Над пропастью во ржи

           Ididn’tthinkofittillwewerehalfwaythroughthepark.ThenIsaid, "Hey,doyoumindturningaroundwhenyougetachance?Igaveyouthewrongaddress.Iwanttogobackdowntown." 

           Thedriverwassortofawiseguy. "Ican’tturnaroundhere,Mac.Thishere’saone-way.I’llhavetogoallthewaytoNinediethStreetnow." 

           Ididn’twanttostartanargument. "Okay,"Isaid.ThenIthoughtofsomething,allofasudden."Hey,listen,"Isaid."YouknowthoseducksinthatlagoonrightnearCentralParkSouth?Thatlittlelake? Byanychance,doyouhappentoknowwheretheygo,theducks,whenitgetsallfrozenover?Doyouhappentoknow,byanychance?" Irealizeditwasonlyonechanceinamillion. 

           HeturnedaroundandlookedatmelikeIwasamadman. "What’reyatrynado,bud?"hesaid."Kidme?" 

           "No—Iwasjustinterested,that’sall." 

           Hedidn’tsayanythingmore,soIdidn’teither.UntilwecameoutoftheparkatNinetiethStreet.Thenhesaid, "Allright,buddy.Whereto?" 

           "Well,thethingis,Idon’twanttostayatanyhotelsontheEastSidewhereImightrunintosomeacquaintancesofmine.I’mtravelingincognito,"Isaid.Ihatesayingcornythingslike"travelingincognito." ButwhenI’mwithsomebodythat’scorny,Ialwaysactcornytoo."Doyouhappentoknowwhoseband’sattheTaftortheNewYorker,byanychance?" 

           "Noidear,Mac."