Чужак в чужой стране

           HethendialedaphonenumberandsaidtoJill,"Howmuchtimedoyouwanttogetliquoredup,sugarfoot?I’lltellthekitchenwhentohavethesteaksready."

           Jillconsideredit."Ben,yourmousetraphasaprivatekitchen."

           "Ofsorts.Icangrillasteak,ifthatiswhatyoumean."

           "I’llgrillthesteak.Handmethephone."Shegaveorders,stoppingtomakesurethatBenlikedendive.

           Thetaxidroppedthemontheroofandtheywentdowntohisflat.Itwasunstylishandold-fashioned;itsoneluxurywasalivegrasslawninthelivingroom.Jillstoppedintheentrancehail,slippedoffhershoes,thensteppedbare-footedintothelivingroomandwiggledhertoesamongthecoolgreenblades.Shesighed."My,thatfeelsgood.MyfeethavehurteversinceIenteredtraining."

           "Sitdown."

           "No,Iwantmyfeettorememberthistomorrow,whenI’monduty."

           "Suityourself."Hewentintohispantryandmixeddrinks.

           Presentlyshepatteredafterhimandbecamedomestic.Thesteakwaswaitinginthepackagelift;withitwerepre-bakedpotatoesreadytobepoppedintoshort-wave.Shetossedthesalad,handedittotherefrigerator,thensetupacombinationonthestovetogrillthesteakandhavethepotatoeshotsimultaneously,butdidnotstartthecycle."Ben,doesn’tthisstovehavearemotecontrol?"

           "Ofcourse."

           "Well,Ican’tfindit."

           Hestudiedthesetuponthecontrolpanel,thenflippedanunmarkedswitch."Jill,whatwouldyoudoifyouhadtocookoveranopenfire?"

           "I’ddodarnwell.IwasaGirlScoutandagoodone.