Чужак в чужой стране

           Howaboutyou,smarty?"

           Heignoredit,pickedupatrayandwentbacktothelivingroom;shefollowedandsatdownathisfeet,spreadingherskirttoavoidgrassstains.Theyappliedthemselvesseriouslytomartinis.Oppositehischairwasastereovisiontankdisguisedasanaquarium;heswitcheditonfromhischair,guppiesandtetrasfadedoutandgavewaytothefaceofacommentator,thewell-knownwinchellAugustusGreaves.

           "-itcanbestatedauthoritatively,"thestereoimagewassaying,"thattheManfromMarsisbeingkeptconstantlyunderhypnoticdrugstokeephimfromdisclosingthesefacts.Theadministrationwouldfinditextremelyembarrassingif-"

           Canonflippeditoff."Gusoldboy,"hesaidpleasantly,"youdon’tknowadurnthingmoreaboutitthanIdo."Hefrowned."Thoughyoumightberightaboutthegovernmentkeepinghimunderdrugs."

           "No,theyaren’t,"Jillsaidsuddenly.

           "Eh?How’sthat,littleone?"

           "TheManfromMarsisn’tbeingkeptunderhypnotics."Havingblurtedmorethanshehadmeantto,sheaddedcarefully,"He’sgotanurseandadoctoralltohimselfoncontinuouswatch,buttherearen’tanyordersforsedation."

           "Areyousure?Youaren’toneofhisnurses-orareyou?"

           "No.They’remalenurses.Uh

           Caxtonnodded."Iheardaboutthat.Factis,youdon’tknowwhethertheyaredrugginghimornot.Doyou?"

           Jillstaredintoheremptyglass.Shefeltannoyedtohaveherworddoubtedbutrealizedshewouldhavetotellonherselftobackupwhatshehadsaid.