Зима тревоги нашей

           Andallthiswouldbeexpensive,soofcourseyourpropertywouldhavetobesoldtopaythecosts,andguesswhowouldbetheretobuyit."

           Hiseyeswereshinyandhelistenedwithhismouthparted.Nowhelookedaway.

           "You’retryingtoscareme,Eth.Youpickedthewrongtime.CatchmeinthemorningwhenI’mcoldandtheworldisgreenvomit.Rightnow—mystrengthitisthestrengthoftenbecausethebottle’shere."Hewaveditlikeaswordandhiseyeswenttoslitsgleaminginthecandlelight."DidItellyou,Eth?IthinkIdid—adrunkhasaspecialevilkindofintelligence."

           "ButI’vetoldyouwhatwillhappen."

           "Iagreewithyou.Iknowit’strue.You’vemadeyourpoint.Butinsteadofscaringme,you’verousedmyimp.Whoeverthinksadrunkishelplessiscrazy.Adrunkisaveryspecialvehiclewithspecialabilities.Icanfightback,andrightnowIseemtowantto."

           "Goodboy!That’swhatIwanttohear."

           Hesightedatmeovertheneckofthewhiskybottleasthoughitwerethebeadontheendofarifle."You’dloanmeMary’smoney?"

           "Yes."

           "Withoutsecurity?"

           "Yes."

           "Knowingthechanceofgettingitbackisathousandtooneagainst?"

           "Yes."

           "There’sanuglythinginadrunk,Eth.Idon’tbelieveyou."Helickedhisdrylips."Wouldyouputthemoneyinmyhands?"

           "Wheneveryousay."

           "I’vetoldyounotto."

           "ButIwill."

           Thistimehetippedthebottlebackandthebigbubbleroseinsidetheglass.