Коллекционер

           Beingadecenthumanbeingisacceptingthat."

           Wealltakewhatwecanget.Andifwehaven’thadmuchmostofourlifewemakeupforitwhilethegoing’sgood,Isaid.Ofcourseyouwouldn’tknowaboutthat.

           Thenshewassmilingatme,asifshewasmucholderthanme."Youneedpsychiatrictreatment."

           TheonlytreatmentIneedisyoutotreatmelikeafriend.

           "Iam,Iam,"shesaid."Can’tyouseethat?"

           Therewasabigsilence,thenshebrokeit.

           "Don’tyoufeelthishasgoneonlongenough?"

           No,Isaid.

           "Won’tyouletmegonow?"

           No.

           "YoucouldgagmeandtiemeupanddrivemebacktoLondon.I’dnottellasoul."

           No.

           "Buttheremustbesomethingyouwanttodowithme?"

           Ijustwanttobewithyou.Allthetime.

           "Inbed?"

           I’vetoldyouno.

           "Butyouwantto?"

           I’drathernotspeakaboutit.

           Sheshutupthen.

           Idon’tallowmyselftothinkofwhatIknowiswrong,Isaid.Idon’tconsideritnice.

           "Youareextraordinary."

           Thankyou,Isaid.

           "Ifyouletmego,Ishouldwanttoseeyou,becauseyouinterestmeverymuch."

           Likeyougotothezoo?Iasked.

           "Totryandunderstandyou."

           You’llneverdothat.(ImayaswelladmitIlikedthemysterymansideofourtalk.Ifeltitshowedhershedidn’tknoweverything.)

           "Idon’tthinkIevershould."

           Thensuddenlyshewaskneelinginfrontofme,withherhandsuphigh,touchingthetopofherhead,beingalloriental.Shediditthreetimes.