Сумерки

           Iamsorryaboutthat,itwasunforgivableformetobehaveso."

           "Notunforgivable,"Idisagreed.

           "Thankyou."Hesmiled."Yousee,"hecontinued,lookingdownnow,"Iwasn’tsureifIwasstrongenough..."Hepickeduponeofmyhandsandpresseditlightlytohisface."AndwhiletherewasstillthatpossibilitythatImightbe...overcome"-hebreathedinthescentatmywrist-"Iwas...susceptible.UntilImadeupmymindthatIwasstrongenough,thattherewasnopossibilityatallthatIwould...thatIevercould..."

           I’dneverseenhimstrugglesohardforwords.Itwasso...human.

           "Sothere’snopossibilitynow?"

           "Mindovermatter,"herepeated,smiling,histeethbrighteveninthedarkness.

           "Wow,thatwaseasy,"Isaid.

           Hethrewbackhisheadandlaughed,quietlyasawhisper,butstillexuberantly.

           "Easyforyou!"heamended,touchingmynosewithhisfingertip.

           Andthenhisfacewasabruptlyserious.

           "I’mtrying,"hewhispered,hisvoicepained."Ifitgetstobe...toomuch,I’mfairlysureI’llbeabletoleave."

           Iscowled.Ididn’tlikethetalkofleaving.

           "Anditwillbehardertomorrow,"hecontinued."I’vehadthescentofyouinmyheadallday,andI’vegrownamazinglydesensitized.IfI’mawayfromyouforanylengthoftime,I’llhavetostartoveragain.Notquitefromscratch,though,Ithink."

           "Don’tgoaway,then,"Iresponded,unabletohidethelonginginmyvoice.

           "Thatsuitsme,"hereplied,hisfacerelaxingintoagentlesmile."Bringontheshackles-I’myourprisoner.