild regret Mike stripped her tattoos off in his mind and looked at hisnew brother without her decorations. He liked her tattoos very much; theywere peculiarlY her own, they set her apart and made her a self. Theyseemed to him to give her a slightly Martian flavor, in that she did not havethe bland60 sameness of most humans. He had already memorized them alland had thought pleasantly of having hiniseif tattooed all over, once begrokked what should be pictured. The life of his father, water brother Jubal?
Re would have to ponder it. He would discuss it with Jill-and Jill might wish tobe tattooed, too. What designs would make Jill more beautifully Jill? In theway in which perfume multiplied Jill’s odor without changing it?
What he saw when he looked at Pat without her tattooS pleased him but notas much; she looked as a woman necessarily must look to be woman. Mikestill did not grok Duke’s collection of pictures; the pictures were interestingand had taught Mike that there was more variety in the sizes, shapes,proportions and colors of women than he had known up to then and thatthere was some variety in the acrobadcs involving physical love-but havinglearned these simple facts he seemed to grok that there was nothing more tobe learned from Duke’s prized pictures. Mike’s early training had made of hima very exact observer, by eye (and other senses), but that ssme training badleft him unresponsive to the subtle pleasures of voyeurism61, it was not that bedid not find women (including, most emphaticaly Patricia Paiwoiiski) sexuallystimulating, but it lay not in seeing them. Of his senses, smell and touchcounted inucb higher-in which he was quasi-human, quasi-Martian; theparallel Martian reflex (as unsubtle as a sneeze) was triggered by those two,but could activate62 only in season-what must be termed .sex“ in a Martian isas romantic as intravenous feeding.
But, having been invited to see her without her pictures. Mike did notice moresharply one thing about Patricia that he already knew: she had her own face,marked in beauty by bet life. She bad, he saw with gentle wonder, her ownface even more than Jill had, and it made him feel toward Fat even more ofan emotion he did not as yet call love but for which be used a Martianconcept more discriminating63.
She had her own odor, too, and her own voice, as all humans did. Her voicewas husky and he liked to hear it even when he did not grok her meaning;her odor was mixed (he knew) with an unscrubbed trace of bitter muskinessfrom daily contact with snakes. It did not put him off; Pat’s snakes were partof Pat as were her tattoos. Mike liked Pat’s snakes and could handle thepoisonous ones with perfect safety-and not alone by stretching time toanticipate and avoid their strikes. They grokked with him; he savored64 theirinnocent merciless thoughts-they reminded him of home. Other than Pat,Mike was the only person who could handle Honey Bun with pleasure to theboa constrictor. Her torpor65 was usually such that others could, if necessary,handle her-but Mike she accepted as a substitute for Pat.
Mike let the pictures reappear.
Jill looked at her and wondered why Aunt Patty had ever let herself betattooed in the first place? She would really look rather nice-if she weren’t aliving comic strip. But she loved Aunt Fatty for what she was, not the way shelooked-and, of course, it did give her a steady living at least until she got soold and haggard that the marks wouldn’t pay to look at her even if all thosepictures had been signed by Rembrandt. She hoped that Patty was tuckingaway plenty in the grouch66 bag_then she remembered that Aunt Patty wasnow one of Mike’s water brothers (and her own, of course) and Mike’sendless fortune gave Patty certain old-age insurance; Jill felt warmed by it.
.Well?“ repeated Mrs. Paiwonski. .What do you see? How old am I,Michael?“.I don’t know,“ he said simply.
.Guess.“.I can’t guess, Pat.“.Oh, go ahead. You won’t hurt my feelings.“.Patty,“ Jill put in, .he really does mean that he can’t guess. He hasn’t hadmuch chance to learn to judge ages-you know how short a time he’s been onEarth. And besides that, Mike thinks of things in Martian years and Martianarithmetic. If it’s time or figures, I keep track of it for him.“.Well ... you guess, hon. Be truthful67.“Jill looked Patty over again, noting her trim figure but also noting her handsand throat and the corners of her eyes-then discounted her guess by fiveyears despite the Martian honesty she owed a water brother. .Mmm, thirtyish,give or take a year.“Mrs. Paiwonski laughed triumphantly68. .That’s just one bonus from the TrueFaith, my dears! Jill hon, I’m .way into my forties. Just how far in we won’tsay; I’ve quit counting.“.You certainly don’t look it.“.I know I don’t. That’s what Happiness does for you, dear. Alter my first kid, Ilet my figure go to pot. I got quite a can on me-they invented the word .broad’
just to fit me. My belly70 always looked like four months gone, or worse. Mybusts hung down-and I’ve never had .em lifted. You don’t have to believe me;sure, I know a good plastic surgeon doesn’t leave a scar . . . but on me itwould show, dear; it would chop chunks71 out of two of my pictures.
