Сумерки

           Hiseyesburnedintomine."It’sdifferentforus.Emmett...thesewerestrangershehappenedacross.Itwasalongtimeago,andhewasn’tas...practiced,ascareful,asheisnow."

           HefellsilentandwatchedmeintentlyasIthoughtitthrough.

           "Soifwe’dmet...oh,inadarkalleyorsomething..."Itrailedoff.

           "IttookeverythingIhadnottojumpupinthemiddleofthatclassfullofchildrenand-"Hestoppedabruptly,lookingaway."Whenyouwalkedpastme,IcouldhaveruinedeverythingCarlislehasbuiltforus,rightthenandthere.IfIhadn’tbeendenyingmythirstforthelast,well,toomanyyears,Iwouldn’thavebeenabletostopmyself."Hepaused,scowlingatthetrees.

           Heglancedatmegrimly,bothofusremembering."YoumusthavethoughtIwaspossessed."

           "Icouldn’tunderstandwhy.Howyoucouldhatemesoquickly..."

           "Tome,itwaslikeyouweresomekindofdemon,summonedstraightfrommyownpersonalhelltoruinme.Thefragrancecomingoffyourskin...Ithoughtitwouldmakemederangedthatfirstday.Inthatonehour,Ithoughtofahundreddifferentwaystolureyoufromtheroomwithme,togetyoualone.AndIfoughtthemeachback,thinkingofmyfamily,whatIcoulddotothem.Ihadtorunout,togetawaybeforeIcouldspeakthewordsthatwouldmakeyoufollow..."

           HelookedupthenatmystaggeredexpressionasItriedtoabsorbhisbittermemories.Hisgoldeneyesscorchedfromunderhislashes,hypnoticanddeadly.

           "Youwouldhavecome,"hepromised.

           Itriedtospeakcalmly."Withoutadoubt."