Чужак в чужой стране

           JubalSimplylistened."Andthat’sall,"sheconcludedsadly."IscreamedandscaredMike?andhewentintothattranceyousawhimin–andthenIhadasimplyterribletimegettinghere.ButItoldyouaboutthat."

           "Mmm?yes,soyoudid.Iwishthatyouhadtoldmeaboutthis,too."

           Sheturnedred."Ididn’tthinkanybodywouldbelieveme.AndIwasscared.Jubal,cantheydoanythingtous?"

           "Eh?"Jubalseemedsurprised."Dowhat?"

           "Sendustojail,orsomething?"

           "Oh.Mydear,ithasnotyetbeendeclaredacrimetobepresentatamiracle.Nortoworkone.Butthismatterhasmoreaspectsthanacathashair.Keepquietandletmethink."

           Jillkeptquiet.Jubalheldstillabouttenminutes.Atlastheopenedhiseyesandsaid,"Idon’tseeyourproblemchild.He’sprobablylyingonthebottomofthepoolagain-"

           "Heis."

           "-sodiveinandgethim.Dryhimoffandbringhimuptomystudy.Iwanttofindoutifhecanrepeatthisstuntatwill?andIdon’tthinkweneedanaudience.No,wedoneedanaudience.TellAnnetoputonherWitnessrobeandcomealong–tellherIwantherinherofficialcapacity.IwantDuke,too."

           "Yes,Boss."

           "You’renotprivilegedtocallme‘Boss’;you’renottaxdeductible."

           "Yes,Jubal."

           "That’sbetter.Mmm?Iwishwehadsomebodyherewhoneverwouldbemissed.Regrettablyweareallfriends.DoyousupposeMikecandothisstuntwithinanimateobjects?"

           "Idon’tknow."

           "We’llfindout