Чужак в чужой стране

           Inanattempttounderstandwhathadhappened,JubalurgedmorebrandyonMike–whichhereadilyacceptedsincehiswaterbrotherofferedit.MikesoppedupanextravagantquantityoffineimportedliquorbeforeJubalwaswillingtoconcedethatitwasimpossibletogethimdrunk.

           SuchwasnotthecasewithJubal,despitehisyearsofpickling;stayingsociablewithMikeduringtheexperimentdulledtheedgeofhiswits.So,whenheattemptedtoaskMikewhathehaddone,MikethoughtthathewasinquiringabouttheeventsduringtheraidbytheS.S.–concerningwhichMikestillfeltlatentguilt.Hetriedtoexplainand,ifneeded,receiveJubal’spardon.

           Jubalinterruptedwhenatlasthefiguredoutwhattheboywastalkingabout."Son,Idon’twanttoknowwhatyoudid,norhowyoudidit.Whatyoudidwasjustwhatwasneeded–perfect,justperfect.But-"Heblinkedowlishly."-don’ttellmeaboutit.Don’tevertellanybodyaboutit."

           "Not?"

           "‘Not.’ItwasthedamnedestthingI’veseensincemyunclewiththetwoheadsdebatedfreesilverandtriumphantlyrefutedhimself.Anexplanationwouldspoilit."

           "Idonotgrokrightly?"

           "NordoI.Solet’snotworryandhaveanotherdrink."

           Reportersandothernewsmenstartedarrivingwhilethepartywasstillclimbing.Jubalreceivedeachofthemwithcourteousdignity,invitedthemtoeat,drink,andrelax–buttorefrainfrombadgeringhimselfortheManfromMars.

           Thosewhofailedtoheedhisinjunctionweretossedintothepool.