Чужак в чужой стране

           Douglassuddenlystoppedlookingtousled."Repeatthat."

           "IamattorneyforValentineMichaelSmith,knownastheManfromMars.Attorneywithfullpower.Infact,itmayhelptothinkofmeasdefactoAmbassadorfromMars?inthespiritoftheLarkinDecision,thatistosay."

           Douglasstaredathim."Man,youmustbeoutofyourmind!"

           "I’veoftenthoughtso,lately.NeverthelessIamactingfortheManfromMars.Andheispreparedtonegotiate."

           "TheManfromMarsisinEcuador."

           "Please,Mr.Secretary.Thisisaprivateconversation.HeisnotinEcuador,asbothofusknow.Smith–therealValentineMichaelSmith,nottheonewhohasappearedinthenewscasts–escapedfromconfinement–and,Ishouldadd,illegalconfinement–atBethesdaMedicalCenteronThursdaylast,incompanywithNurseGillianBoardman.Hekepthisfreedomandisnowfree–andhewillcontinuetokeepit.Ifanyofyourlargestaffofassistantshastoldyouanythingelse,thensomeonehasbeenlyingtoyou?whichiswhyIamspeakingtoyouyourself.Sothatyoucanstraightenitout."

           Douglaslookedverythoughtful.Someoneapparentlyspoketohimfromoffscreen,butnowordscameoverthetelephone.Atlasthesaid,"Evenifwhatyousaidweretrue,Doctor,youcan’tbeinapositiontospeakforyoungSmith.He’sawardoftheState."

           Jubalshookhishead."Impossible.TheLarkinDecision."

           "Nowseehere,asalawyermyself,Iassureyou-"

           "Asalawyermyself,Imustfollowmyownopinion–andprotectmyclient."