Сумерки

           Theyprobablywon’tcomeintotownatall,butI’mcertainlynotgoingtoletyououtofmysighttillthey’regone."

           Ishivered.

           "Finally,arationalresponse!"hemurmured."Iwasbeginningtothinkyouhadnosenseofself-preservationatall."

           Iletthatonepass,lookingaway,myeyeswanderingagainaroundthespaciousroom.

           Hefollowedmygaze."Notwhatyouexpected,isit?"heasked,hisvoicesmug.

           "No,"Iadmitted.

           "Nocoffins,nopiledskullsinthecorners;Idon’teventhinkwehavecobwebs...whatadisappointmentthismustbeforyou,"hecontinuedslyly.

           Iignoredhisteasing."It’ssolight...soopen."

           Hewasmoreseriouswhenheanswered."It’stheoneplaceweneverhavetohide."

           Thesonghewasstillplaying,mysong,driftedtoanend,thefinalchordsshiftingtoamoremelancholykey.Thelastnotehoveredpoignantlyinthesilence.

           "Thankyou,"Imurmured.Irealizedthereweretearsinmyeyes.Idabbedatthem,embarrassed.

           Hetouchedthecornerofmyeye,trappingoneImissed.Heliftedhisfinger,examiningthedropofmoisturebroodingly.Then,soquicklyIcouldn’tbepositivethathereallydid,heputhisfingertohismouthtotasteit.

           Ilookedathimquestioningly,andhegazedbackforalongmomentbeforehefinallysmiled.

           "Doyouwanttoseetherestofthehouse?"

           "Nocoffins?"Iverified,thesarcasminmyvoicenotentirelymaskingtheslightbutgenuineanxietyIfelt.

           Helaughed,takingmyhand,leadingmeawayfromthepiano.

           "Nocoffins,"hepromised.