Чужак в чужой стране

           "Ifthedemandwasmet,whatshouldMikedowhileitwasplayed?Itwasanicepoint,andtheanswerdependedonjustwhatroleMikewasplayinginthiscomedy-Themusicstopped.OnJubal’ssignalsMikethenstoodup,bowedquickly,andsatdown,seatinghimselfaboutastheSecretaryGeneralandtherestwereseated.Theywereallbackintheirseatsmuchmorequicklythistime,asnoonecouldhavemissedtheglaringpointthatMikehadremainedseatedthroughthe"anthem."Jubalsighedwithrelief.Hehadgottenawaywithit.Agreatmanyyearsearlierhehadseenoneofthatvanishingtribeofroyalty(areigningqueen)receiveaparade–andhehadnoticedthattheroyalladyhadbowedafterheranthemwasplayed,i.e.,shehadacknowledgedasaluteofferedtoherownsovereignself.

           Butthepoliticalheadofademocracystandsanduncoversforhisnation’santhemlikeanyothercitizen–forheisnotasovereign.

           But,asJubalhadpointedouttoLaRue,onecouldn’thaveittwoways.EitherMikewasmerelyaprivatecitizen(inwhichcasethissillygymkhanashouldneverhavebeenheld;Douglasshouldhavehadthegutstotellalltheseoverdressedparasitestostayhome!)–or,bythepreposterouslegaltheoryinherentintheLarkinDecision,thekidwasasovereignallbyhislittlelonesome.

           JubalfelttemptedtoofferLaRueapinchofsnuff.Well,thepointhadnotbeenmissedbyatleastone–thePapalNunciowaskeepinghisfacestraightbuthiseyesweretwinkling.

           Douglasstartedtospeak:"Mr.