Чужак в чужой стране

           Wewon’tdiscussthisprivateconversation,ofcourse–butareyousuggestingthataprivatecitizenmusthaveyourpermissiontospeaktothepress?"

           "No,ofcoursenot,but-"

           "I’mafraidit’stoolate,inanycase.Thearrangementshaveallbeenmadeandtheonlywayyoucouldstopitnowwouldbebysendingmorecarloadsofyourthugs–withorwithoutwarrants.ButI’mafraidtheywouldbetoolate,evenso.Myonlyreasonformentioningitisthatitoccurstomethatyoumightwishtogiveoutanewsrelease–inadvanceofthiscominginterview–tellingthepublicthattheManfromMarshasreturnedfromhisretreatintheAndes?andisnowvacationinginthePoconos.Soastoavoidanypossibleappearancethatthegovernmentwastakenbysurprise.Youfollowme?"

           "Ifollowyou–quitewell."TheSecretaryGeneralstaredsilentlyatHarshawforseveralmoments,thensaid,"Pleasewait."Heleftthescreenentirely.

           HarshawmotionedLarrytohimwhilehereachedupwithhisotherhandandcoveredthetelephone’ssoundpickup."Look,son,"hewhispered,"withthattransceiveroutI’mbluffingonabustedflush.Idon’tknowwhetherhe’slefttoissuethatnewsreleaseIsuggested?orhasgonetosetthedogsonusagainwhilehekeepsmetieduponthephone.AndIwon’tknow,eitherway.Youhightailitoutofhere,getTomMackenzieonthephone,andtellhimthatifbedoesn’tgetthesetuphereworkingatonce,he’sgoingtomissthebiggeststorysincetheFallofTroy.