Девять рассказов
Teddy
"Istillhavesomewaterinmyearfrommyswimminglessonyesterday,"hesaid.Hegavehisearanothercoupleofclaps,thensatback,puttinghisarmsuponbotharmrests.Itwas,ofcourse,anormal,adult-sizedeckchair,andhelookeddistinctlysmallinit,butatthesametime,helookedperfectlyrelaxed,evenserene.
"IunderstandyouleftaprettydisturbedbunchofpedantsupatBoston,"Nicholsonsaid,watchinghim."Afterthatlastlittleset-to.ThewholeLeidekkerexamininggroup,moreorless,thewayIunderstandit.IbelieveItoldyouIhadratheralongchatwithAlBabcocklastJune.Samenight,as,amatteroffact,Iheardyourtapeplayedoff."
"Yes,youdid.Youtoldme."
"Iunderstandtheywereaprettydisturbedbunch,"Nicholsonpressed."FromWhatAltoldme,youallhadquitealittlelethalbullsessionlateonenight—thesamenightyoumadethattape,Ibelieve."Hetookadragonhiscigarette."FromwhatIgather,youmadesomelittlepredictionsthatdisturbedtheboysnoend.Isthatright?"
"IwishIknewwhypeoplethinkit’ssoimportanttobeemotional,"Teddysaid."Mymotherandfatherdon’tthinkaperson’shumanunlesshethinksalotofthingsareverysadorveryannoyingorvery-veryunjust,sortof.Myfathergetsveryemotionalevenwhenhereadsthenewspaper.HethinksI’minhuman."
Nicholsonflickedhiscigaretteashofftooneside."Itakeityouhavenoemotions?"hesaid.
Teddyreflectedbeforeanswering."IfIdo,Idon’trememberwhenIeverusedthem,"hesaid."Idon’tseewhatthey’regoodfor."
