Сумерки

           Hedrewmytrappedhandsaroundhisback,holdingmetohischest.IkeptasstillasIcould,evenbreathingwithcaution.

           "Iknowthere’snocompetition,"Imumbledintohiscoldskin."That’stheproblem."

           "OfcourseRosalieisbeautifulinherway,butevenifshewasn’tlikeasistertome,evenifEmmettdidn’tbelongwithher,shecouldneverhaveonetenth,no,onehundredthoftheattractionyouholdforme."Hewasseriousnow,thoughtful."ForalmostninetyyearsI’vewalkedamongmykind,andyours...allthetimethinkingIwascompleteinmyself,notrealizingwhatIwasseeking.Andnotfindinganything,becauseyouweren’taliveyet."

           "Ithardlyseemsfair,"Iwhispered,myfacestillrestingonhischest,listeningtohisbreathcomeandgo."Ihaven’thadtowaitatall.WhyshouldIgetoffsoeasily?"

           "You’reright,"heagreedwithamusement."Ishouldmakethisharderforyou,definitely."Hefreedoneofhishands,releasedmywrist,onlytogatheritcarefullyintohisotherhand.Hestrokedmywethairsoftly,fromthetopofmyheadtomywaist."Youonlyhavetoriskyourlifeeverysecondyouspendwithme,that’ssurelynotmuch.Youonlyhavetoturnyourbackonnature,onhumanity...what’sthatworth?"

           "Verylittle-Idon’tfeeldeprivedofanything."

           "Notyet."Andhisvoicewasabruptlyfullofancientgrief.

           Itriedtopullback,tolookinhisface,buthishandlockedmywristsinanunbreakablehold.

           "What-"Istartedtoask,whenhisbodybecamealert.