Чужак в чужой стране

           But,ifnoactiondeveloped,Harshawwonderedhowlonghecouldaffordtowait?Inadditiontothependingcollapseofhis"timebomb"andthefactthathehad,ineffect,promisedJillthathewouldtakestepsonbehalfofBenCaxton(whycouldn’tthechildseethatBenprobablycouldnotbehelped–indeed,wasalmostcertainlybeyondhelp–andthatanydirectorhastyactionminimizedMike’schanceofkeepinghisfreedom?)–inadditiontothesetwofactors,somethingnewwascrowdinghim:Dukewasgone.

           Gonefortheday,goneforgood(orgoneforbad),Jubaldidnotknow.Dukehadbeenpresentatdinnerthenightbefore,hadnotshownupforbreakfast.NeithereventwasnoteworthyinHarshaw’slooselycoupledhouseholdandnooneelseappearedtohavemissedDuke.JubalhimselfwouldnotordinarilyhavenoticedunlesshehadhadoccasiontoyellforDuke.ButthismorningJubalhad,ofcourse,noticed?andhehadrefrainedfromshoutingforDukeatleasttwiceonoccasionswhenhenormallywouldhavedoneso.

           Juballookedglumlyacrossthepool,watchedMikeattempttoperformadiveexactlyasDorcashadjustperformedit,andadmittedtohimselfthathehadnotshoutedforDukewhenheneededhim,onpurpose.ThetruthwasthathesimplydidnotwanttoasktheBearwhathadhappenedtoAlgy.TheBearmightanswer.

           Well,therewasonlyonewaytocopewiththatsortofweakness."Mike!Comehere."

           "Yes,Jubal."TheManfromMarsgotoutofthepoolandtrottedoverlikeaneagerpuppy,waited.