Темная башня: Стрелок

           "Ican’thelpit,Allie,Ican’t-"andhemadeacrippleddiveforthepoke.Shecouldhavestoppedhim,butshemadenoeffort.Shewentbacktolightingthelamps,tiredalthoughtheeveninghadbarelybegun.ButnobodycameinthatnightexceptoldmanKennerly,whohadmissedeverything.HedidnotseemparticularlysurprisedtoseeNort.Heorderedbeer,askedwhereShebwas,andpawedher.Thenextdaythingswerealmostnormal,althoughnoneofthechildrenfollowedNort.Thedayafterthat,thecatcallsresumed.Lifehadgottenbackonitsownsweetkeel.Theuprootedcornwasgatheredtogetherbythechildren,andaweekafterNort’sresurrection,theyburneditinthemiddleofthestreet.Thefirewasmomentarilybrightandmostofthebarfliessteppedorstaggeredouttowatch.Theylookedprimitive.Theirfacesseemedtofloatbetweenthe

           flamesandtheice-chipbrillianceofthesky.Alliewatchedthemandfeltapangoffleetingdespairforthesadtimesoftheworld.ThingshadstretchedapartTherewasnoglueatthecenterofthingsanymore.Shehadneverseentheocean,neverwould.

           "IfIhadgrits,"shemurmured,"IfIhadguts,guts,guts..."

           Nortraisedhisheadatthesoundofhervoiceandsmiledemptilyatherfromhell.Shehadnoguts.Onlyabarandascar.

           Thefireburneddownrapidlyandhercustomerscamebackin.ShebegantodoseherselfwiththeStarWhiskey,andbymidnightshewasblacklydrunk.