Чужак в чужой стране

           Eternityisnotimeforrecriminations.Youtoowereastupidjackassuntilyoupoisonedme.Afterwardsyoudidwellenough.NowthatShortisSupremeBishophe’lldoallright,too;hecan’thelpit.SameaswiththePopes.Someofthemwerewartsuntiltheygotpromoted.Checkwithoneofthem,goahead–there’snoprofessionaljealousyhere."

           Digbycalmeddownalittle,butmadeonerequest.

           Fostershookhishaloinnegation."Youcan’ttouchhim.Youshouldn’thavetriedtotouchhiminthefirstplace.Oh,youcansubmitarequisitionforamiracleifyouwanttomakeabloodyfoolofyourself.But,I’mtellingyou,it’llbeturneddown–yousimplydon’tunderstandthesystemyet.TheMartianshavetheirownsetup,differentfromours,andaslongastheyneedhim,wecan’ttouchhim.Theyruntheirownshowtheirownway–theUniversehasvariety,somethingforeverybody–afactyoufieldworkersoftenmiss."

           "YoumeanthispunkcanbrushmeasideandI’vegottoholdstillforit?"

           "Iheldstillforthesamething,didn’tI?I’mhelpingyounow,amInot?Nowlook,there’sworktobedoneandlotsofit–beforeyoucanexpecttobepromotedagain.TheBosswantsperformance,notgripes–ifyouneedaDayofftogetyournerveback,duckovertotheMuslimParadiseandtakeit.Otherwise,straightenyourhalo,squareyourwings,anddigin.Thesooneryoustartactinglikeanangelthequickeryou’llstartfeelingangelic.GetHappy,junior!"

           Digbyheavedadeepetherealsigh."Okay,I’mHappy.