Сумерки

           Icaughtaglimpseofthemdivingforthesidewalkaswestraightenedoutandspedtowardtheharbor.

           "Putonyourseatbelt,"hecommanded,andIrealizedIwasclutchingtheseatwithbothhands.Iquicklyobeyed;thesnapasthebeltconnectedwasloudinthedarkness.Hetookasharpleft,racingforward,blowingthroughseveralstopsignswithoutapause.

           ButIfeltutterlysafeand,forthemoment,totallyunconcernedaboutwhereweweregoing.Istaredathisfaceinprofoundrelief,reliefthatwentbeyondmysuddendeliverance.Istudiedhisflawlessfeaturesinthelimitedlight,waitingformybreathtoreturntonormal,untilitoccurredtomethathisexpressionwasmurderouslyangry.

           "Areyouokay?"Iasked,surprisedathowhoarsemyvoicesounded.

           "No,"hesaidcurtly,andhistonewaslivid.

           Isatinsilence,watchinghisfacewhilehisblazingeyesstaredstraightahead,untilthecarcametoasuddenstop.Iglancedaround,butitwastoodarktoseeanythingbesidethevagueoutlineofdarktreescrowdingtheroadside.Weweren’tintownanymore.

           "Bella?"heasked,hisvoicetight,controlled.

           "Yes?"Myvoicewasstillrough.Itriedtoclearmythroatquietly.

           "Areyouallright?"Hestilldidn’tlookatme,butthefurywasplainonhisface.

           "Yes,"Icroakedsoftly.

           "Distractme,please,"heordered.

           "I’msorry,what?"

           Heexhaledsharply.

           "JustprattleaboutsomethingunimportantuntilIcalmdown,"heclarified,closinghiseyesandpinchingthebridgeofhisnosewithhisthumbandforefinger.

           "Um."Iwrackedmybrainforsomethingtrivial.