Чужак в чужой стране

           "Butwherediditgo?"

           "ThatisallIcanreport."

           "Mmm?we’llrunoffthefilmslater–butI’mconvinced.Mike-"

           "Yes,Jubal?"

           "Whereisthatboxnow?"

           "Theboxis-"Smithpaused."AgainIhavenotwords.Iamsorry."

           "I’mnotsorry,butI’mcertainlyconfused.Look,son,canyoureachinagainandhaulitout?Bringtheboxbackhere?"

           "Begpardon?"

           "Youmadeitgoaway;nowmakeitcomeback."

           "HowcanIdothat?Theboxisnor."

           Juballookedverythoughtful."Ifthismethodeverbecomespopular,we’llhavetorevisetherulesconcerningcorpusdelecti.‘I’vegotalittlelisttheyneverwillbemissed.’Jill,let’sfindsomethingelsethatwillmakeanot-quite-lethalweapon;thistimeI’mgoingtokeepmyeyesopen.Mike,howclosedoyouhavetobetodothistrick?"

           "Begpardon?"

           "What’syourrange?IfyouhadbeenstandingoutthereinthehallwayandIhadbeenclearbackbythewindow–oh,saythirtyfeet–couldyouhavestoppedthatboxfromhittingme?"

           Smithappearedmildlysurprised."Yes."

           "Hmm?comeoverherebythewindow.Nowlookdownthereattheswimmingpoo1.SupposethatJillandIhadbeenoveronthefarsideofthepoolandyouhadbeenstandingrightwhereyouare.Couldyouhavestoppedtheboxfromhere?"

           "Yes,Jubal."

           "Well?supposeJillandIwerecleardowntheroadthereatthegate,aquarterofamileaway.Supposewewerestandingjustthissideofthosebushesthatshieldthegate,whereyoucouldseeusclearly.