第26部分(第7/7 頁)

　that　her　vacation　was　ing　to　an　end。　By　Friday　afternoon

she　would　be　heading　back　to　the　city。　Thinking　about　it　over　breakfast

coffee；　she　felt　a　pang　of　disappointment。　All　things　considered；　the

vacation　had　been　a　good　one。　She　would　miss　this　country　when　she　had

to　leave　it　behind。

Determined　to　make　the　most　of　the　remaining　days；　she　spent　more　time

in　the　woods　than　ever；　reveling　in　the　beauty　of　the　flora；　the　freedom

of　the　fauna；　and　the　luxury　of　time　itself　It　was　past　noon　when　she

returned　to　the　cottage。　Leaning　against　the　trunk　of　an　old　apple　tree

in　the　backyard；　bathed　in　its　sweet　scent；　she　tipped　her　head　back　and

squinted　at　the　sun　through　the　fruit。

Inspiration　struck　then。　Pulling　her　jacket　off；　she　spread　it　on　the

soft　grass。　Then　she　began　to　pick　apples；　selecting　only　the　fullest

and　deepest　red　of　the　lot　to　add　to　the　growing　pile。　When　the　last　of

the　best　lay　on　her　jacket；　she　calculated　her　own　agility；　studying　the

upper　branches；　taking　stock　of　her　options。　Casting　prudence　aside；　she

braced　a　rubber　soled　foot　against　the　trunk　and　carefully　hoisted

herself　onto　the　first　branch；　bringing　a　whole　new　batch　of　fruit

within　reach。　Balanced　gingerly；　she　plucked　one；　then　another；　filling

her　free　arm　slowly。

Then　she　looked　down　and　saw　Mitch　right　at　the　foot　of　her　tree。

Startled；　she　lost　her　balance。　Apples　rained　to　the　ground　in　a　cr