Девять рассказов
For Esmé with Love and Squalor
Hewasmoreinterestedinwatchingastringburnallthewaydownthaninopeningthepackage,butheopenedit,finally.
Insidethebox,anote,writteninink,layontopofasmallobjectwrappedintissuepaper.Hepickedoutthenoteandreadit.
17,——ROAD,
—DEVON
JUNE7,1944
DEARSERGEANTX,
Ihopeyouwillforgivemeforhavingtaken38daystobeginourcorrespondencebut,IhavebeenextremelybusyasmyaunthasundergonestreptococcusofthethroatandnearlyperishedandIhavebeenjustifiablysaddledwithoneresponsibilityafteranother.HoweverIhavethoughtofyoufrequentlyandoftheextremelypleasantafternoonwespentineachother’scompanyonApril30,1944between3:45and4:15P.M.incaseitslippedyourmind.
WearealltremendouslyexcitedandoverawedaboutDDayandonlyhopethatitwillbringabouttheswiftterminationofthewarandamethodofexistencethatisridiculoustosaytheleast.CharlesandIarebothquiteconcernedaboutyou;wehopeyouwerenotamongthosewhomadethefirstinitialassaultupontheCotentinPeninsula.Wereyou?Pleasereplyasspeedilyaspossible.Mywarmestregardstoyourwife.
Sincerelyyours,
ESMA
P.S.Iamtakingthelibertyofenclosingmywristwatchwhichyoumaykeepinyourpossessionforthedurationoftheconflict.Ididnotobservewhetheryouwerewearingoneduringourbriefassociation,butthisoneisextremelywater-proofandshockproofaswellashavingmanyothervirtuesamongwhichonecantellatwhatvelocityoneiswalkingifonewishes
