Чужак в чужой стране

           "IwillshareyouwithJill,"hesaidsolemnly."But,Mike,nooneofuswillbefoodtoday,noranytimesoon.RightnowIamgoingtoshowyouthisgun–andyouwaituntilIsay?andthenyoubeverycareful,becauseIhave,manythingstodobeforeIamreadytodiscorporate."

           "Iwillbecareful,mybrother."

           "Allright."Harshawleanedover,gruntingslightly,andopenedalowerdrawerofhisdesk."Lookinhere,Mike.Seethegun?I’mgoingtopickitup.Butdon’tdoanythinguntilItellyouto.Girls–getupandmoveawaytotheleft;Idon’twantitpointedatyou.Okay.Mike,notyet."Harshawreachedforthegun,averyelderlypolicespecial,tookitoutofthedrawer."Getready,Mike.Now!"-andHarshawdidhisverybesttogettheweaponaimedattheManfromMars.

           Hishandwassuddenlyempty.Noshock,nojar,notwisting–thegunwasgoneandthatwasall.

           Jubalfoundthathewasshaking,sohestoppedit."Perfect,"hesaidtoMike."YougotitbeforeIhaditaimedatyou.That’sutterlyperfect."

           "Iamhappy."

           "SoamI.Duke,didthatgetinthecamera?"

           "Yup.Iputinfreshfilmcartridges.Youdidn’tsay."

           "Good."Harshawsighedandfoundthathewasverytired."That’salltoday,kids.Runalong.Goswimming.You,too,Anne."

           Annesaid,"Boss?You’lltellmewhatthefilmsshow?"

           "Wanttostayandseethem?"

           "Oh,no!Icouldn’t,notthepartsIWitnessed.ButIwouldliketoknow–later–whetherornottheyshowthatI’veslippedmyclutches"