Коллекционер

           Therewastreesandbushesononeside,ontheotherawhoppingbighouseinbiggrounds.Ithinkitwasempty.Higherupthereweretheotherhouses,allbig.Thefirstpartofherwalkwasinbright-litstreets.

           Therewasjustthisoneplace.

           Ihadaspecialplasticbagsewninmymacpocket,inwhichIputsomeofthechloroformandCTCandthepadsoitwassoakedandfresh.Ikepttheflapdown,sothesmellkeptin,theninasecondIcouldgetitoutwhenneeded.

           Twooldwomenwithumbrellas(itbegantospotwithrainagain)appearedandcameuptheroadtowardsme.ItwasjustwhatIdidn’twant,Iknewshewasdue,andInearlygaveupthenandthere.ButIbentrightdown,theypassedtalkingnineteentothedozen,Idon’tthinktheyevensawmeorthevan.Therewerecarsparkedeverywhereinthatdistrict.Aminutepassed.Igotoutandopenedtheback.Itwasallplanned.Andthenshewasnear.She’dcomeupandroundwithoutmeseeing,onlytwentyyardsaway,walkingquickly.IfithadbeenaclearnightIdon’tknowwhatI’dhavedone.Buttherewasthiswindinthetrees.Gusty.Icouldseetherewasnoonebehindher.Thenshewasrightbesideme,comingupthepavement.Funny,singingtoherself.

           Isaid,excuseme,doyouknowanythingaboutdogs?

           Shestopped,surprised."Why?"shesaid.

           It’sawful,I’vejustrunoneover,Isaid.Itdashedout.Idon’tknowwhattodowithit.It’snotdead.Ilookedintotheback,veryworried.

           "Ohthepoorthing,"shesaid.