Девять рассказов
Pretty Mouth and Green my Eyes
Sowhat?Willyasittightandrelax,now?"saidthegray-hairedman."Allthreeof’em’llprobablywaltzinonyouanyminute.Takemyword.YouknowLeona.Idon’tknowwhatthehellitis—theyallgetthisgod-awfulConnecticutgaietywhentheygetintoNewYork.Youknowthat."
"Yeah.Iknow.Iknow.Idon’tknow,though."
"Certainlyyoudo.Useyourimagination.Thetwoof’emprobablydraggedJoaniebodily—"
"Listen.NobodyeverhastodragJoanieanywhere.Don’tgimmeanyofthatdraggingstuff."
"Nobody’sgivingyouanydraggingstuff,Arthur,"thegray-hairedmansaidquietly.
"Iknow,Iknow!Excuseme.Christ,I’mlosingmymind.HonesttoGod,yousureIdidn’twakeyou?"
"I’dtellyouifyouhad,Arthur,"thegray-hairedmansaid.Absently,hetookhislefthandoutfrombetweenthegirl’supperarmandchestwall."Look,Arthur.Youwantmyadvice?"hesaid.Hetookthetelephonecordbetweenhisfingers,justunderthetransmitter."Imeanthis,now.Youwantsomeadvice?"
"Yeah.Idon’tknow.Christ,I’mkeepingyouup.Whydon’tIjustgocutmy—"
"Listentomeaminute,"thegray-hairedmansaid."First—Imeanthis,now—getinbedandrelax.Makeyourselfanice,bignightcap,andgetunderthe—"
"Nightcap!Areyoukidding?Christ,I’vekilledaboutaquartinthelasttwogoddamhours.Nightcap!I’msoplasterednowIcanhardly—"
"Allright.Allright.Getinbed,then,"thegrayhairedmansaid."Andrelax—yahearme?Tellthetruth.Isitgoingtodoanygoodtositaroundandstew?"
"Yeah,Iknow.
