Коллекционер

           Youmeanthatoldplaceinthecellar,Isaid,asifIhadjustcottonedon.That’sblockedup.Beenbrickedin.

           Butthisisascheduledbuilding.Youcan’tdothingslikethat.

           Isaid,wellit’sstillthere.It’sjustyoucan’tseeanything.ItwasdonebeforeIcame.

           Thenhewantedtolookindoors.IsaidIwasinahurry,Icouldn’twait.He’dcomeback—"Justtellmeaday."Iwouldn’thaveit.IsaidIgotalotofrequests.Hewentonnosing,heevenstartedthreateningmewithanordertoview,theAncientMonumentspeople(whoevertheyare)wouldbackhimup,reallyoffensive,andslimyatthesametime.Intheendhejustdroveoff.Itwasallbluffonhispart,butthatwasthesortofthingIhadtothinkabout.

           Itookthephotosthatevening.Justordinary,ofhersittingreading.Theycameoutquitewell.

           Onedayaboutthenshedidapictureofme,likereturnedthecompliment.Ihadtositinachairandlookatthecorneroftheroom.AfterhalfanhourshetoreupthedrawingbeforeIcouldstopher.(Sheoftentoreup.Artistictemperament,Isuppose.)

           I’dhavelikedit,Isaid.Butshedidn’tevenreplytothat,shejustsaid,don’tmove.

           Fromtimetotimeshetalked.Mostlypersonalremarks.

           "You’reverydifficulttoget.You’resofeatureless.Everything’snondescript.I’mthinkingofyouasanobject,notasaperson."

           Latershesaid,"You’renotugly,butyourfacehasallsortsofuglyhabits.Yourunderlipisworst.Itbetraysyou."