Коллекционер

           Youtriedtoescape,Isaid.

           "Oh,shutup!"shecried.Ibeganlookingforthethingshehaddoneitwith.Suddenlysomethingflewpastmeandclat-teredonthefloor.Itwasanoldsix-inchnail,Idon’tknowhowshe’dgotholdofit.

           That’sthelasttimeIleaveyoualoneforsolong,Isaid.Ican’ttrustyouanymore.

           Shejustturned,shewouldn’tspeak,andIwasdeadscaredshe’dgooffonahungerstrikeagain,soIdidn’tinsist.Ileftherthen.LaterIbroughtherhersupper.Shedidn’ttalk,soIlefther.

           Thenextdayshewasallrightagain,thoughshedidn’ttalk,exceptaword,abouttheescapethatnearlywas;shenevermentioneditafteragain.ButIsawshehadabadscratchonherwrist,andshemadeafacewhenshetriedtoholdapenciltodraw.

           Ididn’tposttheletter.Thepolicearedeadcunningwithsomethings.AchapIknewinTownHall’sbrotherworkedatScotlandYard.Theyonlyneededapinchofdustandtheywouldtellyouwhereyoucamefromandeverything.

           OfcoursewhensheaskedmeIwentred;IsaiditwasbecauseIknewshedidn’ttrustme,etcetera.Whichsheseemedtoaccept.Itmaynothavebeenkindtoherparents,butfromwhatshesaidtheyweren’tuptomuch,andyoucan’tthinkofeverybody.Firstthingsfirst,astheysay.

           IdidthesamethingoverthemoneyshewantedmetosendtotheH-bombmovement.Iwroteoutachequeandshowedittoher,butIdidn’tsendit.Shewantedproof(thereceipt),butIsaidIhadsentitanonymous.