Девять рассказов

           Youknowhowyoutreather?I’lltellyouexactlyhowyoutreather.Youtreatherlikeabloomin’criminal."

           "Bloomin’!Oh,that’scute!You’regettingsoEnglish,lover."

           Teddylingeredforamomentatthedoor,reflectivelyexperimentingwiththedoorhandle,turningitslowlyleftandright."AfterIgooutthisdoor,Imayonlyexistinthemindsofallmyacquaintances,"hesaid."Imaybeanorangepeel."

           "What,darling?"Mrs.McArdleaskedfromacrossthecabin,stilllyingonherrightside.

           "Let’sgetontheball,buddy.Let’sgetthatLeicadownhere."

           "ComegiveMotherakiss.Anice,bigone."

           "Notrightnow,"Teddysaidabsently."I’mtired."Heclosedthedoorbehindhim.

           Theship’sdailynewspaperlayjustoutsidethedoorsill.Itwasasinglesheetofglossypaper,withprintingonjustoneside.Teddypickeditupandbegantoreaditashestartedslowlyaftdownthelongpassageway.Fromtheoppositeend,ahuge,blondwomaninastarchedwhiteuniformwascomingtowardhim,carryingavaseoflong-stemmed,redroses.AsshepassedTeddy,sheputoutherlefthandandgrazedthetopofhisheadwithit,saying,"Somebodyneedsahaircut!"Teddypassivelylookedupfromhisnewspaper,butthewomanhadpassed,andhedidn’tlookback.Hewentonreading.Attheendofthepassageway,beforeanenormousmuralofSaintGeorgeandtheDragonoverthestaircaselanding,hefoldedtheship’snewspaperintoquartersandputitintohislefthippocket.Hethenclimbedthebroad,shallow,carpetedstepsuptoMainDeck,oneflightup.