.Then I seen the light! I got converted. Nope, not exercise, not diet- I still eatlike a pig and you know it. Happiness, dear. Perfect Happiness in the Lordthrough the help of Blessed Foster.“.It’s amazing,“ said Jill, and meant it. She knew women who had kept theirlooks quite as well (as she firmly intended to keep hers) but in every caseonly through great effort. She knew that Aunt Patty was telling the truth aboutdiet and exercise, at least during the time she had known her . . . and as asurgical nurse Jill knew exactly what was excised72 and where in a breastliftingjob; those tattoos had certainly never known a knife.
But Mike was not amazed. He assumed conclusively73 that Pat had learnedhow to think her body as she wished it, whether she attributed it to Foster ornot. He was still trying to teach this control to Jill, but knew that she wouldhave to perfect her knowledge of Martian before it could be perfect. No hurry,waiting would accomplish it. Pat went on talking:
.I wanted you to see what the Faith has done for me. But that’s just outside;the real change is inside. Happiness. I’ve got to try to tell you about it. Thegood Lord knows that I’m not ordained74 and I’m not gifted with tongues . . . butI’ve got to try. And then I’ll answer your questions if I can. The first thing thatyou’ve got to accept is that all the other socalled churches are traps of theDevil. Our dear Jesus preached the True Faith, so Foster said and I trulybelieve. But, in the Dark Ages his words were deliberately75 twisted and addedto and changed until Jesus wouldn’t recognize .em. And that is why Fosterwas sent down to Earth, to proclaim a New Revelation and straighten it outand make it clear again.“Patricia Paiwonski pointed76 her finger and suddenly looked very impressive, apriestess clothed in holy dignity and mystic symbols. .God wants us to beHappy. He filled the world with things to make us Happy if only we see thelight. Would God let grape juice turn into wine if He didn’t want us to drinkand be joyful77? He could just as easily let is stay grape juice . . . or turn itstraight into vinegar that nobody could get a happy giggle58 out of. Ain’t thattrue? Of course He don’t mean you should get roaring drunk and beat yourwife and neglect your kids . . . but He gave us good things to use, not abuse .
. . and not to ignore. But if you feel like a drink or six, among friends whohave seen the light, too, and it makes you want to jump up and dance andgive thanks to the Lord on high for his goodness-why not? God made alcoholand he made feet- and he made .em so you could put .em together and behappy!“She paused and said, .Fill .er up again, honey; preaching is thirsty work-andnot too strong on the ginger ale this time; that’s good rye. And that ain’t all. IfGod didn’t want women to be looked at, he would have made .em ugly-that’sreasonable, isn’t it? God isn’t a cheat; He set up the game Himself-Hewouldn’t rig it so that the marks can’t win, like a flat joint78 wheel in a town withthe fix on. He wouldn’t send anybody to Hell for losing in a crooked79 game.
.All right! God wants us to be Happy and he told us how: .Love one another!’
Love a snake if the poor thing needs love. Love thy neighbor if he’s seen thelight and has love in his heart . . . and the back of your hand only to sinnersand Satan’s corruptors who want to lead you away from the appointed pathand down into the pit. And by .love’ he didn’t mean namby-pamby old-maidauntlove that’s scared to look up from a hymn80 book for fear of seeing atemptation of the flesh. If God hated flesh, why did lie make so much of it?
God is no sissy. He made the Grand Canyon81 and comets coursing throughthe sky and cyclones82 and stallions and earthquakes-can a God who can doall that turn around and practically wet his pants just because some littlesheila leans over a mite83 and a man catches sight of a tit? You know better,hon-and so do I! When God told us to love, He wasn’t holding out a card onus69; He meant it. Love little babies that always need changing and love strong,smelly men so that there will be more little babies to love-and in between goon loving because it’s so good to love!
.Of course that don’t mean to peddle84 it any more than a bottle of rye whiskeymeans I gotta get fighting drunk and clobber85 a cop. You can’t sell love andyou can’t buy Happiness, no price tags on either one and if you think there is,the way to Hell lies open to you. But if you give with an open heart andreceive what God has an unlimited86 supply of, the Devil can’t touch you.
Money?“ She looked at Jill. .Hon, would you do that water-sharing thing withsomebody, say for a million dollars? Make it ten million, tax free.“.Of course not.“ (.Michael, do you grok this?“)(.Almost in fullness, Jill. Waiting is. .).You see, dearie? I knew what it meant, I knew love was in that water. You’reseekers, very near the light. But since you two, from the love that is in you,did .share water and grow closer,’ as Michael says, I can tell you things Icouldn’t ordinarily tell a seeker-.
