Коллекционер

           ThefirstmorningIdidn’tseeher,butthenextdayatlastIdid.Shecameoutwithalotofotherstudents,mostlyyoungmen.MyheartbeatveryfastandIfeltsick.Ihadthecameraallready,butIcouldn’tdareuseit.Shewasjustthesame;shehadalightwayofwalkingandshealwaysworeflatheelssoshedidn’thavethatmincelikemostgirls.Shedidn’tthinkatallaboutthemenwhenshemoved.Likeabird.Allthetimeshewastalkingtoayoungmanwithblackhair,cutveryshortwithalittlefringe,veryartistic-looking.Thereweresixofthem,butthensheandtheyoungmancrossedthestreet.Igotoutofthevanandfollowedthem.Theydidn’tgofar,intoacoffee-bar.

           Iwentintothatcoffee-bar,suddenly,Idon’tknowwhy,likeIwasdrawninbysomethingelse,againstmywillalmost.Itwasfullofpeople,studentsandartistsandsuch-like;theymostlyhadthatbeatniklook.Iremembertherewereweirdfacesandthingsonthewalls.ItwassupposedtobeAfrican,Ithink.

           ThereweresomanypeopleandthenoiseandIfeltsonervousIdidn’tseeheratfirst.Shewassittinginasecondloomattheback.IsatonastoolatthecounterwhereIcouldwatch.Ididn’tdarelookveryoftenandthelightintheotherroomwasn’tverygood.

           Thenshewasstandingrightnextme.IwaspretendingtoreadanewspapersoIdidn’tseehergetup.Ifeltmyfacewasred,IstaredatthewordsbutIcouldn’tread,Idaren’tlookthesmallestlook—shewastherealmosttouchingme.Shewasinacheckdress,darkblueandwhiteitwas,herarmsbrownandbare,herhairallloosedownherback.

           Shesaid,"Jenny,we’reabsolutelybroke,beanangelandletushavetwocigarettes."Thegirlbehindthecountersaid,"Notagain,"orsomething,andshesaid,"Tomorrow,Iswear,"andthen,"Blessyou,"whenthegirlgavehertwo.