"anthony,_piers_&_farmer,_philip_jose_-_the_caterpillars_question" - читать интересную книгу автора (Farmer Phillip Jose)

trouble. After this he'd get sandwiches and they'd eat in the car,
avoiding restaurants entirely.

Jack cleaned up the mess of crumbs and told Tappy he'd check on her in
the morning. "You can find your way around the room okay? Bathroom's
in a straight line from the bed, and there's a RADIO. I'M, IN THE NEXT
UNIT IF YOU need me. Just yell."

He paused, embarrassed, remembering that SHE WAS MUTE OR

chose to be. "I mean you can bang on the wall or something. That
okay?" Slowly she nodded, and he was relieved. She responded so little
that he was never quite sure she understood him. "Good.

Now get some sleep. I'll knock before I come in, so I won't catch you
by surprise." That was his concession to the woman aspect of her; she
had to have time to cover up if she happened to be changing.

It all seemed simple enough.

But in the morning he found her sitting there still, shivering, the
moisture squeezing hopelessly out of one eye. She might have moved
about during the night, but the dark patches under her eyes showed she
had not slept.

"Why?" he demanded incredulously. "Why didn't you summon me, if you
couldn't sleep?"

She answered him only with that catatonic passivity, and a tear.

Evidently there was something he had missed.

He told her to go to the bathroom while he fetched breakfast, and she
did. He told her to change her clothing while he faced into a corner,
and she did. He no longer trusted her to do things in his absence, but
he intended to treat her with propriety. They ate, and got back on the
road.

Jack pondered the event of the night as he drove, deeply disturbed. He
had not mistreated Tappy, and there had been no trouble, except for the
business at the restaurant. He had spoken to her and had supper with
her, and she had not been crying then. She didn't seem to be afraid of
him, though he wouldn't have blamed her for that. Indifferent, perhaps,
but not fearful. So what was bothering her?

He was taking her to the clinic that might be able to give back her
sight and make her talk. She should be happy.

"Don't you want to see again?" he asked her. "I mean, there's all kinds
of scenery out here. We're in New York State now-"