Межзвёздный скиталец
Chapter 17
IshallcallherMiriam,forMiriamwasthenameIlovedherby.Ifitweremerelydifficulttodescribethecharmofwomen,IwoulddescribeMiriam.Buthowdescribeemotioninwords?Thecharmofwomaniswordless.Itisdifferentfromperceptionthatculminatesinreason,foritarisesinsensationandculminatesinemotion,which,beitadmitted,isnothingelsethansuper-sensation.
Ingeneral,anywomanhasfundamentalcharmforanyman.Whenthischarmbecomesparticular,thenwecallitlove.Miriamhadthisparticularcharmforme.VerilyIwasco-partnerinhercharm.Halfofitwasmyownman’slifeinmethatleaptandmetherwide-armedandmadeinmeallthatshewasdesirableplusallmydesireofher.
Miriamwasagrandwoman.Iusethetermadvisedly.Shewasfine-bodied,commanding,overandabovetheaverageJewishwomaninstatureandinline.Shewasanaristocratinsocialcaste;shewasanaristocratbynature.Allherwayswerelargeways,generousways.Shehadbrain,shehadwit,and,aboveall,shehadwomanliness.Asyoushallsee,itwasherwomanlinessthatbetrayedherandmeintheyend.Brunette,olive-skinned,oval-faced,herhairwasblue-blackwithitsblacknessandhereyesweretwinwellsofblack.Neverweremorepronouncedtypesofblondeandbrunetteinmanandwomanmetthaninus.
Andwemetontheinstant.Therewasnoself-discussion,nowaiting,wavering,tomakecertain.
