Чужак в чужой стране

           Commandantandtellhimthatyouwereanxioustolocateacertainmanasquicklyaswashumanlypossible–well,sir,itwouldproducemoremeaningfulactivityinthenexthourthanImyselfcouldhopetoproduceinacentury."

           "WhyonEarthshouldIalertallpoliceforceseverywheretofindonescandal-mongeringreporter?"

           "Not‘onEarth,’mydearsir–onMars.IaskedyoutoregardthisasafavortotheManfromMars."

           "Well?it’sapreposterousrequestbutI’llgoalong."DouglaslookeddirectlyatMike."AsafavortoSmith,only.ButIshallexpectsimilarcooperationwhenwegetdowntocases."

           "Youhavemyassurancethatitwilleasethesituationenormously."

           "Well,Ican’tpromiseanything.Yousaythemanismissing.Ifheis,hemayhavefalleninfrontofatruck;hemaybedead–andI,forone,wouldnotmourn."

           Harshawlookedverygrave."Letushopenot,forallofoursakes."

           "Whatdoyoumean?"

           "I’vetriedtopointoutthatsadpossibilitytomyclient–butitislikeshoutingintothewind.Hesimplywon’tlistentotheidea."Harshawsighed."Ashambles,sir.Ifwecan’tfindthisCaxton,thatiswhatwewillbothhaveonourbands:ashambles."

           "Well,I’lltry.Butdon’texpectmiracles,Doctor."

           "NotI,sir.Myclient.HehastheMartianviewpoint?andhedoesexpectmiracles.Solet’sprayforone."

           "You’llhearfromme.That’sallIcansay."

           Harshawbowedwithoutgettingup."Yourservant,sir."