Спрут: Каліфорнійська історія
Chapter VI
SometimesIgetkindoflonesome;wonderifyouwouldunderstand?It’smyfault,butthere’snotahorseabouttheplacethatdon’tlayhisearsbackwhenIgetonhim;there’snotadogdon’tputhistailbetweenhislegsassoonasIcomenearhim.Thecayuseisn’tfoaledyethereonQuienSabethatcanthrowme,northedogwhelpedthatwoulddareshowhisteethatme.IkickthatIrishsettereverytimeIseehim—butwonderwhatI’ddo,though,ifhedidn’tslinksomuch,ifhewaggedhistailandwasgladtoseeme?Soitallcomestothis:I’dliketohaveyou—well,sortoffeelthatIwasagoodfriendofyoursandlikemebecauseofit.”
TheflameinthelamponthewallinfrontofHilmastretchedupwardtallandthinandbegantosmoke.Shewentovertowherethelamphungand,standingontip-toe,loweredthewick.Asshereachedherhandup,Annixternotedhowthesombre,luridredofthelampmadeawarmreflectiononhersmooth,roundarm.
“Doyouunderstand?”hequeried.
“Yes,why,yes,”sheanswered,turningaround.“It’sverygoodofyoutowanttobeafriendofmine.Ididn’tthinkso,though,whenyoutriedtokissme.Butmaybeit’sallrightsinceyou’veexplainedthings.YouseeI’mdifferentfromyou.IlikeeverybodytolikemeandIliketolikeeverybody.Itmakesonesomuchhappier.Youwouldn’tbelieveit,butyououghttotryit,sir,justtosee.It’ssogoodtobegoodtopeopleandtohavepeoplegoodtoyou.Andeverybodyhasalwaysbeensogoodtome.
