Сумерки

           Hewasstandingverystillbythebackexit,sostillIhadn’tnoticedhimatfirst.Inhishandwasaremotecontrol.Westaredateachotherforalongmoment,andthenhesmiled.

           Hewalkedtowardme,quiteclose,andthenpassedmetoputtheremotedownnexttotheVCR.Iturnedcarefullytowatchhim.

           "Sorryaboutthat,Bella,butisn’titbetterthatyourmotherdidn’treallyhavetobeinvolvedinallthis?"Hisvoicewascourteous,kind.

           Andsuddenlyithitme.Mymotherwassafe.ShewasstillinFlorida.She’dnevergottenmymessage.She’dneverbeenterrifiedbythedarkredeyesintheabnormallypalefacebeforeme.Shewassafe.

           "Yes,"Ianswered,myvoicesaturatedwithrelief.

           "Youdon’tsoundangrythatItrickedyou."

           "I’mnot."Mysuddenhighmademebrave.Whatdiditmatternow?Itwouldsoonbeover.CharlieandMomwouldneverbeharmed,wouldneverhavetofear.Ifeltalmostgiddy.SomeanalyticalpartofmymindwarnedmethatIwasdangerouslyclosetosnappingfromthestress.

           "Howodd.Youreallymeanit."Hisdarkeyesassessedmewithinterest.Theiriseswerenearlyblack,justahintofrubyaroundtheedges.Thirsty."Iwillgiveyourstrangecoventhismuch,youhumanscanbequiteinteresting.IguessIcanseethedrawofobservingyou.It’samazing-someofyouseemtohavenosenseofyourownself-interestatall."

           Hewasstandingafewfeetawayfromme,armsfolded,lookingatmecuriously.Therewasnomenaceinhisfaceorstance.Hewassoveryaverage-looking,nothingremarkableabouthisfaceorbodyatall.