Чужак в чужой стране

           HemightnotbeabletoseethenakedFaceofGod?buthiseyesightwasgoodenoughtopickouthissocialequals–andthoseFosterites,bydamn,didnotmeasureup!

           ButhecouldseehowMikehadbeenmisled;theFosterite"goingtoHeaven"atapre-selectedtimeandplacedidsoundlikethevoluntaryandplanned"discorporation"which,Jubaldidnotdoubt,wastheacceptedpracticeonMars.JubalhimselfheldadarksuspicionthatabettertermfortheFosteritepracticewas"murder"–butsuchhadneverbeenprovedandhadrarelybeenpubliclyhinted,muchlesscharged,evenwhenthecultwasyoungandrelativelysmall.Fosterhimselfhadbeenthefirstto"gotoHeaven"onschedule,dyingpubliclyataself-prophesiedinstant.Sincethatfirstexample,ithadbeenaFosteritemarkofspecialgrace?andithadbeenyearssinceanycoronerordistrictattorneyhadhadthetemeritytopryintosuchdeaths.

           NotthatJubalcaredwhethertheywerespontaneousorinduced.InhisopinionagoodFosteritewasadeadFosterite.Letthembe!

           ButitwasgoingtobehardtoexplaintoMike.

           Nousestalling,anothercupofcoffeewouldn’tmakeitanyeasier–"Mike,whomadetheworld?"

           "Begpardon?"

           "Lookaroundyou.Allthis.Mars,too.Thestars.Everything.Youandmeandeverybody.DidtheOldOnestellyouwhomadeit?"

           Mikelookedpuzzled."No,Jubal."