Чужак в чужой стране

           Okay,Jubal,youcangotohell–formonkeyingwithmykarma.IfIhaveone."

           "Amootpoint.Thepredestinationersandthefree-willerswerestilltiedinthefourthquarter,lastIheard.Eitherway,Ihavenowishtodisturbamansleepinginagutter;Iassumeuntilprovedotherwisethathebelongsthere.Mostdo-goodingremindsmeoftreatinghemophilia–theonlyrealcureforhemophiliaistolethemophiliacsbleedtodeath.beforetheybreedmorehemophiliacs."

           "Youcouldsterilizethem."

           "YouwouldhavemeplayGod?Butwe’reveeringoffthesubject.Douglasdidn’ttrytohaveyouassassinated."

           "Sayswho?"

           "SaystheinfallibleJubalHarshaw,speakingexcathedrafromhisbellybutton.Seehere,son,ifadeputysheriffbeatsaprisonertodeath,it’ssweepstakesoddsthatthecountycommissionersdidn’torderit,didn’tknowit,andwouldn’thavepermittedithadtheyknown.Atworsttheyshuttheireyestoit–afterwards–ratherthanupsettheirownapplecarts.Butassassinationhasneverbeenanacceptedpolicyinthiscountry."

           "I’dliketoshowyouthebackgroundsofquiteanumberofdeathsI’velookedinto."

           Jubalwaveditaside."Isaiditwasn’tapolicy.We’vealwayshadpoliticalassassination–fromprominentoneslikeHueyLongtomenbeatentodeathontheirownfrontstepswithhardlyapageeightstoryinpassing.Butit’sneverbeenapolicyhereandthereasonyouaresittinginthesunshinerightnowisthatitisnotJoeDouglas’policy.Consider.