When he thought about it, he raised the rag on the basket to see what the cat's ears looked like. It smelled like mint. The basket was half full of its leaves, neatly plucked one by one and white-dotted corollas. May probably had all her hands smelled of mint, and she smelled of mint all over her - the hem of the dress she was touching the leaves with, and the hair she was correcting with her hands stained with dry mint juice. Jacob would probably smell it today, too, and fall asleep easier than usual.
He realized that he again thinks obscenity about a woman who didn't belong to him and never will be. She has Jacob... Or maybe Rakert too?
- Mr. Eisen," May said quietly. - You think something like that makes you feel sorry for yourself.
He took it upon himself and tried to make sure that his face didn't reflect painful thoughts and painful shame.
- Why did you do that? - He asked. - I think that you are beautiful.
It was an impertinence, but it was also true. I wonder what she would like, and what would she be angry about? Conrad unwittingly turned his eyes away and looked again at the large number of leaves in the basket. He hadn't been able to look into someone's eyes for a long time: he was beginning to worry and finally looked anywhere else, risking getting someone else's anger or suspicion of lying.
May wasn't angry.
- Thank you, sir," she answered, looking at the road ahead of her. - Believe me, I am pleased.
She wouldn't have decided now that he was complimenting her for a reason, but because he was counting on her favor! Conrad had no idea if a simple and seemingly on-duty compliment could be seen here as a hint of serious feelings. And if so? And if May has already weighed everything and decided to hint at a positive answer to him - where to go now? Except to fall through the ground with shame when you have to run away from her, shaking her tail and insulting her with one thing. I guess women like May don't forgive contempt. Or, on the contrary, is she taller than imposing herself on a man who is hesitant or does not want her?
Suddenly Conrad realized that despite all the embarrassment, Mei respects her. She was widowed, but she lived well on her own and was in control of herself. He couldn't do that, he was still too dependent on the people around him, and he didn't have to choose how May chose. On the contrary, it was Ike who chose him, but did he deserve it?
- In turn," he said, realizing that silence was dragging on again, "if you need anything, you can count on me to help you.
- Except to entertain Eleanor," Mary smiled. - She's so gloomy, I don't know what can help her. Only he breathes smoke out of his pipe all day long, and all the cat's ears won't reach Rakert. But do you know Canadian?
- I don't know," Conrad muttered, but May understood it in her own way, while he almost told me he needed to check it out. He understood what he was being told, and said himself, why not suddenly appear that he could explain himself to Eleanor? But then we have to figure out where he could learn the language of the South.
The road became a little wider and began to take away down the road. Soon it will turn abruptly and go back to make the descent to Brun's smooth. On the descent, Conrad unconsciously gave May his hand, and she took it, leaned down, holding the hem with her free hand. Conrad was afraid he'd lose his balance and fall with May and the basket, but fortunately, it all worked out, they almost reached the city from the west.
On a narrow street with a low, twisted grape fence, May stopped. There was no one on the street with one side protected by soft leaves and the other by the mountain slope, which was already drowning in the dark.
- Thank you for seeing us off, sir," she said quietly. - I'm going that way and you're going to the port, go straight ahead and don't get hurt. It would have been worse without you.
- I don't think so," Conrad said before he could pull himself off. - But thank you.
- If you like, take some cat ears," Mary asked, taking the basket from him. - Here, take a handful, boil it with boiling water, calm it down, and it'll be a good night's sleep.
Burying in his hand a few dying leaves, thin and cold, he thought it was a hint that he was twitching and sleeping badly. However, how would May know that?
- Thank you," he repeated, regretting that he wouldn't be able to sing or tell us about this evening's moment when he wanted to run and stay.
- And only that? - May smiled, and in the darkness, her smile exposed a bright strip of teeth.
- Нe hesitated, not knowing what she wanted.
- Will you kiss me? - She just suggested it.
Conrad's head was instantly swirling with a whirlwind of thoughts and a donkey, like snowy dust that had been raised by chance. Did she take compliments for something more? Or does a kiss even mean nothing in their world? Or does she just live for her pleasure, drawing it from everything that surrounds her? He wouldn't be able to answer any of these questions.
- I'm sorry, I don't mean to insult you," he said with his lips and took a step back. - Goodnight.
He turned around and ran away into the darkness on a street full of stones, which was going down, with the risk of falling and breaking. The farther Conrad left the place where May had left, the more he was being tormented by his conscience. Maybe he had to give in? She knows better what she's offering. But the thought that she asked for a kiss when she realized everything behind that word, he was shaking and he accelerated the step.
When he stopped to breathe, he leaned against a wall and shook his hand, making the soft light appear at his fingertips to make it easier to see the reward. The fingers, in which several leaves and one crown were squeezed, must have smelled of mint. White flowers shone with tiny droplets.
Conrad raised his head to the dark sky and saw that the first stars, drops of light in the endless blackness, were already on.
He hid the mint in his pocket and went to the ship.