Чужак в чужой стране

           "Idon’tpayanyattentiontopolitics."

           "Youshould.It’sonlybarelylessimportantthanyourownheartbeat."

           "Idon’tpayanyattentiontothat,either."

           "Don’ttalkwhenI’morating.ThemajorityheadedbytheUnitedStatescouldslipapartovernight-Pakistanwouldboltatanervouscough.Inwhichcasetherewouldbeavoteofnoconfidence,ageneralelection,andMr.SecretaryGeneralDouglaswouldbeoutandbacktobeingacheaplawyeragain.TheManfromMarscanmakeorbreakhim.Areyougoingtosneakmein?"

           "Iamnot.I’mgoingtoenteranunnery.Istheremorecoffee?"

           "I’llsee."

           Theybothstoodup.Jillstretchedandsaid,"Oh,myancientbones!And,Lordy,lookatthetime!Nevermindthecoffee,Ben;I’vegotaharddaytomorrow,beingpolitetonastypatientsandstandingclearofinternes.Runmehome,willyou?Orsendmehome,Iguessthat’ssafer.Callacab,that’salamb."

           "Okay,thoughtheeveningisyoung."Hewentintohisbedroom,cameoutcarryinganobjectaboutthesizeandshapeofasmallcigarettelighter."Sureyouwon’tsneakmein?"

           "Gee,Ben,Iwantto,but-"

           "Nevermind.Iwouldn’tletyou.Itreallyisdangerous-andnotjusttoyourcareer.Iwasjustsofteningyouupforthis."Heshowedherthelittleobject."Willyouputabugonhim?"

           "Huh?Whatisit?"

           "ThegreatestboontodivorcelawyersandspiessincetheMickeyFinn.Amicrominiaturizedwirerecorder.Thewireisspringdrivensothatitcan’tbespottedbyasnoopercircuit.