Чужак в чужой стране

           Whendidyoustartdrinkinginthemorning?Dothatatyourageandyou’llruinyourstomach.You’llneverlivetobeahappyoldsoak,likeme."

           Mikelookedathispartlyemptiedglass."Idrinkwhenit’sasharingtodoso.Itdoesn’thaveanyeffectonme,noronmostoftheothers,unlesswewantitto.OnceIletithaveitseffectwithoutstoppingit,untilIpassedout.It’sanoddsensation.Notagoodness,Igrok.Justawaytodiscorporateforawhilewithoutdiscorporating.Icangetasimilareffect,onlymuchbetterandwithnodamagetoberepairedafterwards,bywithdrawing."

           "Economical,atleast."

           "Uhhuh,ourliquorbillisn’tanything.Matteroffact,runningthatwholeTemplehasn’tcostwhatitcostsyoutokeepupourhome.Exceptfortheinitialinvestmentandreplacingsomeoftheprops,coffeeandcakeswasaboutall–wemadeourownfun.Wewerehappy.WeneededsolittlethatIusedtowonderwhattodowithallthemoneythatcamein."

           "Thenwhydidyoutakecollections?"

           "Huh?Oh,youhavetocharge’em,Jubal.Themarkswon’tpayseriousattentiontoanythingthat’sfree."

           "Iknewthat,Ijustwonderedifyoudid."

           "Oh,yes,Igrokmarks,Jubal.AtfirstIdidtrytopreachfree–justgiveitaway.Ihadplentyofmoney,Ithoughtitwasallright.Itdidn’twork.Wehumanshavetomakeconsiderableprogressbeforewecanacceptafreegift,andvalueit.UsuallyIneverletthemhaveanythingfreeuntilaboutSixthCircle.