Чужак в чужой стране

           Wearen’ttryingtocrowdyouintoanembarrassingsituation."

           Boonebarelyhesitated."Notatall!Whocareswhatpeoplethink?Matteroffact,betweenyouandI,theBishopisvery,veryinterestedinthisyoungman."

           "Fine.There’savacantchairtherebyCaptainvanTromp–thatmanthere?butprobablyyouknowhim."

           "VanTromp?Sure,sure,oldfriends,knowhimwell–methimatthereception."SenatorBoonenoddedatSmith,swaggereddownandseatedhimself.

           Mostofthosepresentwereseatednowandfewerweregettingpasttheguardsatthedoors.Jubalwatchedoneargumentoverseatingandthelongerhewatcheditthemoreitmadehimfidget.Atlasthefeltthathesimplycouldnotstandit;hecouldnotsitstillandwatchthisindecencygoon.SoheleanedoverandspokeveryprivatelywithMike,madesurethat,ifMikedidnotunderstandwhy,atleastheunderstoodwhatJubalwantedhimtodo.

           Mikelistened."Jubal,Iwilldo."

           "Thanks,son."Jubalgotupandapproachedagroupofthree:theassistantchiefofprotocol,theChiefoftheUruguayanDelegation,andathirdmanwhoseemedangrybutbaffled.TheUruguayanwassayingforcefully:"-seathim,thenyoumustfindseatsforanyandallotherlocalchiefsofstate–eightyormore.You’veadmittedthatyoucan’tdothat.ThisisFederationsoilwestandon?andnochiefofstatehasprecedenceoveranyotherchiefofstate