Зима тревоги нашей

           "Howdoyouknow?"

           "Hetoldme—notinsomanywords.Youknowhowheis."

           Icouldalmostseehismindleapingabout,pickinguppiecesandfittingthemtogether."Goon,"hesaid."That’sdeportation."

           "I’mafraidso.He’sbeengoodtome,Mr.Baker.Iwouldn’tdoanythingtohurthim."

           "Youoweyourselfsomething,Ethan.Whatwashisproposition?"

           "It’snotmerelyaproposition.Ihadtoputittogetheroutofalotofexcitedgobbledegook.ButIgatheredthatifIhadaquickfivethousandincash,Icouldownthestore."

           "Thatsoundsasifhe’sgoingtorunforit—butyoudon’tknowthat."

           "Idon’tknowanythingreally."

           "Sothere’snochanceofacollusioncharge.Hedidn’ttellyouanythingspecific."

           "No,sir."

           "Thenhowdidyouarriveatthatfigure?"

           "Easy,sir.That’sallwe’vegot."

           "Butyoumightgetitforless?"

           "Maybe."

           Hisquickeyewentoverthestoreandvaluedit."Ifyouarerightinyourassumptionyou’reinagoodbargainingposition."

           "I’mnotmuchgoodatthat."

           "YouknowIdon’tfavorunder-the-tabledeals.MaybeIcouldtalktohim."

           "He’soutoftown."

           "Whenwillhebeback?"

           "Idon’tknow,sir.Remember,it’sonlymyimpressionhemightdropin,andifIhadcash,hemightdeal.Helikesme,youknow."

           "Iknowhedoes."

           "I’dhatetothinkIwastakingadvantage."

           "Hecanalwaysgetitfromsomeoneelse.Hecouldgettenthousandeasyfrom—anybody."

           "ThenmaybeI’moverhopeful."