The Reverend Foster, self-ordained—or directly ordained by God, dependingon authority cited-had an intuitive instinct for the pulse of his culture and histimes at least as strong as that of a skilled carney sizing up a mark. Thecountry and culture commonly known as .America“ had had a badly splitpersonality all through its history. Its overt88 laws were almost alwayspuritanical for a people whose covert89 behavior tended to be Rabelaisian; itsmajor religions were all Apollonian in varying degree-its religious revivalswere often hysterical91 in fashion almost Dionysian. In the twentieth century(Terran Christian92 Era) nowhere on Earth was sex so vigorously suppressedas in America-and nowhere else was there such a deep interest in it.
The Reverend Foster had in common with almost every great religious leaderof that planet two traits: he had an extremely magnetic personality(.hypnotist“ was a word widely used by his detractors, along with others lessmild) and, sexually, he did not fall anywhere near the human norm. Greatreligious leaders on Earth were always either celibate93, or the antithesis94.
(Great leaders, the innovators-not necessarily the major administrators96 andconsolidators.) Foster was not celibate.
Nor were any of his wives and high priestesses-the clincher for completeconversion and rebirth under the New Revelation usually included a ritualwhich Valentine Michael Smith at a later time was to grok as especially suitedfor growing-closer.
This, of course, was nothing new; in Terran history sects97, cults98, and majorreligions too numerous to list had used essentially99 the same technique-butnot on a major scale in America before Foster’s times. Foster was run out oftown more than once before he .perfected“ a method and organization thatpermitted him to expand his capric cult87. In organization he borrowed asliberally from freemasonry, from Catholicism, from the Communist Party, andfrom Madison Avenue as he had borrowed from any and all earlier scripturesin composing his New Revelation . . . and he sugar-coated it all as a return toprimitive Christianity to suit his customers. He set up an outer church whichanybody could attend-and a person could remain a .seeker“ with manybenefits of the church for years. Then there was a middle church, which to alloutward appearance was .The Church of the New Revelation,“ the happysaved, who paid their tithes95, enjoyed all economic benefits of the church’sever-widening business tie-ins, and whooped100 it up in the endless carnival101 &revival90 atmosphere of Happiness, Happiness, Happiness! Their sins wereforgiven-and henceforth very little was sinful as long as they supported theirchurch, dealt honestly with their fellow Fosterites, condemned102 sinners, andstayed Happy. The New Revelation does not specifically encourage adultery;it simply gets rather mystical in discussing sexual conduct.
The saved of the middle church supplied the ranks of the shock troops whendirect action was needed. Foster borrowed a trick from the early-twentiethcenturyWobblies; if a community tried to suppress a budding Fosteritemovement, Fosterites from elsewhere converged103 on that town until therewere neither jails nor cops enough to cope with them- and the cops usuallyhad had their ribs104 kicked in and the jails were smashed.
If some prosecutor105 were brave enough to push an indictment106 thereafter, itwas almost impossible to make it stick. Foster (after learning his lesson underfire) saw to it that such prosecutions107 were indeed persecution under the letterof the law; not one Conviction of a Fosterite qua Fosterite ever was upheld bythe national Supreme108 Court-nor, later, by the High Court.
But, in addition to the overt church, there was the Inner Church, never namedas such-a hard core of the utterly109 dedicated110 who made up the priesthood, allthe church lay leaders, all keepers of keys and records and makers111 of policy.
They were the .reborn,“ beyond sin, certain of their place in heaven, and soleparticipants of the inner mysteries-and the only candidates for directadmission to Heaven.
Foster selected these with great care, doing so personally until the operationgot too big. He looked for men as much like himself as possible and forwomen like his priestess-wives----dynamic, utterly convinced (as he washimself convinced), stubborn, and free (or able to be freed, once their guiltand insecurity was purged) of jealousy112 in its simplest, most human meaningandall of them potential satyrs and nymphs, as the secret inner church wasthat utterly Dionysian cult that America had never had and for which therewas an enormous potential market.
But he was most cautious-if candidates were married, it had to be bothspouses. An unmarried candidate had to be sexually attractive as well assexually aggressive-and he impressed on his priests that the males mustalways equal or exceed in number the females. Nowhere is it admitted thatFoster had studied the histories of earlier, somewhat parallel cults in Americabut he either knew (or sensed) that most of such had foundered113 because thepossessive concupiscence of their priestS led to male jealousy and violence.
Foster never made this error; not once did he keep a woman entirely114 tohimself, not even the women he married legally.
Nor did he try too eagerly to expand his core group; the middle church, theone known to the public~ offered plenty to slake115 the milder needs of the greatmasses of guilt-ridden and unhappy. If a local revival produced even twocouples who were capable of .Heavenly Marriage“ Foster was content-if itproduced none, he let the other seeds grow and sent in a salted priest andpriestess to nurture116 them.
