Коллекционер

           WhenIknockedonthedoortoseeifIcouldclearaway,shewasdressedandthebedproperlymade,Iaskedifshewantedanythingbutshedidn’t.ShesaidIwastogetTCPointmentformyself,andshehandedmethetraywithjusttheghostofasmile.Itdoesn’tseemmuch,butitmarkedabigchange.Italmostseemedtomaketheheadworthit.Iwasreallyhappythatmorning.Likethesunwascomingoutagain.

           Afterthatfortwoorthreedayswewereneitheronethingnortheother.Shedidn’tsaymuch,butshewasn’tbitterorcuttingatall.ThenonedayafterbreakfastsheaskedmetositdownasIusedtointhebeginningsoshecoulddrawme.Itwasjusttogiveherselfanexcusetotalk.

           "Iwantyoutohelpme,"shesaid.

           Carryon,Ianswered.

           "Ihaveafriend,agirl,who’sgotayoungmaninlovewithher."

           Goon,Isaid.Shestopped.Towatchmewalkintoit,Isuppose.

           "He’ssomuchinlovewithherthathe’skidnappedher.He’skeepingherprisoner."

           Whatacoincidence.

           "Isn’tit?Well,shewantstobefreeagainandshedoesn’twanttohurthim.Andshejustdoesn’tknowwhattodo.Whatwouldyouadvise?"

           Patience,Isaid.

           "Whatmusthappenbeforetheyoungmanwillreleaseher?"

           Anythingmighthappen.

           "Allright.Don’tlet’splaygames.TellmewhatImustdotobesetfree."

           Icouldn’tanswer,IthoughtifIsaidlivewithmeforeverwe’donlybebackwherewestarted.

           "Marriageisnogood.Youcan’ttrustme."

           Notyet.