Чужак в чужой стране

           Butthiscab-"Hepatteditsseatcushions."Theycan’tgimmickthousandsofcabs.Onepickedatrandomshouldbesafe."

           Jillshivered."Ben,youdon’treallythinktheywould

           "Don’tI,now!Yousawmycolumn.Ifiledthatcopyninehoursago.Doyouthinktheadministrationwillletmekickitinthestomachwithoutdoingsomethingaboutit?"

           "Butyouhavealwaysopposedthisadministration."

           "That’sokay.ThedutyofHisMajesty’sLoyalOppositionistooppose.Theyexpectthat.Butthisisdifferent;Ihavepracticallyaccusedthemofholdingapoliticalprisoneryouinthis."

           "Me?I’mnotafraid.AtleastnotsinceIturnedthatgadgetbackovertoyou."

           "You’reassociatedwithme.Ifthingsgetrough,thatcouldbeenough."

           Jillshutup.Shehadneverinherlifeexperiencedthegiantruthlessnessofgiantpower.Outsideofherknowledgeofnursingandofthejoyousguerillawarfarebetweenthesexes,JillwasalmostasinnocentastheManfromMars.Thenotionthatshe,JillBoardman,whohadneverexperiencedanythingworsethanaspankingasachildandanoccasionalharshwordasanadult,couldbeinphysicaldangerwasalmostimpossibleforhertobelieve.Asanurse,shehadseentheconsequencesofruthlessness,violence,brutality-butitcouldnothappentoher.

           TheircabwascirclingforalandinginHagerstownbeforeshebrokethemoodysilence."Ben?Supposethispatientdoesdie.Whathappens?"

           "Huh?"Hefrowned."That’sagoodquestion,averygoodquestion.I’mgladyouaskedit;itshowsyouaretakinganinterestinthework.