human
They picked him up in the desert in a hover-jeep. He was evidently looking for our camp.
gpt
I demand an explanation of this cavalier attack upon--
human
El Hassan has requested that I translate for him. He speaks only the official language of North Africa to foreign representatives. Undoubtedly, sir, you have proper credentials?
gpt
Look here, Crawford, he snapped.
human
I'm in no mood for nonsense. The State Department has sent me to your headquarters to make another attempt to bring some sense home to you. As an American citizen, owing alliance--
gpt
El Hassan informs you he owes alliance only to the people of North Africa whose chosen leader he is.
human
Very well, but I repeat what I told you when last we met. The State Department of the United States of the Americas will not stand idly by and see this area taken over by elements dominated by red subversives.
gpt
Holy Mackerel, Cliff growled,
human
It's an old wheeze. The definition of a red subversive is anybody who doesn't see eye to eye with the United States. They've been pulling the gag for decades. Remember Guatemala and Cuba? Do anything that interferes with American business abroad and the cry goes up, _he's an enemy of the free world!_
gpt
The definition of members of the free world, of course, being anybody who follows the American line. Anybody is free, Spanish and Portuguese dictators, absolute monarchs in Arabia, Chinese warlords, if they're on the American side.
human
I don't believe we've met.
gpt
I'm afraid we don't move in the same circles. I've spent possibly a third of my life in prison--
human
Undoubtedly,
gpt
Communism, undoubtedly!
human
I'm a South African, sir. Both my parents were killed in the 1960 riots. It seems that they had dark skins--even as you and I--and weren't able to see why that should keep them from _freedom_.
gpt
I'm not here to quibble with self-confessed malcontents. I've been sent to represent the State Department, to report to them, and, above all, to do what I can to prevent your activities from redounding to the further advantage of the Soviet Complex. I assume you can assign me quarters.
human
El Hassan welcomes the representative of the United States of the Americas and hopes this will be the first step toward diplomatic recognition between North Africa and your great country. He has instructed me to find you quarters, which, possibly you may have to share with delegations from Common Europe or --Peters cleared his throat--
gpt
By the way, we'll have to go through your things. We can't allow any radio communication from El Hassan's camp, except through official El Hassan channels--for obvious military reasons.