"David Garnett - Off The Track (2)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Garnett David)

the
road. He glanced at the fuel gauge. It was still half full, but it was
best to keep the tank filled up. "Maybe we should get some petrol."
Angela said nothing.
"Could do some shopping," he added.
Angela turned her head. He couldn't see her eyes because of her dark
glasses.
"Shopping?" she said. "Shopping!"
Then she smiled and swiped at his shoulder.
"You Inglish? I make you a deal!" said Michael, and Angela laughed.
 "How big's this town?" she asked. "Two houses or three?"
"Horses, did you say, or houses?"
Angela kept looking at him. "You're enjoying yourself, aren't you?"
He nodded. "But you're not?"
She shrugged, then studied the silver bracelet around her wrist,
lightly
rubbing at the turquoise stone with her thumb.
"Some of it is alright," she said. "I suppose."
Even after so long together, Michael was always amazed how much Angela
could say in a few words. Almost as much as she could say with a single
look.
As far as she was concerned, they could have returned an hour after
crossing the border. By then she'd bought everything she wanted from
the
handful of tourist shops clustered on the northern side of the
frontier.
Michael had to admit that it all seemed good quality stuff, and of
course
the prices were ridiculously cheap. Tourists had only been allowed in
very
recently, and they'd had to buy their visas before they left Britain.
When it came to shopping, Angela was an expert; she could find what she
wanted almost immediately. She had bought hand-crafted jewellery and
woven
rugs to take back as gifts. Michael had restricted her to the number of
rugs they could fit in a large suitcase, but told her to buy as much
jewellery as she wished -- and not to forget herself. Angela had tried
to
persuade him to buy a pair of fancy leather boots, but Michael knew he
would never wear them. To keep her happy, he bought a snakeskin belt.
He
would never wear that, either, but at least it was less bulky and a lot
cheaper.
That had been yesterday morning, and they had spent the night in an
approved hotel. Michael had filled the fuel tank before they crossed
the
border, and again where the Volkswagen had been garaged for the night.
"If nothing else," said Angela, "perhaps we can get some lunch. Even if
they don't have petrol, they've got to eat."
"You want to risk it?"