Чужак в чужой стране

           "Justlethimstandinthecorridor?"

           "I’venodoubtthatMajorBlochcanfindhimachair.Anne,Iamawarethatyouweregentlyreared–butthisisasituationinwhichrudenesspaysoff.Wedon’tgiveaninch,norakindword,untilwegetexactlywhatwewant."

           "Yes,Boss."

           Thepackagewasbulkybecausethereweremanycopies;therewasonedocumentonly.Jubalcalledineveryoneandpassedthemaround."Girls,Iamofferingonelollipopforeachloophole,boobytrap,orambiguity–prizesofsimilarvaluetomales.Noweverybodykeepquiet."

           PresentlyJubalbrokethesilence."He’sanhonestpolitician–hestaysbought."

           "Looksthatway,"admittedCaxton.

           "Anybody?"Nooneclaimedaprize;Douglashadkeptitsimpleandstraightforward,merelyimplementingtheagreementreachedearlier."Okay,"saidJubal,"everybodyistowitnesseverycopy,afterMikesignsit–especiallyyou,Skipper,andSvenandStinky.Getyourseal,Miriam.Hell,letBradleyinnowandhavehimwitness,too–thengivethepoorguyadrink.Duke,callthedeskandtell’emtosendupthebill;we’recheckingout.ThencallGreyhoundandtell’emwewantourgo-buggy.Sven,Skipper,Stinky–we’regettingoutofherethewayLotleftSodom?whydon’tyouthreecomeupinthecountrywithus,takeoffyourshoes,andrelax?Plentyofbeds,homecooking,andnoworries."

           Thetwomarriedmenaskedfor,andreceived,rainchecks;Dr.Mahmoudaccepted