Зима тревоги нашей

           Margiesaid,"I’mthehostessandthatmeansI’mthebossandIsaymartiniswhetheryouwantthemornot."Mr.Hartoglaughed.

           Themartiniscame,notinlittleglassesbutbigasbirdbathswithtwistsoflemonpeel.Thefirsttastebitlikeavampirebat,madeitslittleanesthesia,andafterthatthedrinkmellowedandtowardthebottomturneddownrightgood.

           "We’regoingtohavetwo,"saidMargie."Thefood’sprettygoodherebutnotthatgood."

           ThenItoldhowIhadalwaysplannedtoopenabarwhereyoucouldonlygetyoursecondmartini.Iwouldmakeafortune.

           Mr.HartoglaughedandfourmorebirdbathsappearedatourtablewhileIwasstillchewingthefirstlemonpeel.

           Withthefirsttasteofhisseconddrink,Mr.Hartogdevelopedthepowerofspeech.Hehadalow,vibrantvoice,likethatofanactororasingerorasalesmanofsomeproductpeopledon’twant.Youmightevencallitabedsidevoice.

           "Mrs.Young-Hunttellsmeyou’reinbusinesshere,"hesaid."It’safascinatingtown—unspoiled."

           IwasabouttotellhimexactlywhatmybusinessconsistedinwhenMargietooktheball."Mr.Hawleyisthecomingpowerofthiscounty,"shesaid.

           "So?Whatlineareyouin,Mr.Hawley?"

           "Everything,"saidMargie."Absolutelyeverything,butnotopenly,youunderstand."Hereyeshadaliquorshine.IlookedatMary’seyesandtheywerejustbeginningtosurface,soIjudgedtheothershadhadacouplebeforewecame,oratleastMargiehad.

           "Well,thatsavesmefromdenyingit,"Isaid.