Passage 7 The Last Wish in a Winter Night Kent was a manger of a cement agency. His establishment nearly had gone bankrupt because one of his inferiors betrayed him. Just now Kent had made a presentation to the board in the chamber, conceding the failure of his administration. He had temporarily stopped the provision of cement in all projects. It was a cold winter midnight. In corridor, the thermometer suspended showed the temperature was minus 9 degrees centigrade. The tragedy blurred Kent’s mind, so he steered to a bar alone. He wanted nothing but to drink liquor tonight. There were few people in the street. Suddenly, a figure of an old madam exposed within his eyesight. She was standing sideways nearby a platform, dressed in a plain gown, hauling a portable suitcase, and holding with a plastic bag in the other hand. The slight old lady was seemingly more than 80. She was trembling in cutting wind with red nose. Now she kept motioning Kent for a ride. Although Kent was somewhat angry about the old madam’s disturbing and he wasn’t induced at all to inquire any occurrence concerning her, he wouldn’t like to leave her in the cold night. He thought that she presumable needed help. So he braked near her. The madam said, “Would you please take me a ride? I can offer double fare…” Kent interrupted her, “I will charge you nothing! Come on!” The madam pointed her luggage (baggage) and said, “Could you put them into the car?” Kent stooped, heaved and put them in the car. They proceeded to drive. Kent halted at a petroleum station where he wanted to purchase gallons of gasoline. During the interval they waited in a queue, the madam began with her narratives,“ could you ...
