Чужак в чужой стране

           Whenhewasreadytowriteheusedahumanstenographerandwatchedherreactions.Hewasreadynow."Front!"heshouted.

           "Anneis‘front,’"answeredDorcas."ButI’lltakeit.ThatsplashwasAnne."

           "Diveinandgether.Icanwait."Thelittlebrunettecutthewater;afewmomentslaterAnneclimbedout,putonatowelrobe,driedherhandsonit,andsatdownontheothersideofthetable.Shesaidnothing,nordidshemakeanypreparations;Annehadtotalrecall,neverbotheredwithrecordingdevices.

           Harshawpickedupabucketoficecubesoverwhichbrandyhadbeenpoured,tookadeepswig."Anne,I’vegotareallysick-makingone.It’saboutalittlekittenthatwandersintoachurchonChristmasEvetogetwarm.Besidesbeingstarvedandfrozenandlost,thekittenhas–Godknowswhy–aninjuredpaw.Allright;start:‘Snowhadbeenfallingsince-‘

           "Whatpenname?"

           "Mmm?betteruse‘MollyWadsworth’again.Thisoneisprettyicky.AndtitleitTheOtherManger.Startagain."Hewentontalkingwhilewatchingherclosely.Whentearsstartedtoleakoutofherclosedeyeshesmiledslightlyandclosedhisowneyes.Bythetimehefinished,tearswererunningdownhischeeksaswellashers,bothbathedinacatharsisofschmaltz.

           "Thirty,"heannounced."Youcanblowyournose.SenditoffandforGod’ssakedon’tletmeseeitorI’lltearitup."

           "Jubal,aren’tyoueverashamed?"

           "No."

           "SomedayI’mgoingtokickyourightinyourfatstomachforoneofthese."

           "Iknow.