451 по фаренгейту
It was a pleasure to burn
Theautumnleavesblewoverthemoonlitpavement insuchawayastomakethegirlwhowasmovingthereseemfixedtoaslidingwalk, lettingthemotionofthewindandtheleavescarryherforward. Herheadwashalfbenttowatchhershoesstirthecirclingleaves. Herfacewasslenderandmilk-white, andinitwasakindofgentlehungerthattouchedovereverythingwithtirelesscuriosity. Itwasalook,almost,ofpalesurprise;thedarkeyesweresofixedtotheworldthatnomoveescapedthem. Herdresswaswhiteanditwhispered. Healmostthoughtheheardthemotionofherhandsasshewalked, andtheinfinitelysmallsoundnow,thewhitestirofherfaceturning whenshediscoveredshewasamomentawayfromaman whostoodinthemiddleofthepavementwaiting.
Thetreesoverheadmadeagreatsoundoflettingdowntheirdryrain. Thegirlstoppedandlookedasifshemightpullbackinsurprise, butinsteadstoodregardingMontagwitheyessodarkandshiningandalive, thathefelthehadsaidsomethingquitewonderful. Butheknewhismouthhadonlymovedtosayhello, andthenwhensheseemedhypnotizedbythesalamanderonhisarm andthephoenix-disconhischest,hespokeagain.
"Ofcourse,"hesaid,"you’reanewneighbour,aren’tyou?"
"Andyoumustbe"-sheraisedhereyesfromhisprofessionalsymbols -"thefireman."Hervoicetrailedoff.
"Howoddlyyousaythat."
"I’d-I’dhaveknownitwithmyeyesshut,"shesaid,slowly.
"What-thesmellofkerosene? Mywifealwayscomplains,"helaughed. "Youneverwashitoffcompletely."
