Stranger in a Strange Land

meprobamate but since we don't have that at hand, I'm forced to substitute two ounces of ninety proof ethanol, repeat as needed. Any particular flavor you prefer to kill the medicinal taste? And with or without bubbles?"
                Mahmoud smiled and suddenly did not look at all English. "Thank you, Doctor-but I'll sin my own sins, with my eyes open. Gin, please, with water on the side. Or vodka. Or whatever is available."
                "Or medicinal alcohol," Nelson added. "Don't let him pull your leg, Jubal. Stinky drinks anything-and always regrets it."
                "I do regret it," Mahmoud said earnestly, "because I know it is sinful."
                "Then don't needle him about it, Sven," Jubal said brusquely. "If Stinky gets more mileage out of his sins by regretting them, that's his business. My own regretter burned out from overload during the market crash in '29 and I've never replaced it-and that's my business. To each his own. How about victuals, Stinky? Anne probably stuffed a ham into one of those hampers-and there might be other unclean items not as clearly recognizable. Shall I check?"
                Mahmoud shook his head. "I'm not a traditionalist, Jubal. That legislation was given a long time ago, according to the needs of the time. The times are different now."
                Jubal suddenly looked sad. "Yes. But for the better? Never mind, this too shall pass and leave not a rack of mutton behind. Eat what you will, my brother-God forgives necessity."
                "Thank you. But, truthfully, I often do not eat in the middle of the day."
                "Better eat, or the prescribed ethanol will do more than relax you. Besides, these kids who work for me may sometimes misspell words but they are all superb cooks."
                Miriam had come up behind Jubal with a tray bearing four drinks, orders having been filled at once while Jubal ranted. "Boss," she broke in, "I heard that. Will you put it in writing?"
                "What?" He whirled around and glared at her. "Snooping! You stay in after school and write one thousand times~ 'I will not flap my ears at private conversations.' Stay until you finish it."
                "Yes, Boss. This is for you, Captain .. and for you, Dr. Nelson and this is yours, Dr. Mahmoud. Water on the side, you said?"
                "Yes, Miriam. Thank you."
                "Usual Harshaw service-sloppy but fast. Here's yours, Boss." "You put water in it!"
                "Anne's orders. She says you're too tired to have it on the rocks."
                Jubal looked long-suffering. "You see what I have to put up with, gentlemen? We should never have put shoes on 'em. Miriam, make that 'one thousand times' in Sanskrit."
                "Yes, Boss. Just as soon as I find time to learn it." She patted him on the head. "You go right ahead and have your tizzy, dear; you've earned it. We're all proud of you."
                "Back to the kitchen, woman. Hold it-has everybody else got a drink? Where's Ben's drink? Where's Ben?"
                "They have by now. Ben is phoning in his column, His drink is at his elbow."
                "Very well. You may back out quietly, without formality-and send Mike in. Gentlemen! Me ke aloha pau ole!-for there are fewer of us every year." He drank, they joined him.
                "Mike's helping. He loves to help-I think he's going to be a butler when he grows up."
                "I thought you had left. Send him in anyhow; Dr. Nelson wants to give him a physical examination."
                "No hurry," put in the ship's surgeon. "Jubal, this is excellent Scotch -but what was the toast?"
                "Sorry. Polynesian. 'May our friendship be everlasting.' Call it a footnote to the water ceremony this morning. By the way, gentlemen, both Larry and Duke are water brothers to Mike, too, but don't let it fret you. They can't cook . . - but they're the sort to have at your back in a dark alley."
                "If you vouch for them, Jubal," van Tromp assured him, "admit them and tyle the door. But let's drink to the girls while we're alone. Sven, what's that toast of yours to the flickas?"
                "You mean the one to all pretty girls everywhere? Let's drink just to the four who are here. Skim!!" They