Чужак в чужой стране

           Thea.c.ofp.wasalmosttappinghisfootinimpatience."Dr.Mahmoud,please!Thechartplacesyouoverontheothersideoftheroom!TheSecretaryGeneralwillbehereanymoment–andtheplaceisstillsimplyswarmingwithreportersandgoodnessknowswhoelsewhodoesn’tbelonghere?andIdon’tknowwhatI’mgoingtodo!"

           "Thengodoitsomeplaceelse,bub,"Jubalsuggested.

           "What?Whoareyou?Areyouonthelist?"Heworriedlyconsultedtheseatingcharthecarried.

           "Whoareyou?"Jubalanswered."Theheadwaiter?I’mJubalHarshaw.Ifmynameisnotonthatlist,youcantearitupandstartover.Andlook,buster,iftheManfromMarswantshisfriendDr.Mahmoudtositbyhim,thatsettlesit."

           "Buthecan’tsithere!SeatsatthemainconferencetablearereservedforHighMinisters,ChiefsofDelegations,HighCourtJustices,andequalranks–andIdon’tknowhowIcansqueezethemallinifanymoreshowup–andtheManfromMars,ofcourse."

           "‘Ofcourse,’"Jubalagreeddryly.

           "AndofcourseDr.MahmoudhastobeneartheSecretaryGeneral–justbackofhim,sothathe’llbereadytointerpretasneeded.Imustsayyou’renotbeinghelpful."

           "I’llhelp."Jubalpluckedthepaperoutoftheofficial’shand,satdownatthetableandstudiedit."Mmm?lemmeseenow.TheManfromMarswillsitdirectlyoppositetheSecretaryGeneral,justaboutwherehehappenstobesitting.Then-"Jubalgotoutaheavysoftpencilandattackedtheseatingchart.