Спрут: Калифорнийская история
Chapter V
HebegantowonderifhedaredtokissHilma,andifhediddare,howshewouldtakeit.Asparkofsuspicionflickeredupinhismind.Didnothermannerimply,vaguely,aninvitation?Onenevercouldtellwithfeemales.Thatwaswhyshewastalkingsomuch,nodoubt,holdinghimthere,affordingtheopportunity.Aha!Shehadbestlookout,orhewouldtakeheratherword.
“Oh,Ihadforgotten,”suddenlyexclaimedHilma,“theverythingIwantedtoshowyou—thenewpress.YourememberIaskedforonelastmonth?Thisisit.See,thisishowitworks.Hereiswherethecurdsgo;look.Andthiscoverisscreweddownlikethis,andthenyouworktheleverthisway.”Shegraspedtheleverinbothhands,throwingherweightuponit,hersmooth,barearmswellingroundandfirmwiththeeffort,oneslimfoot,initslowshoesetoffwiththebright,steelbuckle,bracedagainstthewall.
“My,butthattakesstrength,”shepanted,lookingupathimandsmiling.“Butisn’titafinepress?Justwhatweneeded.”
“And,”Annixterclearedhisthroat,“andwheredoyoukeepthecheesesandthebutter?”Hethoughtitverylikelythatthesewereinthecellarofthedairy.
“Inthecellar,”answeredHilma.“Downhere,see?”Sheraisedtheflapofthecellardoorattheendoftheroom.“Wouldyouliketosee?Comedown;I’llshowyou.”
Shewentbeforehimdownintothecoolobscurityunderneath,redolentofnewcheeseandfreshbutter.Annixterfollowed,acertainexcitementbeginningtogainuponhim.HewasalmostsurenowthatHilmawantedhimtokissher.Atallevents,onecouldbuttry.
