Коллекционер

           Windfullofsmellsandfar-awayplaces.Hopes.Thesea.IamsureIcouldsmellthesea.Isaid(later,ofcourseIwasgaggedoutside),arewenearthesea?Andhesaid,tenmiles.Isaid,nearLewes.Hesaid,Ican’tsay.Asifsomeoneelsehadstrictlyforbiddenhimtospeak.(Ioftenfeelthatwithhim—ahorridlittlecringinggoodnaturedominatedbyameanbadone.)

           Indoorsitcouldn’thavebeenmoredifferent.Wetalkedabouthisfamilyagain.I’dbeendrinkingscrumpy.Idoit(alittle)toseeifIcangethimdrunkandcareless,butsofarhewon’ttouchit.He’snotateetotaller,hesays.Soit’sallpartofhiswarderishness.Won’tbecorrupted.

           M.Tellmesomemoreaboutyourfamily.

           C.Nothingmoretotell.That’dinterestyou.

           M.That’snotananswer.

           C.It’slikeIsaid.

           M.AsIsaid.

           C.IusedtobetoldIwasgoodatEnglish.ThatwasbeforeIknewyou.

           M.Itdoesn’tmatter.

           C.IsupposeyougottheAlevelandallthat.

           M.Yes,Idid.

           C.IgotOlevelinMathsandBiology.

           M.(Iwascountingstitches—jumper—expensiveFrenchwool)Good,seventeen,eighteen,nineteen...

           C.Iwonaprizeforhobbies.

           M.Cleveryou.Tellmemoreaboutyourfather.

           C.Itoldyou.Hewasarepresentative.Stationeryandfancygoods.

           M.Acommercialtraveller.

           C.Theycallthemrepresentativesnow.

           M.Hegotkilledinacar-crashbeforethewar.Yourmotherwentoffwithanotherman.

           C.Shewasnogood.Likeme.(Igavehimanicylook.Thankgoodnesshishumoursorarelyseepsout.)

           M.