Коллекционер

           Shecametowardsme,tolookin.JustasIhoped.

           There’snoblood,Isaid,butitcan’tmove.

           Thenshecameroundtheendoftheopenbackdoor,andIstoodbackasiftolethersee.Shebentforwardtopeerin,Iflashedalookdowntheroad,noone,andthenIgother.Shedidn’tmakeasound,sheseemedsosurprised,IgotthepadI’dbeenholdinginmypocketrightacrosshermouthandnose,Icaughthertome,Icouldsmellthefumes,shestruggledlikethedickens,butshewasn’tstrong,smallereventhanI’dthought.Shemadeasortofgurgling.Ilookeddowntheroadagain,Iwasthinkingthisisit,she’llfightandIshallhavetohurtherorrunaway.Iwasreadytoboltforit.Andthensuddenlyshewentlimp,Iwasholdingherupinsteadofholdingherquiet.Igotherhalfintothevan,thenIjerkedopentheotherdoor,gotinandpulledherafterme,thenshutthedoorsquietlyto.Irolledandliftedherontothebed.Shewasmine,Ifeltsuddenlyveryexcited,IknewI’ddoneit.Iputthegagonfirst,thenIstrappedherdown,nohurry,nopanic,likeIplanned.ThenIscrambledintothedrivingseat.Italltooknotaminute.Idroveuptheroad,notfast,slowandquiet,andturnedtoaplaceI’dnoticedonHampsteadHeath.ThereIgotintothebackagain,anddidthetyingupproperly,withthescarvesandeverything,sothatshewouldn’tbehurt,andsoshecouldn’tscreamorbangthesidesoranything.Shewasstillunconscious,butshewasbreathing,Icouldhearher,asifshehadcatarrh,soIknewshewasallright.

           NearRedhillIdroveoffthemainroadasplannedandupalonelysideroadandthengotinthebacktolookather.IlaidatorchwhereitgaveabitoflightandIcouldsee.Shewasawake.Hereyesseemedverybig,theydidn’tseemfrightened,theyseemedproudalmost,asifshe’ddecidednottobefrightened,notatanyprice.