Three in the Morning

For a long time nothing happened. Ana stood on the step in the cold with her hand still raised, and she thought that perhaps Walter had not heard, or had heard and decided to ignore it. Then the bolt slid back with a heavy sound, and the door opened a few centimetres. Warm air and the smell of flour came out into the night.

夜中の三時

Walter looked out through the gap. He was in his white apron, with flour on his hands and on the front of his shirt. His face was grey and older than it had been a week ago. When he saw who it was, something closed in it at once, like a shop shutter coming down.

長い間、何も起きなかった。アナは寒さの中、手を上げたまま段の上に立っていた。ウォルターには聞こえなかったのか、それとも聞こえたのに無視することにしたのかと彼女は思った。その時、重い音を立ててかんぬきが引かれ、ドアが数センチ開いた。温かい空気と小麦粉の匂いが夜の中へと流れ出てきた。

“I told you to go,” he said. “I meant it. Go back to wherever you’re sleeping.”

ウォルターは隙間から外を見た。彼は白いエプロン姿で、手とシャツの前に小麦粉がついていた。彼の顔は青白く、一週間前よりも老け込んで見えた。それが誰なのか分かると、店のシャッターが下りるように、すぐに表情が硬くなった。