Коллекционер

           Iadmititisquiteagentleforce,butitisfrightening."

           Aslongasyoukeepyourword,I’llkeepmine,Isaid.Ihadgonered,ofcourse.

           "ButI’venotgivenyoumywordnottotryandescape,haveI?"

           Allyouliveforisthedayyouseethelastofme,Isaid.I’mjustanobodystill,aren’tI?

           Sheturnedhalfaway."Iwanttoseethelastofthishouse.Notofyou."

           Andmad,Isaid.DoyouthinkamadmanwouldhavetreatedyouthewayIhave?I’lltellyouwhatamadmanwouldhavedone.He’dhavekilledyoubynow.LikethatfellowChristie,IsupposeyouthinkI’mgoingforyouwithacarving-knifeorsomething.(Iwasreallyfedupwithherthatday.)Howdaftcanyouget?Allright,youthinkI’mnotnormalkeepingyouherelikethis.PerhapsI’mnot.ButIcantellyouthere’dbeabloominglotmoreofthisifmorepeoplehadthemoneyandthetimetodoit.Anywaythere’smoreofitnowthananyoneknows.Thepoliceknow,Isaid,thefiguresaresobigtheydon’tdaresaythem.

           Shewasstaringatme.Itwaslikewewerecompletestrangers.Imusthavelookedfunny,itwasthemostI’deversaid.

           "Don’tlooklikethat,"shesaid."WhatIfearinyouissomethingyoudon’tknowisinyou."

           What,Iasked.Iwasstillangry.

           "Idon’tknow.It’slurkingsomewhereaboutinthishouse,thisroom,thissituation,waitingtospring.Inawaywe’reonthesamesideagainstit."

           That’sjusttalk.

           "Weallwantthingswecan’thave.