But, so far as possible, he always tested candidate couples himself, incompany with some devoted117 priestess. Since such a couple was already.saved“ insofar as the middle church was concerned, he ran little risk- none,really, with the woman candidate and he always sized up the man himselfbefore letting his priestess go ahead.
At the time she was saved, Patricia Paiwonsi was still young, married, and.very happy, very happy.“ She had her first child, she looked up to andadmired her much older husband. George Paiwoüski was a generous, veryaffectionate man. He did have one weakness, which often left him too drunkto show his affection after a long day . . . but his tattooing118 needle was stillsteady and his eye sharp. Patty counted herself a faithful wife and, on thewhole, a lucky one-true, George occasionally got affectionate with a femaleclient . . . quite affectionate if it was early in the day-and, of course, sometattooing required privacy, especially with ladies. Patty was tolerant . . .
besides, she sometimes herself made a date with a male client, especiallyafter George got to hitting the bottle more and more.
Nevertheless there was a lack in her life, one which was not filled even whenan especially grateful client made her the odd gift of a bull snake- shippingout on a freighter, he said, and couldn’t keep it any longer. She had alwaysliked pets and had none of the vulgar phobia about snakes; she made ahome for it in their show window facing the street, and George made abeautiful four-color picture to back it up: .Don’t Tread on Me!“ His new designturned out to be very popular.
Preseutly she had more snakes and they were quite a comfort to her. But shewas the daughter of an Ulster Protestant and a girl from Cork119; the armedtruce between her parents had left her with no religion.
She was already a .seeker“ when Foster preached in san Pedro; she hadmanaged to get George to go a few Sundays but he had not yet seen thelight.
Foster brought them the light, they made their confessions120 the same day.
When Foster returned six months later for a quick check on how his branchwas doing, the Paiwonskis were so dedicated that he gave them personalattention.
.I never had a minute’s trouble with George from the day he saw the holylight,“ she told Mike and Jill- .Of course, he still drank ... but he drank inchurch and never too much. When our holy leader returned, George hadalready started his Great Project. Naturally we wanted to show it to Foster, ifhe could find time-. Mrs. Paiwonski hesitated. .Kids, I really ought not to betelling you any of this.“.Then don’t,“ sill said emphatically .Patty darling, neither of us want you everto do or say anything you don’t feel easy about. .Sharing water’ has to beeasy and natural . . and waiting until it comes easy for you is easy for us.“.Uh ... but I do want to share it. Look, darlings, I trust you both utterly. But Ijust want you to remember that this is Church things Pm telling you, so youmustn’t ever tell anyone . . . just as I wouldn’t tell anything about you.“Mike nodded. .Here on Earth we sometimes call it .water brother’ business.
On Mars there’s no problem . . . but here I grok that there sometimes is.
~Water brother’ business you don’t repeat.“.I...I,’Grok.’ That’s a funny word, but I’m learning it, All right, darlings, this is.water brother’ business. Did you know that all Fosterites are tattooed? RealChurch members I mean, the ones who are eternally saved forever and everand a day-like me? Oh, I don’t mean tattooed all over, the way I am, but-look,see that? Right over my heart . . . see? That’s Foster’s holy kiss. Georgeworked it into the design so that it looks like part of the picture it’s in ... so thatnobody could guess unless I told .em. But it’s his kiss-and Foster put it therehisselfi“ She looked ecstatically proud.
They both examined it. .It is a kiss mark,“ Jill said wonderingly. .Just likesomebody had kissed you there wearing lipstick121. But, until you showed us, Ithought it was part of that sunset.“.Yes, indeedy, that’s why George did it. Because you don’t go showingFoster’s kiss to anyone who doesn’t wear Foster’s kiss-and I never have, upto now. But,“ she insisted, .I’m sure you’re going to wear one, both of you,someday-and when you do, I want to be the one to tattoo10 .em on.“Jill said, .I don’t quite understand, Patty. I can see that it’s wonderful for youto have been kissed by Foster-but how can he ever kiss us? After all, he’s-upin Heaven.“.Yes, dearie, he is. But let me explain. Any ordained priest or priestess cangive you Foster’s kiss. It means God’s in your heart. God is part of you . . .
