Зима тревоги нашей

           You’regoingtobeabigshot,didyouknow?Everythingyoutouchwillturntogold—aleaderofmen."Shewalkedquicklytothedoorandthenturnedback,grinning."IdareyoutoliveuptoitandIdareyounotto.Solong,Savior!"Howstrangethesoundofheeltapsonpavement,strikinginanger.

           Atteno’clockeverythingchanged.ThebigglassdoorsofthebankfoldedopenandariverofpeopledippedinformoneyandbroughtthemoneytoMarullo’sandtookawaythefancyfoodsEastercallsfor.Ethanwasbusyasawaterskateruntilthesixthhourstruck.

           Theangryfirebellfromitscupolaonthetownhallclangedthesixthhour.Thecustomersdriftedawaywiththeirbagsofbakedmeats.Ethanbroughtinthefruitstandsandclosedthefrontdoors,andthenfornoreasonexceptthatadarknessfellontheworldandonhim,hepulleddownthethickgreenshadesandthedarknessfellonthestore.Onlytheneoninthecoldcounterglaredaghostlyblue.

           Behindthecounterhecutfourfatslicesofryebreadandbutteredthemliberally.HeslidopenthecolddoorsandpickedouttwoslicesofprocessedSwisscheeseandthreeslicesofham."Lettuceandcheese,"hesaid,"lettuceandcheese.Whenamanmarrieshelivesinthetrees."Hemortaredthetopslicesofbreadwithmayonnaisefromajar,pressedthelidsdownonthesandwiches,andtrimmedthebitsoflettuceandhamfatfromtheedges.Nowacartonofmilkandasquareofwaxedpaperforwrapping.HewasfoldingtheendsofthepaperneatlywhenakeyrattledinthefrontdoorandMarullocamein,wideasabearandsack-chestedsothathisarmsseemedshortandstoodoutfromhisbody.Hishatwasonthebackofhisheadsothathisstiffiron-graybangsshowedlikeacap.Marullo’seyeswerewetandslyandsleepy,butthegoldcapsonhisfrontteethshoneinthelightfromthecoldcounter.