Зима тревоги нашей

           Nomoreunimusforyou.WonderwhatSaintFranciswouldsayifadogbithim,orabirdcrappedonhim.Wouldhesay,‘Thankyou,Mr.Dog,grazietanto,SignoraBird’?"Heturnedhisheadtowardarattlingandaknockingandapoundingonthealleydoor,wentquicklythroughthestoreroom,muttering,"Morecustomersthanifwewereopen."

           JoeyMorphystaggeredin,clutchinghisthroat."ForGod’ssake,"hegroaned."Succor—oratleastPepsi-Cola,forIdiethofdryth.Whyisitsodarkinhere?Aremineeyesfailethingtoo?"

           "Shadespulleddown.Tryingtodiscouragethirstybankers."

           Heledthewaytothecoldcounteranddugoutafrostedbottle,uncappedit,andreachedforanother."GuessI’llhaveonetoo."

           Joey-boyleanedagainstthelightedglassandpoureddownhalfthebottlebeforeheloweredit."Hey!"hesaid."Somebody’slostFortKnox."Hepickedupthebillfold.

           "That’salittlegiftfromtheB.B.D.andD.drummer.He’stryingtohustlesomeofourbusiness."

           "Well,heain’thustlingpeanuts.Thishere’squality,son.Gotyourinitialsonit,too,ingold."

           "Ithas?"

           "Youmeanyoudon’tknow?"

           "Hejustleftaminuteago."

           Joeyflippedopenthefoldedleatherandrustledtheclearplasticidentificationenvelopes.