Девять рассказов

           "I’mgoingtocountthree.One,Goddamnit...Two..."

           "Whattimeisit?"Mrs.McArdlesuddenlyaskedthebacksofTeddy’slegs."Don’tyouandBooperhaveaswimminglessonatten-thirty?"

           "Wehavetime,"Teddysaid."—Vloom!"Hesuddenlythrusthiswholeheadoutoftheporthole,keptitthereafewseconds,thenbroughtitinjustlongenoughtoreport,"Someonejustdumpedawholegarbagecanoforangepeelsoutthewindow."

           "Outthewindow.Outthewindow,"Mr.McArdlesaidsarcastically,flickinghisashes."Outtheporthole,buddy,outtheporthole."Heglancedoverathiswife."CallBoston.Quick,gettheLeidekkerexamininggrouponthephone."

           "Oh,you’resuchabrilliantwit,"Mrs.McArdlesaid."Whydoyoutry?"

           Teddytookinmostofhishead."Theyfloatverynicely,"hesaidwithoutturningaround."That’sinteresting."

           "Teddy.Forthelasttime.I’mgoingtocountthree,andthenI’m-"

           "Idon’tmeanit’sinterestingthattheyfloat,"Teddysaid."It’sinterestingthatIknowaboutthembeingthere.IfIhadn’tseenthem,thenIwouldn’tknowtheywerethere,andifIdidn’tknowtheywerethere,Iwouldn’tbeabletosaythattheyevenexist.That’saverynice,perfectexampleoftheway—"

           "Teddy,"Mrs.McArdleinterrupted,withoutvisiblystirringunderhertopsheet."GofindBooperforme.Whereisshe?Idon’twantherlollingaroundinthatsunagaintoday,withthatbum."

           "She’sadequatelycovered.Imadeherwearherdungarees,"Teddysaid."Someofthemarestartingtosinknow.