Чужак в чужой стране

           Jillreaditandrereadit:

           DoctorNelson:Howareyoufeeling,boy?Areyoustrongenoughtotalkforawhile?

           Smith:Yes.

           DoctorNelson:Amanwantstotalktoyou.

           Smith:(pause)Who?(Caxtonhadwrittenin:AllofSmith’sspeechesareprecededbylongpauses,somelongerthanothers.)

           Nelson:Thismanisourgreat(untranscribablegutturalword-Martian?).HeisouroldestOldOne.Willyoutalkwithhim?

           Smith:(verylongpause)Iamgreathappy.TheOldOnewilltalkandIwilllistenandgrow.

           Nelson:No,no!Hewantstoaskyouquestions.

           Smith:IcannotteachanOldOne.

           Nelson:TheOldOnewishesit.Willyoulethimaskyouquestions?

           Smith:Yes.

           (Backgroundnoises,shortdelay.)

           Nelson:Thisway,sir.Uh,IhaveDoctorMahmoudstandingby,readytotranslateforyou.

           Jillread"NewVoice."Caxtonhadscratchedthisoutandhadwrittenin:"SecretaryGeneralDouglasilt"

           SecretaryGeneral:Iwon’tneedhim.YousaySmithunderstandsEnglish.

           Nelson:Well,yesandno,YourExcellency.Heknowsquiteanumberofwords,but,asMahmoudsays,hedoesn’thaveanyculturalcontexttohangthewordson.Itcanberatherconfusing.

           SecretaryGeneral:Oh,we’llgetalongallright,I’msure.WhenIwasayoungsterIhitchhikedallthroughBrazil,withoutknowingawordofPortuguesewhenIstarted.Now,ifyouwilljustintroduceus-thenleaveusalone.

           Nelson:Sir?IthinkIhadbetterstaywithmypatient.

           SecretaryGeneral:Really,Doctor?I’mafraidImustinsist.Sorry.

           Nelson:AndIamafraidthatImustinsist.Sorry,sir.