Зима тревоги нашей

           Headjusted.

           "Whatisyouraskingprice?"

           "Fifty-onepercent."

           "Ofwhat?"

           "Ofthecorporationorpartnershiporwhatever."

           "That’sridiculous."

           "Youwantanairfield.Ihavetheonlyoneavailable."

           HewipedhisglassescarefullyonapieceofpocketKleenex,thenputthemon.Buthedidn’tlookatme.Helookedacircleallaroundmeandleftmeout.Finallyheasked,"Didyouknowwhatyouweredoing,Ethan?"

           "Yes."

           "Doyoufeelgoodaboutit?"

           "IguessIfeelasthemanfeltwhotookhimabottleofwhiskyandtriedtogethimtosignapaper."

           "Didhetellyouthat?"

           "Yes."

           "Hewasaliar."

           "Hetoldmehewas.Hewarnedmehewas.Maybethere’ssometrickinthesepapers."Isweptthemgentlyfrominfrontofhimandfoldedthetwosoiledpencil-writtensheets.

           "There’satrickallright,Ethan.Thosedocumentsarewithoutaflaw,dated,witnessed,clear.Maybehehatedyou.Maybehistrickwasthedisintegrationofaman."

           "Mr.Baker,nooneinmyfamilyeverburnedaship."

           "We’lltalk,Ethan,we’lldobusiness.We’llmakemoney.Alittletownwillspringuponthehillsaroundthemeadow.Iguessyou’llhavetobeTownManagernow."

           "Ican’t,sir.Thatwouldconstituteaconflictofinterest.Someprettysadmenarefindingthatoutrightnow."

           Hesighed—acautioussighasthoughhefearedtoawakensomethinginhisthroat.

           Istoodupandrestedmyhandonthecurvedandpaddedleatherbackofthesupplicant’schair