Alien Tongues Read Online Free PDF Page A

interesting places to visit and Alice providing an excellent guide, with history.  After the plates were gone, he wondered if he should mention returning home or whether it was better protocol to wait for her to raise the topic.  She seemed to be enjoying her night out, which he suspected was not a regular occurrence.  She was finishing off her second pint while he had barely started on his.  It was his turn to offer another round, but now he was concerned about her driving.
    While he was wondering what he might say, a young man broke away from a group at another table and came over to them.  "Alice," the man said brightly, "I've been waiting all evening for you to catch my eye."
    When she heard the voice, one corner of Alice's mouth drew back while she still faced Séamus.  It was clear the attention was not welcome.  "Hello, Dave," she said before turning. "I didn't know this was your local these days."
    "Oh it's not, but one of the lads likes the pool table here, so tonight we made an exception.  Mind if I take a seat for a moment?"  He appeared to address the remark to Séamus, who held out a hand in the direction of Alice, suggesting it was her decision.
    "If I did mind, would it make a difference?" Alice replied.
    "Oh come on, Darling, that is not the New Year's spirit."  He grinned at Séamus.  "I've known Alice since she was a child.  Could always be a bit cutting, our Alice."  He held out a hand. "Dave Orwood."
    Séamus took the hand.  "Séamus FitzGerald."
    "Oh, a Paddy?  Welcome to Yorkshire, Chum."
    "Don't call him a Paddy," Alice said crossly.
    "It's quite alright, really," Séamus said quickly.  "Actually, I like the term, so long as it isn't followed by 'go home'."
    "See, Séamus is a gent!" Dave exclaimed.
    "Yes he is, lucky for you," Alice replied.  "I'm sorry to further disappoint you, Dave, but Séamus here and I were about to leave.  We both have work at the Labs in the morning, you see."  She rose.  "I need to visit the loo.  Séamus, I hope you don't mind me leaving you with Dave for two minutes?"
    "Not in the slightest.  Take your time."  He turned to see Dave still grinning at him.  It was an unchanging grin and was beginning to feel quite unfriendly.
    As Alice drew out of earshot, Dave glanced after her. "Know something, Séamus?  She used to be my girl, did Alice.  We were very, very close.  Very passionate, you know."
    Séamus raised his eyebrows politely. "Quite some time ago, was it?"
    "Hmm.  She was younger, skinnier.  Pretty hot, actually.  All lean, you know.  Boy, those hips could move."
    "Good dancer, you mean?"
    Dave's grin became intense and he chuckled, still staring at Séamus.  Then he put his hands in front of him as if grasping something just over a foot wide, then moved them backwards and forwards slightly.  The symbolism was unmistakable.
    "Dave, I really don't mind you calling me a Paddy," Séamus told him.  "In fact, I will take no offense if you call me a Mick.  But I ask you not to talk about Alice that way.  It's really not nice."
    Dave's grin and stare did not even waver for a couple of moments.  He then exaggerated a look of surprise as if an idea had just struck him, and looked quickly around him.  "I'm sorry, Séamus.  Did I make a mistake?  Am I in an Irish pub?"
    "No Dave, just a pub.  That stands for public house.  It's where our conversation should meet certain public standards."
    "Oh, ah." Dave adopted a stage Irish accent.  "This is an Irish lesson in manners, so it is. So it is, begorra ."
    "Dave, there is no reason to get so offensive.  First you're rude about Alice, now me.  What are you trying to do here?"
    "What am I trying to do here," Dave repeated slowly.  "Maybe I am trying in my own clumsy way to give you advice, Séamus.  Me, I'm quite an easy-going lad.  I see those Labs down there in the valley and I tell myself, they offer some decent employment to local folk.  That's a good thing.  But there are others