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Two
Itpeckedatthebreadcrumbs,andDoorreachedoutherrighthandandpickeditup.Itlookedathercuriouslybutmadenocomplaint.
Theysatdownonthebed.DoorgotRichardtoholdthepigeon,whilesheattachedamessagetoitsleg,usingavividbluerubberbandthatRichardhadpreviouslyusedtokeephiselectricitybillsallinoneplace.Richardwasnotanenthusiasticholderofpigeons,evenatthebestoftimes."Idon’tseethepointinthis,"heexplained."Imean,it’snotahomingpigeon.It’sjustanormalLondonpigeon.ThekindthatcrapsonLordNelson."
"That’sright,"saidDoor.Hercheekwasgrazed,andherdirtyreddishhairwastangled;tangled,butnotmatted.Andhereyes...Richardrealizedthathecouldnottellwhatcolorhereyeswere.Theywerenotblue,orgreen,orbrown,orgray;theyremindedhimoffireopals:therewereburninggreensandblues,andevenredsandyellowsthatvanishedandglintedasshemoved.Shetookthebirdfromhim,gently,helditup,andlookeditintheface.Ittippeditsheadononesideandstaredbackatherwithbead-blackeyes."Okay,"shesaid,andthenshemadeanoisethatsoundedliketheliquidburblingofpigeons."OkayCrrppllrr,you’relookingforthemarquisdeCarabas.Yougotthat?"
Thepigeonburbledliquidlybackather.
"Attagirl.Now,thisisimportant,soyou’dbetter—"Thepigeoninterruptedherwitharatherimpatient-soundingburble."I’msorry,"saidDoor."Youknowwhatyou’redoing,ofcourse."Shetookthebirdtothewindowandletitgo.
Richardhadwatchedthewholeroutinewithsomeamazement."Doyouknow,italmostsoundedlikeitunderstoodyou?"hesaid,asthebirdshrankintheskyandvanishedbehindsomerooftops.
