Сумерки

           Andthen,wrappingaroundthewalls,waisthigh,alongband.ThebandAlicesaidwasgold.

           "It’saballetstudio,"Isaid,suddenlyrecognizingthefamiliarshapes.

           Theylookedatme,surprised.

           "Doyouknowthisroom?"Jasper’svoicesoundedcalm,buttherewasanundercurrentofsomethingIcouldn’tidentify.Alicebentherheadtoherwork,herhandflyingacrossthepagenow,theshapeofanemergencyexittakingshapeagainstthebackwall,thestereoandTVonalowtablebythefrontrightcorner.

           "ItlookslikeaplaceIusedtogofordancelessons-whenIwaseightornine.Itwasshapedjustthesame."Itouchedthepagewherethesquaresectionjuttedout,narrowingthebackpartoftheroom."That’swherethebathroomswere-thedoorswerethroughtheotherdancefloor.Butthestereowashere"-Ipointedtotheleftcorner-"itwasolder,andtherewasn’taTV.Therewasawindowinthewaitingroom-youwould

           seetheroomfromthisperspectiveifyoulookedthroughit."

           AliceandJasperwerestaringatme.

           "Areyousureit’sthesameroom?"Jasperasked,stillcalm.

           "No,notatall-Isupposemostdancestudioswouldlookthesame-themirrors,thebar."Itracedmyfingeralongtheballetbarsetagainstthemirrors."It’sjusttheshapethatlookedfamiliar."Itouchedthedoor,setinexactlythesameplaceastheoneIremembered.

           "Wouldyouhaveanyreasontogotherenow?"Aliceasked,breakingmyreverie.

           "No,Ihaven’tbeenthereinalmosttenyears.