forever.“Mike was suddenly intent. .Thou art God!“.Huh, Michael? Well, that is a strange way to say it-I’ve never heard a priestput it quite that way. But that does sort of express it . . . God is in you and ofyou and with you, and the Devil can’t ever get at you.“.Yes,“ agreed Mike. .You grok God.“ He thought happily that this was nearerto putting the concept across than he had ever managed before except thatJill was learning it, in Martian. Which was inevitable. .That’s the idea,Michael. God ... groks you-and you are married in Holy Love and eternalHappiness to His Church. The priest, or maybe priestess-it can be eitherkissesyou and then the kiss mark is tattooed on to show that it’s forever. Ofcourse it doesn’t have to be this big-mine is just exactly the size and shape ofFoster’s blessed tips-and the kiss can be placed anywhere to shield fromsinful eyes. Lots of men have a patch of skull122 shaved and then wear a hat ora bandage until the hair grows out. Or any spot where it’s blessed certain itwon’t be seen unless you want it to be. You mustn’t sit or stand on it-butanywhere else is okay. Then you show it when you go into a closedHappiness gathering123 of the eternally saved.“.I’ve heard of Happiness meetings,“ Jill commented, .but I’ve never knownquite what they are.“.Well,“ Mrs. Paiwonski said judicially124, .there are Happiness meetings andHappiness meetings. The ones for ordinary members, who are saved butmight backslide, are an awful lot of fun-grand parties with only the amount ofpraying that comes natural and happily, and plenty of whoopit-up that makesa good party. Maybe, even, a little real lovin’-but that’s frowned on there andyou’d better be mighty125 careful who and how, because you mustn’t be a seedof dissension among the brethren. The Church is way strict about keepingthings in their proper place.
.But a Happiness meeting for the eternally saved-well, you don’t have to becareful because there won’t be anybody there who can sin-all past and donewith, If you want to drink and pass out . . . okay, it’s God’s will or you wouldn’twant to. You want to kneel down and pray, or lift up your voice in song-Ortear off your clothes and dance; it’s God’s will. Although,“ she added, .youmight not have any clothes on at all, because there can’t possibly beanybody there who would see anything wrong in it.“.It sounds like quite a party,“ said Jill.
.Oh, it is, it is-always! And you’re filled with heavenly bliss126 the whole time.
And if you wake up in the morning on a couch with one of the eternally savedbrethren, you know he’s there because God willed it to make you allblessedly Happy. And you are. They’ve all got Foster’s kiss on -they’reyours.“ She frowned slightly. .It feels a little like .sharing water.’ Youunderstand me?“.I grok,“ agreed Mike.
(.Mike?!!?“)(.Wait, Jill. Wait for fullness.“).But don’t think,“ Patricia said earnestly, .that a person can get into an InnerTemple Happiness meeting just with a little tattoo mark-after all, it’s too easyto fake. A visiting brother or sister- Well, take me. As soon as I know wherethe carnie is going, I write to the local churches and send .em my finger printsso they can check .em against the master file of the eternally saved atArchangel Foster Tabernacle_-unless they already know me. I give .em myaddress care of Billboard127. Then when I go to church-and I always go tochurch Sundays and I would never miss a Happiness meeting even if itmeans Tim has to slough128 the blow-off some nights-I go first time and getpositively identified. Most places they’re mighty glad to see me; I’m an addedattraction, with my unique and unsurpassed sacred pictures-I often spendmost of the evening just letting people examine me . . . and every minute of itbliss. Sometimes the priest wants me to bring Honey Bun and I do Eve andthe serpent-that takes body make-up, of course, or skin-colored tights if thereisn’t time. Some local brother plays Adam and we get scourged129 out of theGarden of Eden, and the local priest explains the real meaning, not all thetwisted lies you hear-and we end by regaining130 our blessed innocence50 andhappiness, and that’s certain to get the party realLy rolling. Joy!“She added, .But everybody is atways interested in my Foster’s kiss,Because, since he went back to Heaven almost twenty years ago now andthe Church has increased and flourished, not too many of us have a Foster’skiss that wasn’t laid on by proxy-I always have the Tabernacle testify to that,too. And I tell them about it. Uh-.
Mrs. Paiwonski hesitated, then told them about it, in explicit35 detail-and Jillwondered where her admittedly limited ability to blush had gone? Then shegrokked that Mike and Patty were two of a kind-God’s innocents, unable tobe anything else, no matter what they did. She wished, for Patty’s sake, thatthis preposterous131 mishmash were really true, that Foster had really been aholy prophet who had saved her for eternal bliss.
But Foster! God’s Wounds, what a travesty132! Then suddenly, through hergreatly improved recall, Jill was standing19 back in a room with a wall of glassand looking into Foster’s dead eyes. But, in her mind, he seemed alive andshe felt a shiver in her loins and wondered what she would have done ifFoster himself had offered her his holy kiss-and his holy self?
She shut it out of her mind, but not before Mike had caught much of it. Shefelt him smile, with knowing innocence.
