Чужак в чужой стране

           Smith,SupremeBishopDigbysentmetogiveyouapersonalinvitetoattendservicesattheArchangelFosterTabernacleoftheNewRevelation."

           "Begpardon?"

           Jubalmovedinonit."Senator,asyouknow,manythingshere–everything–isnewtotheManfromMars.ButitsohappensthatMr.Smithhasalreadyseenoneofyourchurchservicesbystereovision-"

           "Notthesamething."

           "Iknow.Butheexpressedgreatinterestinitandaskedmanyquestionsaboutit–manyofwhichIcouldnotanswer."

           Boonelookedkeenlyathim."You’renotoneofthefaithful?"

           "ImustadmitthatIamnot."

           "Comealongyourself.Alwayshopeforasinner."

           "Thankyou,Iwill."(You’reright,Iwill,friend!–forIcertainlywon’tletMikegointoyourtrapalone!)

           "NextSundaythen–I’lltellBishopDigby."

           "NextSundayifpossible,"Jubalcorrected."Wemightbeinjailbythen."

           Boonegrinned."There’salwaysthat,ain’tth’r?ButsendwordaroundtomeortheSupremeBishopandyouwon’tstayinlong."Helookedaroundthecrowdedroom."Seemtobekindo’shortonchairsinhere.Notmuchchanceforaplainsenatorwithallthosemuckamuckselbowingeachother."

           "Perhapsyouwouldhonorusbyjoiningus,Senator,"Jubalansweredsmoothly,"atthistable?"

           "Eh?Why,thankyou,sir!Don’tmindifIdo–ringsideseat."

           "Thatis,"Harshawadded,"ifyoudon’tmindthepoliticalimplicationsofbeingseenseatedwiththeofficialMarsdelegation.