Зима тревоги нашей

           Whenhestoppeddrinking,hiseyeswereevenshinierbuttheywerecoldandimpersonalasasnake’seyes."Canyougetthemoneythisweek,Eth?"

           "Yes."

           "Wednesday?"

           "Yes."

           "Haveyougotacoupleofbucksnow?"

           Ihadjustthat—adollarbill,ahalf,aquarter,twodimesandanickel,andthreepennies.Ipouredthemintohisoutstretchedhand.

           Hefinishedthebottleanddroppeditonthefloor."SomehowIneverputyoudownforclever,Eth.Doyouknowevenabasiccurewouldcostaboutathousanddollars?"

           "Allright."

           "Thisisfun,Eth.Thisisn’tchess,it’spoker.Iusedtobeprettygoodatpoker—toogood.You’rebettingI’llputupmymeadowascollateral.Andyou’rebettingthatathousanddollars’worthofboozewillkillme,andthereyou’llbewithanairportinyourlap."

           "That’sanastything,Danny."

           "IwarnedyouIwasnasty."

           "Couldn’tyouthinkImeantitthewayIsaidit?"

           "No.ButI’vegotawayto—keepitthewayyousaidit.Youremembermeintheolddays,Eth.DoyouthinkIdon’trememberyou?You’rethekidwiththebuilt-injudge.Okay.I’mgettingdry.Thebottle’sempty.I’mgoingout.Mypriceisonethousandbucks."

           "Allright."

           "IncashonWednesday."

           "I’llbringit."

           "Nonote,nosignature,nonothing.Anddon’tthinkyourememberme,Ethan,fromtheolddays.Myfriendherehaschangedallthat.Ihavenoloyalty,nofairness.Whatyou’llgetisnothingbutheartylaughter."

           "Iwouldonlyaskyoutotry."