Сумерки

           "Whatdidhebringintothenextlife,andtheothers?"

           "Carlislebroughthiscompassion.Esmebroughtherabilitytolovepassionately.Emmettbroughthisstrength,Rosalieher...tenacity.Oryoucouldcallitpigheadedness."hechuckled."Jasperisveryinteresting.Hewasquitecharismaticinhisfirstlife,abletoinfluencethosearoundhimtoseethingshisway.Nowheisabletomanipulatetheemotionsofthosearoundhim-calmdownaroomofangrypeople,forexample,orexcitealethargiccrowd,conversely.It’saverysubtle

           gift."

           Iconsideredtheimpossibilitieshedescribed,tryingtotakeitin.HewaitedpatientlywhileIthought.

           "Sowherediditallstart?Imean,Carlislechangedyou,andthensomeonemusthavechangedhim,andsoon..."

           "Well,wheredidyoucomefrom?Evolution?Creation?Couldn’twehaveevolvedinthesamewayasotherspecies,predatorandprey?Or,ifyoudon’tbelievethatallthisworldcouldhavejusthappenedonitsown,whichishardformetoacceptmyself,isitsohardtobelievethatthesameforcethatcreatedthedelicateangelfishwiththeshark,thebabysealandthekillerwhale,couldcreatebothourkindstogether?"

           "Letmegetthisstraight-I’mthebabyseal,right?"

           "Right."Helaughed,andsomethingtouchedmyhair-hislips?

           Iwantedtoturntowardhim,toseeifitwasreallyhislipsagainstmyhair.ButIhadtobegood;Ididn’twanttomakethisanyharderforhimthanitalreadywas.

           "Areyoureadytosleep?"heasked,interruptingtheshortsilence.