Зима тревоги нашей

           Cats,maybe.Yourememberanyscarsormarksonhim?"

           "Idon’twanttolookathim,Chief."

           "Well,whodoes?Howaboutscars?"

           "Irememberabarb-wirecutabovethekneeonhisleftleg,and—and"—Irolledupmysleeve—"aheartjustlikethistattooed.Wedidittogetherwhenwewerekids.Cutinwitharazorbladeandrubbedinkin.It’sstillprettyclear,see?"

           "Well—thatmaydoit.Anythingelse?"

           "Yes—bigscarunderhisleftarm,pieceoftheribcutout.Hehadpleuralpneumoniabeforethenewdrugsandtheyputinadrain."

           "Well,ofcourseiftherewasaribcut,that’lldoit.Iwon’tevenhavetogobackmyself.Letthecoronergetoffhisass.You’llhavetosweartothosemarksifit’shim."

           "Okay.Butdon’tmakemelookathim,Stoney.Hewas—youknow—hewasmyfriend."

           "Sure,Eth.SayisthereanythinginwhatIhearaboutyourunningforTownManager?"

           "It’snewstome.Chief—couldyoustayheretwominutes—"

           "Igottogo."

           "JusttwominuteswhileIrunacrossthestreetandgetadrink?"

           "Oh!Sure!Igetit.Sure—goahead.IgottogetalongwiththenewTownManager."

           Igotthedrinkandapinttootobringbackwithme.WhenStoneyhadgone,IprintedBACKATTWOonacard,closedthedoors,anddrewtheshades.

           Isatontheleatherhatboxbehindthecounterinmystore,satinthedimgreendarknessofmystore.