Чужак в чужой стране

           Herememberedtokeephiskneesstraight,histoespointedandhisfeettogether.

           "Jill!"Jubalcalledout."Diveinandclimbout.Youtoo,Larry.Ifanybodysawthat,Iwant’emconfusedastohowmanyareusingthepool.Dorcastclimboutfast,child,anddiveinagain.Anne-No,you’vegotthepanicbutton;youcan’t."

           "Icantakemycloakandgototheedgeofthepool.Boss,doyouwantsomedelayonthis‘dead-man’setting?"

           "Uh,yes,thirtyseconds.Iftheylandhere,putonyourWitnesscloakatonceandgetyourthumbbackonthebutton.Thenwait–andifIcallyouovertome,lettheballoongoup.ButIdon’tdareshout‘Wolf!’onthisunless-"Heshieldedhiseyes."Oneofthemiscertainlygoingtolandandit’sgotthatPaddy-wagonlooktoit,allright.Oh,damn,Ihadthoughttheywouldparleyfirst."

           Thefirstcarhovered,thendroppedverticallyforalandinginthegardenareaaroundthepool;thesecondstartedslowlycirclingthehouseatlowaltitude.Thecarswereblack,squadcarriersinsize,andshowedonlyasmall,inconspicuousinsignia:thestylizedglobeoftheFederation.

           Anneputdowntheradiorelaylinkthatwouldlet"theballoongoup,"gotquicklyintoherprofessionalgarb,pickedthelinkupagainandputherthumbbackonthebutton.ThedoorofthefirstcarstartedtoopenasittouchedandJubalchargedtowarditwiththecockybelligerenceofaPekingese.