Волны

           Thatis,Iamfiercerandstrongerthanyouare,yettheapparitionthatappearsabovegroundafteragesofnonentitywillbespentinterrorlestyoushouldlaughatme,inveeringswiththewindagainstthesootstorms,ineffortstomakeasteelringofclearpoetrythatshallconnectthegullsandthewomenwithbadteeth,thechurchspireandthebobbingbillycockhatsasIseethemwhenItakemyluncheonandpropmypoet--isitLucretius?--againstacruetandthegravy-splashedbilloffare.’

           ’Butyouwillneverhateme,’saidJinny.’Youwillneverseeme,evenacrossaroomfullofgiltchairsandambassadors,withoutcomingtomeacrosstheroomtoseekmysympathy.WhenIcameinjustnoweverythingstoodstillinapattern.Waitersstopped,dinersraisedtheirforksandheldthem.Ihadtheairofbeingpreparedforwhatwouldhappen.WhenIsatdownyouputyourhandstoyourties,youhidthemunderthetable.ButIhidenothing.Iamprepared.EverytimethedooropensIcry"More!"Butmyimaginationisthebodies.Icanimaginenothingbeyondthecirclecastbymybody.Mybodygoesbeforeme,likealanterndownadarklane,bringingonethingafteranotheroutofdarknessintoaringoflight.Idazzleyou;Imakeyoubelievethatthisisall.’

           ’Butwhenyoustandinthedoor,’saidNeville,’youinflictstillness,demandingadmiration,andthatisagreatimpedimenttothefreedomofintercourse.Youstandinthedoormakingusnoticeyou.Butnoneofyousawmeapproach.Icameearly;Icamequicklyanddirectly,here,tositbythepersonwhomIlove.