За разломом орла

           Shewasalwaysaheadofmyliesandexcuses. 

           "Itwasdifferentwhenithappenedtome,"ItoldGreta,whenwewerelyingnexttoeachotheragain,dayslater,withSuzystillinthetank. "Ihadallthenaggingdoubtsshehas,Ithink. ButassoonasIsawyoustandingthere,Iforgotallaboutthatstuff." 

           Gretanodded. Herhairfellacrossherfaceindishevelled,sleep-mattedcurtains. Shehadastrandofitbetweenherlips. 

           "Ithelped,seeingafriendlyface?" 

           "Tookmymindofftheproblem,that’sforsure." 

           "You’llgetthereintheend,"shesaid. "Anyway,fromSuzy’spointofview,aren’tyouafriendlyfaceaswell?" 

           "Maybe,"Isaid. "Butshe’dbeenexpectingme. YouwerethelastpersonintheworldIexpectedtoseestandingthere." 

           Gretatouchedherknuckleagainstthesideofmyface. Hersmoothskinslidagainststubble. "It’sgettingeasierforyou,isn’tit?" 

           "Idon’tknow,"Isaid. 

           "You’reastrongman,Thom.Iknewyou’dcomethroughthis." 

           "Ihaven’tcomethroughityet,"Isaid. IfeltlikeatightropewalkerhalfwayacrossNiagaraFalls. ItwasamiracleI’dmadeitasfarasIhad. Butthatdidn’tmeanIwashomeanddry. 

           Still,Gretawasright.Therewashope. I’dfeltnocrushingspasmsofgriefoverKaterina’sdeath,orenforcedabsence,orhoweveryouwantedtoputit. AllIfeltwasabittersweetregret,thewayonemightfeelaboutabrokenheirloomorlong-lostpet. IfeltnoanimositytowardKaterina,andIwassorrythatIwouldneverseeheragain.