Чужак в чужой стране

           Theysnatchedyouclean,nofuss,noinquiries.Theysqueezedyoudry–thentheyhadnomoreuseforyou?andtheycouldhavedisposedofyouasquietlyasflushingadeadmousedownatoilet.Buttheydidn’t.Whynot?Becausetheyknewtheirbossdidn’treallylikeforthemtoplaythatroughandifhebecameconvincedthattheyhad(whetherincourtorout),itwouldcosttheirjobsifnottheirnecks."

           Jubalpausedforaswig."Butconsider.ThoseS.S.thugsarejustatool;theyaren’tyetaPraetorianGuardthatpicksthenewCaesar.Suchbeing,whomdoyoureallywantforCaesar?CourthouseJoewhosebasicindoctrinationgoesbacktothedayswhenthiscountrywasanationandnotjustasatrapyinapolyglotempireofmanytraditions?Douglas,whoreallycan’tstomachassassination?Ordoyouwanttotosshimoutofoffice(wecan,youknow,tomorrow–justbydouble-crossinghimonthedealI’veledhimtoexpect–tosshimoutandtherebyputinaSecretaryGeneralfromalandwherelifehasalwaysbeencheapandpoliticalassassinationavenerabletradition?Ifyoudothis,Ben–tellmewhathappenstothenextsnoopynewsmanwhoiscarelessenoughtowalkdownadarkalley?"

           Caxtondidn’tanswer.

           "AsIsaid,theS.S.isjustatool.Menarealwaysforhirewholikedirtywork.HowdirtywillthatworkbecomeifyounudgeDouglasoutofhismajority?"

           "Jubal,areyoutellingmethatIoughtnottocriticizetheadministration?Whenthey’rewrong?WhenIknowthey’rewrong?"

           "Nope.