Чужак в чужой стране

           Damnit,weretheFederationcopssostupidthattheycouldn’ttrackanunsophisticatedgirldragginganunconsciousmanallacrossthecountryside?Or(asseemedmorelikely)hadtheybeenonherheelsthewholeway?–andevennowwerekeepingastake-outonhisplace?Thelatterthoughtwasinfuriating;toHarshawthenotionthatthegovernmentmightbespyingonhishome,hiscastle,withanythingfrombinocularstoradar,wasasrepulsiveastheideaofhavinghismailopened.

           Andtheymightbedoingthattoo,heremindedhimselfmorosely.Government!Threefourthsparasiticandtheotherfourthstupidfumbling–oh,heconcededthatman,asocialanimal,couldnotavoidhavinggovernment,anymorethananindividualmancouldescapehislifelongbondagetohisbowels.ButHarshawdidnothavetolikeit.Simplybecauseanevilwasinescapablewasnoreasontotermita"good."Hewishedthatgovernmentwouldwanderoffandgetlost?

           Butitwascertainlypossible,orevenprobable,thattheadministrationknewexactlywheretheManfromMarswashiding?andforreasonsoftheirownpreferredtoleaveitthatway,whiletheyprepared–what?

           Ifso,howlongwoulditgoon?Andhowlongcouldhekeephisdefensive"timebomb"armedandready?

           AndwherethedevilwasthatrecklessyoungidiotBenCaxton?

           JillBoardmanforcedhimoutofhisspiritualthumb-twiddling."Jubal?"

           "Eh?Oh,it’syou,brighteyes.Sorry,Iwaspreoccupied.Sitdown.Haveadrink?"

           "Uh,no,thankyou.Jubal,I’mworried."

           "Normal.