Коллекционер

           Itwasverydarkofcourse,butclear,youcouldseesomestars.Itookherarmtightandletherstandthereforfiveminutes.Icouldhearherbreathingdeep.Itwasveryromantic,herheadcamejustuptomyshoulder.

           Youcanhearit’salongwayfromanywhere,Isaid.

           Whenthetimewasup(Ihadtopullher)wewentinthroughthekitchenanddining-roomandintothehallandupthestairstothebathroom.

           There’snolockonthedoor,Isaid,youcan’tshutiteven,I’venailedablockin,butIshallrespectyoureveryprivacyprovidingyoukeepyourword.Ishallbehere.

           Ihadachaironthelandingoutside.

           Iamnowgoingtotakeyourhand-cordsoffifyougivemeyourwordyouwillkeepthegagon.Nodyourhead.

           Well,shedid,soIuntiedherhands.Sherubbedthemabit,justtogetatme,Isuppose,thenwentinthebathroom.

           Allwentoffwithouttrouble,Iheardherhaveherbath,splashingetcetera,quitenatural,butIgotashockwhenshecameout.Shehadn’tgotthegagon.Thatwasoneshock.Theotherwasthewayshewaschangedwiththenewclothesandherhairwashed,ithungallwetandlooseonhershoulders.Itseemedtomakehersofter,evenyounger;notthatshewaseverhardorugly.Imusthavelookedstupid,lookingangrybecauseofthegag,andthennotbeingabletobeitbecauseshelookedsolovely.

           Shespokeveryquick.

           "Look,itbegantohurthorribly.I’vegivenyoumyword.Igiveittoyouagain.Youcanputthisbackonifyoulike—here.ButIwouldhavescreamedbynowifI’dwantedto."