Коллекционер
Chapter 1
Ialwayswentoutofthekitchenfirstwithmyhandonherjustincase,buttherewasastepthere,Ifelloveritoncemyself,perhapsthatwasit,whenshefellitseemednatural,andnaturalthatthebrushesandbottlesandthingsshecarriedinatowel(herhandsweredoneinfront,soshealwayscarriedthingsupagainstherfront)shouldallfalloutwithanoiseonthepath.Shegotupallinnocent,bendingandrubbingherkneesandlikeaproperfoolIkneltdowntopickthestuffup.OfcourseIkeptahandonherdressing-gown,butItookmyeyesoffherwhichwasfatal.
ThenextthingIknewwasIgotaterribleblowonthesideofthehead.Luckilyitmissedmyhead,myshoulderorrathermycoat-collartooktheforce.AnywayIfellsideways,halftotryandescapethenextattack.Iwasoffbalanceandcouldn’treachatherarms,thoughIstillheldontoherdressing-gown.Icouldseeherwithsomethinginherhands,Isuddenlyknewitwastheoldodd-jobsaxe;Iuseditinthegardenonlythatmorningwhereabranchcameawayoffoneoftheoldappletreeswiththewindthenightbefore.IknewlikeinaflashIhadslippedatlast.Leftitoutonthesillofthekitchenwindowandshemusthavespottedit.Justonemistake,andyouloseeverything.
Foramomentshehadmeathermercy,itwasamiracleshedidn’tdomein.ShestruckdownagainandIonlyhalfgotmyarmupandIfeltaterriblegashingblowinthetemple,itmademyheadringandthebloodseemedtogushoutatonce.
