Коллекционер

           Anotherdayshedrewabowloffruit.Shedrewthemabouttentimes,andthenshepinnedthemalluponthescreenandaskedmetopickthebest.IsaidtheywereallbeautifulbutsheinsistedsoIplumpedforone.

           "That’stheworst,"shesaid."That’sacleverlittleartstudent’spicture."Shesaid,"Oneofthemisgood.Iknowitisgood.Itisworthalltherestahundredtimesover.IfyoucanpickitinthreeguessesyoucanhaveitfornothingwhenIgo.IfIgo.Ifyoudon’t,youmustgivemetenguineasforit."

           Well,ignoringherdigIhadthreeguesses,theywereallwrong.Theonethatwassogoodonlylookedhalf-finishedtome,youcouldhardlytellwhatthefruitwereanditwasalllop-sided.

           "ThereI’mjustonthethresholdofsayingsomethingaboutthefruit.Idon’tactuallysayit,butyougettheideathatImight.Doyoufeelthat?"

           IsaidIdidn’tactually.

           ShewentandgotabookofpicturesbyCezanne.

           "There,"shesaid,pointingtoacolouredoneofaplateofapples."He’snotonlysayingeverythingthereisabouttheapples,buteverythingaboutallapplesandallformandcolour."

           Itakeyourwordforit,Isaid.Allyourpicturesarenice,Isaid.

           Shejustlookedatme.

           "Ferdinand,"shesaid."TheyshouldhavecalledyouCaliban."

           Onedaythreeorfourafterherfirstbathshewasveryrestless.Shewalkedupanddownintheoutercellaraftersupper,satonthebed,gotup.Iwaslookingatdrawingsshe’ddonethatafternoon.