Зима тревоги нашей

           It’samurder.I’mgoingtobringupherkeelsomeday."

           "Herkeel?"

           "Iknowjustwhereshelies.Halfacableoffshore."

           "Whywouldyoudothat?"

           "I’dliketoseeiftheoakissound.ItwasShelterIslandvirginoak.She’snotalldeadifherkeel’salive.You’dbettergo,ifyou’regoingtoblesstheopeningofthesafe.AndI’vegottoopenup."

           Thenhisbalancewheelstartedandhetickedofftothebank.

           IthinknowIhadexpectedBiggerstoo.Poorfellowmustspendmostofhistimewatchingdoorways.AndhemusthavebeenwaitingsomewhereinpeekingrangeforMr.Bakertoleave.

           "Ihopeyou’renotgoingtojumpdownmythroat."

           "WhyshouldI?"

           "Icanunderstandwhyyouwerehuffy.IguessIwasn’tvery—diplomatic."

           "Maybethatwasit."

           "Haveyouchewedonmyproposition?"

           "Yes."

           "Whatdoyouthink?"

           "Ithinksixpercentwouldbebetter."

           "Idon’tknowwhetherB.B.willgoforit."

           "It’suptothem."

           "Theymightgofiveandahalf."

           "Andyoumightgotheotherhalf."

           "Jesus,man.Ithoughtyouwerebeingacountryboy.Youcutdeep."

           "Takeitorleaveit."

           "Well,whatkindofvolumewoulditbe?"

           "There’sapartiallistoverbythecashregister."

           Hestudiedthestripofwrappingpaper."LookslikeI’mhooked.And,brother,I’mbleeding.CanIgetthefullordertoday?"

           "Tomorrowwouldbebetterandbigger."

           "Youmeanyou’llswitchthewholeaccount?"

           "Ifyouplaynice."

           "Brother,youmusthaveyourbossbythethroat.