Сумерки

           Irealizedhehadalong,lighttansweateron,withawhitecollarshowingunderneath,andbluejeans.Ilaughedwithhim,hidingasecrettwingeofregret-whydidhehavetolooklikearunwaymodelwhenIcouldn’t?

           Ilockedthedoorbehindmewhilehewalkedtothetruck.Hewaitedbythepassengerdoorwithamartyredexpressionthatwaseasytounderstand.

           "Wemadeadeal,"Iremindedhimsmugly,climbingintothedriver’sseat,andreachingovertounlockhisdoor.

           "Whereto?"Iasked.

           "Putyourseatbelton-I’mnervousalready."

           IgavehimadirtylookasIcomplied.

           "Whereto?"Irepeatedwithasigh.

           "Taketheone-oh-onenorth,"heordered.

           Itwassurprisinglydifficulttoconcentrateontheroadwhilefeelinghisgazeonmyface.Icompensatedbydrivingmorecarefullythanusualthroughthestill-sleepingtown.

           "WereyouplanningtomakeitoutofForksbeforenightfall?"

           "Thistruckisoldenoughtobeyourcar’sgrandfather-havesomerespect,"Iretorted.

           Weweresoonoutofthetownlimits,despitehisnegativity.Thickunderbrushandgreen-swathedtrunksreplacedthelawnsandhouses.

           "Turnrightontheone-ten,"heinstructedjustasIwasabouttoask.Iobeyedsilently.

           "Nowwedriveuntilthepavementends."

           Icouldhearasmileinhisvoice,butIwastooafraidofdrivingofftheroadandprovinghimrighttolookoverandbesure.

           "Andwhat’sthere,atthepavement’send?"Iwondered.

           "Atrail."

           "We’rehiking?"ThankgoodnessI’dworntennisshoes.

           "Isthataproblem?"Hesoundedasifhe’dexpectedasmuch.

           "No.