Сумерки

           Hissmilewascondescendingnow."Iwasn’tintendingtobringacar."

           "How-"

           Hecutmeoff."Don’tworryaboutit.I’llbethere,nocar."

           Iletitgo.Ihadamorepressingquestion.

           "Isitlateryet?"Iaskedsignificantly.

           Hefrowned."Isupposeditislater."

           IkeptmyexpressionpoliteasIwaited.

           Hestoppedthecar.Ilookedup,surprised-ofcoursewewerealreadyatCharlie’shouse,parkedbehindthetruck.ItwaseasiertoridewithhimifIonlylookedwhenitwasover.WhenIlookedbackathim,hewasstaringatme,measuringwithhiseyes.

           "Andyoustillwanttoknowwhyyoucan’tseemehunt?"Heseemedsolemn,butIthoughtIsawatraceofhumordeepinhiseyes.

           "Well,"Iclarified,"Iwasmostlywonderingaboutyourreaction."

           "DidIfrightenyou?"Yes,therewasdefinitelyhumorthere.

           "No,"Ilied.Hedidn’tbuyit.

           "Iapologizeforscaringyou,"hepersistedwithaslightsmile,butthenallevidenceofteasingdisappeared."Itwasjusttheverythoughtofyoubeingthere...whilewehunted."Hisjawtightened.

           "Thatwouldbebad?"

           Hespokefrombetweenclenchedteeth."Extremely."

           "Because...?"

           Hetookadeepbreathandstaredthroughthewindshieldatthethick,rollingcloudsthatseemedtopressdown,almostwithinreach.

           "Whenwehunt,"hespokeslowly,unwillingly,"wegiveourselvesovertooursenses...governlesswithourminds.Especiallyoursenseofsmell.IfyouwereanywherenearmewhenIlostcontrolthatway..."Heshookhishead,stillgazingmoroselyattheheavyclouds.