Чужак в чужой стране

           "Ben?Youwouldn’tgivemeaway?Wouldyou?"

           "Giveyouaway?How?"

           "Anywayatall."

           "Hmm

           "Allright.Pourmeanotheronefirst."Hedidso,Jillwenton."Iknowtheydon’thavetheManfromMarshoppedup-becauseItalkedwithhim."

           Caxtongaveaslowwhistle."Iknewit.WhenIgotupthismorningIsaidtomyself,’GoseeJill.She’stheaceupmysleeve.’Honeylamb,haveanotherdrink.Havesix.Here,takethepitcher."

           "Notsofast,thanks."

           "Whateveryoulike.MayIrubyourpoortiredfeet?Lady,youareabouttobeinterviewed.Yourpublicwaitswithquiveringimpatience.Nowlet’sbeginatthebeginning.How-"

           "No,Ben!Youpromised-remember?YouquotemejustonelittlequoteandI’lllosemyjob."

           "Mmm

           "I’dbescared."

           "Well?AreyougoingtotellUncleBen?Orareyougoingtolethimdieoffrustrationandtheneatthatsteakbyyourself?"

           "Oh,I’lltalk-nowthatI’vetalkedthismuch.Butyoucan’tuseit."Benkeptquietanddidnotpresshisluck;Jilldescribedhowshehadoutflankedtheguards.

           Heinterrupted."Say!Couldyoudothatagain?"

           "Huh?Isupposeso,butIwon’t.It’srisky."

           "Well,couldyouslipmeinthatway?Ofcourseyoucould!Look,I’lldressuplikeanelectrician-greasycoveralls,unionbadge,toolkit.Youjustslipmethepasskeyand-"

           "No!"

           "Huh?Look,babygirl,bereasonable.I’llbetyoufourtoonethathalfthehospitalstaffersaroundhimareringers,stuckintherebyonenewsserviceoranother.