Сумерки

           forIcouldguesswhatAlicehadseennow.

           Ifeltatranquilatmospheresettlearoundme.Iwelcomedit,usingittokeepmyemotionsdisciplined,undercontrol.

           Alice,too,recoveredherself.

           "Nothing,really,"sheansweredfinally,hervoiceremarkablycalmandconvincing."Justthesameroomasbefore."

           Shefinallylookedatme,herexpressionsmoothandwithdrawn."Didyouwantbreakfast?"

           "No,I’lleatattheairport."Iwasverycalm,too.Iwenttothebathroomtoshower.AlmostasifIwereborrowingJasper’sstrangeextrasense,IcouldfeelAlice’swild-thoughwell-concealed-desperationtohavemeoutoftheroom,tobealonewithJasper.Soshecouldtellhimthattheyweredoingsomethingwrong,thattheyweregoingtofail...

           Igotreadymethodically,concentratingoneachlittletask.Ileftmyhairdown,swirlingaroundme,coveringmyface.ThepeacefulmoodJaspercreatedworkeditswaythroughmeandhelpedmethinkclearly.Helpedmeplan.IdugthroughmybaguntilIfoundmysockfullofmoney.Iemptieditintomypocket.

           Iwasanxioustogettotheairport,andgladwhenweleftbyseven.Isatalonethistimeinthebackofthedarkcar.Aliceleanedagainstthedoor,herfacetowardJasperbut,behindhersunglasses,shootingglancesinmydirectioneveryfewseconds.

           "Alice?"Iaskedindifferently.

           Shewaswary."Yes?"

           "Howdoesitwork?Thethingsthatyousee?"Istaredoutthesidewindow,andmyvoicesoundedbored."Edwardsaiditwasn’tdefinite...thatthingschange?"ItwasharderthanIwouldhavethoughttosayhisname.