Зима тревоги нашей

           Hewentovereachoneinturn,howtheylooked,whattheywerelike;hecaressedthemandreassuredthemofhislove.Itwasasthoughhepickedpreciousthingsonebyonefromacabinet,lookedateach,feltit,kissedit,andputitback;andlasthegavethemasmallgood-byandshutthedoorofthecabinet.Thewholethingtookhalfanhourifhecouldgetitandthenhedidn’thavetothinkofthemagainallday.Hecoulddevotehisfullcapacity,untwistedbyconflictingthoughtandfeeling,tothejobhehadtodo—thekillingofmen.HewasthebestofficerIeverknew.Iaskedhispermissiontousehismethodandhegaveittome.Whenhewaskilled,allIcouldthinkwasthathishadbeenagoodandeffectivelife.Hehadtakenhispleasure,savoredhislove,andpaidhisdebts,andhowmanypeopleevenapproachedthat?

           Ididn’talwaysuseMajorCharley’smethod,butonadaylikethisThursday,whenIknewmyattentionshouldbeasuninterruptedaspossible,IawakenedwhenthedayopeneditsdooracrackandIvisitedmyfamilyasMajorCharleyhad.

           Ivisitedtheminchronologicalorder,bowedtoAuntDeborah.ShewasnamedforDeborahtheJudgeofIsraelandIhavereadthatajudgewasamilitaryleader.Perhapssherespondedtohername.Mygreat-auntcouldhaveledarmies.Shedidmarshalthecohortsofthought.Myjoyinlearningfornovisibleprofitcamefromher.Sternthoughshewas,shewaschargedwithcuriosityandhadlittleuseforanyonewhowasnot.Igavehermyobeisance.