She stood up. .Pattycake darling, what time do you have to be back at thelot?“.Oh dear! I should be back this blessed minutel“.Why? The show doesn’t roll until nine-thirty.“.Well ... Honey Bun misses me...and she’s jealous if I stay out late.“.Can’t you tell her that it’s a Happiness meeting night?“.Uh...The older woman gathered Jill in her arms. .It is! It certainly is!“.Good. Then I’m going to get a certain amount of sleep-Jill is bushed133, believeme. What time do you have to be up, then?“.Uh, if I’m back on the lot by eight, I can get Sam to tear down my living topand have time to make sure that my babies are loaded safely.“.Breakfast?“.I don’t eat breakfast right away, I’ll get it on the train. Just coffee when Iwake up, usually.“.We can make that right here in the room. I’ll see that you’re up. Now youdears stay up and talk religion as long as you like; I won’t let you oversleep-ifyou sleep. Mike doesn’t sleep.“.Not at all?“.Never. He sort of curls up and thinks a while, if he’s got something to thinkabout-but he doesn’t sleep.“Mrs. Paiwonski nodded solemnly. .Another sign. I know it-and, Michael,some day you will know. Your call will come.“.Maybe,“ agreed Jill. .Mike, I’m falling asleep. Pop me into bed. Please?“ Shewas lifted, wafted into the bedroom, the covers rolled back by invisible handsshewas asleep before he covered her.
Jill woke up, as she had planned, exactly at seven. Mike had a clock in hishead, too, but his was quite erratic134 so far as Earth calendars and times wereconcerned; it vibrated to another need. She slipped out of bed, put her headinto the other room. Lights were out and the shades were tight; it was quitedark. But they were not asleep. Jill heard Mike say with soft certainty:
.Thou art God.“.’Thou art God’-. Patricia whispered back in a voice as heavy as ifdrugged.
.Yes. Jill is God.“.Jill ... is God. Yes, Michael.“.And thou art God.“.Thou-are God. Now, Michael, now!“Jill went very softly back in and quietly brushed her teeth. Presently she letMike know in her mind that she was awake and found, as she expected, thathe knew it. When she came back into the living room, shades were up andmorning sun was streaming in. .Good morning, darlings!“ She kissed themboth.
.Thou art God,“ Patty said simply.
.Yes, Patty. And thou art God. God is in all of us.“ She looked at Patty in theharsh, bright morning light and noted that her new brother did not look tired.
She looked as if she had had a full night of sleep and some extra - . . andlooked younger and sweeter than ever. Well, she knew that effect-if Mikewanted to stay up, instead of reading or thinking all night, Jill never found itany trouble . . and she suspected that her own sudden sleepiness the nightbefore had been Mike’s idea, too - and heard Mike agree in his mind that itwas.
.Now coffee for both you darlings-and me, too. And I just happen to havestashed away a redipak of orange juice, too.“They breakfasted lightly, filled out with happiness. Jill saw Patty lookingthoughtful. .What is it, dear?“.Uh, I hate to mention this-but what are you kids going to eat on? Happensthat Aunt Patty has a pretty well stuffed grouch bag and I thought-.
Jill laughed. .Oh, darling, I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to laugh. But the Man fromMars is rich! Surely you know that? Or don’t you ever read the news?“Mrs. Paiwonski looked baffled. .Well, I guess I knew-that way. But you can’ttrust anything you hear over the news.“Jill sighed. .Patty, you’re an utter darling. And believe me, now that we’rewater brothers, we wouldn’t hesitate an instant to mipose on you- .sharing thenest’ isn’t just poetry. But it happens to be the other way around. If you everneed money-it doesn’t matter how much; we can’t use it up-just say so. Anyamount. Any time. Write to me-or better yet, call me-because Mike doesn’thave the foggiest idea about money. Why, dear, I’ve got a couple of hundredthousand dollars in a checking account in my name right this minute. Wantsome of it?“Mrs. Paiwonski looked startled, something she had not looked since Mikehad caused her costume to go away. .Bless mel No, I don’t need money.“Jill shrugged135. .If you ever do, just holler. We can’t possibly spend it all andthe government won’t let Mike give it away. At least, not much of it. If youwant a yacht- Mike would enjoy giving you a yacht.“.I certainly would, Pat. I’ve never seen a yacht.“Mrs. Paiwonski shook her head. .Don’t take me up on a tall mountain, dearie-I’ve never wanted much ... and all I want from you two is your love-.
.You have that,“ Jill told her.
.I don’t grok .love’,“ Mike said seriously. .But Jill always speaks rightly. Ifwe’ve got it, it’s yours.“.-and to know that you’re both saved. But I’m no longer worried about that.
Mike has told me about waiting, and why waiting is. You understand me,Jill?“.I grok. I’m no longer impatient about anything.“.But I do have something for you two.“ The tattooed lady got up and crossedto where she had left her purse, took a book out of it. She came back, stoodclose to them. .My dear ones ... this is the very copy of the New Revelationthat Blessed Foster gave me . . . the night he placed his kiss on me. I wantyou to have it.“Jill’s eyes suddenly filled with tears and she felt herself choking. .But, AuntPatty-Patty our brother! We can’t take this one. Not this one. We’ll buy one.“.No. It’s ...it’s .water’ I’m sharing with you. For growing-closer.“.Oh-. Jill jumped up. .We’ll take it. But it’s ours now-all of us.“ Shekissed her.
