Коллекционер

           Iwantdaylightandsomefreshair."

           Justlikethat,Isaid.

           "Justlikethat."

           Asfromthisevening,Isuppose,Isaid.

           "Verysoon."

           IsupposeIgetacarpenterin,andthedecoratorsandall.

           Shesighedthen,shebegantogetthemessage.

           "Don’tbelikethis.Pleasedon’tbelikethis."Shegavemeafunnylook."Allthissarcasm.Ididn’tmeantohurtyou."

           Itwasnogood,shehadkilledalltheromance,shehadmadeherselflikeanyotherwoman,Ididn’trespectheranymore,therewasnothinglefttorespect.Iknewherlark,nosoonershewasupoutoftheroomshewasasgoodasgone.

           Still,whatIthoughtwasIdidn’twanttheno-eatingbusinessagain,soitwasbesttoplayfortime.

           Howsoon,Isaid.

           "Youcouldkeepmeinoneofthebedrooms.Itcouldbeallbarredandboardedup.Icouldsleepthere.Thenperhapsyou’dtiemeupandgagmeandletmesitsometimesnearanopenwindow.That’sallIask."

           That’sall,Isaid.Whatarepeoplegoingtothinkwithboarded-upwindowsallovertheplace?

           "I’dratherstarvetodeaththanstaydownhere.Keepmeinchainsupstairs.Anything.Butletmehavesomefreshairanddaylight."

           I’llthinkaboutit,Isaid.

           "No.Now."

           You’reforgettingwho’stheboss.

           "Now."

           Ican’tsaynow.Itneedsthinking.

           "Verywell.Tomorrowmorning.EitheryoutellmeIcancomeuporIdon’ttouchanyfood.Andthatwillbemur-der."Reallyfierceandnastyshelooked.Ijustturnedandwent.

           Ithoughtitalloutthatnight.