Зима тревоги нашей

           Whatdoyoudowiththingslikethat,Stoney?"

           "Oh,checktoseeifthey’rehotandthenthrowthemintheocean."Heseemedtobefeelingbetter,butithadbeenalong,hotday.Icouldn’tlethimbe.

           "Rememberacoupleofyearsagotherewasacasesomewhereupstate?Policeweresellingconfiscatedguns."

           Stoneysmiledthesweetsmileofanalligatorandwiththesamegayinnocence."Ihadonehellofaweek,Eth.Onehellofaweek.Ifyou’regoingaboutneedlingme,why,don’tdoit,becauseI’vehadonehellofaweek."

           "Sorry,Chief.Anythingasobercitizencandotohelp,likegettingdrunkwithyou?"

           "IwishtoChristIcould.I’drathergetdrunkthananythingIcanthinkof."

           "Whydon’tyou?"

           "Doyouknow?No,howcouldyou?IfIonlyknewwhatit’sforandwhereit’sfrom."

           "Whatyoutalkingabout?"

           "Forgetit,Eth.No—don’tforgetit.You’reafriendofMr.Baker.Hashegotanydealson?"

           "I’mnotthatgoodafriend,Chief."

           "HowaboutMarullo?WhereisMarullo?"

           "WentintoNewYork.Hewantstogethisarthritischeckedover."

           "Godalmighty.Idon’tknow.Ijustdon’tknow.Iftherewasjustaline,why,I’dknowwheretojump."

           "You’renottalkingsense,Stoney."

           "No,I’mnot.Italkedtoomuchalready."

           "I’mnottoobrightbutifyouwanttounload—"

           "Idon’t.No,Idon’t.They’renotgoingtopinaleakonmeevenifIknewwhotheywere.Forgetit,Eth.I’mjustaworriedman."

           "Youcouldn’tleaktome,Stoney.