Коллекционер

           IntheendIgotthevanoutanddrovedowntothesea,realfast,Ididn’tcarewhathappened.

           Icouldhavedoneanything.Icouldhavekilledher.AllIdidlaterwasbecauseofthatnight.

           Itwasalmostlikeshewasstupid,plainstupid.Ofcourseshewasn’treally,itwasjustthatshedidn’tseehowtolovemeintherightway.Therewerealotofwaysshecouldhavepleasedme.

           Shewaslikeallwomen,shehadaone-trackmind.

           Ineverrespectedheragain.Itleftmeangryfordays.

           BecauseIcoulddoit.

           Thephotographs(thedayIgaveherthepad),Iusedtolookatthemsometimes.Icouldtakemytimewiththem.Theydidn’ttalkbackatme.

           Thatwaswhatsheneverknew.

           Well,Iwentdownthenextmorning,anditwaslikeitneverhappened.Shedidn’tsayawordaboutit,nordidI.Igotherbreakfast,shesaidshedidn’twantanythinginLewes,shewentoutinthecellartowalkabit,andthenIlockedherbackinandwentoff.ActuallyIhadasleep.

           Thateveningitwasdifferent.

           "Iwanttotalktoyou."

           Yes,Isaid.

           "I’vetriedeverything.There’sonlyonethingleftformetotry.I’mgoingtofastagain.Ishan’teatuntilyouletmego."

           Thanksforthewarning,Isaid.

           "Unless..."

           Oh,sothere’sanunless,Isaid.

           "Unlesswecometoanagreement."

           Sheseemedtowait.Ihaven’theardityet,Isaid.

           "I’mpreparedtoacceptthatyouwon’tletmegoatonce.ButI’mnotpreparedtostayanylongerdownhere.Iwanttobeaprisonerupstairs.