Зима тревоги нашей

           Hesaidthewords‘sonofabitch’areonlyaninsulttoamanwhoisn’tquitesureofhismother,buthowwouldyougoaboutinsultingAlbertEinstein?Hewasalivethen.Soyougorightoncallingmekidifyouwantto."

           "Yousee,kid?Morefriendly."

           "Allrightthen.WhatwereyougoingtotellmeaboutbusinessthatI’mnotdoing?"

           "Businessismoney.Moneyisnotfriendly.Kid,maybeyoutoofriendly—toonice.Moneyisnotnice.Moneygotnofriendsbutmoremoney."

           "That’snonsense,Marullo.Iknowplentyofnice,friendly,honorablebusinessmen."

           "Whennotdoingbusiness,kid,yes.Yougoingtofindout.Whenyoufindoutistoolate.Youkeepstorenice,kid,butifit’syourstoreyoumaybegofriendlybroke.I’mteachingtruelessonlikeschool.Goo-by,kid."Marulloflexedhisarmsandwentquicklyoutthefrontdoorandsnappeditafterhim,andEthanfeltdarknessontheworld.

           Asharpmetallicrappingcameonthefrontdoor.Ethanpushedasidethecurtainandcalled,"We’reclosedtillthree."

           "Letmein.Iwanttotalktoyou."

           Thestrangercamein—aspareman,aperpetuallyyoungmanwhohadneverbeenyoung,asmartdresser,hairgleamingthinlyagainsthisscalp,eyesmerryandrestless.

           "Sorrytobotheryou.Gottoblowtown.Wantedtoseeyoualone.Thoughttheoldman’dnevergo."