Чужак в чужой стране

           Ithankyou-"

           Douglasblinked."Well,that’sclearenough.Doctor,I’llreservemyanswer–butyoushallhaveitpromptly."

           "Thankyou,sir.Formyselfaswellasformyclient."

           Douglasstartedtostandup.AssemblymanKung’svoicesharplyinterrupted."Onemoment!HowabouttheLarkinDecision?"

           JubalgrabbeditbeforeDouglascouldspeak."Ah,yes,theLarkinDecision.I’veheardquitealotofnonsensetalkedabouttheLarkinDecision–butmostlyfromirresponsiblepersons.Mr.Kung,whatabouttheLarkinDecision?"

           "I’maskingyou.Oryourclient.OrtheSecretaryGeneral."

           Jubalsaidgently,"ShallIspeak,Mr.Secretary?"

           "Pleasedo."

           "Verywell."Jubalpaused,slowlytookoutabighandkerchiefandblewhisnoseinaprolongedblast,producingaminorchordthreeoctavesbelowmiddleC.HethenfixedKungwithhiseyeandsaidsolemnly,"Mr.Assemblyman,I’lladdressthistoyou–becauseIknowitisunnecessarytoaddressittothegovernmentinthepersonoftheSecretary.Oncealong,longtineago,whenIwasalittleboy,anotherlittleboy,equallyyoungandfoolish,andIformedaclub.Justthetwoofus.Sincewehadaclub,wehadtohaverules?andthefirstrulewepassed,unanimously,Ishouldadd–wasthathenceforthwewouldalwayscallourmothers,‘crosspatch.’Silly,ofcourse?butwewereveryyoung.Mr.Kung,canyoudeducetheoutcomeofthat‘rule’?"

           "Iwon’tguess,Dr.Harshaw."

           "Itriedtoimplementour‘Crosspatch’decisiononce.