Чужак в чужой стране

           Willyouletmeshareandgrowcloser?"

           "Now,look,littlegirl,ifIunderstoodwhatyouareoffering-"

           "Yougrokked,Jubal.Tosharetogetherallthatwehave.Ourselves.Selves."

           "Ithoughtso.Mydear,youhaveplentytoshare–but?myself–well,youarrivedsomeyearstoolate.Iamsincerelyregretful,believeme.Thankyou.Deeply.Nowgoawayandletanoldmangethissleep."

           "Youwillsleep,whenwaitingisfilled.Jubal?Icouldlendyoustrength.ButIgrokclearlythatitisnotnecessary."

           (Goddamit–itwasn’tnecessary!)"No,Dawn.Thankyou,dear."

           Shegottoherkneesandbentoverhim."Justonemoreword,then.Jilltoldme,thatifyouargued,Iwastocry.ShallIgetmytearsalloveryourchest?Andsharewaterwithyouthatway?"

           "I’mgoingtospankJill!"

           "Yes,Jubal.I’mstartingtocry."Shemadenosound,butinonlyasecondortwoawarm,fulltearsplashedonhischest–wasfollowedquicklybyanother?andanother–andstillmore.Shesobbedalmostsilently.

           Jubalcursedandreachedforher?andcooperatedwiththeinevitable.