Чужак в чужой стране

           "Customs,morals–isthereadifference?Woman,doyourealizewhatyouaredoing?Here,bythegraceofGodandaninsidestraight,wehaveapersonalityuntouchedbythepsychotictaboosofourtribe–andyouwanttoturnhimintoacarboncopyofeveryfourth-rateconformistinthisfrightenedland!Whydon’tyougowholehog?Gethimabriefcaseandmakehimcarryitwhereverhegoes–makehimfeelshameifhedoesn’thaveit."

           "I’mnotdoinganythingofthesort!I’mjusttryingtokeephimoutoftrouble.It’sforhisowngood."

           Jubalsnorted."That’stheexcusetheygavethetomcatjustbeforehisoperation."

           "Oh!"Jillstoppedandappearedtobecountingten.Thenshesaidformallyandbleakly,"Thisisyourhouse,DoctorHarshaw,andweareinyourdebt.Ifyouwillexcuseme,IwillfetchMichaelatonce."Shegotuptoleave.

           "Holdit,Jill."

           "Sir?"

           "Sitbackdown–andforGod’ssakequittryingtobeasnastyasIam;youdon’thavemyyearsofpractice.Nowletmegetsomethingstraight:youarenotinmydebt.Youcan’tbe.Impossible–becauseIneverdoanythingIdon’twanttodo.Nordoesanyone,butinmycaseIamalwaysawareofit.Sopleasedon’tinventadebtthatdoesnotexist,orbeforeyouknowityouwillbetryingtofeelgratitude–andthatisthetreacherousfirststepdownwardtocompletemoraldegradation.Yougrokthat?Ordon’tyou?"

           Jillbitherlip,thengrinned."I’mnotsureIknowwhat‘grok’means."

           "NordoI.