Зима тревоги нашей

           ItisMary’stendencytoconfuseintentnesswithangerandangerwithviolenceandsheisterrifiedofviolence.Somedrinkingunclesputthatfearonher,andit’sashame.Icouldfeelherfearrising.

           "Let’snotfoolwithit,"Isaid."Let’splaysomecassinoinstead."

           Margiesawthetactic,knewit,hadprobablyusedit."Allrightwithme."

           "Myfortune’sset.I’mgoingtoberich.Letitgoatthat."

           "Yousee,Itoldyouhedidn’tbelieveinit.Heleadsyouallaroundthebushandthenhewon’tplay.Hemakesmesomadsometimes."

           "Ido?Younevershowit.Youarealwaysmydarlingwife."

           Isn’titstrangehowsometimesyoucanfeelcurrentsandcross-currents—notalways,butsometimes.Marydoesn’tusehermindfororganizedthoughtandmaybethismakeshermorereceptiveofimpressions.Atensionwasgrowingintheroom.ItcrossedmymindthatshemightnotbebestfriendswithMargieanymore—mightneverfeeleasywithher.

           "I’dreallyliketoknowaboutthecards,"Isaid."I’mignorant.Ialwaysheardthatgypsiesdoit.Areyouagypsy?Idon’tthinkIeverknewone."

           Marysaid,"HermaidennamewasRussianbutshe’sfromAlaska."

           Thenthataccountedforthewidecheekbones.

           Margiesaid,"IhaveaguiltysecretI’venevertoldyou,Mary,howwecametobeinAlaska."

           "TheRussiansownedit,"Isaid."Weboughtitfromthem."

           "Yes,butdidyouknowitwasaprison,likeSiberia,onlyforworsecrimes?"

           "Whatkindofcrimes?"

           "Theworst."