Чужак в чужой стране

           "Butthenotion’sobscene!"

           "You’dbesurprisedhowmanyoftheBoss’sbestideashavebeencalled‘obscene’insomequarters–or,rather,youshouldnotbesurprised,inviewofyourfieldwork.But‘obscene’isaconceptyoudon’tneed;ithasnotheologicalmeaning.‘Tothepureallthingsarepure.’"

           "But-"

           "I’mstillWitnessing,Junior.Youlisten.InadditiontothefactthatourbrotherMichaelseemstobeawayatthismicro-instant–andIdon’tkeeptrackofhim;we’renotonthesamewatchlist–thattattooedladywhomadethatoracularpronouncementisnotlikelytobemistaken;she’saveryholytemporalherself."

           "Whosays?"

           "Isay.Iknow."Fostersmiledagainwithangelicsweetness.DearlittlePatricia!GettingalittlelonginthetoothnowbutstillEarthilydesirable–andshiningwithaninnerlightthatmadeherlooklikeastainedglasswindow.HenotedwithouttemporalpridethatGeorgehadfinishedhisgreatdedicationsincehehadlastlookedatPatricia–andthatpictureofhisbeingcalleduptoHeavenwasn’tbad,notbadatall,intheHighersense.HemustremembertolookupGeorgeandcomplimenthimonit,andtellhimhehadseenPatricia–hmm,wherewasGeorge?AcreativeartistintheuniversedesignsectionworkingrightundertheArchitect,asherecalled–nomatter,themasterfilewoulddighimoutinasplitmillennium.