"Carol Emshwiller - At Sixes and Sevens" - читать интересную книгу автора (Emshwiller Carol)

maybe even when there isnтАЩt except itтАЩs too dark to see.)

He looks surprised when I tell him that. Not about the dancing, but as
if he wonders why IтАЩm looking out the window in the middle of the night.

тАЬIt didnтАЩt look like any kind of dance IтАЩve ever seen before. Hopping
and galumphing. Swinging her arms around. Far as IтАЩm concerned, not
much different than a four-year-old would do.тАЭ

All he says is, тАЬNow that her leg is broke, I doubt sheтАЩll be doing much
dancing.тАЭ

As if that would reassure me.

But that broken leg is a good excuse for me keeping an eye on her.
IтАЩll bring things to her whether she wants me to or not. ItтАЩs my Christian duty.
Even Daniel canтАЩt say I shouldnтАЩt. I might be able to snoop around the other
rooms some. ThereтАЩs never been a chance like this before. I want to take
advantage of it.

Daniel would say, тАЬLet her be,тАЭ but he doesnтАЩt have to know.

I bake a batch of gingerbread. I think of making lemonade, but, no, IтАЩll
see if I can pick up something over there. ThatтАЩll be an excuse to look
around. Not that I relish seeing all that scratched up furniture.

Should I knock or just barge in?

IтАЩll barge in.

****
 I yell, тАЬYoo hoo, anyone to home?тАЭ

ItтАЩs the cat meets me at the door.

Iris is right where I left her, potato chips all eaten, the water drunk. But
I see signs that sheтАЩs been up. ThereтАЩs two of her dadтАЩs old canes beside
her and a little chair pulled up close by. ThereтАЩs an old army blanket thrown
over the couch back. Days are so hot I forgot the nights are cold.

I put the gingerbread down beside her. тАЬStill warm,тАЭ I say. I unwrap it
and the good smell fills the whole dusty, tomcat-smelling house.

She actually looks right at me, and as if sheтАЩs grateful. Her eyes.... I
was wrong. How can such a wispy blond have brown eyes?

тАЬIтАЩll get you something to drink.тАЭ

I march right into the tiny kitchen.