Чужак в чужой стране

           FinallyJubalsaid,"DoyoufeelbustedupbythedestructionofyourTemple?Iwouldn’tblameyou.Butyouaren’tbroke,youcanbuildagain."

           "Oh,no,thatdoesn’tmatterintheslightest!"

           "Eh?"

           "Thattemplewasadiarywithallitspagesfilled.Timeforanewone,ratherthanwriteoveranddefacethefilledpages.Firecan’tdestroytheexperienceinit?andstrictlyfromastandpointofpublicityandpracticalchurchpolitics,beingrunoutofitinsospectacularafashionwillbehelpful,inthelongrun.No,Jubal,thelastcoupleofdayshavesimplybeenanenjoyablebreakinabusyroutine.Noharmdone."Hisexpressionchanged."Father?latelyIlearnedthatIwasaspy."

           "Whatdoyoumean,son?Explainyourself."

           "FortheOldOnes.Theysentmeheretospyonourpeople."

           Jubalthoughtaboutit.Finallyhesaid,"Mike,Iknowthatyouarebrilliant.YouobviouslypossesspowersthatIdon’thaveandthatIhaveneverseenbefore.Butamancanbeageniusandstillfallillwithdelusions."

           "Iknow.LetmeexplainandyoucandecidewhetherornotI’mcrazy.YouknowhowthesurveillancesatellitesusedbytheSecurityForcesoperate."

           "No."

           "Idon’tmeanthedetailsthatwouldinterestDuke;Imeanthegeneralscheme.Theyorbitaroundtheglobe,pickingupdataandstoringit.Ataparticularpoint,theSky-Eyeiskeyedanditpoursoutinaspateallthatithasseen.Thatiswhatwasdonewithme.YouknowthatweoftheNestusewhatiscalledtelepathy."

           "I’vebeenforcedtobelieveit."