Чужак в чужой стране

           "Youreallyfeelthat’ssomethingtoworryabout?"askedNelson."Truthfully,Jubal,Ihadassumedthatyouwereagourmetwhoinsistedonhisowncuisineevenawayfromhome.Ican’timaginebeingpoisoned,inamajorhotelsuchasthis."

           Jubalshookhisheadsorrowfully."Sven,you’rethesortofhonestmanwhothinkseverybodyelseishonest–andyouareusuallyright.No,nobodyisgoingtotrytopoisonyou?butyourwifemightcollectyourinsurancesimplybecauseyousharedadishwithMike."

           "Youreallythinkthat?"

           "Sven,I’llorderanythingyouwant.ButIwon’ttouchitandIwon’tletMiketouchit.ForI’lllayheavyoddsthatanywaiterwhocomestothissuitewillbeonKung’spayroll?andmaybeontwoorthreeothers’.I’mnotseeingboogiemenbehindbushes;theyknowwhereweare–andthey’vehadacoupleofhoursinwhichtoact.Sven,incoldseriousness,myprincipalworryhasbeentokeepthisladalivelongenoughtofigureoutawaytosterilizeandstabilizethepowerherepresents?sothatitwouldbetonoone’sadvantagetohavehimdead."

           Jubalsighed."Considertheblackwidowspider.It’satimidlittlebeastie,usefuland,formytaste,theprettiestofthearachnids,withitsshiny,patent-leatherfinishanditsredhourglasstrademark.Butthepoorthinghasthefatalmisfortuneofpossessingenormouslytoomuchpowerforitssize.Soeverybodykillsitonsight.

           "Theblackwidowcan’thelpit,ithasnowaytoavoiditsvenomouspower.

           "Mikeisinthesamedilemma.