Зима тревоги нашей

           "Whenareyougoingtopay?"

           "Wouldyoucaretostepintothebackroom?"

           "Idon’tthinkyoucoulddoit."

           "Youdon’t?"

           "No,Ethan,andyoudon’teither.You’veneverhadaquickjumpinthehayinyourlife."

           "Icouldlearn,maybe."

           "Youcouldn’tfornicateifyouwantedto."

           "Icouldtry."

           "Itwouldtakeloveorhatredtoarouseyou,andeitheronewouldrequireaslowandstatelyprocedure."

           "Maybeyou’reright.Howdidyouknow?"

           "IneverknowhowIknow."

           Heslidthedoorofthecoldcabinetopen,tookoutaCoke,whichinstantlygrewajacketoffrost,openedit,andhandedthebottletoherwhileheopenedasecond.

           "Whatisityouwantofme?"

           "I’veneverknownamanlikethat.PerhapsIwanttoseewhatit’sliketobelovedorhatedthatmuch."

           "You’reawitch!Whydon’tyouwhistleupawind?"

           "Ican’twhistle.Icanraiseapunylittlestorminmostmenwithmyeyebrows.HowdoIgoaboutlightingyourfire?"

           "Maybeyouhave."

           Hestudiedhercloselyanddidnottrytoconcealhisinspection."Builtlikeabrickouthouse,"hesaid,"softandsmoothandstrongandgood."

           "Howdoyouknow?You’veneverfeltme."

           "IfIeverdo,you’dbetterrunlikehell."

           "Mylove."

           "Comeoffit.There’ssomethingwronghere.I’mconceitedenoughtoknowthecaliberofmyattractiveness.Whatdoyouwant?You’reafinebrothofadamebutyou’realsosmart.Whatdoyouwant?"

           "Itoldyourfortuneandit’scomingtrue."