Девять рассказов
De Daumier-Smith’s Blue Period
Atacitbutiron-boundprocedurecoveredalleveningmealsatLesAmisDesVieuxMaRres.Mme.Yoshotogotupfromherdeskpromptlyatfive-thirtyandwentupstairstopreparedinner,andMr.YoshotoandIfollowed—fellintosinglefile,asitwere—atsixsharp.Therewerenosidetrips,howeveressentialorhygienic.Thatevening,however,withSisterIrma’senvelopewarmagainstmychest,Ihadneverfeltmorerelaxed.Infact,allthroughdinner,Icouldn’thavebeenmoreoutgoing.IgaveawayaluluofaPicassostorythathadjustreachedme,onethatImighthaveputasideforarainyday.M.YoshotoscarcelyloweredhisJapanesenewspapertolistentoit,butMme.Yoshotoseemedresponsive,or,atleast,notunresponsive.Inanycase,whenIwasfinishedwithit,shespoketomeforthefirsttimesinceshehadaskedmethatmorningifIwouldlikeanegg.SheaskedmeifIweresureIwouldn’tlikeachairinmyroom.Isaidquickly,"Non,non-merci,madame."Isaidthatthewaythefloorcushionsweresetrightupagainstthewall,itgavemeagoodchancetopracticekeepingmybackstraight.Istooduptoshowherhowsway-backedIwas.
Afterdinner,whiletheYoshotoswerediscussing,inJapanese,someperhapsprovocativetopic,Iaskedtobeexcusedfromthetable.M.Yoshotolookedatmeasifheweren’tquitesurehowI’dgotintohiskitcheninthefirstplace,butnodded,andIwalkedquicklydownthehalltomyroom.
