"Please," Michael said desperately, "I want to get my wife home. We’re distant cousins and our families are very close. I’m an American citizen. I’ve been traveling a long way and I want to get home. Also, maybe you noticed that one of my traveling companions is Mr. Serrin Shamandar. Maybe you’ve heard about him saving the mayor’s life down at Columbia the other day. We’ve been waiting more than half an hour while you checked on all this, and now you tell me you’re going to keep us even longer. I’m sorry, officer, but I must demand the opportunity to put a call through to the mayor’s office. And might I also have your name?"