Сумерки

           "Somethingsdon’thavetoend,"Imutteredthroughmyteeth,instantlytense.

           Hesighed.

           "Ibroughtyoutotheprom,"hesaidslowly,finallyansweringmyquestion,"becauseIdon’twantyoutomissanything.Idon’twantmypresencetotakeanythingawayfromyou,ifIcanhelpit.Iwantyoutobehuman.IwantyourlifetocontinueasitwouldhaveifI’ddiedinnineteen-eighteenlikeIshouldhave."

           Ishudderedathiswords,andthenshookmyheadangrily."InwhatstrangeparalleldimensionwouldIeverhavegonetopromofmyownfreewill?Ifyouweren’tathousandtimesstrongerthanme,Iwouldneverhaveletyougetawaywiththis."

           Hesmiledbriefly,butitdidn’ttouchhiseyes."Itwasn’tsobad,yousaidsoyourself."

           "That’sbecauseIwaswithyou."

           Wewerequietforaminute;hestaredatthemoonandIstaredathim.IwishedtherewassomewaytoexplainhowveryuninterestedIwasinanormalhumanlife.

           "Willyoutellmesomething?"heasked,glancingdownatmewithaslightsmile.

           "Don’tIalways?"

           "Justpromiseyou’lltellme,"heinsisted,grinning.

           IknewIwasgoingtoregretthisalmostinstantly."Fine."

           "YouseemedhonestlysurprisedwhenyoufiguredoutthatIwastakingyouhere,"hebegan.

           "Iwas,"Iinterjected.

           "Exactly,"heagreed."Butyoumusthavehadsomeothertheory...I’mcurious-whatdidyouthinkIwasdressingyouupfor?"

           Yes,instantregret.Ipursedmylips,hesitating."Idon’twanttotellyou."

           "Youpromised,"heobjected.

           "Iknow."