Чужак в чужой стране

           Anythingcanhappen-anything!"

           Theannouncer’svoiceclimbed:"Yes,he’scomingoutnow–he’swalkingtowardthepeople!"Thescenecuttoreverse;Mikewaswalkingdirectlytowardanothercamera.AnneandDukewerebehindhimanddroppingfartherbehind."Thisisit!Thisisit!Thisistheblow-off’."

           Mikecontinuedtowalkunhurriedlytowardthecrowduntilheloomedupinthestereotankinlifesize,asifhewereintheroomwithhiswaterbrothers.Hestoppedonthegrassvergeinfrontofthehotel,afewfeetfromthecrowd."Youcalledme?"

           Hewasansweredwithagrowl.

           Theskyheldscatteredclouds;atthatinstantthesuncameoutfrombehindoneandashaftofgoldenlighthithim.

           Hisclothesvanished.Hestoodbeforethem,agoldenyouth,clothedonlyinhisownbeauty–beautythatmadeJubal’sheartache,thinkingthatMichelangeloinhisancientyearswouldhaveclimbeddownfromhishighscaffoldingtorecorditforgenerationsunborn.Mikesaidgently,"Lookatme.Iamasonofman."

           Thescenecutforaten-secondplug,alineofcan-candancerssinging:

           "Comeon,ladies,doyourduds!

           Inthesmoothest,yummiestsuds!

           LoverSoapiskindtohands-

           Butbesureyousavethebands!"

           Thetankfilledcompletelywithfoamysudsamidgirlishlaughterandthescenecutbacktothenewscast:"Goddamnyou!"AhalfbrickcaughtMikeintheribs.Heturnedhisfaceslightlytowardhisassailant."ButyouyourselfareGod.Youcandamnonlyyourself?andyoucanneverescapeyourself."