Сумерки

           He’sthemostrecenttojoinourfamily.It’sastruggleforhimtoabstainatall.Hehasn’thadtimetogrowsensitivetothedifferencesinsmell,inflavor."Heglancedswiftlyatme,hisexpressionapologetic.

           "Sorry,"hesaid.

           "Idon’tmind.Pleasedon’tworryaboutoffendingme,orfrighteningme,orwhichever.That’sthewayyouthink.Icanunderstand,orIcantrytoatleast.Justexplainhoweveryoucan."

           Hetookadeepbreathandgazedattheskyagain.

           "SoJasperwasn’tsureifhe’devercomeacrosssomeonewhowasas"-hehesitated,lookingfortherightword-"appealingasyouaretome.Whichmakesmethinknot.Emmetthasbeenonthewagonlonger,sotospeak,andheunderstoodwhatImeant.Hesaystwice,forhim,oncestrongerthantheother."

           "Andforyou?"

           "Never."

           Thewordhungthereforamomentinthewarmbreeze.

           "WhatdidEmmettdo?"Iaskedtobreakthesilence.

           Itwasthewrongquestiontoask.Hisfacegrewdark,hishandclenchedintoafistinsidemine.Helookedaway.Iwaited,buthewasn’tgoingtoanswer.

           "IguessIknow,"Ifinallysaid.

           Heliftedhiseyes;hisexpressionwaswistful,pleading.

           "Eventhestrongestofusfalloffthewagon,don’twe?"

           "Whatareyouasking?Mypermission?"MyvoicewassharperthanI’dintended.Itriedtomakemytonekinder-Icouldguesswhathishonestymustcosthim."Imean,istherenohope,then?"HowcalmlyIcoulddiscussmyowndeath!

           "No,no!"Hewasinstantlycontrite."Ofcoursethere’shope!Imean,ofcourseIwon’t..."Heleftthesentencehanging.