Чужак в чужой стране

           "Begpardon?"

           "Adeal,abargain,awayforyoutomakealotofmoneyfastandeasy."

           "’Money?’Whatis’money’?"

           "Nevermindthephilosophy;everybodyneedsmoney.NowlistenI’llhavetotalkfastbecauseIcan’tstayinherelong-andit’stakenalotoffixingtogetmeinhereatall.IrepresentPeerlessFeatures.We’llpayyousixtythousandforyourexclusivestoryanditwon’tbeabitoftroubletoyou-we’vegotthebestghostwritersinthebusiness.Youjusttalkandanswerquestions;theyputittogether."Hewhippedoutapieceofpaper."Justreadthisandsignit.I’vegotthedownpaymentwithme."

           Smithacceptedthepaper,staredthoughtfullyatit,holdingitupsidedown.Themanlookedathimandmuffledanexclamation."Lordy!Don’tyoureadEnglish?"

           Smithunderstoodthiswellenoughtoanswer."No."

           "Well-Here,I’llreadittoyou,thenyoujustputyourthumbprintinthesquareandI’llwitnessit.’I,theundersigned,ValentineMichaelSmith,sometimesknownastheManfromMars,dograntandassigntoPeerlessFeatures,Limited,allandexclusiverightsinmytrue-factstorytobetitledIWasaPrisoneronMarsinexchangefor-"

           "Orderly!"

           Dr.Framewasstandinginthedoorofthewatchroom;thepaperdisappearedintotheman’sclothes."Coming,sir.Iwasjustgettingthistray."

           "Whatwereyoureading?"

           "Nothing."

           "Isawyou.Nevermind,comeoutoftherequickly.Thispatientisnottobedisturbed."Themanobeyed;Dr.Frameclosedthedoorbehindthem