Чужак в чужой стране

           Jubalsoapedanddunkedhimselfandrefrainedfromloungingasthewarmwaterinvitedhistiredmusclestodo;hewantedtoseeBenandfindoutthescore.ShortlyhewascheckingthroughwhatLarryhadpackedforhimandgruntedwithannoyancetofindnosummerweightslacks.Hesettledforsandals,shorts,andabrightsportshirt,whichmadehimlooklikeapaint-splashedemuandaccentedhishairy,thinninglegs.ButJubalhadceasedworryingabouthisappearanceseveraldecadesearlier;itwascomfortableanditwoulddo,atleastuntilheneededtogooutontheStreet?orintocourt.DidthebarassociationherehavereciprocitywithPennsylvania?Hecouldn’trecall.Well,itwasalwayspossibletoactwithanotherattorney-of-record.

           Hefoundhiswayintoalargelivingroom,mostcomfortablebuthavingthatimpersonalqualityofallhotelaccommodations.SeveralpeopleweregatherednearthelargeststereovisiontankJubalhadeverseenoutsideatheater.Oneofthemglancedup,said,"Hi,Jubal,"andcametowardhim.

           "Hi,Ben.What’sthesituation?IsMikestillinjail?"

           "Oh,no.HegotoutshortlyafterItalkedtoyou."

           "He’sbeenarraignedthen.Isthepreliminaryhearingset?"

           Bensmiled."That’snotquitethewayitis,Jubal.Mikeistechnicallyafugitivefromjustice.Hewasn’treleasedonbail.Heescaped."

           Juballookeddisgusted."Whatasillythingtodo.Nowthecasewillbeeighttimesasdifficult."

           "Jubal,Itoldyounottoworry.Alltherestofusarepresumeddead–andMikeissimplymissing.