‘Forgiven?’
He took her hand and kissed it. ‘Forgiven. Now take care.’
Amy opened the door and stepped out into the afternoon.
Epilogue
This is a promise. I won’t do anything to her if she doesn’t want me to. I won’t do anything to her unless she asks for it. And that’s not very likely, is it, at her age? That’s not very realistic? Still, at least She’s legal—just about, I’m pretty sure.
Here she comes, shutting the front door behind her and walking quickly down the path. I’m standing in the deep shade on the other side of the street. Even at this distance I can tell by the brightness in her eyes that she’s been crying. Poor baby . . . Oh man, what is that girl doing to me? She’s doing something. I’ll find out in time. Time . . . I feel as though I’ve done these things before, and am glazedly compelled to do them again. But perhaps all things like this feel like that. I’m—I’m tired. I’m not in control any more, not this time. Oh hell. Let’s get it over with.
Any moment now I’ll step out into the street. I can see her coming to the end of the path and hesitating as she reaches the road, looking this way and that, wondering which way to go.
* * *
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Published by Vintage 2003
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Copyright © Martin Amis 1981
Martin Amis has asserted his right under the Copyright,
Designs and Patents Act, 1988 to be identified as the author of this work
First published in Great Britain in 1981 by
Jonathan Cape
First published in Vintage in 1999
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ISBN 9780099769019