Сумерки

           "Doyouwanttogohome?"hesaidquietly,adifferentpainthanminesaturatinghisvoice.

           "No."IwalkedforwardtillIwasclosebesidehim,anxiousnottowasteonesecondofwhatevertimeImighthavewithhim.

           "What’swrong?"heasked,hisvoicegentle.

           "I’mnotagoodhiker,"Ianswereddully."You’llhavetobeverypatient."

           "Icanbepatient-ifImakeagreateffort."Hesmiled,holdingmyglance,tryingtoliftmeoutofmysudden,unexplaineddejection.

           Itriedtosmileback,butthesmilewasunconvincing.Hescrutinizedmyface.

           "I’lltakeyouhome,"hepromised.Icouldn’ttellifthepromisewasunconditional,orrestrictedtoanimmediatedeparture.Iknewhethoughtitwasfearthatupsetme,andIwasgratefulagainthatIwastheonepersonwhosemindhecouldn’thear.

           "Ifyouwantmetohackfivemilesthroughthejunglebeforesundown,you’dbetterstartleadingtheway,"Isaidacidly.Hefrownedatme,strugglingtounderstandmytoneandexpression.

           Hegaveupafteramomentandledthewayintotheforest.

           Itwasn’tashardasIhadfeared.Thewaywasmostlyflat,andheheldthedampfernsandwebsofmossasideforme.Whenhisstraightpathtookusoverfallentreesorboulders,hewouldhelpme,liftingmebytheelbow,andthenreleasingmeinstantlywhenIwasclear.Hiscoldtouchonmyskinneverfailedtomakemyheartthuderratically.Twice,whenthathappened,Icaughtalookonhisfacethatmademesurehecouldsomehowhearit.