О дивный новый мир

           Hetriedtothinkofthosetimeswhenhesatonherkneesandsheputherarmsabouthimandsang,overandoveragain,rockinghim,rockinghimtosleep."A,B,C,vitaminD,vitaminD,vitaminD..."

           TheSuper-Vox-Wurlitzerianahadrisentoasobbingcrescendo;andsuddenlytheverbenagaveplace,inthescent-circulatingsystem,toanintensepatchouli.Lindastirred,wokeup,staredforafewsecondsbewilderlyattheSemi-finalists,then,liftingherface,sniffedonceortwiceatthenewlyperfumedairandsuddenlysmiled–asmileofchildishecstasy.

           "Popé!"shemurmured,andclosedhereyes."Oh,Idosolikeit,Ido..."Shesighedandletherselfsinkbackintothepillows.

           "But,Linda!"TheSavagespokeimploringly,"Don’tyouknowme?"Hehadtriedsohard,haddonehisverybest;whywouldn’tsheallowhimtoforget?Hesqueezedherlimphandalmostwithviolence,asthoughhewouldforcehertocomebackfromthisdreamofignoblepleasures,fromthesebaseandhatefulmemories–backintothepresent,backintoreality:theappallingpresent,theawfulreality–butsublime,butsignificant,butdesperatelyimportantpreciselybecauseoftheimminenceofthatwhichmadethemsofearful."Don’tyouknowme,Linda?"

           Hefeltthefaintansweringpressureofherhand.Thetearsstartedintohiseyes.Hebentoverherandkissedher.

           Herlipsmoved."Popé!"shewhisperedagain,anditwasasthoughhehadhadapailfulofordurethrowninhisface.

           Angersuddenlyboiledupinhim.