Сумерки

           "CanIshowyousomething?"heasked,suddenexcitementflaringinhiseyes.

           "Showmewhat?"

           "I’llshowyouhowItravelintheforest."Hesawmyexpression."Don’tworry,you’llbeverysafe,andwe’llgettoyourtruckmuchfaster."Hismouthtwitchedupintothatcrookedsmilesobeautifulmyheartnearlystopped.

           "Willyouturnintoabat?"Iaskedwarily.

           Helaughed,louderthanI’deverheard."LikeIhaven’theardthatonebefore!"

           "Right,I’msureyougetthatallthetime."

           "Comeon,littlecoward,climbonmyback."

           Iwaitedtoseeifhewaskidding,but,apparently,hemeantit.Hesmiledashereadmyhesitation,andreachedforme.Myheartreacted;eventhoughhecouldn’thearmythoughts,mypulsealwaysgavemeaway.Hethenproceededtoslingmeontohisback,withverylittleeffortonmypart,besides,wheninplace,clampingmylegsandarmssotightlyaroundhimthatitwouldchokeanormalperson.Itwaslikeclingingtoastone.

           "I’mabitheavierthanyouraveragebackpack,"Iwarned.

           "Hah!"hesnorted.Icouldalmosthearhiseyesrolling.I’dneverseenhiminsuchhighspiritsbefore.

           Hestartledme,suddenlygrabbingmyhand,pressingmypalmtohisface,andinhalingdeeply.

           "Easierallthetime,"hemuttered.

           Andthenhewasrunning.

           IfI’deverfeareddeathbeforeinhispresence,itwasnothingcomparedtohowIfeltnow.

           Hestreakedthroughthedark,thickunderbrushoftheforestlikeabullet,likeaghost.Therewasnosound,noevidencethathisfeettouchedtheearth.