Чужак в чужой стране

           "Taxi,sir?"

           "Uh,yes,Ithinkso."Atworsthecouldgotoahotel,callinthepress,andgiveoutaninterviewthatwouldpublicizehiswhereabouts–therewasoccasionallysomeadvantagetobeingnewsworthy.

           "Overthisway,sir."ThecabbyledhimoutofthecrowdandtoabatteredYellowCab.AsheputhisbaginafterJubal,thepilotsaidquietly,"IofferyouWater."

           "Eh?Neverthirst."

           "ThouartGod."Thehackdriversealedthedoorandgotintohisowncompartment.

           Theywounduponaprivatelandingflatononewingofabigbeachhotel–afour-carspace,thehotel’sownlandingflatbeingonanotherwing.Thepilotsetthecabtohome-inalone,tookJubal’sbagandescortedhiminside."Youcouldn’thavecomeintooeasilyviathelobby,"hesaidconversationally,"asthefoyeronthisfloorisfilledwithsomeverybadtemperedcobras.Soifyoudecideyouwanttogodowntothestreet,besuretoasksomebodyfirst.Me,oranybody–I’mTim."

           "I’mJubalHarshaw."

           "Iknow,brotherJubal.Inthisway.Mindyourstep."Theyenteredthehotelsuiteofthelarge,extremeluxurysort,andJubalwasledonintoabedroomwithbath;Timsaid,"Thisisyours,"putJubal’sbagdownandleft.OnthesidetableJubalfoundwater,glasses,icecubes,andabottleofbrandy,openedbutuntouched.Hewasunsurprisedtofindthatitwashispreferredbrand.Hemixedhimselfaquickone,sippeditandsighed,thentookoffhisheavywinterjacket.

           Awomancameinbearingatrayofsandwiches.