Чужак в чужой стране

           She’salltheunsungheroeswhocouldn’tquitecutitbutneverquit.Come.JustsaluteasyoupassherandcomeseemyLittleMermaid."

           Bentookhimpreciselyathisword;ifJubalwassurprised,hemadenocomment."Nowthisone,"hesaid,"istheonlyoneMikedidn’tgivetome.ButthereisnoneedtotellMikewhyIgotit?asidefromtheself-evidentfactthatit’soneofthemostdelightfulcompositionseverconceivedandproudlyexecutedbytheeyeandhandofman."

           "She’sthat,allright.ThisoneIdon’thavetohaveexplained–it’sjustplainpretty!"

           "Yes.Andthatisexcuseinitself,justaswithkittensandbutterflies.Butthereismoretoitthanthat?andsheremindedmeofMike.She’snotquiteamermaid–see?–andshe’snotquitehuman.Shesitsonland,whereshehaschosentostay?andshestareseternallyouttosea,homesickandforeverlonelyforwhatsheleftbehind.Youknowthestory?"

           "HansChristianAndersen."

           "Yes.ShesitsbytheharborofKbenhavn-Copenhagenwashishometown–andshe’severybodywhoevermadeadifficultchoice.Shedoesn’tregretherchoice,butshemustpayforit;everychoicemustbepaidfor.Thecosttoherisnotonlyendlesshomesickness.Shecanneverbequitehuman;whensheusesherdearlyboughtfeet,everystepisonsharpknives.Ben,IthinkthatMikemustalwayswalkonknives–butthereisnoneedtotellhimIsaidso.Idon’tthinkheknowsthisstoryor,atleast,Idon’tthinkheknowsthatIconnecthimwithit."

           "Iwon’ttellhim.