Чужак в чужой стране

           Inspiteoftheprecedentsalreadyset,Dorcashesitated."Dr.Mahmoud?YoudoknowhowseriousthisistoMike?"

           "Ido,Miss."

           "Well?it’sjustasserioustous.Youunderstand?Yougrok?"

           "Igrokitsfullness?orIwouldhaverefusedtodrink."

           "Allright.Mayyoualwaysdrinkdeep.Mayoureggsshareanest."Tearsstarteddownhercheeks:shedrankandpassedtheglasshastilytoMiriam.

           Miriamwhispered,"Pullyourselftogether,kid,"thenspoketoMike,"Withwaterwewelcomeourbrother,"-thenaddedtoMahmoud,"Nest,water,life."Shedrank."Ourbrother."Sheofferedhimtheglass.

           Mahmoudfinishedwhatwasleftinitandspoke,neitherinMartiannorEnglish,butArabic:"‘Andifyemingleyouraffairswiththeirs,thentheyareyourbrothers.’"

           "Amen,"Jubalagreed.

           Dr.Mahmoudlookedquicklyathim,decidednottoenquirejustthenwhetherHarshawhadunderstoodhim,orwassimplybeingpolite;thiswasneitherthetimenortheplacetosayanythingwhichmightleadtounbottlinghisowntroubles,hisowndoubts.Neverthelesshefeltwarmedinhissoul-asalways-bywaterritual?eventhoughitsmelledofheresy.

           Histhoughtswerecutshortbytheassistantchiefofprotocolbustlinguptothem."You’reDr.Mahmoud.Youbelongoveronthefarsideofthetable,Doctor.Followme."

           Mahmoudlookedathim,thenlookedatMikeandsmiled."No,Ibelonghere,withmyfriends.Dorcas,mayIpullachairinhereandsitbetweenyouandValentineMichael?"

           "Certainly,Doctor.Here,I’llscrunchover."