Чужак в чужой стране

           IfIchoosetodinewithpublicansandsinners,thatismybusiness.ButIdonotchoosetobreakbreadwithPharisees."

           Duketurnedredandsaidslowly,"Ioughttopopyouone–andIwould,ifyouweremyage."

           "Don’tletthatstopyou,Duke.ImaybetougherthanyouthinkandifI’mnot,thecommotionwillprobablybringtheothersin.DoyouthinkyoucanhandletheManfromMars?"

           "Him?Icouldbreakhimintwowithonehand!""Probably?ifyoucouldlayahandonhim.""Huh?"

           "Yousawmetrytopointapistolathim.Duke–where’sthatpistol?Beforeyougoflexingyourbiceps,stopandthink–orwhateveritisyoudoinplaceofthinking.Findthatpistol.ThentellmewhetherornotyoustillthinkyoucanbreakMikeintwo.Butfindthepistolfirst."

           Dukewrinkledhisforehead,thenwentaheadsettinguptheprojector."Somesortofsleight-of-hand.Thefilmswillshowit."

           Harshawsaid,"Duke.Stopfiddlingwiththatprojector.Sitdown.I’lltakecareofitafteryou’veleftandrunoffthefilmsmyself.ButIwanttotalktoyouafewmomentsfirst."

           "Huh?Jubal,Idon’twantyoutouchingthisprojector.Everytimeyoudo,yougetitoutofwhack.It’sadelicatepieceofmachinery."

           "Sitdown,Isaid."

           "But-"

           "It’smyprojector,Duke.I’llbustthedamnedthingifitsuitsme.Or:I’llgetLarrytorunitforme.ButIdonotacceptservicefromamanalterhehasresignedfrommyemploy."

           "Hell,Ididn’tresign!Yougotnastyandsoundedoffandfiredme–fornoreason."