Presently Mike tapped her on the shoulder. .Greedy little brother. Myturn.“.I’ll always be greedy, that way.“The Man from Mars kissed his new brother first on her mouth, then pausedand gently kissed the spot where Foster had kissed her. Then he pondered,briefly136 by Earth time, picked a corresponding spot on the other side where hesaw that George’s design could be matched well enough for his purpose-kissed her there while he thought by stretched-out time and in great detailwhat he wanted to accomplish. It was necessary to grok the capillaries- Tothe other two, subject and spectator, he simply gently and briefly pressed hislips to the garishly137 decorated skin. But Jill caught a hint of the effort he hadexerted and looked. .Patty! See!“Mrs. Paiwonski looked down at herself. Marked on her skin, paired stigmatain blood red, were his lips. She started to faint-then showed the depth of herown staunch faith. .Yes. Yes! Michael-.
Most shortly thereafter the tattooed lady had disappeared, replaced by arather mousy housewife in high neck, long sleeves and gloves. .I won’t cry,“she said soberly, .and it’s not good-by; there are no good-bys in eternity138. ButI will be waiting.“ She kissed them both, briefly, left without looking back.
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middle-aged
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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stinks
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| v.散发出恶臭( stink的第三人称单数 )；发臭味；名声臭；糟透 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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stark
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| adj.荒凉的；严酷的；完全的；adv.完全地 | |
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tar
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supervisor
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ginger
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tattooed
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| v.刺青，文身( tattoo的过去式和过去分词 )；连续有节奏地敲击；作连续有节奏的敲击 | |
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tattoo
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| n.纹身，(皮肤上的)刺花纹；vt.刺花纹于 | |
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concession
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affected
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| adj.不自然的，假装的 | |
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tattoos
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| n.文身( tattoo的名词复数 )；归营鼓；军队夜间表演操；连续有节奏的敲击声v.刺青，文身( tattoo的第三人称单数 )；连续有节奏地敲击；作连续有节奏的敲击 | |
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fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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zippers
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pact
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clutter
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standing
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mightily
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gab
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| v.空谈，唠叨，瞎扯；n.饶舌，多嘴，爱说话 | |
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candidly
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milestone
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persecution
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bust
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| vt.打破；vi.爆裂；n.半身像；胸部 | |
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brass
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tangle
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tactician
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artillery
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| n.(军)火炮，大炮；炮兵(部队) | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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gasped
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scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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obnoxious
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| adj.极恼人的，讨人厌的，可憎的 | |
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explicitly
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| ad.明确地，显然地 | |
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explicit
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| adj.详述的，明确的；坦率的；显然的 | |
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minor
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| adj.较小(少)的，较次要的；n.辅修学科；vi.辅修 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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serene
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| adj. 安详的，宁静的，平静的 | |
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vouchsafed
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| v.给予，赐予( vouchsafe的过去式和过去分词 )；允诺 | |
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ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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sobs
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| 啜泣（声），呜咽（声）( sob的名词复数 ) | |
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42
interferes
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| vi. 妨碍，冲突，干涉 | |
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43
sip
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| v.小口地喝，抿，呷；n.一小口的量 | |
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44
wafted
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| v.吹送，飘送，（使）浮动( waft的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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45
mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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46
heresy
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| n.异端邪说；异教 | |
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47
guilt
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| n.犯罪；内疚；过失，罪责 | |
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48
reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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49
qualified
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| adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的 | |
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50
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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51
bruising
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| adj.殊死的；十分激烈的v.擦伤(bruise的现在分词形式) | |
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52
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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53
forthright
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| adj.直率的，直截了当的 [同]frank | |
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54
rite
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| n.典礼，惯例，习俗 | |
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55
serenely
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| adv.安详地，宁静地，平静地 | |
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56
squealed
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| v.长声尖叫，用长而尖锐的声音说( squeal的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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57
giggled
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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58
giggle
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| n.痴笑，咯咯地笑；v.咯咯地笑着说 | |
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59
tickled
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| （使）发痒( tickle的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）愉快，逗乐 | |
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60
bland
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| adj.淡而无味的，温和的，无刺激性的 | |
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61
voyeurism
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| n.窥阴癖者 | |
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62
activate
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| vt.使活动起来，使开始起作用 | |
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63
discriminating
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| a.有辨别能力的 | |
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64
savored
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| v.意味，带有…的性质( savor的过去式和过去分词 )；给…加调味品；使有风味；品尝 | |
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65
torpor
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| n.迟钝；麻木；（动物的）冬眠 | |
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66
grouch
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| n.牢骚，不满；v.抱怨 | |
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67
truthful
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| adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的 | |
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68
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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69
onus
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| n.负担；责任 | |
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70
belly
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| n.肚子，腹部；(像肚子一样)鼓起的部分，膛 | |
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71
chunks
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| 厚厚的一块( chunk的名词复数 )； （某物）相当大的数量或部分 | |
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72
excised
