Сумерки

           Iturnedawayfromhisshocked,woundedfaceandheadedforthedoor.

           "Bells,youcan’tleavenow.It’snighttime,"hewhisperedbehindme.

           Ididn’tturnaround."I’llsleepinthetruckifIgettired."

           "Justwaitanotherweek,"hepled,stillshell-shocked."Ren¨¦ewillbebackbythen."

           Thiscompletelyderailedme."What?"

           Charliecontinuedeagerly,almostbabblingwithreliefasIhesitated."Shecalledwhileyouwereout.Thingsaren’tgoingsowellinFlorida,andifPhildoesn’tgetsignedbytheendoftheweek,they’regoingbacktoArizona.TheassistantcoachoftheSidewinderssaidtheymighthaveaspotforanothershortstop."

           Ishookmyhead,tryingtoreassemblemynow-confusedthoughts.EverypassingsecondputCharlieinmoredanger.

           "Ihaveakey,"Imuttered,turningtheknob.Hewastooclose,onehandextendedtowardme,hisfacedazed.Icouldn’tloseanymoretimearguingwithhim.Iwasgoingtohavetohurthimfurther.

           "Justletmego,Charlie."Irepeatedmymother’slastwordsasshe’dwalkedoutthissamedoorsomanyyearsago.IsaidthemasangrilyasIcouldmanage,andIthrewthedooropen."Itdidn’tworkout,okay?Ireally,reallyhateForks!"

           Mycruelwordsdidtheirjob-Charliestayedfrozenonthedoorstep,stunned,whileIranintothenight.Iwashideouslyfrightenedoftheemptyyard.Iranwildlyforthetruck,visualizingadarkshadowbehindme.Ithrewmybaginthebedandwrenchedthedooropen.Thekeywaswaitingintheignition.