Чужак в чужой стране

           "Jubalhadchangedhisownwill,knowingthatMike’swillnowmadeitunnecessarytoprovideforanywaterbrotherofMike.Butnotbeingsureoftheexact‘water’statusofthisnestling–savethatshewasusuallywet–hehadmaderedispositionsinherfavorandinfavorofdescendants,ifany,ofcertainothers."Ihadn’tintendedtotellyou,butthereisnoharminyourknowing."

           "Jubal?you’vemademecry.Andyou’vealmostmademeforgetwhatIwassaying.AndImustsayit.Mikewouldneverhurryyou,youknowthat.Igrokheiswaitingforfullness–andIgrokthatyouare,too."

           "Mmmm?Igrokyouspeakrightly."

           "Allright.IthinkyouareespeciallyglumtodaysimplybecauseMikehasbeenarrestedagain.Butthat’shappenedmany-"

           "‘Arrested?’Ihadn’theardaboutthis!Whatgoeson?"Headded,"Damnit,girl-"

           "Jubal,Jubal!Benhasn’tcalled;that’sallweneedtoknow.YouknowhowmanytimesMikehasbeenarrested–inthearmy,asacarney,otherplaces–halfadozentimesasapreacher.Heneverhurtsanybody;hejustletsthemdoit.Theycanneverconvicthimandhegetsoutassoonashewishes–atonce,ifhewantsto."

           "Whatisitthistime?"

           "Oh,theusualnonsense–publiclewdness,statutoryrape,conspiracytodefraud,keepingadisorderlyhouse,contributingtothedelinquencyofminors,conspiracytoevadethestatetruancylaws-"

           "Huh?"

           "Thatinvolvestheirownnestlings’school.