Зима тревоги нашей
Chapter 3
Suchafrosttakesafootprintandtherewerenoneahead.IhavealwaysfromthetimeIwasachildfeltacuriousexcitementwalkinginnewunmarkedsnoworfrost.Itislikebeingfirstinanewworld,adeep,satisfyingsenseofdiscoveryofsomethingcleanandnew,unused,undirtied.Theusualnightfolk,thecats,don’tliketowalkonfrost.Irememberonce,onadare,Isteppedoutbarefootonafrostypathanditfeltlikeaburntomyfeet.ButnowingaloshesandthicksocksIputthefirstscarsontheglitteringnewness.
WherePorlockcrossesTorquay,that’swherethebicyclefactoryis,justoffHicksStreet,thecleanfrostwasscarredwithlongfoot-draggedtracks.DannyTaylor,arestless,unsteadyghost,wantingtobesomewhereelseanddraggingthereandwantingtobesomewhereelse.Danny,thetowndrunk.Everytownhasone,Iguess.DannyTaylor—somanytownheadsshookslowlyfromsidetoside—goodfamily,oldfamily,lastoftheline,goodeducation.Didn’thehavesometroubleattheAcademy?Whydoesn’thestraightenup?He’skillinghimselfwithboozeandthat’swrongbecauseDanny’sagentleman.It’sashame,beggingmoneyforbooze.It’sacomfortthathisparentsaren’talivetoseeit.Itwouldkillthem—butthey’redeadalready.Butthat’sNewBaytowntalking.
InmeDannyisarawsorrowandoutofthataguilt.Ishouldbeabletohelphim.I’vetried,buthewon’tletme.DannyisasneartoabrotherasIeverhad,sameageandgrowingup,sameweightandstrength.
