Коллекционер

           HeforesawIwouldtryandgetoutandlockhimin.

           ThenItreatedhimforthreedayswithaviewofmybackandmysulkyface.Ifasted.Islept.WhenIwassurehewouldn’tcomeinIgotupanddancedaboutabit,andreadtheartbooksanddrankwater.ButIdidn’ttouchhisfood.

           AndIbroughthimtoterms.Hisconditionwassixweeks.Aweekagosixhourswouldhavebeentoomuch.Icried.Broughthimdowntofourweeks.I’mnotlesshorrifiedatbeingwithhim.I’vegrowntoknoweveryinchofthisfoullittlecrypt,it’sbeginningtogrowonmelikethosecoatsofstonesonthewormsinrivers.Butthefourweeksseemlessimportant.

           Idon’tseemtohaveanyenergy,anywill,I’mconstipatedinallways.

           Minny,goingupstairswithhimyesterday.First,theoutsideair,beinginaspacebiggerthantenbytenbytwenty(I’vemeasureditout),beingunderthestars,andbreathinginwonderfulwonderful,eventhoughitwasdampandmisty,wonderfulair.

           IthoughtImightbeabletorun.ButhegrippedmyarmandIwasgaggedandbound.Itwassodark.Solonely.Nolights.Justdarkness.Ididn’tevenknowwhichwaytorun.

           Thehouseisanoldcottage.Ithinkitmaybetimberedoutside,indoorstherearealotofbeams,thefloorsallsag,andtheceilingsareverylow.Alovelyoldhousereally,doneupinthemostexcruciatingwomen’smagazine"goodtaste."Ghastliestcolour-clashes,mix-upoffurniturestyles,bitsofsuburbanfuss,phoneyantiques,awfulbrassornaments.