Зима тревоги нашей

           Iwroteanoteonthegrocerypad,saying,"Darling—I’mrestless.Havegoneforawalk.Bebacksoon."IthinkIleftitsquarelyinthecenterofthekitchentablesothatifthelightwasturnedonatthewallswitchitwouldbethefirstthingseen.

           ThenIeasedthebackdooropenandtastedtheair.Itwaschilly,smelledofacrustingofwhitefrost.Imuffledupinaheavycoatandpulledaknittedsailor’scapdownovermyears.Theelectrickitchenclockgrowled.Itsaidquarterofthree.Ihadbeenlyingwatchingtheredspotsinthedarksinceeleven.

           OurtownofNewBaytownisahandsometown,anoldtown,oneofthefirstclearanddefinedwholetownsinAmerica.Itsfirstsettlersandmyancestors,Ibelieve,weresonsofthoserestless,treacherous,quarrelsome,avariciousseafaringmenwhowereaheadachetoEuropeunderElizabeth,tooktheWestIndiesfortheirownunderCromwell,andcamefinallytoroostonthenortherncoast,holdingchartersfromthereturnedCharlesStuart.Theysuccessfullycombinedpiracyandpuritanism,whicharen’tsounalikewhenyoucomerightdowntoit.Bothhadastrongdislikeforoppositionandbothhadarovingeyeforotherpeople’sproperty.Wheretheymerged,theyproducedahard-bitten,survivingbunchofmonkeys.Iknowaboutthembecausemyfathermademeknow.HewasakindofhighamateurancestormanandI’vealwaysnoticedthatancestorpeopleusuallylackthequalitiesoftheonestheycelebrate.Myfatherwasagentle,well-informed,ill-advised,sometimesbrilliantfool.