Чужак в чужой стране

           Well,hecouldseethatMikewasgoingtocausemorehoorawthanPasteurandEinsteincombined–squaredandcubed.Whichremindedhim–"Larry!Where’sLarry?"

           "Here,Boss,"theloudspeakermountedundertheeavesbehindhimannounced."Downintheshop."

           "Gotthepanicbutton?"

           "Surething.Yousaidtosleepwithitonme.Ido.Idid."

           "Bounceupheretothehouseandletmehaveit.No,giveittoAnne.Anne,youkeepitwithyourrobe."

           Shenodded.Larry’svoiceanswered,"Rightaway,Boss.Countdowncomingup?"

           "Justdoit."JuballookedupandwasstartledtofindthattheManfromMarswasstillstandinginfrontofhim,quietasasculpturedfigure.Sculpture?Yes,hedidremindoneofsculpture?uh–Jubalsearchedhismemory.Michelangelo’s"David,"thatwasit!Yes,eventothepuppyishhandsandfeet,theserenelysensualface,thetousled,too-longhair."ThatwasallIwanted,Mike."

           "Yes,Jubal."

           ButMikecontinuedtostandthere.Jubalsaid,"Somethingonyourmind?"

           "AboutwhatIwasseeinginthatgoddam-noisy-box.Yousaid,‘Allright,goahead.Butcometalktomeaboutitlater.’"

           "Oh."HarshawrecalledthebroadcastservicesoftheChurchoftheNewRevelationandwinced."Yes,wewilltalk.Butfirst–Don’tcallthatthingagoddamnoisybox.Itisastereovisionreceiver.Callitthat."

           Mikelookedpuzzled."Itisnotagoddam-noisy-box?Iheardyounotrightly?"

           "Youheardmerightlyanditisindeedagoddamnoisybox.You’llhearmecallitthatagain.