Коллекционер

           Andathirdtime,andeachtimeIsaiddon’ttalkaboutit,butshedidn’tseemtohear.

           "Wouldyougoaway?IfIdied?"

           Isaid,you’redaft.

           "Whatwouldyoudowithyourmoney?"

           Isaid,pleaselet’stalkaboutsomethingelse,butsheinsisted,afterapause,shewasspeakingnormally,buttherewerefunnygapsandthenshe’dsuddenlysaysomethingagain.

           IsaidIdidn’tknow,Ihadn’tthought.Iwasjusthumouringher.

           "Leaveittothechildren."

           Isaid,whatchildren,andshesaid,"Wecollectedmoneyforthemlastterm,theyeatearth,"andthenabitlater,"We’reallsuchpigs,wedeservetodie,"soIreckontheypinchedthemoneytheyshouldhavegivenin.Well,thenextthingwasshewenttosleepforitmusthavebeentenminutes.Ididn’tmove,Ithoughtshewaswellasleepbutsuddenlyshesaid,"Wouldyou?"again,asifwehadn’tstoppedtalking.Then,"Areyouthere?"andsheeventriedtosituptoseeme.OfcourseIcalmedherdownbutshewasawakeagainandshewouldgoonaboutthisfundshehadcollectedfor.

           Igaveuptryingtosayitwasallsilly,shewasn’tgoingtodie,soIsaid,yes,Iwould,butshewasn’t,andsoon.

           "Youpromise?"

           Yes.

           Thenshesaid,"Promises."Thensometimeafter,"Theyeatearth."AndshesaidthattwoorthreetimeswhileItriedtopathercalm,itseemeditreallydistressedher.

           Thelastthingshesaidwas,"Iforgiveyou."

           Shewasdeliriousofcourse,butIsaidIwassorryagain.