Зима тревоги нашей

           Iwasagoddamgoodsoldier,potkin—cleverandquickandmerciless,aneffectiveunitforwartime.MaybeIcouldbeanequallyefficientunitinthistime."

           "You’retryingtotellmesomething."

           "Sadlyenough,Iam.Anditsoundsinmyearslikeanapology.Ihopeitisnot."

           "I’mgoingtosetoutlunch."

           "Nothungryafterthatnor’easterofabreakfast."

           "Well,youcannibblesomething.DidyouseeMrs.Baker’shat?ShemusthavegotitinNewYork."

           "Whathasshedonewithherhair?"

           "Younoticedthat?It’salmoststrawberry."

           "‘Tobealighttolightenthegentiles,andtobethegloryofthypeo-pleIsrael.’"

           "WhywouldMargiewanttogotoMontaukthistimeofyear?"

           "Shelovestheearlymorning."

           "She’snotanearlyriser.Ijokewithheraboutthat.Anddon’tyouthinkitwasqueer,Marullobringingcandyeggs?"

           "Doyouconnectthetwoevents?MargiegetsupearlyandMarullobringseggs."

           "Don’tbesilly."

           "I’mnot.ForonceI’mnot.IfItellyouasecret,willyoupromisenottotell?"

           "It’sajoke!"

           "No."

           "Well,Ipromise."

           "IthinkMarulloisgoingtomakeatriptoItaly."

           "Howdoyouknow?Didhetellyou?"

           "Notexactly.Iputthingstogether.Iputthingstogether."

           "Butthat’llleaveyoualoneinthestore.You’llhavetogetsomeonetohelpyou."

           "Icanhandleit."

           "Youdopracticallyeverythingnow.You’llhavetogetsomeoneintohelp."

           "Remember—itisn’tsureandit’sasecret."

           "Oh,Ineverforgetapromise."