第41节 (第2/2页)

esaidandpulledherclose.

    shedidntsayanythingforanutebecauseherthroathurtagain.

    thistiitwaswrong.hedid

    uand.

    thatanthecared.

    ”daddy”shehear.”youleaveus

    alone,

    annoyedhinough,heuldaand

    youhavetogobaitytoeoostay

    here.”

    ”i.”

    ”doyouprose””iprose.”shesighed.

    evely,allestbitofbreath,shesaid,”ilove

    you.”hedidntahischeekagainstthetopofher

    head,andinthatinstant,thektuedbadshebelieved.

    ovedfrohespot

    herthenightbefore.frightened,sheleanedclose,

    closeenoughsothatthecath.”guin”she

    heheekhafiip.the

    sllestventagainstherfinger,sheletoutabreath.

    shedrapedanarightlyarouandlayclose,thinking,i

    loveyou,guinevere,iloveyou,ahewhisperofananswering

    purr.thenitstopped.forseveralnutes,hopedidntve.

    ”guin

    ”sherokedthecatsheadandedforapurr,

    strokedagain,edagain.herehing,sheburiedher

    headinguineveresolingfuraocry.

    ”hope”jaalled,ingtothedoor.”areyouup”gulping

    sobsbubbledupfroheyonly

    greloser,hopingshewaswrong,hoping

    sheter.sheuldjeelit,agiant

    etiness,abighole,ahugealoneness.

    ”sie”hetouchedherhead.”hope,isit”hetouchedthe

    cat,lefthishandthereanute,andjusthinkingthat

    shedidntknosheodobecauseeverythingsheloved

    alsaroundherandguinevereboth,and

    leanedoverclose.

    hedidntsayanything,justsatthereshelteringtheandwhen

    santhaaskinghey

    goingtoday.guineverejustdied.”

    ”iorry,hope,”santhasaid,softlynoloseby.

    ”oldher.”totakethebus

    today

    ”hopedidnthearanansartedgagain,because

    theantha

    theonesheedjustthen.theonesheedwasholding

    hertight.

    ifaoldjackthataandhisfirbr>

    tingfireoplankstobuilda

    tinyffinforacat,hetted.butitseed

    likethebestthingtodo.

    hopesatonthegroundnearby.guineverehewashwo

    babyafghanthatrarochetedandthathopehadslepthfor

    thefirsteightyearsofherlife.tattersandall,itwasherprized

    possession.onceshe,shestoppedg.she

    heldherbuhoughitweregold.

    jarto

    nail.

    allffinwasfinished,hedugagr

    ...