Чужак в чужой стране

           Don’tletanythingstartlinghappenuntilIgetback."Anneheadedforthedoor.

           "Nopromises.Mike,sitdownhereatmydesk.You,too,Jill–gather’round.Now,Mike,canyoupickupthatashtray?Showme."

           "Yes,Jubal."Smithreachedoutandtookitinhishand.

           "No,no!"

           "Ididwrongly?"

           "No,itwasmymistake.Mike,putitbackdown.Iwanttoknowifyoucanliftthatashtraywithouttouchingit?"

           "Yes,Jubal."

           "Well?Areyoutootired?"

           "No,Jubal.Iamnottootired."

           "Thenwhat’sthematter?Doesithavetohavea‘wrongness’aboutit?"

           "No,Jubal."

           "Jubal,"Jillinterrupted,"youhaven’ttoldhimtodoit–you’vejustaskedhimifhecould."

           "Oh."Juballookedassheepishashewascapableoflooking,whichwasnotmuch."Ishouldlearn.Mike,willyouplease,withouttouchingitwithyourhands,liftthatashtrayafootabovethedesk?"

           "Yes,Jubal."Theashtrayraised,floatedsteadilyabovethedesk."Willyoumeasure,Jubal?"Mikesaidanxiously."IfIdidwrongly,Iwillmoveitupordown."

           "That’sjustfine!Canyouholditthere?Ifyougettired,tellme."

           "Ican.Iwilltell."

           "Canyouliftsomethingelseatthesametime?Saythispencil?Ifyoucan,thendoit."

           "Yes,Jubal,"Thepencilrangeditselfneatlybytheashtray.

           Byrequest,Mikeaddedothersmallarticlesfromthedesktothelayeroffloatingobjects.Annereturned,pulledupachairandwatchedtheperformancewithoutspeaking.