Чужак в чужой стране

           JillsuddenlysqueezedMike’shandandwhispered,"Mike?stopit!"

           "But,Jill,Iwasseeing-"

           "Don’ttalkaboutit.Juststop.Oh,youjustwaittillIgetyouhome!"Boonesaidslowly,"I’dhesitatetocallthisamiracle.Machineprobablyneedsarepairman."Heshouted,"Cherubhere!"andadded,"We’dbettertakethelastoneoff,anyhow,"andfedinanotherslug.

           WithoutMike’sintercession,thewheelssloweddownontheirownandannounced:"FOSTER-LOVES-YOU,"andthemechanismtried,butfailed,todelivertenmoreslugs.ACherub,olderandwithsleekblackhair,cameupandsaid,"Happyday.Youneedhelp?"

           "Threejackpots,"Boonetoldhim.

           "‘Three’?"

           "Didn’tyouhearthemusic?Areyoudeaf?We’llbeatthebar;fetchthemoneythere.Andhavesomebodycheckthismachine."

           "Yes,Bishop."

           TheylefttheCherubscratchinghisheadwhileBoonehurriedthemonthroughtheHappinessRoomtothebaratthefarend."Gottogetyououtofhere,"Boonesaidjovially,"beforeyoubankrupttheChurch.Doc,areyoualwaysthatlucky?"

           "Always,"Harshawsaidsolemnly.HehadnotlookedatMikeanddidnotintendto–hetoldhimselfthathedidnotknowthattheboyhadanythingtodowithit?buthewishedmightilythatthisordealwereoverandallofthemhomeagain.

           Boonetookthemtoastretchofthebarcountermarked"Reserved"andsaid,"This’lldo–orwouldthelittleladyliketositdown?"

           "Thisisfine.