Чужак в чужой стране

           "Huh?"Samthenannounced,loudlyandbitterly,"Theonlythingwrongwiththischurchisthatamanhasabsolutelynoprivacy!"

           Thisbroughtabarrageoffoodinhisdirection,allfromdistaffmembers.Hehandleditallandtosseditbackwithoutliftingahand?untilthecomplexityofitapparentlygottobetoomuchandaplatefulofspaghetticaughthimfullintheface-thrown,Jubalnoticed,byDorcas.

           ForamomentSamlookedlikeaparticularlyghastlycrashvictim.ThensuddenlyhisfacewascleanandeventhesaucethathadspatteredonJubal’sshirtwasgone."Don’tgiveheranymore,Tony.Shewastedit;lethergohungry."

           "Plentymoreinthekitchen,"Tonyanswered."Sam,youlookgoodinspaghetti.Prettygoodsauce,huh?"Dorcas’splatesailedouttothekitchen,returned,loaded.JubaldecidedthatDorcashadnotbeenconcealingtalentsfromhim–theplatewasmuchmoreheavilyfilledthanshewouldhavechosenherself;heknewherappetite.

           "Verygoodsauce,"agreedSam."Isalvagedsomethathitmeinthemouth.Whatisit?Orshouldn’tIask?"

           "Choppedpoliceman,"Tonyanswered.

           Nobodylaughed.ForaqueasyinstantJubalwonderedifthejokewasajoke.Thenherecalledthatthesehiswaterbrotherssmiledalotbutrarelylaughed–andbesides,policemanshouldbegoodhealthyfood.Butthesaucecouldn’tbe"longpig"inanycase,oritwouldtastelikepork.Thissaucehadadistinctbeefflavortoit.

           Hechangedthesubject.