Зима тревоги нашей

           "Thatmustbeamagicword,"Ethansaidaloud.Hereturnedtothestoreroomandclosedthedoorafterhim.

           Nowthroughthedustyroomtotheswingingdoorofthegrocery—butatthecubicleofthetoiletheheardthewhisperingofseepingwater.Heopenedtheplywooddoor,switchedonthelight,andflushedthetoilet.Thenhepushedopenthewidedoorwithwire-nettedglasspeekholeandwedgeditopen,kickingthewoodblockfirmlyinwithhistoe.

           Thestorewasgreenyfromthedrawnshadesoverthebigfrontwindows.Againshelvestotheceiling,filledneatlywithgleamingcannedandglassedfoods,alibraryforthestomach.Ononeside—counter,cashregister,bags,string,andthatgloryinstainlesssteelandwhiteenamel,thecoldcabinet,inwhichthecompressorwhisperedtoitself.Ethanflippedaswitchandfloodedthecoldcuts,cheeses,sausage,chops,steaks,andfishwithacoldbluishneonglare.Areflectedcathedrallightfilledthestore,adiffusedcathedrallightlikethatofChartres.Ethanpausedtoadmireit,theorganpipesofcannedtomatoes,thechapelsofmustardandolives,thehundredovaltombsofsardines.

           "Unimumetunimorum,"heintonedinanasallitanictone."Uniunimousequodunibuginomnemunim,domine—ahhhhhmen,"hesang.Andhecouldhearhiswifecommenting,"That’ssillyandbesidesitmighthurtsomebody’sfeelings.Youcan’tgoaroundhurtingfeelings."

           Aclerkinagrocerystore—Marullo’sgrocerystore—amanwithawifeandtwodarlingchildren.Whenishealone,whencanhebealone?Customersinthedaytime,wifeandkiddiesintheevening;wifeatnight,customersinthedaytime,wifeandkiddiesintheevening."Bathroom—that’swhen,"Ethansaidloudly,andrightnow,beforeIopenthesluice.