День триффидов
A Light in the Night
Iturned,andsawthatJosellahadcomeintotheroom.Shewaswearingalong,prettyfrockofpalestbluegeorgettewithalittlejacketofwhitefur.Inapendantonasimplechainafewblue-whitediamondsflashed;thestonesthatgleamedinherearclipsweresmallerbutasfineincolor.Herhairandherfacemighthavebeenfreshfromabeautyparlor.Shecrossedthefloorwithaflickerofsilverslippersandaglimpseofgossamerstockings.AsIwentonstaringwithoutspeaking,hermouthlostitslittlesmile.
"Don’tyoulikeit?"sheaskedwithchildishhaltdisappointment.
"It’slovely—you’rebeautiful,"Itoldher."I—well,Ijustwasn’texpectinganythinglikethis
Somethingmorewasneeded.Iknewthatitwasadisplaywhichhadlittleornothingtodowithme.Iadded:
"You’re—sayinggood-by?"
Adifferentlookcameintohereyes.
"Soyoudounderstand.Ihopedyouwould."
"IthinkIdo.I’mgladyou’vedoneit.It’llbealovelythingtoremember,"Isaid.
Istretchedoutmyhandtoherandledhertothewindow.
"Iwassayinggood-bytoo—toallthis."
Whatwentoninhermindaswestoodtheresidebysideishersecret.Inminetherewasakindofkaleidoscopeofthelifeandwaysthatwerenowfinished—orperhapsitwasmorelikeflippingthroughahugevolumeofphotographswithone,all-comprehensive"do-you-remember?"
Welookedforalongtime,lostinourthoughts.Thenshesighed.Sheglanceddownatherdress,fingeringthedelicatesilk.
