Зима тревоги нашей

           Rememberourcountryplace?"

           "Wherethehouseburneddown?Whereweusedtoplayinthecellarhole?"

           "Yourememberitallright.It’smine."

           "Danny,youcouldsellitandgetanewstart."

           "Iwon’tsellit.Thecountytakesalittlebitofitfortaxeseveryyear.Thebigmeadowisstillmine."

           "Whywon’tyousellit?"

           "Becauseit’sme.It’sDanielTaylor.LongasIhaveitnoChristysonsofbitchescantellmewhattodoandnobastardscanlockmeupformyowngood.Doyougetit?"

           "Listen,Danny—"

           "Iwon’tlisten.Ifyouthinkthisdollargivesyoutherighttopreachtome—here!Takeitback."

           "Keepit."

           "Iwill.Youdon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingabout.You’veneverbeena—drunk.Idon’ttellyouhowtowrapbacondoI?Nowifyou’llgoyourownway,I’llknockonawindowandgetsomeskull-buster.Anddon’tforget—I’mbetteroffthanyouare.I’mnotaclerk."Heturnedaroundandputhisheadinthecornerofthecloseddoorwaylikeachildwhoabolishestheworldbylookingawayfromit.AndhestayedthereuntilIgaveupandwalkedon.

           WeeWillie,parkedinfrontofthehotel,stirredoutofhisnapandrolleddownthewindowofhisChevrolet."Morning,Ethan,"hesaid."Youupearlyoroutlate?"

           "Both."

           "Musthavefoundyourselfafancypiece."

           "Suredid,Willie,anhouri."

           "Now,Eth,don’ttellmeyou’dtakeupwithnostreetwalker."

           "Iswearit."

           "Can’tbelievenothingnomore.Ibetyouwasfishing.How’sMissus?"

           "Asleep."