Коллекционер

           AfterabitIsaid,I’dliketotakesomepicturesofyou.

           "Why?"

           You’rewhattheycallphotogenic.

           Shelookeddown,thenshelookedupatmeandsaid,"Allright.Ifyouwantto.Tomorrow."

           Thatgavemearealthrill.Thingswerereallychanged.

           Idecidedaboutthenitwastimeshewentdown.Shedidn’thardlyobject,justshrugged,letmetiethegag,andallwentwellasbefore.

           Well,whenweweredown,shewantedacupoftea(somespecialChinashemademebuy).Itookthegagoffandshecameoutintheoutercellar(herhandsstillbound)andlookedatwhereIcookedhermealsandallthat.Wedidn’tsayanything,itwasnice.Thekettleboilingandherthere.OfcourseIkeptasharpeyeonher.Whenitwasmade,Isaid,shallIbemother?

           "That’sahorridexpression."

           What’swrongwithit?

           "It’slikethosewildduck.It’ssuburban,it’sstale,it’sdead,it’s...oh,everythingsquarethateverwas.Youknow?"

           Ithinkyou’dbetterbemother,Isaid.

           Thenitwasstrange,shesmiledjustlikeshewasgoingtolaugh,andthenshestoppedandturnedandwentintoherroom,whereIfollowedwiththetray.Shepouredoutthetea,butsomethinghadmadeherangry,youcouldsee.Shewouldn’tlookatme.