"That I know. But where or what is Ertene?"
"Ertene is a wandering planet. We found you almost dead in a derelict
spaceship and brought you back to life."
"I recall parts of that. But--Ertene?"
"Generations ago, Ertene left her parent sun because of a great,
impending cataclysm. Since then we have been wandering in space in
search of a suitable home."
"Sol is not far away--you will find a home there."
The doctor smiled sagely and did not comment on that. Maynard wondered
about it briefly and tried to explain, but they would have none of it.
He tried at later times, but there was a reticence about their
accepting Sol as a home sun. No matter what attack he tried, there was
a casual reference to a decision to be made in the future.
But their lessons continued, and Guy progressed from the hospital to
the spacious grounds. He sought the libraries and read quite a bit,
for they urged him to, saying: "We can not entertain you continually.
You are not strong enough to work, nor will we permit you to take any
position. Therefore your best bet is to continue learning. In fact,
Guy, you have a job to perform on Ertene. You are to become well
versed in Ertinian lore so that you may converse with us freely and
draw comparisons between Ertene and your Terra for us. Therefore apply
yourself."
Guy agreed that if he could do nothing else, he could at least do their
bidding.
So he applied himself. He read. He spoke at length with those about
him. He practised with the writing machine. He accepted their customs
with the air of one who feels that he must, in order that he be
accepted.
And gradually he took on the manner of an Ertinian. He spoke with a
pure Ertinian accent, he thought in Ertinian terms, and his hand was
the handwriting of an Ertinian. And from his studies he came to the
next question.
* * * * *
"Charalas, how could you tell me from an Ertinian?"