Зима тревоги нашей

           "GuessIbettersticktogroceries."

           "Lookslike.HearabouttheFloodhamptonbank?"

           "Stoneytoldme.Funny,wewerejusttalkingaboutityesterday,remember?"

           "I’vegotafriendthere.Threeguys—onetalkedwithanaccent,onewithalimp.Threeguys.Surethey’llgetthem.Maybeaweek.Maybetwo."

           "Tough!"

           "Oh,Idon’tknow.Theyaren’tsmart.There’salawagainstnotbeingsmart."

           "I’msorryaboutyesterday."

           "Forgetit.Italktoomuch.That’sanotherrule—don’ttalk.I’llneverlearnthat.Say,youlookgood."

           "Ishouldn’t.Didn’tgetmuchsleep."

           "Somebodysick?"

           "No.Justoneofthosenights."

           "Don’tIknow...."

           Isweptoutthestoreandraisedtheshadesanddidn’tknowIwasdoingitorhatingit.Joey’srulespoppedaroundandaroundinmyhead.AndIdiscussedmatterswithmyfriendsontheshelves,perhapsaloud,perhapsnot.Idon’tknow.

           "Dearassociates,"Isaid,"ifit’sthatsimple,whydon’tmorepeopledoit?Whydoesnearlyeveryonemakethesamemistakesoverandover?Istherealwayssomethingforgotten?Maybetherealbasicweaknessmightbesomeformofkindness.Marullosaidmoneyhasnoheart.Wouldn’titbetruethenthatanykindnessinamoneymanwouldbeaweakness?HowdoyougetniceordinaryJoestoslaughterpeopleinawar?Well,ithelpsiftheenemylooksdifferentortalksdifferent.Butthenhowaboutcivilwar?WelltheYankeesatebabiesandtheRebsstarvedprisoners.Thathelps.