Чужак в чужой стране

           Medicalethics-

           SecretaryGeneral:(interrupting)Asalawyer,Iknowalittlesomethingofmedicaljurisprudence-sodon’tgivemethat"medicalethics"mumbo-jumbo,really.Didthispatientselectyou?

           Nelson:Notexactly,but-

           SecretaryGeneral:JustasIthought.Hashehadanyopportunitytomakeachoiceofphysicians?Idoubtit.Hispresentstatusisthatofwardofthestate.Iamactingashisnextofkin,defacto-and,youwillfind,dejureaswell.Iwishtointerviewhimalone.

           Nelson:(longpause,thenverystiffly)Ifyouputitthatway,YourExcellency,Iwithdrawfromthecase.

           SecretaryGeneral:Don’ttakeitthatway,Doctor;Ididn’tmeantogetyourbackhairup.I’mnotquestioningyourtreatment.Butyouwouldn’ttrytokeepamotherfromseeinghersonalone,nowwouldyou?AreyouafraidthatImighthurthim?

           Nelson:No,but-SecretaryGeneral:Thenwhatisyourobjection?Comenow,introduceusandlet’sgetonwithit.Thisfussingmaybeupsettingyourpatient.

           Nelson:YourExcellency,Iwillintroduceyou.Thenyoumustselectanotherdoctorforyour

           SecretaryGeneral:I’msorry,Doctor,Ireallyam.Ican’ttakethatasfinal-we’lldiscussitlater.Now,ifyouplease?

           Nelson:Stepoverhere,sir.Son,thisisthemanwhowantstoseeyou.OurgreatOldOne.

           Smith:(untranscribable)

           SecretaryGeneral:Whatdidhesay?

           Nelson:Sortofarespectfulgreeting.Mahmoudsaysittranslates:"Iamonlyanegg."Moreorlessthat,anyway.Heusedtouseitonme.It’sfriendly.Son,talkman-talk.

           Smith:Yes.