Коллекционер

           "Youdon’tevenshareit.Whoseesthese?You’relikeamiser,youhoardupallthebeautyinthesedrawers."

           Iwasreallyverydisappointed,Ithoughtallhertalkwasverysilly.Whatdifferencewouldadozenspecimensmaketoaspecies?

           "Ihatescientists,"shesaid."Ihatepeoplewhocollectthings,andclassifythingsandgivethemnamesandthenforgetallaboutthem.That’swhatpeoplearealwaysdoinginart.Theycallapainteranimpressionistoracubistorsomethingandthentheyputhiminadraweranddon’tseehimasalivingindividualpainteranymore.ButIcanseethey’rebeautifullyarranged."

           Shewastryingtobeniceagain.

           ThenextthingIsaidwas,Idophotographytoo.

           Ihadsomepicturesofthewoodsbehindthehouse,andsomeoftheseacomingoverthewallatSeaford,reallyniceones,Ienlargedthemmyself.Iputthemoutonthetablewhereshecouldseethem.

           Shelookedatthem,shedidn’tsayanything.

           They’renotmuch,Isaid.Ihaven’tbeendoingitlong.

           "They’redead,"Shegavemeafunnylooksideways."Nottheseparticularly.Allphotos.Whenyoudrawsomethingitlivesandwhenyouphotographititdies."

           It’slikearecord,Isaid.

           "Yes.Alldryanddead."WellIwasgoingtoargue,butshewenton,shesaid,"Theseareclever.They’regoodphotographsasphotographsgo."