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master of that the next againhow else could it be？〃 said the Martian； and
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shrugging my shoulders； for I was in no great mood to argue； we went
down to the waterway； through a thicket of budding trees underlaid with a
carpet of small red flowers filling the air with a scent of honey； and soon
found a diminutive craft pulled up on the bank。 There were some dainty
cloaks and wraps in it which An took out and laid under a tree。 But first
he felt in the pouch of one for a sweetmeat which his fine nostrils； acute as
a squirrel's； told him was there； and taking the lump out bit a piece from it；
afterwards replacing it in the owner's pocket with the frankest simplicity。
Then we pushed off； hoisted the slender mast； set the smallest lug…sail
that ever a sailor smiled at； and； myself at the helm； and that golden youth
amidships； away we drifted under thickets of drooping canes tasselled
with yel… low catkin…flowers； up the blue alley of the water into the
broader open river beyond with its rapid flow and crowd… ing boats； the
white city front now towering clear before us。
The air was full of sunshine and merry voices； birds were singing；
trees were budding； only my heart was heavy； my mind confused。 Yet
why should I be sad； I said to myself presently？ Life beat in my pulses；
what had I to fear？ This world I had tumbled into was new and strange； no
doubt； but tomorrow it would be old and familiar； it dis… credited my
manhood to sit brow…bent like that； so with an effort I roused myself。
〃Old chap！〃 I said to my companion； as he sat astride of a thwart
slowly chewing something sticky and eyeing me out of the corner of his
eyes with vapid wonder； 〃tell me something of this land of yours； or
something about yourselfwhich reminds me I have a question to ask。 It
is a bit delicate； but you look a sensible sort of fellow； and will take no
offence。 The fact is； I have noticed as we came along half your
population dresses in all the colours of the rainbow'fancy suitings' our
tailors could call it at homeand this half of the census are undoubtedly
men and women。 The rub is that the other half； to which you be… long；
all dress alike in YELLOW； and I will be fired from the biggest gun on the
Carolina's main deck if I can tell what sex you belong to！ I took you for
a boy in the begin… ning； and the way you closed with the idea of having a
drink with me seemed to show I was dead on the right course。 Then a
little later on I heard you and a friend abusing our sex from an outside
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point of view in a way which was very disconcerting。 This； and some
other things； have set me all abroad again； and as fate seems determined to
make us chums for this voyagewhywell； frankly； I should be glad to
know if you be boy or girl？ If you are as I am； no more nor less thenfor
I like youthere's my hand in comradeship。 If you are otherwise； as
those sleek outlines seem to promisewhy； here's my hand again！ But
man or woman you must become； which is it？〃
If I had been perplexed before； to watch that boy now was more
curious than ever。 He drew back from me with a show of wounded
dignity； then bit his lips； and sighed； and stared； and frowned。 〃Come；〃 I
said laughingly； 〃speak！ it engenders ambiguity to be so ambiguous of
gender！ 'Tis no great matter； yes or no； a plain answer will set us fairly in
our friendship； if it is comrade； then comrade let it be； if maid； why； I shall
not quarrel with that； though it cost me a likely messmate。〃
〃You mock me。〃
〃Not I； I never mocked any one。〃
〃And does my robe tell you nothing？〃
〃Nothing so much； a yellow tunic and becoming enough； but nothing
about it to hang a deduction on。 Come！ Are you a girl； after all？〃
〃I do not count myself a girl。〃
〃Why； then； you are the most blooming boy that ever eyes were set
upon； and though 'tis with some tinge of regret； yet cheerfully I welcome
you into the ranks of man… hood。〃
〃I hate your manhood； send it after the maidhood； it fits me just as
badly。〃
〃But An； be reasonable； man or maid you must be。〃
〃Must be； why？〃
〃Why？〃 Was ever such a question put to a sane mortal before？ I
stared at that ambiguous thing before me； and then； a little wroth to be
played with； growled out some… thing about Martians being all drunk or
mad。
〃'Tis you yourself are one or other；〃 said that individual； by this time
pink with anger； 〃and if you think because I am what I am you can safely
taunt me； you are wrong。 See！ I have a sting；〃 and like a thwarted child
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my com… panion half drew from the folds of the yellow tunic…dress the
daintiest； most harmless…looking little dagger that was ever seen。
〃Oh； if it comes to that；〃 I answered； touching the Navy scabbard still
at my hip； and regaining my temper at the sight of hers； 〃why； I have a
sting alsoand twice as long as yours！ But in truth； An； let us not talk of
these things； if something in what I have said has offended nice Martian
scruples I am sorry； and will question no more； leaving my wonder for
time to settle。〃
〃No；〃 said the other； 〃it was my fault to be hasty of offence； I am not
so angered once a year。 But in truth your question moves us yellow
robes deeply。 Did you not really know that we who wear this saffron
tunic are slaves； a race apart； despised by all。〃
〃'Slaves；' no； how should I know it？〃
〃I thought you must understand a thing so fundamental； and it was that
thought which made your questions seem unkind。 But if indeed you have
come so far as not to under… stand even this； then let me tell you once we
of this garb were womenpriestesses of the immaculate conceptions of
humanity； guardians of those great hopes and longings which die so easily。
And because we forgot our high station and took to aping another sex the
gods deserted and men despised us； giving us； in the fierceness of their
contempt； what we asked for。 We are the slave ants of the nest； the work…
bees of the hive； come； in truth； of those here who still be men and women
of a sort； but toilers only； un… known in love； unregretted in deaththose
who dangle all children but their ownslaves cursed with the accomplish…
ment of their own ambition。〃
There was no doubt poor An believed what she said； for her attitude
was one of extreme dejection while she spoke； and to cheer her I laughed。
〃Oh！ come； it can't be as bad as that。 Surely sometimes some of you
win back to womanhood？ You yourself do not look so far gone but what
some deed of abnegation； some strong love if you could but conceive it
would set you right again。 Surely you of the primrose robes can
sometimes love？〃
Whereat unwittingly I troubled the waters in the placid soul of that
outcast Martian！ I cannot exactly describe how it was； but she bent her
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head silently for a moment or two； and then； with a sigh； lifting her eyes
suddenly to mine； said quietly； 〃Yes； sometimes； sometimesbut very sel…
dom；〃 while for an instant across her face there flashed the summer
lightning of a new hope； a single transient glance of wistful； timid entreaty；
of wonder and delight that dared not even yet acknowledge itself。
Then it was my turn to sit silent； and the pause was so awkward that in
a minute； to break it； I exclaimed
〃Let's drop personalities； old chapI mean my dear Miss An。