Коллекционер
Chapter 2
IthinktheythinkI’mabitpeculiar,hesaid.ItwasthefirsttimeI’vereallylaughedsinceIcamehere.
EverytimehebuysmesomethingIthinkitisproofthathe’snotgoingtokillmeordoanythingelseunpleasant.
Ishouldn’t,butIlikeitwhenhecomesinatlunch-timefromwhereverhegoes.Therearealwaysparcels.It’slikehavingaperpetualChristmasDayandnotevenhavingtothankSantaGlaus.SometimeshebringsthingsIhaven’taskedfor.Healwaysbringsflowers,andthatisnice.Chocolates,butheeatsmoreofthemthanIdo.AndhekeepsonaskingmewhatI’dlikehimtobuy.
Iknowhe’stheDevilshowingmetheworldthatcanbemine.SoIdon’tsellmyselftohim.Icosthimalotinlittlethings,butIknowhewantsmetoaskforsomethingbig.He’sdyingtomakemegrateful.Butheshan’t.
Anawfulthoughtthatcametometoday:theywillhavesuspectedG.P.Carolineisboundtogivethepolicehisname.Poorman.Hewillbesarcasticandtheywon’tlikeit.
I’vebeentryingtodrawhimtoday.Strange.Itishopeless.Nothinglikehim.
Iknowheisshort,onlyaninchortwomorethanme.(I’vealwaysdreamedtallmen.Silly.)
HeisgoingbaldandhehasanoselikeaJew’s,thoughheisn’t(notthatI’dmindifhewas).Andthefaceistoobroad.Battered,worn;batteredandwornandpittedintoabitofamask,sothatIneverquitebelievewhateverexpressionit’sgoton.IglimpsethingsIthinkmustcomefrombehind;butI’mneververysure.