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| v.切除，删去( excise的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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73
conclusively
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| adv.令人信服地，确凿地 | |
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74
ordained
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| v.任命（某人）为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 )；授予（某人）圣职；（上帝、法律等）命令；判定 | |
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75
deliberately
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| adv.审慎地；蓄意地；故意地 | |
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76
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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77
joyful
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| adj.欢乐的，令人欢欣的 | |
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78
joint
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| adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合 | |
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79
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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80
hymn
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| n.赞美诗，圣歌，颂歌 | |
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81
canyon
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| n.峡谷，溪谷 | |
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82
cyclones
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| n.气旋( cyclone的名词复数 )；旋风；飓风；暴风 | |
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83
mite
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| n.极小的东西；小铜币 | |
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84
peddle
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| vt.(沿街)叫卖，兜售；宣传，散播 | |
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85
clobber
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| v.打垮 | |
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86
unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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87
cult
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| n.异教，邪教；时尚，狂热的崇拜 | |
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88
overt
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| adj.公开的，明显的，公然的 | |
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89
covert
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| adj.隐藏的；暗地里的 | |
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90
revival
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| n.复兴，复苏，（精力、活力等的）重振 | |
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91
hysterical
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| adj.情绪异常激动的，歇斯底里般的 | |
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92
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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93
celibate
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| adj.独身的，独身主义的；n.独身者 | |
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94
antithesis
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| n.对立；相对 | |
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95
tithes
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| n.（宗教捐税）什一税，什一的教区税，小部分( tithe的名词复数 ) | |
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96
administrators
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| n.管理者( administrator的名词复数 )；有管理（或行政）才能的人；（由遗嘱检验法庭指定的）遗产管理人；奉派暂管主教教区的牧师 | |
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97
sects
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| n.宗派，教派( sect的名词复数 ) | |
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98
cults
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| n.迷信( cult的名词复数 )；狂热的崇拜；（有极端宗教信仰的）异教团体 | |
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99
essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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100
whooped
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| 叫喊( whoop的过去式和过去分词 )； 高声说； 唤起 | |
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101
carnival
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| n.嘉年华会，狂欢，狂欢节，巡回表演 | |
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102
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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103
converged
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| v.（线条、运动的物体等）会于一点( converge的过去式 )；（趋于）相似或相同；人或车辆汇集；聚集 | |
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104
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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105
prosecutor
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| n.起诉人；检察官，公诉人 | |
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106
indictment
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| n.起诉；诉状 | |
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107
prosecutions
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| 起诉( prosecution的名词复数 )； 原告； 实施； 从事 | |
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108
supreme
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| adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的 | |
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109
utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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110
dedicated
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| adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的 | |
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111
makers
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| n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式） | |
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112
jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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113
foundered
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| v.创始人( founder的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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114
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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115
slake
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| v.解渴，使平息 | |
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116
nurture
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| n.养育，照顾，教育；滋养，营养品；vt.养育，给与营养物，教养，扶持 | |
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117
devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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118
tattooing
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| n.刺字，文身v.刺青，文身( tattoo的现在分词 )；连续有节奏地敲击；作连续有节奏的敲击 | |
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119
cork
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| n.软木，软木塞 | |
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120
confessions
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| n.承认( confession的名词复数 )；自首；声明；（向神父的）忏悔 | |
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121
lipstick
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| n.口红，唇膏 | |
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122
skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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123
gathering
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| n.集会，聚会，聚集 | |
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124
judicially
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| 依法判决地，公平地 | |
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125
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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126
bliss
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| n.狂喜，福佑，天赐的福 | |
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127
billboard
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| n.布告板，揭示栏，广告牌 | |
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128
slough
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| v.蜕皮，脱落，抛弃 | |
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129
scourged
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| 鞭打( scourge的过去式和过去分词 )； 惩罚，压迫 | |
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130
regaining
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| 复得( regain的现在分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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131
preposterous
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| adj.荒谬的，可笑的 | |
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132
travesty
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| n.歪曲，嘲弄，滑稽化 | |
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133
bushed
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| adj.疲倦的 | |
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134
erratic
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| adj.古怪的，反复无常的，不稳定的 | |
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135
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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136
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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137
garishly
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| adv.鲜艳夺目地，俗不可耐地；华丽地 | |
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138
eternity
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| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
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