Чужак в чужой стране

           Askmeprivately–nextyear."

           "Oh,Iwouldn’tthinkofit.YoukeepyourlipbuttonedandI’llkeepmine.Nowdon’tgoaway-"

           "Onemorething.Thatspoolofmessagesyou’reholdingformeagainstthesamesignal.Makedamnsuretheydon’tgoout.Sendthembacktome."

           "Eh?Allright,allright–I’vebeenkeepingtheminmydesk,youweresofussyaboutit.Jubal,I’vegotacameraonthisphonescreenrightnow.Canwestart?"

           "Shoot."

           "AndI’mgoingtodothisonemyself!"Mackenzieturnedhisfaceawayandapparentlylookedatthecamera."flashnews!ThisisyourNWNWreporteronthespotwhileitshot!TheManfromMarshasjustphonedyourighthereinyourlocalstationandwantstotalktoyou!Cut.Monitor,insertflash-newsplugandacknowledgmenttosponsor.Jubal,anythingspecialIshouldaskhim?"

           "Don’taskhimquestionsaboutSouthAmerica–he’snotatourist.Swimmingisyoursafestsubject.Youcanaskmeabouthisfutureplans."

           "Okay.Endofcut.Friends,youarenowfacetofaceandvoicetovoicewithValentineMichaelSmith,theManfromMars!AsNWNW,alwaysfirstwiththeburst,toldyouearlier,Mr.SmithhasjustreturnedfromhissolitaryretreathighintheAndes–andwewelcomehimback!Wavetoyourfriends,Mr.Smith-"

           ("Waveatthetelephone,son.Smileandwaveatit.")

           "Thankyou,ValentineMichaelSmith.We’reallhappytoseeyoulookingsohealthyandtan.Iunderstandthatyouhavebeengatheringstrengthbylearningtoswim?"

           "Boss!Visitors.Orsomething."