Зима тревоги нашей

           "Supposethefortune-tellerwassensitivetothingsthataregoingtohappenanyway.Isthatwhatyoumean?"

           "That’sdifferent.Buthowcancardsknow?"

           Isaid,"Thecardscan’tevenmovewithoutsomeoneturningthem."

           MargiedidnotlookatmebutIknewshesensedMary’sgrowinguneaseandshewantedinstructions.

           "Couldn’tweworkoutatest?"Iasked.

           "Well,that’safunnything.Thesethingsseemtoresentatestandgoaway,butthere’snoharmtrying.Canyouthinkofatest?"

           "Youhaven’ttouchedyourrum."Theyliftedtheirglassestogetherandsippedandputthemdown.Ifinishedmineandgotoutthebottle.

           "Ethan,doyouthinkyoushould?"

           "Yes,dearling."Ifilledmyglass."Whycan’tyouturnthecardsblindfolded?"

           "Theyhavetoberead."

           "HowwoulditbeifMaryturnedthemorIdid,andyoureadthem?"

           "There’ssupposedtobeaclosenessbetweenthereaderandthecards,butIdon’tknow—wecouldtry."

           Marysaid,"Ithinkifwedoitatall,weoughttodoittherightway."She’salwaysthatway.Shedoesn’tlikechange—littlechange,Imean.Thebigonesshecanhandlebetterthananyone,blowsupatacutfingerbutwouldbecalmandefficientwithacutthroat.IhadathrobofuneasebecauseIhadtoldMarywediscussedthis,andherewewereseemingtothinkofitforthefirsttime.

           "Wetalkedaboutitthismorning."

           "Yes,whenIcameinforcoffee.I’vebeenthinkingaboutitallday.Ibroughtthecards."